Quick answer: In Georgia the legal path from a notice to an eviction is the notice period, a filing, seven days for the tenant to answer, a judgment, and a writ of possession that takes effect seven days after the judgment. The officer’s calendar then sets the actual removal.
This Georgia eviction timeline calculator applies O.C.G.A. 44-7-51 and 44-7-55. Choose the reason and enter the notice date, and the judgment date if you have one: it shows the earliest legal dates for each step. It shows legal minimums only, never how long a case usually takes.
Georgia eviction timeline rules at a glance
| Rule | What Georgia says |
|---|---|
| Notice first | Three business days for unpaid money; a demand for possession for a holdover; 60 or 30 days for a tenancy at will (O.C.G.A. 44-7-50) |
| Summons | The tenant answers within 7 days of actual service, orally or in writing (44-7-51(b)) |
| Default | If no answer is made, the landlord may seek a default judgment (44-7-51) |
| Rent into court | A tenant who answers may have to pay rent into the court registry while the case is pending (44-7-54) |
| Writ of possession | Effective 7 days after the judgment (44-7-55) |
| Applying for execution | Within 30 days of issuance, unless good cause is shown (44-7-55(d)) |
| Belongings | The writ authorizes removal of the tenant or its property; after execution it is regarded as abandoned (44-7-55(c)) |
| Tender of payment | The Code describes when a tenant’s payment is a complete defense to a nonpayment case (44-7-52) |
How does the Georgia eviction timeline work?
- The steps. See how long an eviction takes in Georgia.
- In court. See the Georgia dispossessory court process.
- After the judgment. See the Georgia writ of possession.
What does this eviction timeline calculator check?
It starts with the notice date and the earliest filing day, which the Georgia eviction notice calculator explains. It assumes the tenant is served on the filing day, adds seven days for the answer (moving it to the next business day if it falls on a weekend or holiday), treats the next business day as the earliest default judgment and adds seven days for the writ. If you enter a judgment date it uses that. It does not predict whether the tenant answers or tenders payment, when a hearing is set or when an officer can act, and it does not apply local court rules.
Related Georgia landlord-tenant calculators
These four calculators cover the same tenancy from different angles. From here you can go to the Georgia security deposit return deadline calculator for the date the landlord must refund or itemize the deposit, the Georgia security deposit limit calculator for the most a landlord may ask for as a deposit and the Georgia eviction notice calculator for the notice period before a lease can end. Each one cites its own Georgia statutes and shows only what the law says.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an eviction take in Georgia?
The statutes fix only minimums: the notice period, seven days to answer and a writ that takes effect seven days after judgment. How long a real case takes depends on the court and the officer.
How long does a tenant have to answer a dispossessory summons?
Seven days from the date of actual service, moving to the next business day if the seventh day is a weekend or legal holiday.
What if the tenant does not answer?
The landlord may seek a default judgment.
How soon can the writ be executed?
The writ takes effect seven days after the judgment; the landlord then applies to have it executed within 30 days of issuance.
What happens to belongings?
The writ authorizes removal of the tenant or the personal property, and after execution the property is regarded as abandoned.
Can a tenant stop an eviction for nonpayment by paying?
The Code describes when tendering the rent due and costs is a complete defense; ask the court clerk or an attorney whether it applies.