ga-submit-order · diff
v0.1.0 to v0.1.0
169 added, 27 removed. Audit A to A.
---
name: ga-submit-order
description: >
- Use after a hearing, when the judge has ruled and the prevailing party needs to submit the proposed order for signature.
+ This skill should be used after a Georgia hearing, when the judge
+ has ruled and a party needs to submit a proposed order for
+ signature, or when the court directs a party to draft the order.
+ Triggers include "submit a proposed order Georgia", "judge signed
+ my order", "transmit order to chambers", "Georgia post-hearing
+ order", "draft the order after hearing Georgia". In Georgia an order
+ is entered when it is signed by the judge and filed with the clerk
+ (entry equals filing under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58). Covers preparing the
+ proposed order to conform to the court's oral ruling, transmitting
+ it to chambers (e-filing, lead sheet, or Word copy to the staff
+ attorney per local practice), circulating to opposing counsel "as to
+ form" where required, the certificate of service, and confirming the
+ signed and entered order.
version: 0.1.0
---
# Post-Hearing Order Submission (Georgia)
- > **TODO**: Author substantive content. This is a scaffolded
- > stub. Research the Georgia analog from authoritative sources
- > before writing — do not search-and-replace from another
- > state plugin.
-
> **NOT LEGAL ADVICE.** This skill is a procedural and
> drafting aid, not legal advice. Verify current rules,
> deadlines, and venue-specific practices before filing.
> Pair with substantive review by counsel where stakes
> warrant.
- ## State context
+ Use this skill after a Georgia court hearing when:
- - **State**: Georgia
- - **Format rule**: O.C.G.A. § 9-11-10 + Uniform Superior Court Rules
- - **Civil rules**: Georgia Civil Practice Act (O.C.G.A. Title 9, Ch. 11)
- - **Evidence rules**: Georgia Evidence Code (O.C.G.A. Title 24)
- - **Style manual**: Georgia appellate citation (Bluebook-based)
+ 1. The judge **ruled from the bench** and directed a party to draft
+ the order; or
+ 2. The court issued a ruling and directed the prevailing party to
+ submit a proposed order; or
+ 3. The parties **agreed** to a result and need to memorialize it.
- ## What to author
+ ## Entry of an order in Georgia — O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58
- 1. Description: replace the placeholder with realistic trigger
- phrases for how a Georgia pro se filer would ask about this
- 2. Body: substantive content matching the role
- 3. Composition notes: which other ga- skills this layers
- with
- 4. References: the supporting `references/*.md` files
+ In Georgia, an order or judgment is **entered when it is signed by
+ the judge and filed with the clerk** — under **O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58**,
+ "entry" means filing. The signed-and-filed date is what starts
+ post-judgment clocks (motions, appeals). The proposed order you
+ submit is not operative until the judge signs it and it is filed by
+ the clerk.
- ## References to author
+ ## Cardinal rule — conform the order to the ruling
- - Research the Georgia analog from authoritative sources
- before authoring; do NOT search-and-replace from another
- state plugin
+ The proposed order must reflect **exactly** what the judge ruled. If
+ the oral ruling is ambiguous:
- ## Cross-references
+ - **Listen to the record** (court recording or reporter; obtain
+ through the clerk).
+ - **Confer with opposing counsel** on the proper wording.
+ - **Do not embellish** — if the court did not address a sub-issue, do
+ not slip a finding into the order.
- - `ga-statewide-format` for format baseline
- - `ga-fulton` / `ga-cobb` / `ga-county-courts` for venue
- - `ga-pro-se` for pro se conventions
+ ## Standard post-hearing workflow
+
+ 1. **Promptly** (per the court's directive, or within a few days)
+ prepare the proposed order in `.docx`. Use `ga-draft-order` for the
+ structure.
+ 2. **Circulate to opposing counsel "as to form"** where the assigned
+ judge's standing order or local practice requires it — opposing
+ counsel approves that the language reflects the ruling (not the
+ substance) before submission.
+ 3. **Transmit the proposed order to chambers** by the method local
+ practice requires: e-file the proposed order, attach a lead sheet,
+ and/or email a Word copy to the assigned judge's **staff attorney**
+ so chambers can edit and route it for signature.
+ 4. **The judge signs** the order.
+ 5. **The clerk files (enters) the order** under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58 —
+ this is the operative event.
+ 6. **Serve all parties** with a certificate of service under O.C.G.A.
+ § 9-11-5; registered e-filers are served through the system, any
+ party not on the system by mail or hand delivery.
+
+ ## Transmittal cover email — Word copy to staff attorney
+
+ ```
+ To: [Staff Attorney / Chambers — assigned judge]
+ CC: [Opposing counsel]
+ Subject: Proposed Order — [Case Short Title], Case No. [Number]
+
+ Dear [Staff Attorney / Chambers]:
+
+ Pursuant to the Court's ruling at the [hearing date] hearing on
+ [Motion Title], I am submitting the attached proposed Order
+ reflecting the Court's ruling.
+
+ I circulated the proposed Order to [opposing counsel name] on
+ [date]. [Opposing counsel] [has approved it as to form / objects
+ on the following grounds: ...].
+
+ A Word-format copy is attached; the proposed Order [has been / will
+ be] e-filed under the case today.
+
+ Please let me know if any revisions are required before signature.
+
+ Respectfully,
+ [Name]
+ [Georgia Bar No. or "Pro Se"]
+ [Phone]
+ [Email]
+ ```
+
+ ## "As to form" approval
+
+ Where the judge requires it, opposing counsel signs or initials at
+ the foot of the proposed order:
+
+ ```
+ SO ORDERED, this ____ day of
+ __________, 20__.
+
+ ___________________________
+ Judge, [Superior / State] Court
+ [Circuit] Judicial Circuit
+
+ APPROVED AS TO FORM:
+
+ ___________________________
+ [Opposing Counsel Name]
+ Georgia Bar No. ######
+ Attorney for [Party]
+ ```
+
+ "As to form" means opposing counsel agrees the language **reflects
+ the ruling**, not that opposing counsel agrees with the substance of
+ the ruling. If opposing counsel objects on substance but agrees on
+ form, say so explicitly in the transmittal email.
+
+ ## After the order is entered
+
+ Once the judge signs and the clerk files (enters) the order:
+
+ 1. **Download the entered order** from the e-filing docket.
+ 2. **Verify it matches** the proposed order — judges sometimes
+ interlineate changes before signing.
+ 3. **Calendar any deadlines** the order imposes (e.g., "Defendant
+ shall serve supplemental responses within 14 days") and note that
+ appeal/post-judgment clocks run from entry under O.C.G.A.
+ § 9-11-58.
+ 4. **Serve all parties** with a certificate of service; mail any
+ party not on the e-filing system.
+ 5. **Track compliance** — if the other side does not comply, prepare
+ the next step (motion to compel, motion for contempt, motion to
+ enforce judgment).
+
+ ## Special case — orders following a bench trial or evidentiary hearing
+
+ Orders after a bench trial or evidentiary hearing typically include
+ **findings of fact and conclusions of law** under **O.C.G.A.
+ § 9-11-52**. Draft them carefully:
+
+ - **Findings of fact** — numbered, neutrally stated, each supported
+ by record evidence.
+ - **Conclusions of law** — separately numbered, citing the
+ controlling rule or statute.
+ - **Order / decree** — the actual disposition.
+
+ The court is not bound by either party's proposed findings, but
+ well-drafted findings make it easier for the judge to adopt them.
+
+ ## Special case — family-law final orders
+
+ A final divorce or other domestic order is a Superior Court judgment.
+ Confirm the order resolves every required issue (equitable division,
+ support, custody/parenting time, and child support with the worksheet
+ attached) and that all pre-judgment standing-order filings are on
+ file before the court enters the decree.
+
+ ## Composition
+
+ - For drafting the proposed order: `ga-draft-order`
+ - For drafting any accompanying notice: `ga-draft-note`
+ - For getting the order before the court / chambers channels:
+ `ga-fulton`, `ga-cobb`, `ga-gwinnett`
+ - For hearing prep and the oral ruling itself: `ga-hearings`
+ - For getting the matter heard in the first place:
+ `ga-schedule-hearing`
+ - For deadlines that run from entry: `ga-deadlines`
+ - For format: `ga-statewide-format`
+ - For e-filing the entered order: `ga-file-packet`
+
+ ## References
+
+ - `references/post-hearing-protocol.md` — entry under O.C.G.A.
+ § 9-11-58 and chambers transmittal
+ - `references/proposed-order-transmittal.md` — Word copy / lead sheet
+ to staff attorney; "as to form" circulation
+ - `references/findings-of-fact-conclusions-of-law.md`