Uncontested: 14–30 days ·
Contested: 45–90 days · Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7 (Landlord and Tenant)
The Georgia eviction process requires a court-ordered judgment before a landlord can remove a tenant. Timeline figures below begin after the pre-filing notice period expires and the landlord files the complaint with the court. Add 3–60+ days for the applicable pre-filing notice period (pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or no-fault) depending on the eviction reason.
Each row's day-label is the cumulative start of that stage on the worst-case clock.
Pre-filingNoticeFileCourtLockout
3d
1
Stage 1 · Gate
Demand for possession
Day 1
3-business-day written demand to pay or vacate (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50). Day of service does not count. Weekends and holidays excluded. Most Georgia dispossessory cases that fail at the hearing failed at the demand stage.
1–3d
2
Stage 2 · Serve
Dispossessory affidavit and filing
Day 4
Landlord swears out an affidavit before a Magistrate Court judge. Filing fees $60 to $80 by county. Online filing in most metro Atlanta counties; in-person in rural counties.
7d
3
Stage 3 · File
Service and 7-day answer
Day 7
Sheriff or marshal serves the summons. Tenant has 7 calendar days to answer (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-51), with the 7th day extended to the next workday if it lands on a weekend or holiday.
5–14d
4
Stage 4 · Court
Hearing or default judgment
Day 14
If the tenant answers, hearing within 5 to 10 days. Most cases resolve same-day with bench judgment. If the tenant does not answer, default judgment for the landlord on day 8.
7d
5
Stage 5 · Lockout
Writ of possession and lockout
Day 28
Writ becomes effective 7 days after the date of judgment under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-55. Sheriff or marshal executes. Landlord may not enter or change locks before execution.
Day 35
✓
Possession recovered
Worst case · Day 35
Timelines begin at court filing, not notice service.
The Georgia timelines above start when the landlord files the eviction complaint with the court.
Add pre-filing notice periods (3–60 days depending on eviction reason) to get the full end-to-end timeline.
Self-help eviction, changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities, is illegal in Georgia and exposes the landlord to significant damages.
About this page. Researched and written by the NextGen Properties research team — the underwriters, asset managers, and acquisitions staff who have priced, bought, and operated rental property for more than two decades. Reviewed before publication by the NextGen Properties editorial desk. How we work: editorial guidelines · scoring methodology.
