---
title: O.C.G.A. § 19-6-4. When permanent alimony authorized; how enforced.
collection: code
id: 19-6-4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 19-6-4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-6-4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-6-4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-6-4/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t18-t19-(v16)-2022-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=b0848ebd_0#page=452
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-6.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-6-3.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: DOMESTIC RELATIONS / ALIMONY AND CHILD SUPPORT / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 19-6-4. When permanent alimony authorized; how enforced.

(a) Permanent alimony may be granted in the following cases:

(1) In cases of divorce;

(2) In cases of voluntary separation; or

(3) Where one spouse, against the will of that spouse, is abandoned or driven off by the other spouse.

(b) A grant of permanent alimony may be enforced either by writ of fieri facias or by attachment for contempt.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, §§ 1691, 1693; Code 1868, §§ 1734, 1736; Code 1873, §§ 1739, 1744; Code 1882, §§ 1739, 1744; Civil Code 1895, §§ 2459, 2464; Civil Code 1910, §§ 2978, 2983; Code 1933, §§ 30-204, 30-210; Ga. L. 1979, p. 466, §§ 10, 15.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 1979, p. 466 amended prior law so as to provide that alimony may be assessed against either spouse. Cases decided prior to the 1979 enactment appear to remain valid except insofar as they may imply that a wife only is entitled to receive alimony or a husband only is obligated to pay the same.

## Law Reviews

For annual survey on domestic relations, see 69 Mercer L. Rev. 83 (2017).