---
title: O.C.G.A. § 19-9-70. Requiring appearance for in-state and out-of-state residents; other court orders.
collection: code
id: 19-9-70
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 19-9-70 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-9-70
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-9-70.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-9-70/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=1058
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/19-9.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-9-69.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-9-81.md
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 / CHILD CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS / UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT / JURISDICTION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 19-9-70. Requiring appearance for in-state and out-of-state residents; other court orders.

(a) In a child custody proceeding in this state, the court may order a party to the proceeding who is in this state to appear before the court in person with or without the child. The court may order any person who is in this state and who has physical custody or control of the child to appear in person with the child.

(b) If a party to a child custody proceeding whose presence is desired by the court is outside this state, the court may order that a notice given pursuant to Code Section 19-9-47 include a statement directing the party to appear in person with or without the child and informing the party that failure to appear may result in a decision adverse to the party.

(c) The court may enter any orders necessary to ensure the safety of the child and of any person ordered to appear under this Code section.

(d) If a party to a child custody proceeding who is outside this state is directed to appear under subsection (b) of this Code section or desires to appear personally before the court with or without the child, the court may require another party to pay reasonable and necessary travel and other expenses of the party so appearing and of the child.

## History

Code 1981, § 19-9-70, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 129, § 1.