O.C.G.A. § 19-9-70 (2019)
Requiring appearance for in-state and out-of-state residents; other court orders
(a) In a child custody proceeding in this state, the court may order a party to the proceeding who is in this state to appear before the court in person with or without the child. The court may order any person who is in this state and who has physical custody or control of the child to appear in person with the child.
(b) If a party to a child custody proceeding whose presence is desired by the court is outside this state, the court may order that a notice given pursuant to Code Section 19-9-47 include a statement directing the party to appear in person with or without the child and informing the party that failure to appear may result in a decision adverse to the party.
(c) The court may enter any orders necessary to ensure the safety of the child and of any person ordered to appear under this Code section.
(d) If a party to a child custody proceeding who is outside this state is directed to appear under subsection (b) of this Code section or desires to appear personally before the court with or without the child, the court may require another party to pay reasonable and necessary travel and other expenses of the party so appearing and of the child.
History
Code 1981, § 19-9-70, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 129, § 1.
T.19, C.9, A.3, P.3 CHILD CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS
PART 3 JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN DECREES
Annotations
Law reviews. For article, “Domestic Relations Law,” see 53 Mercer L. Rev. 265 (2001). JUDICIAL DECISIONS Editor’s notes. - In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, annotations decided under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, former Code 1933, §§ 74-501 through 74-525, subsequently codified as §§ 19-9-40 through 19-9-64, are included in the annotations for this Code section. Enforcement of foreign custody decrees. - Foreign custody decrees are enforceable merely by filing a certified copy with the clerk of superior court. Roehl v. O’Keefe, 243 Ga. 696, 256 S.E.2d 375, 1979 Ga. LEXIS 1033 (1979) (decided under former Code Section 19-9-55). Failure to domesticate foreign decree. - Trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction of a Florida decree that had not been domesticated. Kempton v. Richards, 233 Ga. App. 238, 503 S.E.2d 876, 1998 Ga. App. LEXIS 940 (1998) (decided under former Code Section 19-9-55). Without an original signature or court seal, a foreign divorce decree did
not meet the statutory requirements for proper domestication. Henderson v. Justice, 223 Ga. App. 591, 478 S.E.2d 434, 1996 Ga. App. LEXIS 1238 (1996) (decided under former Code Section 19-9-55). Domestication of foreign decree. - Trial court did not domesticate Texas divorce decree and was therefore not authorized to modify child support and visitation provisions of that decree. McGowan v. McGowan, 231 Ga. App. 362, 498 S.E.2d 574, 1998 Ga. App. LEXIS 450 (1998) (decided under former Code Section 19-955). Act of simply appending a divorce and custody decree as an exhibit to a petition for modification of custody did not constitute a proper filing of the decree for purposes of the decree’s domestication. Wylie v. Blatchley, 237 Ga. App. 563, 515 S.E.2d 855, 1999 Ga. App. LEXIS 484 (1999) (decided under former Code Section 19-955).
RESEARCH REFERENCES C.J.S. 50 C.J.S., Judgments, §§ 1259 et seq., 1274.