State-Specific Legal Forms

Georgia quitclaim deeds must be signed by the grantor and witnessed by two individuals, one of whom must be a notary public. A PT-61 Real Estate Transfer Tax form must be filed and the transfer tax paid at the time of recording.

Georgia adopted a revised Power of Attorney Act effective July 1, 2017. The POA must be signed by the principal and either notarized or witnessed by two adults. Georgia law presumes all POAs are durable unless stated otherwise.

Georgia requires a will to be in writing, signed by the testator, and attested by two competent witnesses. Georgia does not recognize holographic wills. The surviving spouse has a right of year's support, which can be substantial and takes priority over other claims.

Georgia's Advance Directive for Health Care Act (2007) combines the living will and healthcare power of attorney into a single form. The directive must be signed by the principal in the presence of two witnesses, one of whom must not be a healthcare provider.

Georgia does not require an LLC operating agreement by statute. Articles of Organization are filed with the Georgia Corporations Division of the Secretary of State. Georgia has a relatively low annual registration fee.

Georgia is a landlord-friendly state with relatively few statutory restrictions on leases. There is no statewide rent control and no statutory limit on security deposits. The Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook provides guidelines but is not a formal statute.

Georgia eviction (dispossessory proceeding) is landlord-friendly and relatively fast. The landlord must provide a written demand for possession before filing. There is no statutory minimum notice period for nonpayment — the demand can be immediate.

Georgia small claims court handles disputes up to $15,000 (increased from $7,500 in 2023). Cases are heard in Magistrate Court. Attorneys are allowed but not required. No jury trial is available in small claims court.

Georgia allows both no-fault (irretrievably broken marriage) and fault-based grounds for divorce. Georgia follows equitable division of marital property. There is a mandatory 30-day waiting period from the date of service before the divorce can be finalized.

Georgia name changes are filed in Superior Court. The petitioner must publish notice of the petition in the local legal organ newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks. A criminal background check may be required by the court.