Anthony v. Anthony

92 S.E.2d 857, 212 Ga. 356, 1956 Ga. LEXIS 369

• Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
• Decided: May 14, 1956
• Docket: 19291
• Status: Published

Opinion

Head, Justice.

This court has repeatedly held that the judgment of a trial judge awarding custody of minor children in a divorce action is a final adjudication of the right of custody on the facts then existing, and any attempt by the trial judge to retain jurisdiction, by recitations to that effect in the decree, is wholly ineffective. Burton v. Furcron, 207 Ga. 637 (63 S. E. 2d 650); Hanson v. Stegall, 208 Ga. 403 (67 S. E. 2d 109); Stout v. Pate, 209 Ga. 786 (75 S. E. 2d 748); Barrentine v. Barrentine, 210 Ga. 749 (82 S. E. 2d 857); McAfee v. Martin, 211 Ga. 14 (83 S. E. 2d 605); Broome v. Broome, 212 Ga. 132 (91 S. E. 2d 18). The inclusion in the order of a prolusion that the minor child must not be taken from the jurisdiction of the court constitutes an attempt on the part of the trial court to retain exclusive jurisdiction of the case, which can not be done. Gibbs v. North, 211 Ga. 231 (84 S. E. 2d 833).

“An award of custody in divorce proceedings, based upon an agreement of the parties providing that the trial court should retain jurisdiction of custody of the children, is a final judgment on the facts then existing, and further proceedings relating to such question against the person awarded custody by the divorce court, must be brought in the county of such person’s residence.” Goodloe v. Goodloe, 211 Ga. 894 (89 S. E. 2d 654).

It was error to overrule the demurrer based on the failure of the petition to allege jurisdiction of the respondent.

Judgment reversed.

All the Justices concur.