(a) Caption; names of parties. Every pleading shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the court and county, the title of the action, the file number, and a designation as in subsection (a) of Code Section 9-11-7. In the complaint the title of the action shall include the names of all the parties, but in other pleadings it is sufficient to state the name of the first party on each side with an appropriate indication of other parties. A party whose name is not known may be designated by any name; and, when his true name is discovered, the pleading may be amended accordingly.
§ 9-11-10.Form of pleadings
Chapter 11. Civil Practice Act · Article 3. Pleadings and Motions · Last amended 1967 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceO.C.G.A. § 9-11-10 specifies the required components of a Georgia pleading's caption, requires that claims and defenses be set out in numbered paragraphs organized by transaction or occurrence, and allows a pleading to incorporate other parts by reference and to attach exhibits that become part of the pleading for all purposes.
Full Text of § 9-11-10
(b) Paragraphs; separate statements. All averments of claim or defense shall be made in numbered paragraphs, the contents of each of which shall be limited as far as practicable to a statement of a single set of circumstances; and a paragraph may be referred to by number in all succeeding pleadings. Each claim founded upon a separate transaction or occurrence and each defense other than denials shall be stated in a separate count or defense whenever a separation facilitates the clear presentation of the matters set forth.
(c) Adoption by reference; exhibits. Statements in a pleading may be adopted by reference in a different part of the same pleading or in another pleading or in any motion. A copy of any written instrument which is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof for all purposes.
Plain-English Summary
This is Georgia’s formatting rule for pleadings. Every pleading needs a caption showing the court and county, the title of the action, the file number, and the designation Code Section 9-11-7 requires. The complaint has to name every party in its title, but later pleadings only need to name the first party on each side, with an indication that others are involved. If a party’s true name isn’t known when the pleading is filed, any placeholder name will do, and the pleading can be amended once the real name comes to light.
Subsection (b) governs the body of the pleading: every averment goes in a numbered paragraph, each limited as far as practical to a single set of circumstances, so later pleadings can refer back to a specific paragraph by number. Claims arising from separate transactions or occurrences, and defenses other than plain denials, should be broken into separate counts or defenses whenever doing so makes the pleading easier to follow.
Subsection (c) rounds out the formatting rules by allowing a pleading to adopt statements made elsewhere in the same pleading, in another pleading, or in a motion, by reference alone — no need to repeat them. And any written instrument attached as an exhibit becomes part of the pleading it’s attached to for every purpose, not just as supporting material.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has to appear in the caption of a Georgia pleading?
The name of the court and county, the title of the action, the file number, and the designation required by subsection (a) of Code Section 9-11-7.
Do all Georgia pleadings have to name every party in the caption?
Only the complaint has to list every party's name in its title; other pleadings need only state the first party on each side with an indication that other parties exist.
What if I don't know a defendant's real name when I file a Georgia complaint?
You may designate that party by any name, and once the true name is discovered, you can amend the pleading to correct it.
Do Georgia pleadings have to use numbered paragraphs?
Yes. All averments of claim or defense go in numbered paragraphs, generally limited to a single set of circumstances each, so later pleadings can reference them by number.
Can I incorporate a statement from one part of my Georgia pleading into another part by reference?
Yes. Subsection (c) allows statements to be adopted by reference within the same pleading, in another pleading, or in a motion, and any exhibit attached to a pleading becomes part of it for all purposes.
Amendment History
Ga. L. 1966, p. 609, § 10; Ga. L. 1967, p. 226, § 47.
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
Also known as: Georgia pleading caption requirementsGeorgia form of pleadings rulenumbered paragraphs Georgia complaintexhibits attached to pleading Georgiaunknown defendant name Georgia lawsuit