After the arbitrators have made their findings, the referee shall furnish each of the parties with a copy thereof. The original shall be entered on the minutes of the court authorizing the arbitration; it shall have all the force and effect of a judgment or decree of the court and may be enforced in the same manner at any time after the adjournment of the court. For the entering of the findings upon the minutes of the court, the clerk shall be entitled to the same fees allowed by law for the entering of judgments in other cases, to be paid by the parties as provided in the submission.
§ 9-9-79.Copy of findings furnished parties; entry of original on court’s minutes; effect and enforcement; clerk’s fees
Chapter 9. Arbitration · Article 2. Medical Malpractice · Last amended 1988 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceDirects the referee to give each party a copy of the arbitrators’ findings, requires the original to be entered on the minutes of the authorizing court where it becomes as enforceable as a judgment or decree, and entitles the clerk to the standard judgment-entry fee, payable by the parties as the submission provides.
Full Text of § 9-9-79
Plain-English Summary
Once the arbitrators finish their written findings under Code Section 9-9-78, the referee distributes a copy to each party. But the original goes to the court: it gets entered on the minutes of the court that authorized the arbitration.
That entry transforms the findings into something a party can enforce without filing a separate lawsuit. From that point, the findings carry the force and effect of a judgment or decree of the court, and they can be enforced the same way at any time after the court adjourns.
The clerk who enters the findings collects the same fee allowed for entering judgments in other cases, and the parties pay that fee as the submission — the document signed under Code Section 9-9-65 — provides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who gives the parties a copy of the arbitrators’ findings?
The referee.
Where does the original of the findings get filed?
It is entered on the minutes of the court that authorized the arbitration.
What legal effect do the findings have once entered on the minutes?
They have all the force and effect of a judgment or decree of the court and may be enforced the same way.
When can the findings be enforced?
At any time after the adjournment of the court, once they are entered.
Who pays the clerk’s fee for entering the findings?
The parties, as provided in the submission, paying the same fees allowed by law for entering judgments in other cases.
Amendment History
Code 1933, § 7-420, enacted by Ga. L. 1978, p. 2270, § 2; Code 1981, § 9-9-129; Code 1981, § 9-9-79, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1988, p. 903, § 3.
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: arbitration findings court minutes georgiaenforce medical malpractice arbitration award georgiaclerk fees arbitration findings georgiaarbitration finding same as judgment