Court Opinion

ID: 9591363
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:03:47.381244+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:10.095496
License: Public Domain

Hill, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
The Code section in issue, subsection 5 of OCGA § 9-10-91, provides “long arm” jurisdiction “with respect to proceedings for alimony, child support, or division of property in connection with an action for divorce or with respect to an independent action for support of dependents.” As I read the Code section, the words “an independent action for support of dependents” refer to a petition for alimony or child support when there is no action for divorce pending. See OCGA § 19-6-10. Therefore, a petition for modification of alimony is not “an independent action for support” within the meaning of the Code section. Additionally, a petition for modification is not a proceeding “for alimony, child support, or division of property in connection with an action for divorce.” (Emphasis supplied.) I therefore dissent to Division 1 of the majority opinion.
Similarly, in my view a petition for contempt is not a proceeding “in connection with an action for divorce” or “an independent action for support of dependents” within the meaning of the Code section. I therefore dissent to Division 2 of the majority opinion. Thus, I would not reach the issue as to the constitutionality of the Code section, which in my view presents a substantial question.