Rules of civil procedure and service of process requirements for Georgia.
Last updated October 22, 2026
Georgia's rules for serving a summons are in the Georgia Civil Practice Act, mainly O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4. Certified process servers are governed by O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4.1, and subpoenas by the Evidence Code, O.C.G.A. § 24-13-24.
Georgia doesn't have a general process server license. Private servers either are appointed by the court or become certified through a county sheriff.
Disclaimer: Laws change, and this page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Links on this page go to the 2025 Official Code of Georgia as published on Justia. Check the current code or ask an attorney before relying on it.
Georgia process servers
Process-serving software: ServeManager
ServeManager is process-serving software used by agencies across Georgia. It tracks every attempt with date, time, GPS and photos, and generates affidavits of service from the job, which helps with Georgia's 5-business-day proof deadline.
Georgia has no statewide license, but private servers must be authorized in one of these ways (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4(c)):
To become a certified process server, you apply to a county sheriff and must show:
Approved applicants take an oath and get an ID card, which must be shown while serving and can't look like a police badge. Certification lasts three years. Renewal requires a five-hour continuing education course each year and an updated background check.
A certified server can serve process for any Georgia court anywhere in the state, but only in counties whose sheriff allows certified servers. Before serving in a county for the first time, you file a written notice with that county's sheriff, which lasts one year. Claiming to be a certified process server when you aren't is a misdemeanor.
For a step-by-step guide, see Become a Process Server in Georgia.
The summons must be attached to a copy of the complaint and served together (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4(e)).
Deliver the summons and complaint to the defendant personally.
Leave copies at the defendant's dwelling house or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion who lives there.
Deliver copies to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service.
A minor is served personally and through a parent or guardian, unless the minor is married. A person declared incompetent is served personally and through their guardian.
If the principal amount is less than $200 and reasonable efforts at personal service fail, the server can attach the papers in a marked, waterproof packet to the door of the defendant's home and mail a copy the same day by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery.
An authorized process server may enter a gated community for a reasonable time to serve papers, after identifying themselves and showing credentials.
A Georgia resident can be served personally outside the state, as can a defendant in an action involving real property or status. Service in a foreign country follows the Hague Service Convention or another method allowed by law or the court.
If the defendant lives outside Georgia, has left the state, can't be found after due diligence, or is hiding to avoid service, the court can order service by publication. The notice runs four times within 60 days, at least seven days apart, in the newspaper where the county's sheriff's sales are advertised, and the clerk mails a copy to the defendant's last known address. The defendant then has 60 days to answer. See What is service by publication?
The service methods are cumulative. Where the law doesn't set out a procedure, or isn't clear, the court can prescribe how service is made.
Registered agents are listed in the Georgia Secretary of State business search.
A subpoena can be served by a sheriff, a deputy, or anyone at least 18 years old. It can also be sent by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, and the return receipt is prima facie proof of service. A subpoena for a party can be served on their attorney of record (O.C.G.A. § 24-13-24).
The server must file proof of service with the court in the county where the case is pending within 5 business days of service (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4(h)). Proof is:
The proof must state the date, place and manner of service. If proof is filed late, the defendant's time to answer doesn't start until it's filed, but the late filing doesn't make service invalid.
Find agencies in Atlanta, or find a process server anywhere in Georgia.
This page is a general overview of Georgia law, not legal advice. Laws change. Check the current code or talk to an attorney about your case.
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