§ 19-11-47.Support proceedings when obligor and obligee are found in different counties of state
Chapter 11. Enforcement of Duty of Support · Article 2. Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act · Last amended 1958 · Last verified October 9, 2026
Full Text of § 19-11-47
Plain-English Summary
The reciprocal support machinery in Article 2 was built for two states. A court in the initiating state screens and certifies a petition and sends it on (§ 19-11-55); a court in the responding state dockets the case, holds a hearing and decides whether to order support (§§ 19-11-60 and 19-11-63). This section borrows that machinery for a case inside Georgia. A proceeding under the article may be maintained when the obligee and the obligor are residents of, are domiciled in, or are found in different counties of this state.
When the article is used that way, every reference to the “initiating state” is read as the “initiating county,” and every reference to the “responding state” as the “responding county.” Read with § 19-11-51, which requires the petition to be commenced in the county where the obligee resides, that means the obligee’s county plays the initiating role and the county where the obligor can be reached plays the responding role. Any one of the three links — residence, domicile or being found in a county — is enough to place a party there.
Like the rest of Article 2, this county-to-county option is closed to new matters. Section 19-11-40.1 bars any new petition or proceeding under the article on or after January 1, 1998, and limits the article to proceedings pending before that date. The General Assembly intended later filings to be governed by Article 3, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, which starts at § 19-11-100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Could URESA be used when both parties lived in Georgia but in different counties?
Yes, for proceedings it still governs. This section lets a proceeding under the article be maintained when the obligee and the obligor are residents of, are domiciled in, or are found in different Georgia counties. But under § 19-11-40.1, no new petition or proceeding may be started under the article on or after January 1, 1998, so the option reaches only proceedings pending before that date.
What are an “initiating county” and a “responding county”?
They are the in-state stand-ins for the article’s “initiating state” and “responding state.” When the article is used between two Georgia counties, this section says to read “initiating state” as “initiating county” and “responding state” as “responding county.” The initiating county is where the case starts; the responding county is where the obligor is pursued.
Which county does a county-to-county URESA case start in?
The obligee’s county of residence. Section 19-11-51 says a petition under the article must be commenced in the county of residence of the obligee. Read with this section, that county acts as the initiating county and sends the case to the county where the obligor resides, is domiciled or is found.
Does the obligor have to live in the other county, or is being found there enough?
Being found there is enough. The section applies when the parties are residents of, are domiciled in, or are found in different counties of this state. Any one of those connections places a party in a county for this purpose.
Can I file a new county-to-county support case under this section today?
No. Section 19-11-40.1 says no new petition may be filed and no proceeding may be started under Article 2 on or after January 1, 1998, and that the article applies only to proceedings pending before that date. The General Assembly intended later filings to fall under Article 3, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.
Amendment History
Laws 1958, p. 34, § 4A.