Process serving · Georgia
How to serve small claims papers in Georgia
Georgia's Magistrate court lists this method: The court serves the defendant with the claim and a summons. The defendant generally has 30 days to answer. Because the court starts that step itself, you may not need a private server unless the court tells you service failed.
Before you hire anyone in Georgia, check whether the court serves the papers itself. Its own guide says:
| Court | Magistrate court |
|---|---|
| Service | The court serves the defendant with the claim and a summons. The defendant generally has 30 days to answer. |
| Where the case is filed | Individual defendant: the county where they live. Corporation: the county of its registered agent. Unincorporated business: the county where it is physically located. |
| Small claims limit | $15,000. Money claims of less than $15,000; counterclaims must also total less than $15,000. |
| Filing fees | filing fee with serving one defendant, low end: $45; filing fee with serving one defendant, high end: $55 |
| Who can file | You may file in your own name without an attorney or hire one. |
When we can help in Georgia
If the court lets you use a private server, send us the filed papers, the address and your deadline. A vetted local server makes the attempts and you get the proof of service on the court's form if it has one.
The full Georgia small claims page, with limits and fees, is here.
Alabama · all states · serving someone in another state
If you represent yourself, you are responsible for your documents: what they say, that they are complete and signed, which court they go to and that they are filed on time. We are not lawyers, we do not give legal advice or draft pleadings, and we cannot guarantee any legal outcome. We file, serve or pull exactly what you send.
Sources
Before you send
- Send the papers to serve as a PDF, with every page in order.
- Give the best address, a description or photo of the person, and the times they're usually home.
- Up to three attempts at different times of day are included.
- You get a notarized affidavit of service once service is made.
- Rules on who may serve papers vary by state. The desk confirms them for your state before assigning a server.
Prefer to talk?
Call the desk and we'll take the request by phone.
Questions
Who serves small claims papers in Georgia?
The court's guide says: The court serves the defendant with the claim and a summons. The defendant generally has 30 days to answer.
What does a Georgia serve cost?
Outside New Jersey every serve is quoted per job, because local server rates and travel differ. We confirm the price before any work starts.
Can you tell me if service was done correctly?
No. The Georgia court decides whether service was proper. We send you the server's proof of service so you can file it.