Chatham County Superior Court, Georgia Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

Answer the three questions on the form by checking the appropriate boxes.

6. Provide an answer to the three questions by checking the appropriate boxes.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Child support mediation materials

For child-support mediation, including modifications, both parties must provide sworn financial affidavits and income confirmation, such as paycheck stubs and an income tax return.

SWORN FINANCIAL AFFIDAVITS OF BOTH PARTIES ARE REQUIRED. Confirmation of all income - bring paycheck stubs, income tax return.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Attestation

At the time of request for a pretrial conference or trial, the requesting party must attest in writing that the case has been submitted to ADR or that an exemption was granted.

At the time of request for a pretrial conference or trial, the requesting party must attest in writing that the case has been submitted to ADR or that an exemption was granted.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

Check alternative dispute resolution only when the entire case was resolved through ADR as a non-trial disposition.

Alternative Dispute Resolution: If a case was disposed of via a non-trial disposition, and the method of disposition was alternative dispute resolution. Only check if the whole case was resolved via alternative dispute resolution.

CRITICAL

To schedule mediation in a Domestic case, complete the Domestic Relations questionnaire and The Mediation Center's scheduling request form; if using another mediator, contact that mediator directly to schedule.

To schedule mediation in a Domestic case, you must: (1) Complete the Domestic Relations questionnaire located at https://godr.org/adr-screening/. (2) Complete The Mediation Center's scheduling request form located at https://mediationsavannah.com/superiorcourtmediation/. If you will be using a mediator other than The Mediation Center, it is your responsibility to contact that mediator directly to schedule.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for competency evaluation

The motion must include all of the client's pending case numbers, even if some are not indicted; the information may be supplemented later if necessary.

Include all your client’s pending case numbers, even if they are not all indicted. You can supplement this information later down the road, if necessary.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

Jury Trial: Cases in which a jury is impaneled to determine the issues of fact in the case. A jury trial should be counted when the jury has been sworn, regardless of whether a verdict is reached.

Jury Trial: Cases in which a jury is impaneled to determine the issues of fact in the case. A jury trial should be counted when the jury has been sworn, regardless of whether a verdict is reached.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Attestation

The requesting party must file the original attestation and a copy for the judge with the Clerk of Court.

The original attestation and a judge's copy shall be filed with the Clerk of Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

DBHDD referral form

Include any observations that the client may not understand their surroundings or the legal process.

Include your observations, if any, that your client may not understand his surroundings or the legal process.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Bond petition

The attorney must add the hearing date and time to the petition and file the completed petition in the record.

The defendant’s attorney shall be responsible for adding that date and time to the petition and then filing the completed petition into the record.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

The form must include the plaintiff’s and defendant’s names.

2. Provide the plaintiff’s and defendant’s names.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Adr initiation form

The parties or their attorneys must complete and file an ADR Initiation Form and submit a copy to the ADR Office when the complaint or answer is filed.

The parties or their attorneys shall complete and file an ADR Civil or Domestic Initiation Form and submit a copy of the Initiation Form to the ADR Office in Room 426 of the Courthouse at the time of filing the complaint or answer.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Prepare a proposed competency-evaluation order that includes all of the client's pending case numbers.

Prepare a proposed Order for Mental Evaluation Regarding Competency to Stand Trial. Include all your client’s pending case numbers.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Adr fee waiver form

The ADR Fee Waiver Form must be submitted to the ADR Office at the stated address.

ADR Fee Waiver Forms are available at http://www.chathamcounty.org/supctclk.html and www.chathamcounty.org/adr.html and must be submitted to the ADR Office, 133 Montgomery Street, Room 426, Savannah, Georgia 31401.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

The form must identify the reporting party completing it.

3. Provide the reporting party who is the individual completing the form.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Attestation

The attestation must substantially follow the provided certification form, identifying the party, case, ADR submission or exemption, date, and signature.

The form of attestation shall be substantially as follows: I, _____, (name of attorney or pro se party) hereby certify that _____ (name of case and civil action number) has been - Submitted to ADR or - Has been exempted from ADR. Date: _____ Signature: _____

CRITICAL

Applies to

Initial competency hearing materials

Have the proposed order and the listed referral and supporting materials available for presentation at the initial competency hearing; other helpful materials may also be included.

At the initial competency hearing, have the proposed order(s) as well as the following documents available for presentation to the Court: a. DBHDD Referral Form b. Indictment/Accusation c. Police Reports d. Past Medical Records e. Summary of Defendant’s criminal history (if any) f. Any other documents that may be helpful, including but not limited to school IEP/504 plan records, social security/disability documents, and/or statements from family members or guardians.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Referral form

If the client has a criminal history, summarize it in the referral form and in the presentation to the Court.

If your client has a criminal history, summarize it in your referral form and in your presentation to the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Mediation session

Children may not attend the mediation session.

CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED AT THE MEDIATION SESSION.

CRITICAL

Do not submit GCIC records to the Court or DBHDD.

Do not submit GCIC records to the Court or to DBHDD.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Screening questionnaire

Parties unable to complete the screening questionnaire online must contact the ADR Office by telephone within 15 days after service to complete it.

Parties unable to complete the mandatory screening questionnaire online shall contact the ADR Office at (912)652-7519 no later than fifteen (15) days after service of the petition on the respondent to complete the screening questionnaire over the telephone.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Childcare arrangements

Alternative childcare arrangements must be made for the mediation session.

ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE FOR CHILDCARE

CRITICAL

Applies to

Bond petition

For a defendant without an attorney, the administrative assistant will add the hearing date and time, file the completed petition, and notify the State using one of the stated methods.

The Judge’s administrative assistant shall fill in the bond hearing date and time. The administrative assistant shall then file the completed petition into the record and give notice of the bond hearing to the State (either by electronically filing and serving the petition via eFileGA or by emailing a copy of the completed petition to the attorney for the State).

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Sworn domestic relations financial affidavit

Both parties must provide sworn domestic relations financial affidavits for spousal-support mediation.

SWORN DOMESTIC RELATIONS FINANCIAL AFFIDAVITS OF BOTH PARTIES ARE REQUIRED.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Sworn financial affidavit

Both parties must provide sworn financial affidavits for equitable division of property mediation.

SWORN FINANCIAL AFFIDAVITS OF BOTH PARTIES ARE REQUIRED.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

Bench/Non-Jury Trial: Cases in which a judge or judicial officer is assigned to determine both the issues of fact and law in the case. A bench/non-jury trial should be counted when the first evidence is introduced, regardless of whether a judgment is reached.

Bench/Non-Jury Trial: Cases in which a judge or judicial officer is assigned to determine both the issues of fact and law in the case. A bench/non-jury trial should be counted when the first evidence is introduced, regardless of whether a judgment is reached.

CRITICAL

Applies to

DBHDD referral form

The DBHDD Referral Form should include personal observations explaining the competency concerns.

Include personal observations that explain your competency concerns.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

Check the self-represented-party box if any party was self-represented at any time during the case.

Check if any party was self-represented at any point during the life of the case.

CRITICAL

Applies to

DBHDD referral form

Include all contact information, especially an email address, on the DBHDD Referral Form.

Make sure you put all your contact information- especially your email address.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Bond petition

Must include

case number

The petition must include the Superior Court case number; if none exists, the attorney must first obtain a case number and judicial assignment from the Clerk’s Office, then contact the Judge’s office.

Said bond petition shall include the case’s Superior Court case number. If the case does not yet have a Superior Court case number, the defendant’s attorney shall first obtain a Superior Court case number and judicial assignment by presenting the petition to the Superior Court Clerk’s Office and then contact the Judge’s office.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

Provide attorneys’ names and Bar numbers, or provide self-represented parties’ names and check the self-represented box.

4. Provide the attorneys’ names and Bar numbers. If parties represented themselves, provide their names and check the self-represented box.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition for exemption

Must include

proposed order

If the ADR Office declines to grant an exemption on discretionary grounds, a party may petition the Court, and the petition must be in the form of a motion accompanied by a proposed order.

If the Chatham County ADR Office declines to exempt the case on discretionary grounds, the party may then petition the Court for an exemption. Said petition shall be in the form of a motion accompanied by a proposed order.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Screening questionnaire

Domestic case parties or their attorneys must complete the mandatory screening questionnaire within 15 days after service of the petition.

No later than fifteen (15) days after service of the petition on the respondent, all domestic case parties or their attorneys shall complete the mandatory screening questionnaire located at https://godr.org/adr-screening/.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for competency evaluation

File the Motion for Competency Evaluation and provide the Judge with the DBHDD Referral Form when filing the motion.

File the Motion for Competency Evaluation AND provide the Judge with the DBHDD Referral Form at the time of filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

Indicate the manner of disposition by checking the appropriate box and use the provided definitions.

5. Provide the manner of disposition by checking the appropriate box. See below for definitions.

CRITICAL

The requesting agency or individual must certify that the recording devices, their locations, and their operation will comply with Rule 22 and court guidelines.

The requesting agency/individual certifies that the device(s) to be used and the locations and operation of such device(s) will be in conformity with Rule 22 and any guidelines issued by the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

Check the interpreter box if the court ordered an interpreter for any involved person.

Check if the court ordered an interpreter for any party, witness, or other involved individual.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of interpreter need

If known, the party or attorney must notify the court through a notice that a qualified interpreter is needed.

Pursuant to Uniform Superior Court Rule 7.3, “the party or party's attorney shall inform the court in the form of a notice of the need for a qualified interpreter, if known, within a reasonable time – at least 5 days where practicable – before any hearing, trial, or other court proceeding.”

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

The form must identify the class of court and the county where the case is being disposed.

1. Provide the class of court and county in which the case is being disposed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case disposition information form

Select only one manner of disposition on the form.

Check Only One