O.C.G.A.

O.C.G.A. § 51-1-17 (2019)

Rights of action for adultery, alienation of affections, and criminal conversation abolished

✓ O.C.G.A. — 2019 edition (Public.Resource.Org Release 73)

Code text and O.C.G.A. statutory annotations on this page reflect the 2019 Official Code of Georgia Annotated (Public.Resource.Org Release 73, 2019-08-21; public domain per Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). The Syfert case-law annotations in Notes of Decisions, below, are current.

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Adultery, alienation of affections, or criminal conversation with a wife or husband shall not give a right of action to the person’s spouse. Rights of action for adultery, alienation of affections, or criminal conversation are abolished.

History

(Orig. Code 1863, § 2950; Code 1868, § 2957; Code 1873, § 3008; Code 1882, § 3008; Civil Code 1895, § 3869; Civil Code 1910, § 4465; Code 1933, § 105-1203; Ga. L. 1979, p. 466, § 46.)

Annotations

Cross references. - Criminal penalty for adultery, § 16-6-19. Divorce, § 19-5-1 et seq. Law reviews. - For article surveying

legislative and judicial developments in Georgia’s divorce, alimony and child custody laws for 1978-79, see 31 Mercer L. Rev. 75 (1979).

JUDICIAL DECISIONS Retrospective repeal of former section unconstitutional. - Portion of the Family and Domestic Relations Law which made the repeal of the cause of action for alienation of affections retrospective as to pending actions is unconstitutional. Enger v. Erwin, 245 Ga. 753, 267 S.E.2d 25 (1980). Interference with marital contract or relations. - O.C.G.A. § 51-1-17, by implication, bars actions based on alleged intentional interference with marital contract and marital relations. Arnac v. Wright, 163 Ga. App. 33, 292 S.E.2d 440 (1982). Professional liability claims. - Patient could not bring a medical malpractice claim for damages against a family doctor for interference with the patient’s marriage, loss of affection, or depression and anxiety that resulted from the doctor

having an affair with the patient’s wife because O.C.G.A. § 51-1-17 abolished torts claims for adultery and alienation of affections. The patient’s claim of breach of fiduciary duty/confidential relationship was nothing more than a renamed claim of the torts banned by O.C.G.A. § 51-1-17. Witcher v. McGauley, 316 Ga. App. 574, 730 S.E.2d 56 (2012). Cited in Cook v. Wood, 30 Ga. 891 (1860); Wood v. State, 62 Ga. 406 (1879); Sikes v. Tippins, 85 Ga. 231, 11 S.E. 662 (1890); Sellers v. Page, 127 Ga. 633, 56 S.E. 1011 (1907); Drawdy v. Hesters, 130 Ga. 161, 60 S.E. 451 (1908); Wilson v. Brock, 134 Ga. 782, 68 S.E. 497 (1910); Miller v. State, 9 Ga. App. 827, 72 S.E. 279 (1911); Davis v. Cochran, 42 Ga. App. 215, 155 S.E. 379 (1930); Barney v. Barney, 43 Ga. App. 545, 159 S.E. 595 (1931); Sessions v. Parker, 45 Ga. App. 101, 163 S.E.

297 (1932); Roberts v. Turner, 49 Ga. App. 516, 176 S.E. 91 (1934); Edwards v. Monroe, 54 Ga. App. 791, 189 S.E. 419 (1936); Hosford v. Hosford, 58 Ga. App. 188, 198 S.E. 289 (1938); Sanders v. Chandler, 71 Ga. App. 337, 30 S.E.2d 813 (1944); Kidd v. Holtzendorf, 88 Ga. App. 360, 76 S.E.2d 656 (1953); Posner v. Koplin, 94 Ga. App.

306, 94 S.E.2d 434 (1956); Wright v. Lester, 105 Ga. App. 107, 123 S.E.2d 672 (1961); Emerson v. Fleming, 127 Ga. App. 296, 193 S.E.2d 249 (1972); Brown v. Hauser, 249 Ga. 513, 292 S.E.2d 1 (1982); Hyman v. Moldovan, 166 Ga. App. 891, 305 S.E.2d 648 (1983); Brewer v. Paulk, 296 Ga. App. 26, 673 S.E.2d 545 (2009).

RESEARCH REFERENCES Am. Jur. 2d. - 41 Am. Jur. 2d, Husband and Wife, § 220 et seq. Am. Jur. Proof of Facts. - Proof of Alienation of Affections, 54 POF3d 135. C.J.S. - 41 C.J.S., Husband and Wife, § 251 et seq.

ALR. - Action for intentional infliction of emotional distress against paramours, 99 ALR5th 445. Intentional infliction of distress in marital context, 110 ALR5th 371.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 15 cases, 1983–2018 · leading case: Brewer v. Paulk, 673 S.E.2d 545 (Ga. Ct. App. 2009).

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Brewer v. Paulk, 673 S.E.2d 545 (Ga. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 12× “As to Bobby Brewer's claim for loss of the society, companionship and consortium of his spouse, the trial court ruled that he had no basis in law for such a claim because Mona Brewer had engaged in an adulterous relationship with Bishop Paulk, and pursuant to OCGA § 51-1-17, [1]…”

Veeder v. Kennedy, 1999 SD 23 (S.D. 1999). · cites it 2× “…10, § 3924 (1975); District of Columbia, DCCodeAnn § 16-923 (1998); Florida, FlaStat ch 771.01-771 (1997); Georgia, GaCode Ann § 51-1-17 (1990); Indiana, IndCode § 34-12-2-1 (1986); Kansas, KanStatAnn § 23-208 (1995); Maine, MeRevStatAnn tit 14 § 301 (West 1998); Maryland,…”

Thomas v. Siddiqui, 869 S.W.2d 740 (Mo. 1994). · cites it 4× “01 (West 1993) (abolishing both); Georgia, Ga.Code Ann. § 51-1-17 (1993) (abolishing both); Indiana, In.”

Russo v. Sutton, 422 S.E.2d 750 (S.C. 1992). · cites it 2× “01 (1984); Ga. Code Ann. § 51-1-17 (1982); Ind. Code Ann.”

Poole v. North Georgia Conf. of the Methodist Church, Inc., 615 S.E.2d 604 (Ga. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “However, a spouse’s cause of action for adultery and alienation of affections has been abolished in Georgia, OCGA§ 51-1-17, and Poole apparently no longer claims he was legally injured by reason of the alleged adultery.”

Fitch v. Valentine, 959 So. 2d 1012 (Miss. 2007). “§ 16-923 (1981); Georgia, Ga.Code Ann. § 51-1-17 (1979); Indiana, *1036 Ind.”

Huddle Et Al. v. Heindel., 821 S.E.2d 61 (Ga. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “4 See OCGA § 51-1-17. 5 The record shows that the hearing was to address several of the Appellee's motions including the motion for summary judgment.”

SER Justin S. Golden, Sr. v. Hon. Tod J. Kaufman, Judge, 760 S.E.2d 883 (W. Va. 2014). · cites it 4× “01 (1984); Ga.Code Ann. § 51-1-17 (1982); Ind.Code Ann.”

Cannon v. Miller, 322 S.E.2d 780 (N.C. Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 2× “01 (West 1964) (abolished for monetary damages); Ga. Code Ann. § 51-1-17 (1982); Ind. Code Ann.”

Hyman v. Moldovan, 305 S.E.2d 648 (Ga. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 2× “The fact that Georgia no longer recognizes a cause of action for alienation of affections is exemplified by the language of OCGA § 51-1-17 (Code Ann. § 105-1203): “Adultery, alienation of affections, or criminal conversation with a wife or husband shall not give a right of…”

Hoye v. Hoye, 824 S.W.2d 422 (Ky. 1992). “Stat.Ann. § 52-572f (West Supp.1984); Del.Code Ann.”

Fox v. Gibson, 626 S.E.2d 841 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006). “” Ga. Code Ann. § 51-1-17 (2005); see also Hyman v.”

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