Library

What was the question? Here you will find many resources and documents.


STUDY MATERIALS FOR THE CERTIFICATION EXAM ARE LINKED BELOW under "LIBRARY OF HELPFUL INFORMATION"

You may also enjoy another interactive practice exam with different relevant questions at STUDYSTACK.


Sample affidavits and appointment documents are linked below, too, and many other helpful references.


If you want to offer document filing into your clients' cases, then you need to create an account with each of the online filing systems in Georgia. Each county chooses their own online vendors, so if the court you need is not listed on one of these vendors' list, then go to the court's website and look for their specific link. The accounts are free, so no worries there: Odyssey E-File , PeachCourt , nCourt , Iron Data  

Looking for recent Georgia Governor's Executive Orders, or new legislation signed? GA Governor Executive Actions


Continuing Education 5-hour Credit classes are available all year at your convenience. AVOID the CRUNCH to get the Certificate needed in those annual appointment applications in October-November every year! As long as the YEARs are consecutive on your Certificates, it does not matter what dates they were issued. You can get your continuing education done ANYTIME!


EVERY YEAR, in about September, you will need to go to the webpage for the Courts you want to be appointed in, annually or permanently, and find their instructions for application. They do change procedures and requirements frequently, so get in the habit of checking yourself, and not relying on clients or clubs to find out for you. Links to the courts that offer annual orders by application can be found on the Court Annual Orders page.

Annual Order application packages are at the bottom of this page, and are free to print, but instructions and fees for many of them

It is important to note that authority to serve comes from the COURT the case is filed in, NOT the COUNTY the service address is in.


Be aware that there is a NEW COURT in Georgia as of 2020, and it is a STATE-WIDE court, NOT a County court. It is titled Georgia State-wide Business Court, and they DO issue annual orders by application. You may reach the Court via email at jimenezl@gsbc.us or phone at (404) 656-3080 or their website link Georgia State-wide Business Court.


Georgia Secretary of State  - this website has a link to the entire Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), as well as links to the instructions for serving process on companies and non-Georgia defendants through the Secretary of State. It also is the one-stop-search for the REGISTERED AGENT and service address for any registered company in Georgia. 

Library of Helpful Information


STUDY GUIDE of statutes for the Pre-Certification STATE EXAM
List of OCGA statutes referenced in the Pre-Certification Exam administered by the GA JC/AOC
***Just GOOGLE the statutes by their locations, eg. OCGA 9-11-4.1, and read the statutes verbatim...because the exam will have verbiage from the laws. Please email contact@academygpps.com if you have any questions.

Statutes for Rules Regulations.PDF

PRACTICE EXAM
Questions formatted like the state exam, and references to the statutes that contain the answers.
Please email contact@academygpps.com if you have any questions. This exam is also included in the online course, with the answers graded as you go.
Practice Exam-AcademyGPPS.pdf

Practice Exam-Answers.pdf


JC/AOC Rules and Regulations - Georgia - Process Servers
STUDY THIS FOR THE PRE-CERTIFICATION EXAM!!! This is the booklet you need to have quick mental reference to while serving process in Georgia.
Process Server Handbook.pdf


OCGA 9-11-4 - Process Serving regulations
The statute that governs service of process in GA. VERY IMPORTANT TO STUDY FOR THE CERTIFICATION EXAM!
HINT: This is how to properly serve process in Georgia.
OCGA§ 9.11.4.pdf


OCGA 9-11-4.1 - Process Servers certification
The statute that governs certification of process servers in Georgia. Obviously, this is important to STUDY FOR THE EXAM!!!
HINT: This is how to become and stay certified.
OCGA§ 9-11-4.1.pdf


GA Certified Process Server APPLICATION
These are the OFFICIAL APPLICATION FORMS for presenting to a Sheriff after you have passed the state exam. The RENEWAL form is also a part of this package, but is obviously not necessary for initial applicants. The Bond form may also be replaced by a valid proof of insurance coverage. ****DO NOT SUBMIT THE FORM 4 Notification with your initial application for Certification to the Sheriff. GA Sheriffs are not currently approving Notifications. Process Servers must obtain appointment to serve from the courts directly. Most courts are requiring certification of the process server to grant annual Orders.
GA Process Server Certification Application


Yergey Insurance
Call Mike Yergey at Yergey Insurance 800-683-1226 info@yergeyins.com for your bond, or a better option.
yergeyins.com  


No Sunday Service list
Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia - These states statutorily do not allow service of process in their cases on Sundays.
NO.SUNDAY.SERVICE.LIST.pdf


Clayton County Magistrate Court Memorandum regarding Process Servers
Clayton County Magistrate Court will allow private process servers who are on the current Clayton County Superior Court Order to serve in their cases without additional motion by the Plaintiff, IF THE SHERIFF DEPUTY has made at least two attempts in the case.
Clayton county mag memo.pdf


Georgia county Organs
Legal newspapers for legal notices and service by publication.
GA.county.organ.newspapers.pdf


Affidavit of Service - generic template for Georgia Certified Process Server
Here are a couple of examples of an Affidavit of Service in blank.
Affidavit of Service - template.pdf

Affidavit.of.Service.blank.pdf


Federal case Proofs of Service - summons, and each type of subpoena
You may make copies of these Proofs of Service for use in any FEDERAL court case. Just note that there is a different form for each type of document that was served, and the place for the case number is at the top of the form.
Federal Summons Service Return

Federal Subpoena for Trial Appearance Service Return

Federal Subpoena to Produce Service Return

Federal Subpoena for Deposition Service Return


Motion to Appoint, Affidavit of Process Server, and proposed Order of Appointment
Here are examples of the documents you or your client would file into the case to have you appointed as the process server for the one specific case.
Appointment Docs.pdf


Motion for Annual/Permanent Appointment, Affidavit of Process Server, and proposed Order of Appointment

Here are examples of what to file into those courts you would like annual/permanent appointment in, though they do not offer a standardized application.

Permanent Appointment Docs.pdf

Permanent Appointment Judicial Circuit.pdf

 

Notice to Pro Se Litigants - Fayette County Superior Court

This is a well-written guide for plaintiffs that think they can manage a lawsuit of any kind without legal counsel or guidance. It even provides a few government agencies that offer free or low cost assistance.

Notice to Pro Se Litigants


Georgia Notary Regulations

Here are the Georgia notary rules and procedures itemized and easy to follow...not short or enumerated, but not complicated.


GAPPS v Sheriffs - Initial Filing, Appeal, Answer to Appeal, and Final Judgment
This is where the struggle started...and after it ended with a judgment favoring the Sheriffs, the struggle continued...Back and forth...Then the circle is finally closed...for now!
Initial filing of GAPPS v Sheriffs.pdf

Appellees-Supplemental-Brief-SC.pdf

Response to Supplemental Brief P0051818-2.pdf

GAPPS.v.Sheriffs.Final.Judgment.pdf


The result is that the statute OCGA 9-11-4.1 stands as it naturally reads.
Sheriffs are NOT REQUIRED to approve your Form 4 Notice authorizing you to serve process in civil cases in the county they represent. The GSA actually has policy that they will not. This is a separate decision from acknowledging your application for state-wide certification showing that you have met those qualifications. You will still need a single Sheriff's review and approval of your complete application to be CERTIFIED! Sheriffs WILL approve complete applications, so don't be discouraged by the drama, nor confused by the convoluted procedures. Call me and ask if you have questions about it.
Certification does help separate the professionals from the un-trained in the process service industry!
Most courts that offer permanent or annual orders of appointment will require proof of the education or full certification on their applications.

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