---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-153. Amendment of petition.
collection: code
id: 15-11-153
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-153 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-153
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-153.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-153/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=846
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.
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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. § 15-11-153. Amendment of petition.

(a) The petitioner may amend the petition alleging dependency at any time:

(1) To cure defects of form; and

(2) Prior to the adjudication hearing, to include new allegations of fact or requests for adjudication.

(b) When the petition is amended after the initial service to include new allegations of fact or requests for adjudication, the amended petition shall be served on the parties and provided to the attorneys of record.

(c) The court shall grant the parties additional time to prepare only as may be required to ensure a full and fair hearing; provided, however, that when a child is in protective custody or in detention, an adjudication hearing shall not be delayed more than ten days beyond the time originally fixed for the hearing.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-11-153, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242.