Before or during arbitral proceedings, a party may request from a court an interim measure of protection, and a court may grant such measure, and such request shall not be deemed to be incompatible with an arbitration agreement.
§ 9-9-30.Interim measures of protection
Chapter 9. Arbitration · Article 1. General Provisions · Last amended 2012 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceThis section confirms that a party to an international arbitration agreement may still ask a Georgia court for an interim measure of protection, either before the arbitration starts or while it is underway, and that making such a request is never treated as inconsistent with having agreed to arbitrate the dispute.
Full Text of § 9-9-30
Plain-English Summary
Agreeing to arbitrate does not mean giving up on court help entirely. This section says a party can go to court before the arbitration even starts, or at any point while it is underway, and ask for an interim measure of protection — the kind of emergency relief meant to preserve assets, evidence, or the status quo until the dispute gets decided.
The court may grant that request, and the section takes care to say the request itself is not incompatible with the arbitration agreement. Without that language, a party might worry that running to court for protective relief could be read as abandoning the arbitration clause. This section closes that door.
It works alongside the tribunal’s own power to grant interim measures once it is constituted, giving parties a court option that is available even in the early window before any arbitrator has been appointed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a party ask a court for protective relief even though it agreed to arbitrate?
Yes. This section states that requesting an interim measure of protection from a court is not incompatible with an arbitration agreement.
When can this request be made?
Either before arbitral proceedings begin or at any point while they are underway.
Is the court required to grant the interim measure?
The section says a court “may grant such measure,” leaving the decision to the court’s discretion.
Does this section apply even if the arbitration is seated outside Georgia?
Yes. Code Section 9-9-21(b) lists this section among those that apply regardless of where the place of arbitration is located.
How does this differ from an interim measure granted by the arbitration tribunal?
This section addresses relief sought directly from a court, while Code Section 9-9-38 governs interim measures the arbitration tribunal itself may grant once it is constituted.
Amendment History
Code 1981, § 9-9-30, 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 9-9-30 interim measurescourt ordered protective relief arbitration georgiaemergency relief before arbitration georgiainterim measure of protection international arbitrationprovisional remedies arbitration georgia