---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-401. Child in need of services; venue.
collection: code
id: 15-11-401
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-401 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-401
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-401.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-401/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=1114
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/15-11-400.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 / CHILD IN NEED OF SERVICES / FORMAL COURT PROCEDURES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-11-401. Child in need of services; venue.

(a) A proceeding under this article may be commenced in the county in which the act complained of took place or in the county in which the child alleged to be a child in need of services legally resides.

(b) If a proceeding is commenced in the county in which the act complained of took place, the court shall transfer the case to the county in which the child alleged to be a child in need of services legally resides for further proceedings.

(c) When a proceeding is transferred, certified copies of all legal and social documents and records on file with the clerk of court pertaining to the proceeding shall accompany such transfer.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-11-401, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242.

## Cross References

Venue for criminal actions generally, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. VI, Sec. II, Para. VI and § 17-2-2. Intrastate transfer of cases among Juvenile Courts, Uniform Rules for the Juvenile Courts of Georgia, Rule 5.3.

## Law Reviews

For article discussing venue problems in juvenile court practice and suggesting solutions, see 23 Mercer L. Rev. 341 (1972). For article, ‘‘An Outline of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction with Focus on Child Custody,’’ see 10 Ga. St. B. J. 275 (1973).