---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-16-40. Honorary office created; qualifications; certificate; effect.
collection: code
id: 15-16-40
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-16-40 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-16-40
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-16-40.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-16-40/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t15-ch12-24-(v13a)-2015-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=cbb30143_0#page=292
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/15-16.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-16-28.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-16-50.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 / SHERIFFS / SHERIFF EMERITUS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-16-40. Honorary office created; qualifications; certificate; effect.

(a) There is created the honorary office of sheriff emeritus of the State of Georgia. Any sheriff of any county of this state who retires under honorable conditions after having attained the age of 75 years and after having served as sheriff for 45 or more years shall automatically hold the honorary office of sheriff emeritus of the State of Georgia.

(b) Any person holding honorary office as sheriff emeritus of the State of Georgia shall upon application to the Secretary of State be issued a special certificate evidencing such honorary office.

(c) The honorary office of sheriff emeritus of the State of Georgia shall not constitute the holding of public office or public employment for the purposes of any other law of this state.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-16-40, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 585, § 1.