Upon notice to all parties of record and after hearing, an order limiting access may be reviewed and amended by the court entering such order or by the appropriate appellate court at any time on its own motion or upon the motion of any person for good cause.
Rule 21.5.Amendments
Rule 21. LIMITATION OF ACCESS TO COURT FILES · Last amended 2019 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceAn order limiting access to a court file is never set in stone: with notice to all parties and a hearing, the court that issued it, or the appropriate appellate court, can revisit and amend it at any time, either on its own initiative or on any person’s motion showing good cause.
Full Text of Rule 21.5
Plain-English Summary
A limitation on access to a court file is not a permanent fixture once entered. Rule 21.5 keeps the door open for reconsideration: the court that entered the order, or the appropriate appellate court, can review and amend it at any time.
Two paths lead there. The court can act on its own motion, or any person, not just a party to the case, can ask for a change by showing good cause. Either way, the process requires notice to all parties of record and a hearing before the order can be amended, so the same procedural care that went into limiting access in the first place applies to loosening or tightening it later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an order limiting access to a court file be changed after it is entered?
Yes, it may be reviewed and amended at any time.
Who can amend an order limiting access?
The court that entered the order, or the appropriate appellate court.
Who can ask for an order limiting access to be amended?
Any person, not just a party to the case, upon a showing of good cause, or the court itself on its own motion.
What procedural steps are required before amending a limitation order?
Notice to all parties of record and a hearing.
What must a person show to get a limitation order amended on their own motion?
Good cause.
Amendment History
Amended effective January 24, 2019.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Uniform Superior Court Rules, published by the
Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia. Last verified July 17, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: Georgia amend order limiting access court fileUSCR 21.5modify sealed court records Georgiareopen sealed court file GeorgiaRule 21.5 Georgia Uniform Superior Court Rules