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Landlord-Tenant (Dispossessory)
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The Magistrate Court of Fulton County has developed a Landlord-Tenant FAQ sheet in order to continue to help community members understand their rights as both landlords and tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic. This FAQ sheet covers questions from what has Magistrate Court done to address the Landlord-Tenant cases during the pandemic to giving resources for both landlords and tenants on who they can contact for help. The CDC has released a moratorium regarding dispossessory cases beginning September 4, 2020 until March 31, 2021. Please see the links below for more information.
Please click here to access the FAQ sheet.
Please click here to review the protections for Tenants under the CDC moratorium, see here the required declaration.
Please click here to review the requirements for Landlords under the CDC moratorium, see here the required affidavit.
The Magistrate Court has jurisdiction to hear landlord-tenant disputes which includes dispossessory proceedings. A dispossessory action refers to eviction proceedings brought by a landlord against a tenant. A writ of possession is issued to evict an occupant from the property. The dispossessory complaint is filed under oath by the owner (landlord), testifying to the unlawful possession of the owners property by a tenant. The relationship between the parties must be Landlord and Tenant. The Tenant must be either a Tenant holding over, Tenant at will, a Tenant at sufferance, one not paying rent as it becomes due, or otherwise breaching the conditions of the rental agreement. The Landlord must have made a demand for possession of the premises prior to commencement of the proceedings. Those who consider themselves "agents" of the landlord must comply with Rule 31.
Once a tenant has been served with the Landlord-Tenant (Dispossessory) Affidavit, the tenant has seven (7) days from the date of service to file an answer with our court. If the tenant does not file an answer an eviction may be requested on the eighth (8th) day. If the tenant files an answer, a court date will be set and the plaintiff will be notified by mail of the court date. Once a writ of possession is issued, an eviction must be requested within thirty (30) days of the date of service or a newLandlord-Tenant (Dispossessory) Affidavit must be filed.
You may use the Magistrate Court Guide and File system to draft your Landlord-Tenant (Dispossessory) Affidavit or Answer. Access the Magistrate Court Guide and file System online or use the forms provided.
Forms are in pdf format. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader or other pdf reader program in order to use these forms.
Landlord-Tenant (Dispossessory) Affidavit
Landlord-Tenant (Dispossessory) Answer
Confirm the service address is in Fulton County. Plaintiff(s) must confirm the address for service is in Fulton County. The Marshal's Department will not issue a refund of a service fee if the Marshal's Department determines the address for service is not in Fulton County. Below are websites that may be used to confirm an address is in Fulton County. The Marshal's Department assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided by these websites.
USPS https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action
Fulton County Tax Assessor https://qpublic.schneidercorp.com/
Additional Resources
The Judges and staff of the Magistrate Court cannot provide legal advice. For answers to any questions you may have, please contact Georgia Legal Aid. You may also want to review the Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook, provided by the State of Georgia Department of Community Affairs. While this publication may be helpful to both landlords and tenants, it should not be a substitute for professional legal advice. This Handbook contains information on Georgia landlord-tenant law as of June 2012 and, as such, may not reflect the status of Georgia law.
Free or reduced cost legal assistance for low-income persons is available through either the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, the Georgia Legal Services Program, or the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation.
Magistrate Courts Free Forms Generator
This program is provided free by the Council of Magistrate Court Judges for the public to use and print forms. The program guides the user by questions and providing background information and definitions. At the end, the user may print off a form to take the Magistrate Court and file. If a county has E filing available, that option will be available at the end of the program. Users may incur a fee for using E filing rather than filing in person.
- Can I evict the tenant or the tenant's property from my rental property?
- Can I file a late answer?
- How is the Landlord-Tenant (Dispossessory) Affidavit served on the tenant?
- I have been served with a Landlord-Tenant (Dispossessory) Affidavit. What can I do?
- If the tenant fails to file an answer within 7 days from service of a Landlord-Tenant (Dispossessory) Affidavit, what can I do?
- My landlord failed to make repairs. Now what?
- My landlord owes me money. How can I get it back?
- The last day to file my answer falls on a weekend or a legal holiday and the Magistrate Court is closed. What can I do?
- The tenant has filed an answer with the Magistrate Court. When will the hearing be held?
- What are the requirements for a landlord filing a Landlord-Tenant (Dispossessory) Affidavit?
- What do I bring to court?
- Where do I file a Landlord-Tenant (Dispossessory) Affidavit in order to evict my tenants?
- Will an appeal stop an eviction from going forward?
- Will the Judgment appear on my credit report?
Forms
- Dispossessory Rule 46- Final Magistrate
- Dispossessory Affidavit (PDF)
- Landlord Pamphlet
- Tenant Pamphlet
- Affidavit of Non-Compliance (PDF)
- Affidavit of Non-Military Service
- Appeals (PDF)
- Application for Writ of Possession (PDF)
- Dispossessory Answer (PDF)
- Marshal Entry of Service (PDF)
- Motion for Default (PDF)
- Notice of Appeal (PDF)
- Request for Subpoena (PDF)
- CDC Moratorium - Plaintiffs Affidavit
- Uniform Magistrate Court Rule 31 (PDF)
- Rule 31 Designation of Agent For Business Entity
- Dispossessory Checklist
- Voluntary Dismissal Form_Fillable
RESOURCES
- CDC-Eviction-Moratorium-Extension
- State of Georgia Rental Assistance Program
- Landlord-Tenant FAQ During COVID-19
- 2020 Star C Eviction Relief Fund Fulton
- 2020 Star C Master Apartment List-Fulton County
- Information for Tenants (Nonpayment of Rent)
- Landlord Requirements under the CDC Moratorium
- Necesitas Ayuda Con El Alquiler (City of Atlanta Rental Assistance Program - Spanish)
- City of Atlanta Rental Assistance Program - English
- Housing Resource Information (PDF)
- Ministrial Alliance Rental Assistance Program
- Fulton County Rental Assistance Overview
- FAQ COVID Resource Pamphlet Update 2021
If you do not see the form you need, please access additional Magistrate Court forms and procedures from the Council of Magistrate Court Judges.