---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-150. Authority to file petition.
collection: code
id: 15-11-150
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-150 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-150
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-150.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-150/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t15-ch1-11a-(v13)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d8a8826c_0#page=841
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-146.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COURTS / JUVENILE CODE / DEPENDENCY PROCEEDINGS / DEPENDENCY PETITIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-11-150. Authority to file petition.

A DFCS employee, a law enforcement officer, or any person who has actual knowledge of the abuse, neglect, or abandonment of a child or is informed of the abuse, neglect, or abandonment of a child that he or she believes to be truthful may make a petition alleging dependency. Such petition shall not be accepted for filing unless the court or a person authorized by the court has determined and endorsed on the petition that the filing of the petition is in the best interests of the public and such child.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-11-150, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242; Ga. L. 2014, p. 780, § 1-10/SB 364.

## Cross References

Definition of grandparent and securing of rights, § 19-7-3.

## Law Reviews

For article, ‘‘See No Evil, Speak No Evil: Georgia Supreme Court Narrows Requirements for Mandatory Reporters in May v. State,’’ see 66 Mercer L. Rev. 837 (2015).

For note criticizing jurisdiction of juvenile justice system over runaways and advocating alternative legal approaches, see 24 Emory L. J. 1075 (1975).

For comment on grandparents’ visitation rights in Georgia, see 29 Emory L. J. 1083 (1980).