Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 298 rules apply across Superior Court of Cobb County. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 97
  • Applies to
    Verification form

    A completed Verification form must accompany the adult name-change petition.

  • Applies to
    Publication notice

    Publication is required in every adult name-change case.

  • Applies to
    Final order on motion for contempt

    The final order on a motion for contempt must select only one of the alternatives provided in the form.

Service

All 82
  • Applies to
    Protective order petition
    Service
    Electronic service to clerk

    Immediately after electronically filing protective-order petitions, a TPO Office representative must notify the Clerk of Court or designee of the filing.

  • Applies to
    Original petition or original complaint
    Service
    Personal service to all parties

    Parties must serve other parties with original petitions and original complaints by personal service or another means acceptable under the Civil Practice Act of Georgia.

  • Applies to
    Subsequent electronic document
    Service
    Electronic service to all parties

    Except where the Order provides otherwise, parties must electronically serve subsequent electronic documents on other parties through the EFSP, which delivers all electronically filed and electronically served documents to parties or designated counsel.

Fees

All 38
  • Applies to
    Name change case court filing

    A court filing fee is required for an adult name-change action, with the exact amount available from the clerk’s office.

  • Applies to
    Name change notice publication

    A separate publication fee is required and must be paid separately from the court filing fee by cash, check, or money order.

  • Applies to
    Court filing fee

    A low-income filer may request waiver of the court filing fee by filing the Poverty Affidavit and approval-order forms, but the publication fee remains payable and the case filing cannot be completed until a judge approves the request.

Filing Timing

All 26
  • The clerk cannot complete the case filing until a judge signs the order approving the Poverty Affidavit.

  • Electronic filing does not change applicable filing deadlines.

  • Deadline
    5 business days

    The Clerk must complete all processing needed to update and publicly display case information within five business days after receiving a change-of-address form or notice, regardless of its title.

About Judge Sonja N. Brown

- **Began service:** The Honorable Sonja Natasha Brown began her service as a Cobb County Superior Court Judge on January 1, 2023 - **Prior position:** previously served the citizens of Cobb County as a full-time Magistrate Court Judge - **Prior position:** Director of Community Affairs/Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney with the Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney - Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit - **Prior position:** served in the DeKalb County Solicitor-General's Office as a Deputy Chief Assistant Solicitor-General - **Prior position:** worked as a Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney with the Office of the Fulton County District Attorney where she was assigned to the Crimes against Women and Children Unit (CAWAC) - **Prior position:** began her legal career as a Paralegal/Contracts Administrator, before being promoted to Staff Counsel at Convergent Media Systems Corporation in Alpharetta, Georgia - **Bar:** served as the 2009 President of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA) - **Education:** earned her Juris Doctor at Atlanta's John Marshall Law School - **Education:** a Master of Arts in Christian Practice (MACP) Degree from Duke Divinity School - **Education:** a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Media Arts (Radio/TV/Film) from Clark Atlanta University

- **Courtroom:** 6300 - **Administrative Assistant:** Christa Flint, (678) 581-5400 - **Staff Attorney:** Matthew Freedman, (678) 581-5402 - **Court Reporter:** Samantha Engram, (770) 528-7016 - **Judicial Calendar Coordinator, CIVIL MATTERS ONLY:** Shea Cooper, (770) 528-1453

Common questions about Judge Sonja N. Brown's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Sonja N. Brown?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motions and responses. An extra copy of any motion or response filed in person must be furnished to the Clerk for delivery to Judge Brown.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Furnishing Copies of Motions and Responses to the Judge:

What must be included with plea transcript and certificate filings before Judge Sonja N. Brown?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The plea transcript and certificate must be filed with the case in the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office.

View ruleSource: page 3, section The undersigned Presiding Judge hereby certifies

What must be included with rule 22 request filings before Judge Sonja N. Brown?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The Rule 22 request must identify the proceedings to be recorded.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Rule 22 Request and Order
Complete rules summary for Judge Sonja N. Brown

An extra copy of any motion or response filed in person must be furnished to the Clerk for delivery to Judge Brown.

A courtesy copy of an electronically filed motion or response must be emailed to the Judge's designee within 24 hours of e-filing.

The plea transcript and certificate must be filed with the case in the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office.

The Rule 22 request must identify the proceedings to be recorded.

The Rule 22 request must describe each recording device to be used.

The Rule 22 request must state the date on which the proceedings to be recorded commence.

The undersigned wishes to use the device in the courtroom during the specified date range, subject to the court’s direction regarding possible pooled coverage.

The Rule 22 request must identify the personnel responsible for operating the recording device.

The requester must certify compliance with Rule 22 and court guidelines and acknowledge the possible consequences of violating them.

The Rule 22 request must include the request date and the individual’s signature.

The Rule 22 request must identify the representing party or law firm.

The Rule 22 request must identify the signer’s position.

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