Rule 4. ATTORNEYS APPEARANCE, WITHDRAWAL AND DUTIES · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4.6 requires a Georgia attorney, promptly upon agreeing to represent a client in a pending superior court matter, to notify the calendar clerk in writing, along with the district attorney in criminal cases or opposing counsel in civil cases, and to update that notice whenever the representation, name, address, or phone number changes.
Full Text of Rule 4.6
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In any matter pending in a superior court, promptly upon agreeing to represent any client, the new attorney shall notify the appropriate calendar clerk in writing (and, in criminal actions, the district attorney; and, in civil actions the opposing attorney(s)) of the fact of such representation, the name of the client, the name and number of the action, the attorney’s firm name, office address and telephone number.
Each such attorney shall notify the calendar clerk (and, in criminal actions, the district attorney; and, in civil actions, the opposing attorney(s)) immediately upon any change of representation, name, address or telephone number.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 4.6 keeps the court and the other side current on who is handling a case. The moment a lawyer agrees to represent someone in a pending superior court matter, that lawyer must promptly tell the calendar clerk in writing — and, depending on the type of case, also notify the district attorney in a criminal action or opposing counsel in a civil one. The notice needs the basics: that representation exists, the client’s name, the case name and number, and the lawyer’s firm name, office address, and phone number.
The duty doesn’t end once that first notice goes out. Anytime the representation changes — a new lawyer takes over, or the existing lawyer’s name, address, or phone number changes — the same people need to hear about it right away. That keeps calendar clerks scheduling matters correctly and keeps opposing counsel from serving papers or making calls to a lawyer who is no longer on the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must a lawyer notify after taking on a new client in a pending superior court case?
The appropriate calendar clerk in writing, and, depending on the case type, the district attorney in a criminal action or opposing attorney or attorneys in a civil action.
What must that notice include?
The fact that representation exists, the name of the client, the name and number of the action, and the attorney’s firm name, office address, and telephone number.
How quickly must the attorney send this notice after agreeing to represent the client?
Promptly upon agreeing to represent the client.
What if the attorney’s address or phone number changes later in the case?
The attorney must immediately notify the calendar clerk, and the district attorney or opposing counsel as applicable, of any change of representation, name, address, or telephone number.
Does this notification duty differ between civil and criminal cases?
The calendar clerk always gets notified, but who else does depends on the case type — the district attorney in criminal actions, the opposing attorney or attorneys in civil actions.
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
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