---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-440. Standard of proof.
collection: code
id: 15-11-440
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-440 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-440
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-440.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-440/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=1152
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/15-11-425.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 / ADJUDICATION, DISPOSITION, AND REVIEWS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-11-440. Standard of proof.

The petitioner, or prosecuting attorney when representing the state, has the burden of proving the allegations of a child in need of services petition by clear and convincing evidence.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-11-440, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242; Ga. L. 2015, p. 540, § 2-4/HB 361.

## Law Reviews

For article, ‘‘The Child as a Party in Interest in Custody Proceedings,’’ see 10 Ga. St. B. J. 577 (1974). For article surveying Georgia cases in the area of juvenile court practice and procedure from June 1979 through May 1980, see 32 Mercer L. Rev. 113 (1980). For article, ‘‘Termination of Parental Rights: Recent Judicial and Legislative Trends,’’ see 30 Emory L. J. 1065 (1981).

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