---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-523. Amendment of petition.
collection: code
id: 15-11-523
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-523 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-523
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-523.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-523/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=1224
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/15-11-522.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-530.md
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 / DELINQUENCY / DELINQUENCY PETITION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-11-523. Amendment of petition.

(a) A prosecuting attorney may amend a petition alleging delinquency at any time prior to the commencement of the adjudication hearing. However, if an amendment is made, a child may request a continuance of his or her adjudication hearing. A continuance may be granted by the court for such period as required in the interest of justice.

(b) When a petition alleging delinquency is amended to include material changes to the allegations or new charges of delinquency for adjudication, the petition shall be served in accordance with Code Sections 15-11-530 and 15-11-531.

(c) After jeopardy attaches, a petition alleging delinquency shall not be amended to include new charges of delinquency.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-11-523, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242.