(a) Every pleading of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in his individual name, whose address shall be stated. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall sign his pleading and state his address. The signature of an attorney constitutes a certificate by him that he has read the pleading and that it is not interposed for delay.
§ 9-11-11.Signing of pleadings; when verification required; rule abolished
Chapter 11. Civil Practice Act · Article 3. Pleadings and Motions · Last amended 1966 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceO.C.G.A. § 9-11-11 requires every pleading to be signed by an attorney of record or, if the party is unrepresented, by the party, with the attorney's signature certifying the pleading was read and isn't filed for delay, generally excuses pleadings from verification, and abolishes the old equity rule requiring two witnesses to overcome a sworn answer.
Full Text of § 9-11-11
(b) Except when otherwise specifically provided by rule or statute, pleadings need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit.
(c) The rule in equity that the averments of an answer under oath must be overcome by the testimony of two witnesses or of one witness sustained by corroborating circumstances is abolished.
Plain-English Summary
Signatures matter more than they might look like on the page. This section requires a represented party’s pleading to carry the signature of at least one attorney of record, in the attorney’s own name, with an address stated; an unrepresented party signs and states an address instead. The attorney’s signature isn’t just a formality — it certifies that the attorney read the pleading and isn’t filing it to cause delay.
Subsection (b) removes a burden that older practice sometimes imposed: pleadings generally don’t need to be verified or accompanied by an affidavit, except where a specific rule or statute says otherwise elsewhere. That keeps routine pleading practice simple, reserving sworn verification for the situations where the law specifically calls for it.
Subsection (c) clears out a historical relic from equity practice — the old rule that an answer given under oath could only be overcome by the testimony of two witnesses, or of one witness backed by corroborating circumstances. That heightened evidentiary hurdle no longer applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to sign a pleading filed in a Georgia civil case?
If a party is represented, at least one attorney of record must sign in their individual name and state their address; an unrepresented party signs the pleading and states their own address.
What does an attorney's signature on a Georgia pleading certify?
That the attorney read the pleading and that it isn't being filed for the purpose of causing delay.
Do Georgia pleadings generally have to be verified or notarized?
No. Subsection (b) excuses pleadings from verification or accompanying affidavit, except where another rule or statute specifically requires it.
What was the old equity rule that this section abolished?
The rule that the averments of a sworn answer could only be overcome by the testimony of two witnesses, or of one witness supported by corroborating circumstances — subsection (c) does away with that heightened standard.
Can an unrepresented party sign their own pleading in Georgia?
Yes. A party not represented by an attorney signs the pleading personally and states their address, just as an attorney would for a represented party.
Amendment History
Ga. L. 1966, p. 609, § 11.
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 attorney signature pleading requirementGeorgia rule signing pleadingsverified pleading Georgia requirementpro se signature Georgia lawsuitattorney certification not for delay Georgia