§ 19-7-51.Order of support and other provisions

A finding of paternity is the beginning, not the end. This section lets the decree or order establishing paternity go further. It may contain other provisions concerning the duty to support the child, by periodic or lump sum payments, as provided in § 19-6-15, Georgia’s child support guidelines. It may also address any other matter in the best interests of the child.

The word “may” makes these provisions discretionary. The court isn’t required to set support in the same decree. Section 19-7-49(a) says the sole effect of an order designating a man as the father is to establish his duty to support. This section supplies the tools to carry that duty out and to address related matters.

Other sections borrow this one. Under § 19-7-46.1(b), recording a voluntary acknowledgment in the putative father registry is a legal determination of paternity for purposes of a future support order and other matters under this section. Section 19-7-22(h) lets the court, acting under this section, legitimate a child in a paternity case the Department of Human Services brings, when that serves the child’s best interests. The same subsection says that in a Department case, name change, visitation and custody wait for a separate petition unless the alleged father seeks legitimation. Support and visitation orders in paternity cases are enforced and modified like divorce orders, under § 19-7-52(b). The section was last amended in 2016.