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Dupre v. Scappaticcio

Supreme Court of Georgia
Sep 7, 1979
259 S.E.2d 440 (Ga. 1979)

Opinion

35075.

SUBMITTED JUNE 22, 1979.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 7, 1979.

Modification of alimony. Gwinnett Superior Court. Before Judge Stark.

Paul R. Koehler, for appellant.

Charles W. Smegal, for appellee.


Pursuant to Code Ann. § 30-301 (Ga. L. 1958, pp. 204, 205; 1977, pp. 619, 620) and following a hearing which neither the appellant father nor his attorney attended, the trial court awarded the appellee mother permanent child support for one of the parties' two children, permanent custody of which child had been awarded her in a modification of the divorce decree.

In his appeal from the award of the permanent child support, the father contends that the statutory basis for such an award has been held to be unconstitutional. See Orr v. Orr, ___ U.S. ___ ( 99 S.C. 1102, 59 L.Ed.2d 306) (1979); Stitt v. Stitt, 301 ( 253 S.E.2d 764) (1979); Sims v. Sims, 243 Ga. 275 ( 253 S.E.2d 764) (1979). Contrary to the appellant's position, however, the award was based upon Code Ann. § 30-301, supra, which has not been declared unconstitutional. Code § 30-207 applies to the award of alimony on the final trial, not subsequent to the decree, which is provided for by § 30-301, supra. Furthermore, although the constitutionality of § 30-207 was attacked in Stitt v. Stitt, supra, it was not ruled on therein or elsewhere.

The constitutionality of a statute is presumed until it is validly attacked. Connelly v. Balkcom, 213 Ga. 491 (1) ( 99 S.E.2d 817) (1957). No constitutional attack on Code Ann. § 30-301 was made by the appellant in the trial court, and the failure to raise the issue there precludes consideration of its constitutionality on appeal. Alexander v. State, 239 Ga. 810 ( 239 S.E.2d 18) (1977); Yield, Inc. v. City of Atlanta, 239 Ga. 578 ( 238 S.E.2d 351) (1977); Roberts v. Roberts, 226 Ga. 203 (6) ( 173 S.E.2d 675) (1970).

Accordingly, the order awarding permanent child support is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.


SUBMITTED JUNE 22, 1979 — DECIDED SEPTEMBER 7, 1979.


Summaries of

Dupre v. Scappaticcio

Supreme Court of Georgia
Sep 7, 1979
259 S.E.2d 440 (Ga. 1979)
Case details for

Dupre v. Scappaticcio

Case Details

Full title:DUPRE v. SCAPPATICCIO

Court:Supreme Court of Georgia

Date published: Sep 7, 1979

Citations

259 S.E.2d 440 (Ga. 1979)
259 S.E.2d 440

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