Where personal jurisdiction is based solely upon this article, an appearance does not confer such jurisdiction with respect to causes of action not arising from the conduct enumerated in Code Section 9-10-91.
§ 9-10-92.Effect of appearance
Chapter 10. Civil Practice and Procedure Generally · Article 4. Personal Jurisdiction over Nonresidents · Last amended 1970 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceWhen personal jurisdiction over a nonresident rests solely on Georgia’s long-arm statute, the defendant’s appearance in that case does not extend the court’s reach to unrelated claims — jurisdiction still covers only causes of action arising from the specific conduct listed in Code Section 9-10-91.
Full Text of § 9-10-92
Plain-English Summary
This section closes off a tempting shortcut. Once a nonresident defendant shows up in a Georgia case brought under the long-arm statute, could the plaintiff use that appearance as a springboard to add unrelated claims, arguing the defendant is now before the court for anything? This section says no — when personal jurisdiction rests solely on the long-arm article, the defendant’s appearance does not extend the court’s reach beyond the specific conduct that justified jurisdiction under Code Section 9-10-91 in the first place.
The rule keeps long-arm jurisdiction tethered to its purpose. Georgia reaches out to nonresidents because of particular contacts with the state — a business deal, a tort, a piece of property, a family connection — not because the defendant happened to answer a complaint. Appearing to defend against the claim that triggered jurisdiction does not turn a nonresident into someone subject to general jurisdiction for whatever else a plaintiff might want to add to the case.
For defense counsel, this section is one reason a long-arm appearance carries less risk than it might seem: responding to the claims properly before the court will not, by itself, expand what the court can decide against that client.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does appearing in a long-arm case waive jurisdictional objections to unrelated claims?
No. The section specifically provides that an appearance does not confer jurisdiction over causes of action that do not arise from the conduct listed in Code Section 9-10-91.
What kind of jurisdiction does this section limit?
It limits jurisdiction that is based solely on the long-arm article, Article 4 of this chapter — it keeps that jurisdiction confined to the claims connected to the defendant’s Georgia contacts.
Can a plaintiff add unrelated claims once a nonresident defendant appears?
Not on the strength of the appearance alone. Jurisdiction over any added claim still has to arise from conduct enumerated in Code Section 9-10-91.
Why does this rule exist?
It keeps long-arm jurisdiction tied to the specific Georgia contacts that justified it, preventing a defendant’s appearance from being used to expand a court’s power beyond what the statute allows.
Does this section apply if jurisdiction is based on something other than the long-arm statute?
No, by its own terms it applies only where jurisdiction is based solely on this article — a defendant with other ties to Georgia, such as residency, may be subject to broader jurisdiction on a different basis.
Amendment History
Ga. L. 1966, p. 343, § 2; Ga. L. 1970, p. 443, § 2.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, published by the
Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Georgia Code Revision Commission / LexisNexis. Last verified July 17, 2026.
· Official source
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