2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 19 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS (§§ 19-1-1 — 19-15-7) › Chapter 11 - ENFORCEMENT OF DUTY OF SUPPORT (§§ 19-11-1 — 19-11-191) › Article 1 - CHILD SUPPORT RECOVERY ACT (§§ 19-11-1 — 19-11-39) › Section 19-11-12 - Review of orders for child support; review procedures; order adjusting support award amount; no release from liability due to subsequent financial obligation

(a)
The child support enforcement agency shall review orders for child support in accordance with the guidelines prescribed in Code Section
19-6-15
.
(b)
(1)
The child support enforcement agency shall periodically give notice to the obligor and obligee who are subject to a IV-D court order for child support of the right of each to request a review of the order by the child support enforcement agency for possible recommendation for adjustment of such order. Such notification should be provided within 36 months after the establishment of the order or the most recent review; however, failure to provide the notice within 36 months shall not affect the right of either party to request, in writing, a review nor the right of the child support enforcement agency to conduct a review and to recommend an adjustment to the order. Such notice may be included in the initial order or review recommendation.
(2)
The establishment of a child support order or the entry of an order to modify a child support order or a determination of no change to a child support order under this Code section shall commence a 36 month cycle, the purpose of which is to provide the parties the right to a review of the order at least every 36 months or in such shorter cycle as the child support enforcement agency may determine. The failure of either party to request a review at least once every 36 months shall not affect the right of either party to request a review nor the right of the child support enforcement agency to conduct a review and to recommend an adjustment to the order at any time beyond the 36 month cycle.
(c)
(1)
All child support enforcement agency orders that are active TANF cases shall be reviewed under this Code section following the expiration of the thirty-sixth month after the order was issued, without a request from the obligor or obligee. All other orders for support being enforced by a child support enforcement agency shall be eligible for review pursuant to this Code section upon application and payment of fees required by the child support enforcement agency at the completion of the review.
(2)
If the request for the review occurs less than 36 months since the last issuance or last review of the order, the child support enforcement agency shall review, and if the requesting party demonstrates a substantial change in circumstances, seek to modify the order in accordance with the guidelines as provided by paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of this Code section.
(3)
If the request for the review occurs at least 36 months after the last issuance or last review, the requesting party shall not be required to demonstrate a substantial change in circumstances, the need for additional support, or that the needs of the child have decreased. The sole basis for a recommendation for a change in the award of support under this paragraph shall be a significant inconsistency between the existing child support order and the amount of child support which would result from the application of Code Section
19-6-15
.
(d)
(1)
The child support enforcement agency shall notify the obligor and obligee at least 30 days before the commencement of a review of a child support order.
(2)
The child support enforcement agency shall review and, if there is a significant inconsistency between the amount of the existing child support order and the amount of child support which would result from the application of Code Section
19-6-15
, the agency shall make a recommendation for an increase or decrease in the amount of an existing order for support. The child support enforcement agency shall not be deemed to be representing either the obligee or obligor in a proceeding under this Code section.
(3)
Upon completion of a review, the child support enforcement agency shall send notice by first-class mail to the obligor and obligee at their last known addresses of a proposed adjustment or a determination that there should be no change in the child support award amount.
(4)
(A)
In the case of an administrative order, the child support enforcement agency shall request the administrative law judge to increase or decrease the amount in the existing order in accordance with such agency recommendation. If either the obligor or the obligee files with the child support enforcement agency written objections to such agency's proposed child support order adjustment or determination of no change to the child support order within 33 days of the mailed notice, the matter shall be scheduled for an administrative hearing within the Office of State Administrative Hearings. The administrative order adjusting the child support award amount which results from a hearing or the failure to object to the child support enforcement agency's proposed adjustment or determination of no change shall, upon filing with the local clerk of the court, have the full effect of a modification of the original order or decree of support.
(B)
In the case of a judicial order, the child support enforcement agency shall file a petition asking the court to adopt such agency's proposed adjustment or determination of no change to the child support order which shall be filed contemporaneously with such agency's mailed notice and shall serve such petition upon the obligor and obligee in the manner provided in subsection (e) of Code Section
9-11-4
. Upon the filing of a written objection to the child support enforcement agency's proposed adjustment or determination of no change with the clerk of the superior court and with such agency, a de novo proceeding shall be scheduled with the court on the matter. If neither party files an objection within 30 days from the service of the petition, the court shall issue an order adopting the recommendation of the child support enforcement agency. As part of the order adjusting the child support award, the court shall address the issue of an income withholding order pursuant to Code Sections
19-6-30
through
19-6-33.1
.
(e)
When the trier of fact, the administrative law judge for administrative orders, or a judge of the superior court for court orders, as the case may be, determines that there is a significant inconsistency between the existing child support order and the amount of child support which would result from the application of Code Section
19-6-15
, the trier of fact may use this inconsistency as the basis to increase or decrease the amount of support ordered. The trier of fact may also address the repayment of any arrears accumulated under the existing order.
(f)
An obligor shall not be relieved of his or her duty to provide support when such obligor has brought about his or her own unstable financial condition by voluntarily incurring subsequent obligations.
(g)
The department shall be authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Code section.
Amended by 2024 Ga. Laws 428,§ 5, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2017 Ga. Laws 242,§ 2-3, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2017 Ga. Laws 242,§ 1-20, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2010 Ga. Laws 410,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2010.
Amended by 2004 Ga. Laws 564, § 19, eff. 5/13/2004.
Amended by 2003 Ga. Laws 175, § 7, 8, eff. 7/1/2003.