FileMyCase Blog

Georgia legal filings, explained in plain English.

Small Claims

What to bring to your Georgia magistrate court hearing

Win or lose, small claims hearings are decided on preparation. The evidence checklist, what the judge actually wants to hear, and the mistakes that cost self-represented parties.

2026-06-10 · 3 min read

Small Claims

How to serve a small claims defendant in Georgia (sheriff vs. certified mail)

Your Georgia small claims case goes nowhere until the defendant is properly served. How service works in magistrate court, and how to keep it from derailing your case.

2026-06-10 · 3 min read

Small Claims

Filing a Georgia small claims case for under $15,000 — full walkthrough

From demand letter to judgment: how to file a Statement of Claim in Georgia magistrate court, what it costs, and what happens at each step.

2026-06-10 · 3 min read

Record Restriction

Restricting eligible misdemeanors after a 4-year clean record

Georgia’s Second Chance law lets you restrict up to two misdemeanor convictions after four clean years. The eligibility rules, the exclusions, and the petition process.

2026-06-10 · 3 min read

Record Restriction

How to restrict a Georgia arrest that ended in dismissal

Your case was dismissed — but the arrest still shows on background checks. The exact steps to get a dismissed Georgia arrest restricted, for pre- and post-2013 arrests.

2026-06-10 · 3 min read

Record Restriction

Georgia record restriction (OCGA §35-3-37) — who qualifies

Non-convictions, the 2021 Second Chance law, pardoned felonies: a plain-English map of who can get a Georgia record restricted, and who cannot.

2026-06-10 · 3 min read

Name Change

Publishing your name change in the legal organ — why and how

Georgia requires four weeks of newspaper publication for name changes. What the legal organ is, what the ad must say, what it costs, and when publication can be waived.

2026-06-10 · 3 min read

Name Change

Post-name-change checklist: Social Security, DMV, passport, banks

The order matters. How to update every record after your Georgia name change order — and why Social Security always comes first.

2026-06-10 · 3 min read

Name Change

Georgia legal name change — the full superior court process

Petition, publication, objection window, final order: every step of an adult name change in Georgia superior court, with costs and timelines.

2026-06-10 · 3 min read

Garnishment

Wage garnishment in Georgia — how much can you collect from a paycheck?

The federal formula that caps Georgia wage garnishment, what counts as disposable earnings, and what a judgment creditor can realistically expect per pay period.

2026-06-10 · 2 min read

Garnishment

Continuing garnishment vs. one-time garnishment — which to file

Georgia gives judgment creditors two garnishment tools. How continuing (wage) and regular (bank) garnishments differ, and how to choose — or combine — them.

2026-06-10 · 2 min read

Garnishment

Bank account garnishment in Georgia — step by step

How to garnish a debtor’s bank account in Georgia: finding the bank, serving the garnishment, the freeze, exemptions, and getting paid.

2026-06-10 · 3 min read