The functions referred to in subsections (c) and (d) of Code Section 9-9-32, subsection (c) of Code Section 9-9-34, Code Section 9-9-35, paragraph (3) of Code Section 9-9-37, Code Section 9-9-49, and subsection (b) of Code Section 9-9-56 shall be performed by the superior court in the county agreed upon by the parties. Barring such agreement, these functions shall be performed by the superior court:
§ 9-9-27.County where agreement to be enforced
Chapter 9. Arbitration · Article 1. General Provisions · Last amended 2012 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceThis section identifies which Georgia superior court handles specific court functions under the Code — such as appointing or removing arbitrators and deciding jurisdictional challenges — starting with the county the parties agreed on, and falling back to the county of the hearing, then a party’s residence or business location, then any county.
Full Text of § 9-9-27
(1) In any county where any portion of the hearing has been conducted;
(2) If no portion of the hearing has been conducted in this state, in the county where any party resides or does business; or
(3) If there is no such county, in any county.
Plain-English Summary
Several sections of the Code hand specific jobs to “the court specified in Code Section 9-9-27” — appointing arbitrators, ruling on a challenge, deciding whether an arbitrator’s mandate has terminated, resolving a jurisdictional dispute, issuing subpoenas for witnesses, and deciding whether to set aside an award. This section is where that court gets identified.
The starting point is party choice: whatever superior court the parties agreed on handles these functions. Absent an agreement, the Code works through a ranked list of fallbacks — first, the superior court of any county where part of the hearing took place; if no hearing happened in Georgia at all, the superior court of the county where a party resides or does business; and if neither of those points to a county, any superior court in the state.
The venue rule keeps these Code-assigned court functions from ending up in a jurisdictional fight of their own, giving parties and courts a clear, predictable place to go when they need judicial help with an arbitration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which court handles the specific functions this section lists?
The superior court in the county the parties agreed upon, or if there is no agreement, the superior court determined by the fallback rules in paragraphs (1) through (3).
What is the first fallback if the parties never agreed on a county?
Any county where any portion of the arbitration hearing has been conducted.
What if no part of the hearing took place in Georgia?
Paragraph (2) points to the county where any party resides or does business.
What if none of those fallbacks identify a county?
Paragraph (3) allows the functions to be performed by the superior court of any county.
What kinds of court functions does this venue rule cover?
It covers the functions referenced in Code Sections 9-9-32, 9-9-34, 9-9-35, 9-9-37, 9-9-49, and 9-9-56 — including appointing arbitrators, deciding challenges, and resolving jurisdictional disputes.
Amendment History
Code 1981, § 9-9-27, enacted by Ga. L. 2012, p. 961, § 1/SB 383.
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: OCGA 9-9-27 venue arbitrationwhich georgia superior court hears arbitration casecounty for arbitration enforcement georgiainternational arbitration venue georgiacourt specified in code section 9-9-27