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Herrin v. Herrin

Supreme Court of Georgia
Sep 27, 1978
248 S.E.2d 651 (Ga. 1978)

Opinion

33968.

SUBMITTED SEPTEMBER 1, 1978.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 27, 1978.

Divorce, etc. Charlton Superior Court. Before Judge Hodges.

Roy M. Sobelson, for appellant.

Leaphart, Gibbs Smith, Alvin Leaphart, for appellee.


In this divorce action, the trial judge found the husband was not the father of the child for whom child support was sought. The mother appeals. We reverse.

Once sexual intercourse between the husband and wife is proved, nothing short of impossibility will rebut the presumption of legitimacy of the child born to the wife. Wright v. Hicks, 15 Ga. 160, 170 (9) (1854). Accord, Simeonides v. Zervis, 120 Ga. App. 883 ( 172 S.E.2d 649) (1969); s. c. 127 Ga. App. 506 ( 194 S.E.2d 324) (1972). See also Code § 74-101. See generally Stubbs, Georgia Law of Children, § 3 (1969); 3 EGL 265, Bastards and Bastardy, § 10.

The husband in the case at hand admits intercourse. He has not produced any evidence which would show the absolute impossibility of his being the father, from whatever cause that impossibility might arise; consequently, the trial judge erred in finding the presumption of legitimacy rebutted.

Judgment reversed. All the Justices concur, except Jordan, J., who dissents.


SUBMITTED SEPTEMBER 1, 1978 — DECIDED SEPTEMBER 27, 1978.


Summaries of

Herrin v. Herrin

Supreme Court of Georgia
Sep 27, 1978
248 S.E.2d 651 (Ga. 1978)
Case details for

Herrin v. Herrin

Case Details

Full title:HERRIN v. HERRIN

Court:Supreme Court of Georgia

Date published: Sep 27, 1978

Citations

248 S.E.2d 651 (Ga. 1978)
242 Ga. 256

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