Chapter 13. Executions and Judicial Sales · Article 7. Judicial Sales · Last amended 2023 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceO.C.G.A. § 9-13-143 caps what publishers may charge for legal advertisements at $15.00 per 100 words for each of the first four insertions and $14.00 per 100 words for every insertion after that, sets a word-counting rule for blocks of numbers and letters, and bars judges of the probate court, sheriffs, coroners, clerks, marshals, and other officers from collecting more than these rates from either party.
(a)The rates to be allowed to publishers for publishing legal advertisements shall be as follows:
(1)For each 100 words, not more than the sum of $15.00 for each insertion for the first four insertions; and
(2)For each subsequent insertion, not more than the sum of $14.00 per 100 words.
In all cases fractional parts of 100 words shall be charged for at the same rate as for 100 words.
(b)For the purpose of the computation in subsection (a) of this Code section, a block of numbers or a block of letters and numbers shall be counted as one word. If the block of numbers or letters or any combination thereof contains a hyphen, a semicolon, a colon, or other similar character or punctuation mark, the block shall still be counted as one word, provided there are no intervening spaces. When an intervening space does occur, this space shall mark the start of a new word.
(c)No judge of the probate court, sheriff, coroner, clerk, marshal, or other officer shall receive or collect from the parties, plaintiff or defendant, other or greater rates than set forth in this Code section.
Plain-English Summary
Advertising a judicial sale costs money, and under Code Section 9-13-145 that cost typically falls on the plaintiff before the sheriff will even run the ad. This section is the price ceiling that keeps the legal organ from setting its own rate for that captive, statutorily required business.
The rate structure rewards the four-week run that Code Section 9-13-140 already requires: $15.00 per 100 words for each of the first four insertions, dropping to $14.00 per 100 words for any insertion beyond that. Fractional blocks of fewer than 100 words are still billed at the full 100-word rate, so there is no discount for running short.
Subsection (b) sets the counting convention that determines what gets billed as a “word.” A run of digits, or of digits and letters together, counts as a single word even when it contains a hyphen, semicolon, colon, or similar punctuation mark, as long as there is no space inside it — a rule that matters for legal descriptions packed with lot numbers and deed book-and-page references. A space, once it appears, starts a new word for counting purposes. Subsection (c) then closes the loop on enforcement: no judge of the probate court, sheriff, coroner, clerk, marshal, or other officer may collect from either party more than the rates this section sets, foreclosing any workaround through an officer’s own markup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum rate a newspaper can charge for a sheriff’s sale advertisement?
$15.00 per 100 words for each of the first four insertions, and $14.00 per 100 words for each insertion after that.
Are these dollar caps adjusted for inflation?
No. The statute sets fixed dollar figures — $15.00 and $14.00 per 100 words — with no built-in adjustment mechanism.
How are things like parcel numbers or deed book references counted toward the word total?
A block of numbers, or of letters and numbers, counts as one word even with an internal hyphen, semicolon, colon, or similar mark, as long as there is no space inside it; a space starts a new word.
What happens when an advertisement runs under 100 words?
A fractional part of 100 words is still charged at the same rate as a full 100 words — there is no reduced rate for a shorter block.
Can a sheriff or clerk charge the parties an additional handling fee on top of these rates?
No. Subsection (c) bars judges of the probate court, sheriffs, coroners, clerks, marshals, and other officers from receiving or collecting more than the rates set in this section.
Amendment History
Ga. L. 1878-79, p. 81, § 1; Code 1882, § 3704a; Civil Code 1895, § 5461; Civil Code 1910, § 6066; Ga. L. 1920, p. 86, § 1; Code 1933, § 39-1105; Ga. L. 1949, p. 566, § 1; Ga. L. 1953, Nov.-Dec. Sess., p. 271, § 2; Ga. L. 1964, p. 77, § 1; Ga. L. 1965, p. 174, § 1; Ga. L. 1968, p. 126, § 1; Ga. L. 1975, p. 52, § 1; Ga. L. 1981, p. 1808, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 1042, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 325, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 91, § 9; Ga. L. 1995, p. 992, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 6, § 9; Ga. L. 2023, p. 535, § 2/HB 254, effective July 1, 2023.
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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