This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Georgia Arbitration Code.”
§ 9-9-1.Short title
Chapter 9. Arbitration · Article 1. General Provisions · Last amended 1988 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceThis section gives Code Sections 9-9-1 through 9-9-18 their official name — the Georgia Arbitration Code — so that arbitration clauses, contracts, court filings, and later statutes all have one short, recognized label for Georgia’s framework governing domestic arbitration agreements and awards.
Full Text of § 9-9-1
Plain-English Summary
Every statute needs a name people can point to, and this section supplies one. It declares that the sections making up this part of Chapter 9 — the rules governing how arbitration agreements are enforced, how arbitrators are appointed, and how awards are confirmed or challenged in court — are collectively known as the Georgia Arbitration Code.
The label matters more than it looks. Contract drafters who want Georgia law to govern an arbitration clause often write that exact phrase into the agreement, and courts cite it by name in opinions rather than spelling out a string of Code sections. Because Georgia also has a separate international arbitration statute and older provisions for medical malpractice arbitration, a distinct name for this part keeps the three schemes from blurring together.
Nothing in this section changes any party’s rights or obligations. It is a signpost, not a rule of decision — but it is the signpost every other section in this part hangs on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official name of Georgia’s domestic arbitration statute?
Code Sections 9-9-1 through 9-9-18 are collectively known as the Georgia Arbitration Code.
Does this section create any substantive arbitration rights?
No. It only assigns a short title to the statute; the enforceable rules on compelling arbitration, appointing arbitrators, and confirming awards appear in the sections that follow.
Is the Georgia Arbitration Code the same as the Georgia International Commercial Arbitration Code?
No. The Georgia Arbitration Code covers domestic arbitration agreements under this part, while a separate statute beginning at Code Section 9-9-20 governs international commercial arbitration.
Can a contract just say it is governed by the ‘Georgia Arbitration Code’ instead of citing individual Code sections?
Yes. Because this section establishes that name for the statute, referencing it by name in a contract points to the same sections a full citation would.
Where did this short title come from historically?
It traces back to a 1978 enactment that was later redesignated in 1988 when the General Assembly restructured Chapter 9, moving the domestic arbitration provisions to their current numbering.
Amendment History
Code 1933, § 7-301, enacted by Ga. L. 1978, p. 2270, § 1; Code 1981, § 9-9-80; Code 1981, § 9-9-1, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1988, p. 903, § 1.
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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