Georgia Rules of Civil Procedure

Overview: 

Georgia Rules of Civil Procedure consist of the rules by which state courts conduct civil trials. Civil trials concern the judicial resolution of claims by one individual or class against another. An understanding of the civil procedure laws ensures that process service is properly effectuated. Therefore, it is crucial for lawyers, paralegals, process servers, and pro se litigants to be properly informed of the rules and regulations that pertain to service of process. ​

CONTENTS:

Title 9. Civil Practice

• Service

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• 9-10-94. Service.
  A person subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the state under Code Section 9-10-91, or his executor or administrator, may be served with a summons outside the state in the same manner as service is made within the state by any person authorized to make service by the laws of the state, territory, possession, or country in which service is made or by any duly qualified attorney, solicitor, barrister, or the equivalent in such jurisdiction. (Ga. L. 1966, p. 343, § 3.)
  
• Limits of Effective Service.
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  All process may be served anywhere in this state and, when authorized by law or by these rules, may be served outside this state.
• Upon Whom Process Served.
  Service of process, except service by publication as provided in Rule 4.3, shall be made as follows:
  
  Individual.
  Upon an individual, other than a minor or an incompetent person, by serving the individual or by leaving a copy of the summons and the complaint at the individual’s dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein or by delivering a copy of the summons and the complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process;
  
  Minor.
  Upon a minor by serving any one of the following: the father, the mother, the guardian, the individual having care of the minor or with whom the minor lives, or the spouse, if the minor is married, and, if the minor is over the age of twelve years, by also serving the minor personally;
  
  Incompetent Not Confined.
  Upon an incompetent person by serving the incompetent and that person’s guardian but, if no guardian has been appointed, by serving the incompetent and a person with whom the incompetent lives or a person who cares for the incompetent;
  
  Incompetent Confined.
  Upon an incompetent person not having a guardian and confined in any institution for the mentally ill or mentally deficient, by serving the superintendent of the institution or similar official or person having the responsibility for custody of the incompetent person;
  
  Incarcerated Person.
  Upon an individual incarcerated in any penal institution or detention facility within this state, by serving the individual, except that when the individual to be served is a minor, by serving any one of the following: the father, the mother, the guardian, the individual having care of the minor, or the spouse, if the minor is married, and, if the minor is over the age of twelve (12) years by serving the minor personally;
  
  Corporation.
  Upon a corporation, either domestic or foreign, by serving the agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process or by serving the corporation by certified mail at any of its usual places of business or by serving an officer or an agent of the corporation;
  
  Partnership.
  Upon a partnership, a limited partnership, or a limited partnership association, by serving the entity by certified mail at any of its usual places of business or by serving a partner, limited partner, or manager or member;
  
  Unincorporated Organization or Association.
  Upon an unincorporated organization or association by serving it in its entity name by certified mail at any of its usual places of business or by serving an officer or agent of any such organization or association or an officer or agent of any branch or local office of the organization or association;
  
  Professional Association, Professional Corporation, or Limited Liability Company.
  Upon a professional association, a professional corporation, or a limited liability company, by serving the association, corporation, or company in the entity’s name by certified mail at the place where the entity’s offices are maintained or by serving a shareholder, or by serving the agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process;
  
  State.
  Upon this state or any one of its departments, offices, and institutions, by serving the officer responsible for the administration of the department, office, or institution, and by serving the attorney general of this state;
  
  County.
  Upon a county or upon any of its offices, agencies, districts, departments, institutions, or administrative units, by serving the chairman or presiding officer or member of the governing body of such county.
  
  Municipal Corporation.
  Upon a municipal corporation or upon any of its offices, departments, agencies, authorities, institutions, or administrative units, by serving the mayor or the presiding officer or councilman, commissioner, or other member of the municipal corporation.
  ​
  Other Governmental Entity.
  Upon any governmental entity not mentioned above, by serving the person, officer, group, or body responsible for the administration of that entity or by serving the appropriate legal officer, if any, representing the entity. Service upon any person who is a member of the “group” or “body” having responsibility for the administration of the entity shall be sufficient.

9-11-4. Process

• SUMMONS | ISSUANCE

• SUMMONS | FORM

• SUMMONS | BY WHOM SERVED

• SUMMONS | PERSONAL SERVICE

• SUMMONS | OTHER SERVICE

• Territorial Limits of Effective Service

• RETURN

• Amendment

• ALTERNATIVE SERVICE

• SERVICE IN PROBATE COURTS AND SPECIAL STATUTORY PROCEEDINGS

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• Summons – Issuance.
  Upon the filing of the complaint the clerk shall forthwith issue a summons and deliver it for service. Upon request of the plaintiff separate or additional summons shall issue against any defendants.
  
• Summons – Form.
  The summons shall be signed by the clerk; contain the name of the court and county and the names of the parties; be directed to the defendant; state the name and address of the plaintiff’s attorney, if any, otherwise the plaintiff’s address; and state the time within which this chapter requires the defendant to appear and file appropriate defensive pleadings with the clerk of the court, and shall notify the defendant that in case of his failure to do so judgment by default will be rendered against him for the relief demanded in the complaint.
  
• Summons – By whom served.
  Process shall be served by the sheriff of the county where the action is brought or where the defendant is found, or by his deputy, or by the marshal or sheriff of the court, or by his deputy, or by any citizen of the United States specially appointed by the court for that purpose or by someone who is not a party and is not younger than 18 years of age and has been appointed as a permanent process server by the court in which the action is brought. Where the service of process is made outside of the United States, after an order of publication, it may be served either by any citizen of the United States or by any resident of the country, territory, colony, or province who is specially appointed by the court for that purpose. When service is to be made within this state, the person making such service shall make the service within five (5) days from the time of receiving the summons and complaint; but failure to make service within the five-day period will not invalidate a later service.
  
• Summons – Personal service.
  The summons and complaint shall be served together. The plaintiff shall furnish the clerk of the court with such copies as are necessary. Service shall be made by delivering a copy of the summons attached to a copy of the complaint as follows:
  

  1. If the action is against a corporation incorporated or domesticated under the laws of this state or a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state, to the president or other officer of the corporation, secretary, cashier, managing agent, or other agent thereof, provided that when for any reason service cannot be had in such manner, the Secretary of State shall be an agent of such corporation upon whom any process, notice, or demand may be served. Service on the Secretary of State of any such process, notice, or demand shall be made by delivering to and leaving with him or with any other person or persons designated by the Secretary of State to receive such service a copy of such process, notice, or demand, along with a copy of the affidavit to be submitted to the court pursuant to this Code section. The plaintiff or his attorney shall certify in writing to the Secretary of State that he has forwarded by registered mail such process, service, or demand to the last registered office or agent listed on the records of the Secretary of State, that service cannot be effected at such office, and that it therefore appears that the corporation has failed either to maintain a registered office or appoint a registered agent in this state. Further, if it shall appear from such certification that there is a last known address of a known officer of the corporation outside the state, the plaintiff shall, in addition to and after such service upon the Secretary of State, mail or cause to be mailed to the known officer at the address by registered or certified mail a copy of the summons and a copy of the complaint. Any such service by certification to the Secretary of State shall be answerable not more than 30 days from the date the Secretary of State receives such certification;
  2. If the action is against a foreign corporation or a nonresident individual, partnership, joint-stock company, or association, doing business and having a managing or other agent, cashier, or secretary within this state, to such agent, cashier, or secretary or to an agent designated for service of process;
  3. If against a minor, to the minor, personally, and also to his father or his mother or his guardian or his duly appointed guardian ad litem (unless the minor is married, in which case service shall not be made on the minor’s father or his mother or his guardian);
  4. If against a person residing within this state who has been judicially declared to be of unsound mind or incapable of conducting his own affairs and for whom a guardian has been appointed, to the person and also to his guardian and, if there is no guardian appointed, then to his duly appointed guardian ad litem;
  5. If against a county, municipality, city, or town, to the chairman of the board of commissioners, president of the council of trustees, mayor or city manager of the city or to an agent authorized by appointment to receive service of process. If against any other public body or organization subject to an action, to the chief executive officer or clerk thereof;
  6. If the principal sum involved is less than $200.00 and if reasonable efforts have been made to obtain personal service by attempting to find some person residing at the most notorious place of abode of the defendant, then by securely attaching the service copy of the complaint in a conspicuously marked and waterproof packet to the upper part of the door of the abode and on the same day mailing by certified or registered mail an additional copy to the defendant at his last known address, if any, and making an entry of this action on the return of service; or
  7. In all other cases to the defendant personally, or by leaving copies thereof at his dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein, or by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process.
• Service by Publication.
  General. When the person on whom service is to be made resides outside the state, or has departed from the state, or cannot, after due diligence, be found within the state, or conceals himself to avoid the service of the summons, and the fact shall appear, by affidavit, to the satisfaction of the judge or clerk of the court, and it shall appear, either by affidavit or by a verified complaint on file, that a claim exists against the defendant in respect to whom the service is to be made, and that he is a necessary or proper party to the action, the judge or clerk may grant an order that the service be made by the publication of summons, provided that when the affidavit is based on the fact that the party on whom service is to be made resides outside the state, and the present address of the party is unknown, it shall be a sufficient showing of such fact if the affiant shall state generally in the affidavit that at a previous time such person resided outside this state in a certain place (naming the place and stating the latest date known to affiant when the party so resided there); that such place is the last place in which the party resided to the knowledge of affiant; that the party no longer resides at the place; that affiant does not know the present place of residence of the clerk and serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney an answer within 60 days of the date of the order for service by publication and shall bear test in the name of the judge and shall be signed by the clerk of the court. Where the residence or abiding place of the absent or nonresident party is known, the party obtaining the order shall advise the clerk thereof; and it shall be the duty of the clerk, within 15 days after filing of the order for service by publication, to enclose, direct, stamp, and mail a copy of the notice, together with a copy of the order for service by publication and complaint, if any, to the party named in the order at his last known address, if any, and make an entry of this action on the complaint or other pleadings filed in the case. The copy of the notice to be mailed to the nonresident shall be a duplicate of the one published in the newspaper but need not necessarily be a copy of the newspaper itself. When service by publication is ordered, personal service of a copy of the summons, complaint, and order of publication outside the state in lieu of publication shall be equivalent to serving notice by publication and to mailing when proved to the satisfaction of the judge or otherwise. The defendant shall have 30 days from the date of such personal service outside the state in which to file defensive pleadings.
  Personal service outside the state.
  Personal service outside the state upon a natural person may be made:
  

  • in any action where the person served is a resident of this state, and
  • in any action affecting specific real property or status, or in any other proceeding in rem without regard to the residence of the person served. When such facts shall appear, by affidavit, to the satisfaction of the court and it shall appear, either by affidavit or by a verified complaint on file, that a claim is asserted against the person in respect to whom the service is to be made, and that he is a necessary or proper party to the action, the court may grant an order that the service be made by personal service outside the state. Such service shall be made by delivering a copy of the process together with a copy of the complaint in person to the persons served.
• Territorial limits of effective service.
  All process may be served anywhere within the territorial limits of the state and, when a statute so provides, beyond the territorial limits of the state.
  
• Return.
  The person serving the process shall make proof of service thereof to the court promptly and, in any event, within the time during which the person served must respond to the process. Proof of service shall be as follows:
  

  • If served by a sheriff or marshal, or his deputy, the affidavit or certificate of the sheriff, marshal, or deputy;
  • If by any other proper person, his affidavit thereof;
  • In case of publication, the certificate of the clerk of court certifying to the publication and mailing; or
  • The written admission or acknowledgment of service by the defendant. In case of service otherwise than by publication, the certificate or affidavit shall state the date, place, and manner of service. Failure to make proof of service shall not affect the validity of the service.
• Amendment.
  At any time in its discretion and upon such terms as it deems just, the court may allow any process or proof of service thereof to be amended, unless it clearly appears that material prejudice would result to the substantial rights of the party against whom the process issued.
  
• Alternative service.
  The methods of service provided in this Code section are cumulative and may be utilized with, after, or independently of other methods of service. Whenever a statute provides for another method of service, service may be made under the circumstances and in the manner prescribed by the statute or under any other methods prescribed in this Code section. The provisions for service by publication provided in this Code section shall apply in any action or proceeding in which service by publication may be authorized by law; and, where by law special provision is made for service by publication, the procedure for such service by publication provided in this Code section may be utilized in lieu thereof. In all cases or special proceedings where the requirements or procedure for service, or both, are not prescribed by law and in any situation where the provisions therefor are not clear or certain, the court may prescribe service according to the exigencies of each case, consistent with the Constitution.
  
• Service in probate courts and special statutory proceedings.
  The methods of service provided in this Code section may be used as alternative methods of service in proceedings in the probate courts and in any other special statutory proceedings and may be used with, after, or independently of the method of service specifically provided for in any such proceeding; and, in any such proceeding, service shall be sufficient when made in accordance with the statutes relating particularly to the proceeding or in accordance with this Code section. (Ga. L. 1966, p. 609, § 4; Ga. L. 1967, p. 226, §§ 1-3, 51; Ga. L. 1968, p. 1036, § 1; Ga. L. 1968, p. 1104, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1969, p. 487, § 1; Ga. L. 1972, p. 689, §§ 1-3; Ga. L. 1980, p. 1124, § 1; Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 9; Ga. L. 1984, p. 22, § 9; Ga. L. 1989, p. 364, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 626, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 91, § 9.)
  

24-10-23. Service of subpoenas

• Service

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• The acceptance by any nonresident of this state
  whether a person, firm, or corporation, of the rights and privileges conferred by the laws now or hereafter enforced in this state permitting the operation of motor vehicles, as evidenced by the operation of a motor vehicle by any such nonresident anywhere within the territorial limits of this state, shall be deemed equivalent to the appointment by such nonresident of the Secretary of State of Georgia, or his successor in office, to be his true and lawful attorney in fact upon whom may be served all summonses or other lawful processes in any action or proceeding against any such nonresident growing out of any accident or collision in which any such nonresident may be involved by reason of the operation by him, for him, or under his control or direction, express or implied, of a motor vehicle anywhere within the territorial limits of the State of Georgia, and said acceptance or operation shall be a signification of his agreement that any such process against him shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon him personally.
  
  
  
  If such nonresident motorist is a minor, then the minor and
  his parents or guardians shall be deemed to have assented to the appointment by such nonresident minor and his parents or guardians of the Secretary of State of Georgia, or his successor in office, to be the true and lawful attorney in fact for such minor and his parents or guardians, upon whom may be served any summons or other lawful process in any action or proceeding against such nonresident minor, his parents, or guardians growing out of any accident or collision in which any such nonresident minor may be involved by reason of the operation by him, for him, or under his control or direction, express or implied, of a motor vehicle anywhere within the territorial limits of the State of Georgia, and such acceptance or operation shall be a signification of his agreement or an agreement for him by his parents or guardians that any such process against him or them shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon him or them personally; and in this respect, the court wherein such action shall have been filed shall be authorized to appoint, upon motion duly made, a guardian ad litem for such minor for the purposes of defending such suit. (Ga. L. 1937, p. 732, § 1; Ga. L. 1964, p. 299, § 1; Ga. L. 1967, p. 800, § 1.)
  40-12-2. How service on nonresident made.
  Service of process upon a nonresident pursuant to Code Section 40-12-1 shall be made by serving a copy of the complaint or other pleading with summons attached thereto on the Secretary of State, his duly authorized agent, or his successor in office, along with a copy of the affidavit to be submitted to the court pursuant to this Code section. Such service shall be sufficient service upon any such nonresident, provided that notice of such service and a copy of the complaint and process are forthwith sent by registered or certified mail by the plaintiff to the defendant, if his address is known, and the defendant’s return receipt and the plaintiff’s affidavit of compliance with this Code section are appended to the summons or other process and filed with the summons, complaint, and other papers in the case in the court wherein the action is pending. The Secretary of State shall charge and collect a fee as set out in Code Section 45-13-26 for service of process on him under this Code section. (Ga. L. 1937, p. 732, § 2; Ga. L. 1959, p. 113, § 1; Ga. L. 1965, p. 231, § 1; Ga. L. 1983, p. 1474, § 2; Ga. L. 1984, p. 22, § 40; Ga. L. 1989, p. 364, § 2.)
  
• Limits of Effective Service.
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  All process may be served anywhere in this state and, when authorized by law or by these rules, may be served outside this state.
• Upon Whom Process Served.
  Service of process, except service by publication as provided in Rule 4.3, shall be made as follows:
  
  Individual.
  Upon an individual, other than a minor or an incompetent person, by serving the individual or by leaving a copy of the summons and the complaint at the individual’s dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein or by delivering a copy of the summons and the complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process;
  
  Minor.
  Upon a minor by serving any one of the following: the father, the mother, the guardian, the individual having care of the minor or with whom the minor lives, or the spouse, if the minor is married, and, if the minor is over the age of twelve years, by also serving the minor personally;
  
  Incompetent Not Confined.
  Upon an incompetent person by serving the incompetent and that person’s guardian but, if no guardian has been appointed, by serving the incompetent and a person with whom the incompetent lives or a person who cares for the incompetent;
  
  Incompetent Confined.
  Upon an incompetent person not having a guardian and confined in any institution for the mentally ill or mentally deficient, by serving the superintendent of the institution or similar official or person having the responsibility for custody of the incompetent person;
  
  Incarcerated Person.
  Upon an individual incarcerated in any penal institution or detention facility within this state, by serving the individual, except that when the individual to be served is a minor, by serving any one of the following: the father, the mother, the guardian, the individual having care of the minor, or the spouse, if the minor is married, and, if the minor is over the age of twelve (12) years by serving the minor personally;
  
  Corporation.
  Upon a corporation, either domestic or foreign, by serving the agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process or by serving the corporation by certified mail at any of its usual places of business or by serving an officer or an agent of the corporation;
  
  Partnership.
  Upon a partnership, a limited partnership, or a limited partnership association, by serving the entity by certified mail at any of its usual places of business or by serving a partner, limited partner, or manager or member;
  
  Unincorporated Organization or Association.
  Upon an unincorporated organization or association by serving it in its entity name by certified mail at any of its usual places of business or by serving an officer or agent of any such organization or association or an officer or agent of any branch or local office of the organization or association;
  
  Professional Association, Professional Corporation, or Limited Liability Company.
  Upon a professional association, a professional corporation, or a limited liability company, by serving the association, corporation, or company in the entity’s name by certified mail at the place where the entity’s offices are maintained or by serving a shareholder, or by serving the agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process;
  
  State.
  Upon this state or any one of its departments, offices, and institutions, by serving the officer responsible for the administration of the department, office, or institution, and by serving the attorney general of this state;
  
  County.
  Upon a county or upon any of its offices, agencies, districts, departments, institutions, or administrative units, by serving the chairman or presiding officer or member of the governing body of such county.
  
  Municipal Corporation.
  Upon a municipal corporation or upon any of its offices, departments, agencies, authorities, institutions, or administrative units, by serving the mayor or the presiding officer or councilman, commissioner, or other member of the municipal corporation.
  ​
  Other Governmental Entity.
  Upon any governmental entity not mentioned above, by serving the person, officer, group, or body responsible for the administration of that entity or by serving the appropriate legal officer, if any, representing the entity. Service upon any person who is a member of the “group” or “body” having responsibility for the administration of the entity shall be sufficient.

​Disclaimer: Laws and regulations change often, therefore please visit your state specific website to stay abreast of updates and amendments.

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