Section 19-6-28. Enforcement of orders; contempt; service of rule nisi by mail; rule nisi form

   (a) In addition to other powers specified in this chapter, the court shall have the power to subject the respondent to such terms and conditions as the court may deem proper to assure compliance with its orders and, in particular, shall have the power to punish the respondent who violates any order of the court to the same extent as is provided by law for contempt of the court in any other action or proceeding cognizable by the court. Any proceeding for compliance pursuant to this authority shall be a part of the underlying action, and a motion for such enforcement shall not constitute the filing of a new action or require the payment of a new filing fee.

(b) In any proceeding to enforce a temporary or permanent grant of alimony or child support by attachment for contempt, the petitioner may serve the motion and rule nisi by mailing a copy of the motion and rule nisi by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the respondent at the respondent's last known address together with two copies of a notice and acknowledgment conforming substantially to the form specified in subsection (c) of this Code section and a return envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to the sender. If service is perfected by acknowledgment of service in this manner, the petitioner shall file with the court the acknowledgment of the respondent; and such filing shall constitute a return of service. If no acknowledgment of service under this subsection is received by the petitioner within ten days after the date of such mailing, the petitioner shall notify the clerk of court and deposit the costs of service and service of such summons shall be made as provided in Code Section 9-11-4. The costs of such service shall be charged by the clerk of court to the respondent unless the respondent after motion and hearing establishes to the court that there is good reason why such person should not be so charged. A child support contempt motion shall be served upon a respondent with a notice that contains a date certain for hearing which shall be no later than 30 days from the date of service of the motion, unless good cause for a later date is found by the court, in which event the time for a hearing may be extended for up to 30 days.

(c) The form for notice and acknowledgment under subsection (b) of this Code section shall be substantially as follows:
 
 
                      IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF        COUNTY                      
                               STATE OF GEORGIA                                

 
                                      )
 
   Plaintiff                   )
 
                               )
         v.                    )                   Civil action
 
                               )                   File no.    
 
                               )
 
                                      )
 
   Defendant                   )
 
 
                             RULE NISI NOTICE AND                              
                                ACKNOWLEDGMENT                                 

 
   To:  (insert the name and address of the person to be served)
 
   The enclosed motion and rule nisi are served pursuant to Official Code of 
Georgia Annotated Section 19-6-28.
 
   You must complete the acknowledgment part of this form and mail one copy of 
the completed form to the sender within ten days of the date of mailing to 
you, which date is set out below.
 
   You must sign and date the acknowledgment. If you are served on behalf of 
another person and you are authorized to receive process, you must indicate 
under your signature your authority.
 
   If you do not complete and return this form to the sender within ten days, 
you or the party on whose behalf you are being served will be required to pay 
any expenses incurred in serving a summons and complaint in any other manner 
permitted by law unless good and sufficient cause is shown to the contrary.
 
   If you do complete and mail this form, you or the party on whose behalf you 
are being served must appear and show cause why you should not be attached for 
contempt at the time required by the enclosed rule nisi.
 
   I declare, under penalty of perjury, that this Notice and Acknowledgment of 
Receipt will have been mailed on the date set out below.
 
                                       
                                                                               
                                                                      Signature
 
                                                                               
                                                                Date of mailing
 
 
                           ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT                           
                           OF SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT                            

 
   I declare, under penalty of perjury, that I received a copy of the motion 
and of the rule nisi in the above-captioned manner at (insert address).
 
 
 

 
                                                                              
                                                                      Signature
 
                                                                              
                                                         Printed name of signer
 
                                                                              
                                                           Authority to receive
                                                             service of process
 
                                                                              
                                                                Date of mailing
 

(d) Service in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of this Code section is in addition to any other method of service provided by law.

Code 1981, § 19-6-28, enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p. 785, § 3; Ga. L. 1987, p. 186, § 1; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1613, § 8; Ga. L. 1999, p. 633, § 1.