---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-420. Authority to file petition.
collection: code
id: 15-11-420
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-420 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-420
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-420.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-420/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=1136
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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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 / PETITION AND SUMMONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-11-420. Authority to file petition.

A petition alleging that a child is a child in need of services may be filed by a parent, a guardian, a legal custodian, a law enforcement officer, a guardian ad litem, an attorney who has knowledge of the facts alleged or is informed and believes that such facts are true, or a prosecuting attorney. Except when such petition has been filed by a prosecuting attorney, it 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. When such petition is filed by a prosecuting attorney, the prosecuting attorney shall be authorized to conduct the proceedings on behalf of the state as parens patriae.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-11-420, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242; Ga. L. 2014, p. 780, § 1-32/SB 364; Ga. L. 2015, p. 540, § 2-3/HB 361.

## Cross References

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

## Law Reviews

For article discussing due process in juvenile court procedures in California and Georgia, in light of In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 87 S. Ct. 1428, 18 L. Ed. 2d 527 (1967), see 8 Ga. St. B. J. 9 (1971). For article, ‘‘An Outline of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction with Focus on Child Custody,’’ see 10 Ga. St. B. J. 275 (1973). For article, ‘‘Child Custody—Jurisdiction and Procedure,’’ see 35 Emory L. J. 291 (1986). For article, ‘‘Hush, Little Baby, Don’t Say a Word: How Seeking the ‘Best Interests of the Child’ Fostered a Lack of Accountability in Georgia’s Juvenile Courts,’’ see 58 Mercer L. Rev. 531 (2007). For article, ‘‘The Prosecuting Attorney in Georgia’s Juvenile Courts,’’ see 13 Ga. St. B. J. 27 (2008).

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).