§ 19-7-2.Parents’ obligations to child
Chapter 7. Parent and Child Relationship Generally · Article 1. General Provisions · Last amended 2007 · Last verified October 9, 2026
Full Text of § 19-7-2
Plain-English Summary
This short section states the core duty every parent owes a child. Each parent has a joint and several duty to provide for the child’s maintenance, protection and education. Joint and several means the duty rests on both parents together and on each one individually, so a parent can’t escape it because the other parent owes it too.
The duty lasts until the first of four events: the child reaches the age of majority (18 in Georgia, under § 39-1-1), dies, marries or becomes emancipated. Whichever happens first ends the duty under this section.
Two exceptions stretch or shape it. The first comes from § 19-6-15(e). In a temporary, final or modified child support order in a divorce, separate maintenance, legitimacy or paternity case entered on or after July 1, 1992, the judge may, in the exercise of sound discretion, direct either or both parents to support a child who has reached the age of majority but is still enrolled in and attending secondary (high) school, has never married and is not emancipated. That support can’t be required after the child turns 20. The second exception covers any court order that defines the parents’ duty differently or in more detail — a child support order, for example, puts a dollar figure on it.
A companion section, § 19-7-24, states the same duty for a child born out of wedlock. The legislature last amended this section in 2006, effective January 1, 2007.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do parents have to support a child in Georgia?
Until the child reaches the age of majority, dies, marries or becomes emancipated, whichever happens first. Georgia’s age of majority is 18 under § 39-1-1. Two exceptions apply: a court may order support for a child still in high school past that age under § 19-6-15(e), and any court order may define the parents’ duty differently or in more detail.
Do I have to pay child support after my child turns 18 if they’re still in high school?
You might. Under § 19-6-15(e), a judge may, in the exercise of sound discretion, order either or both parents to support a child who reached the age of majority before finishing high school, is enrolled in and attending school, has never married and is not emancipated. The order must come in a temporary, final or modified support order in a divorce, separate maintenance, legitimacy or paternity case entered on or after July 1, 1992. No parent can be required to pay that support after the child turns 20.
Does the parent with custody also have a duty to support the child?
Yes. The duty belongs to each parent, jointly and severally, so it binds both parents whether or not a parent has custody. How the cost is divided in a particular case depends on the court’s order; a child support order under § 19-6-15 sets each parent’s share.
Does a parent’s duty to support a child end if the child gets married?
Yes. Marriage is one of the four events that end the duty under this section, along with reaching the age of majority, death and emancipation. Whichever comes first ends it. A court order may define the duty differently, so read any order in your case as well.
Does this duty apply when the parents were never married?
Yes, through a companion section. Code Section 19-7-24 makes it the joint and several duty of each parent of a child born out of wedlock to provide for the child’s maintenance, protection and education until the child reaches the age of 18 or becomes emancipated, except to the extent a court order defines one parent’s duty differently or in more detail.
Amendment History
Laws 1979, p. 466, § 41; Laws 1992, p. 1833, § 2; Laws 2005, Act 52, § 12, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Laws 2006, Act 650, § 7, eff. Jan. 1, 2007.
Formerly Code 1863, § 1743; Code 1868, § 1783; Code 1873, § 1792; Code 1882, § 1792; Civil Code 1895, § 2501; Civil Code 1910, § 3020; Code 1933, § 74-105.