§ 19-11-39.Computerized central case registry for support orders
Chapter 11. Enforcement of Duty of Support · Article 1. Child Support Recovery Act · Last amended 2017 · Last verified October 9, 2026
Full Text of § 19-11-39
Plain-English Summary
Federal law requires each state to keep a registry of its support orders, and this section builds Georgia’s. The Department of Human Services shall create, by contract, cooperative agreement or otherwise, a computerized central case registry for all support orders entered by any court or administrative tribunal of this state. The registry isn’t limited to state cases: support orders the child support enforcement agency obtained and support orders outside the agency shall both be registered. The department may enter into a cooperative agreement with the Administrative Office of the Courts to get the information it needs.
For each case, the registry shall include the full names of each party and minor child; each person’s date of birth and Social Security number; each person’s last known address when the order was entered; the county where the order was entered; and every case identification number, including civil action filing numbers and agency case numbers. It also includes any information later required by federal law.
Cases the child support enforcement agency handles get more. Their registry entries shall include payment records and the amount of child support liens. The payment record covers five things: (1) the monthly or other periodic support owed, plus arrearages, interest or late payment penalties, and fees due or overdue; (2) how much of those amounts has been collected; (3) how the collections were distributed; (4) the birth date of any child the order requires support for; and (5) the amount of any lien imposed with respect to the order.
The agency operating the registry shall promptly establish, update, maintain and regularly monitor the agency’s case records, including information on administrative and court actions about paternity and support, data from comparisons with federal, state or local sources, and collections and distributions. Registry information shall be available to state and federal agencies as authorized by law for enforcing support orders, and for data comparisons with other states’ case registries. Section 19-11-30 keeps the information confidential otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my private child support order in Georgia’s state registry?
It is required to be. The registry covers all support orders entered by any court or administrative tribunal of Georgia. The section says support orders obtained by the child support enforcement agency, as well as support orders not within that agency, shall be registered. The department may work with the Administrative Office of the Courts to get the information.
What information about me is in the Georgia child support registry?
For each case: the full names of each party and minor child, each person’s date of birth and Social Security number, each person’s last known address when the order was entered, the county where the order was entered, and all case identification numbers, including civil action numbers and agency case numbers. It also holds anything federal law later requires.
Does the registry track my child support payments?
For cases the child support enforcement agency handles, yes. The registry includes payment records and lien amounts: the support owed, including arrearages, interest or late payment penalties and fees; the amounts collected; how collections were distributed; each supported child’s birth date; and the amount of any lien. Payment records aren’t required for cases outside the agency.
Who can see the information in Georgia’s child support registry?
The registry’s information shall be available to state and federal agencies as authorized by law for enforcing support orders, and for data comparisons with other states’ case registries. Section 19-11-30 makes child support records confidential otherwise, released only with the named parties’ permission, by court order, or for purposes the law specifically authorizes.
Why does Georgia keep a central registry of support orders?
The section says the registry is required by federal law, and it lets the state find and enforce support orders across courts, counties and state lines. Registry information is available to state and federal agencies as the law authorizes for enforcing support orders, and the department must regularly monitor the records in cases where the child support agency provides services.
Amendment History
Laws 1997, p. 1613, § 31; Laws 2014, Act 579, § 13, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2017, Act 242, §§ 1-26, 2-3, eff. July 1, 2017.