| name | ga-file-packet |
| description | This skill should be used when assembling and filing a complete Georgia court motion or pleading packet. Triggers include "assemble my Georgia filing", "how do I e-file in Georgia", "what do I need to file a complaint", "PeachCourt vs Odyssey", "eFileGA", "Georgia filing checklist", "file a new civil action in Georgia", "Fulton e-filing", "what documents to start a Georgia lawsuit". Identifies the filing court and its e-filing platform (PeachCourt for Fulton/Cobb; Odyssey eFileGA for Gwinnett; the county map at georgiacourts.gov/efile-court-records), the documents a new civil action needs (complaint, summons, civil case initiation/disclosure form, filing fee or O.C.G.A. § 9-15-2 pauper's affidavit, sheriff's entry of service), the USCR 36 e-filing mechanics, service of process under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4, and for domestic cases the auto-attaching standing orders plus the required DRFA and Child Support Worksheet. Provides a pre-flight checklist.
|
| version | 0.1.0 |
Assemble a Georgia Court Filing Packet
NOT LEGAL ADVICE. This skill is a procedural and drafting aid,
not legal advice. Verify current rules, deadlines, and
venue-specific practices before filing. Pair with substantive review
by counsel where stakes warrant.
Use this skill when ready to submit a Georgia court filing —
whether starting a new civil action or filing into an existing case.
Step 1 — Identify the court and its e-filing platform
Georgia e-filing is governed by USCR 36 and was made mandatory for
civil filings statewide (SB 407, effective ~January 1, 2019). The
platform is county-dependent:
| County | Platform | Mandatory civil e-file |
|---|
| Fulton | eFileGA / PeachCourt (Tyler Odyssey backbone) | Yes — Superior, State, and Magistrate (no paper, including dispossessory/garnishment) |
| Cobb | PeachCourt (GreenCourt) | Yes — Superior civil since Oct. 1, 2018 |
| Gwinnett | Odyssey eFileGA (Tyler) | Yes — all State and Superior civil; Magistrate optional |
For every other county, check the official map at
georgiacourts.gov/efile-court-records before filing — do not assume
PeachCourt or Odyssey covers a given county.
Confirm the court layer is right before filing: Superior (general
jurisdiction; exclusive over divorce, equity, title to land,
felonies), State (civil of any amount except the Superior-exclusive
subjects), or Magistrate ($15,000 cap, § 15-10-2(5); dispossessory and
garnishment within the cap). See ga-state-court, ga-magistrate,
and the venue skills.
Step 2 — Assemble a new civil action
A new civil action filed in Superior or State Court typically needs:
| # | Document | Notes |
|---|
| 1 | Complaint | O.C.G.A. § 9-11-10 caption + numbered paragraphs; § 9-11-8 short-and-plain statement |
| 2 | Summons | Issued by the clerk; PeachCourt/Odyssey can auto-generate it |
| 3 | Civil Case Initiation / Disclosure Form | Required cover-sheet form; e-filing portals auto-generate or prompt for it |
| 4 | Filing fee — or § 9-15-2 pauper's affidavit | File the affidavit of indigence with the complaint if seeking a fee waiver (see ga-pro-se) |
| 5 | Sheriff's Entry of Service | The service-return form for the sheriff or process server; portals can auto-generate it |
On Fulton's PeachCourt and Cobb's PeachCourt, the system
auto-generates the Case Initiation Form, Disclosure, Summons, and
Sheriff's Entry of Service. On Gwinnett's Odyssey eFileGA, confirm
which forms are auto-populated versus uploaded.
Step 3 — E-filing mechanics (USCR 36)
- Log in to the county's platform (register a free account if needed;
pro se filers can register).
- Start a new case (initial filing) or search the existing case by
number or party name (subsequent filing).
- Select the filing/document type for each component from the
portal menu.
- Upload each component as a separate PDF (or let the portal generate
the auto-forms).
- Pay the filing fee by card, or attach the § 9-15-2 pauper's
affidavit for a fee waiver.
- Submit; the portal returns a file-stamped, time-stamped
confirmation.
USCR 36 also governs the format and signature conventions for
e-filed documents; an electronic signature ("/s/ Name") is accepted.
Step 4 — Service of process (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4)
Filing is not service. After the clerk issues the summons:
- Service of process of the summons + complaint follows O.C.G.A.
§ 9-11-4 — personal service, service on a registered/statutory
agent, the methods in § 9-11-4(f) (including publication), or
acknowledgment/waiver under § 9-11-4.1. Use the sheriff of
the county where the defendant is found or a court-appointed process
server; a party cannot serve their own case.
- The process server completes and files the Sheriff's Entry of
Service to make the return of service part of the record.
- Service of subsequent papers follows O.C.G.A. § 9-11-5;
e-filing through the portal generally e-serves other registered
parties, and every paper carries a certificate of service.
Step 5 — Domestic cases: standing orders + required forms
In divorce, custody, and related domestic actions (Superior Court
exclusively):
- Standing orders auto-attach. In Fulton, Cobb, and Gwinnett the
domestic-relations standing order (and, where applicable, a
co-parenting/seminar standing order) attaches automatically at
filing through the e-filing portal. These typically restrain asset
disposal outside the ordinary course, harassment, insurance changes,
and child removal, and may require a parenting seminar. Read the
attached order — violation is contempt. See
ga-family-law and
ga-family-court.
- DRFA — the Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit under
USCR 24.2 is required in cases involving financial issues.
- Child Support Worksheet — required where child support is at
issue, computed with the Georgia Child Support Commission
calculator (see
ga-family-law). Local practice (e.g., Cobb) may
require it filed and updated by set days before a hearing.
Pre-flight checklist
| Check | Done |
|---|
| Correct court layer confirmed (Superior / State / Magistrate) | ☐ |
| Correct county e-filing platform identified (map checked) | ☐ |
| All packet documents drafted and reviewed | ☐ |
scripts/format-check.py passes on each .docx | ☐ |
ga-quality-check pre-filing review complete | ☐ |
ga-fact-check citation audit complete (high-stakes) | ☐ |
| Complaint + Summons + Case Initiation/Disclosure form ready | ☐ |
| Filing fee available or § 9-15-2 pauper's affidavit attached | ☐ |
| Sheriff's Entry of Service prepared for § 9-11-4 service | ☐ |
| Caption matches across all documents (court, county, file number) | ☐ |
| Certificate of service shows method, date, recipients (§ 9-11-5) | ☐ |
| Domestic only: DRFA (USCR 24.2) + Child Support Worksheet ready | ☐ |
| Domestic only: standing order(s) reviewed | ☐ |
Composition
- For statewide format:
ga-statewide-format
- For drafting each component:
ga-draft-motion,
ga-draft-declaration, ga-draft-order, ga-draft-note
- For pre-filing review:
ga-quality-check, ga-fact-check
- For deadline computation:
ga-deadlines
- For court-specific filing channels:
ga-fulton, ga-cobb,
ga-gwinnett, ga-state-court, ga-magistrate, ga-county-courts
- For pro se filers and fee waivers:
ga-pro-se
- For post-filing scheduling:
ga-schedule-hearing
References
references/efiling-platforms.md — PeachCourt vs. Odyssey eFileGA
by county, USCR 36 mechanicsreferences/new-action-components.md — complaint, summons, case
initiation/disclosure, fee/pauper's affidavit, entry of servicereferences/service-of-process.md — O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4 / § 9-11-4.1
methods and the return of service
