---
title: O.C.G.A. § 19-7-44. Appointment of guardian ad litem; payment of guardian; notice to natural mother.
collection: code
id: 19-7-44
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 19-7-44 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-7-44
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-7-44.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-7-44/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=757
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.
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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 / PARENT AND CHILD RELATIONSHIP GENERALLY / DETERMINATION OF PATERNITY
---

# O.C.G.A. § 19-7-44. Appointment of guardian ad litem; payment of guardian; notice to natural mother.

(a) The court may, in its discretion, appoint a guardian ad litem to represent a minor child who is the subject of a paternity petition. Payment of the guardian ad litem shall be as ordered by the court. Neither the child’s mother nor the alleged or presumed father may represent the child as guardian ad litem.

(b) The natural mother shall be made a party or, if not subject to the jurisdiction of the court, shall be given notice in a manner prescribed by the court and an opportunity to be heard.

## History

Code 1933, § 74-305, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1374, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1833, § 3; Ga. L. 1996, p. 923, § 1.

## Law Reviews

For note on 1992 amendment of this Code section, see 9 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 234 (1992).