---
title: O.C.G.A. § 37-3-140. Retention of rights and privileges by patients generally; right to due process.
collection: code
id: 37-3-140
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 37-3-140 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-3-140
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-3-140.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-3-140/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t37-t39-(v28)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=c6b9c518_0#page=197
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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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: MENTAL HEALTH / EXAMINATION, TREATMENT, ETC., FOR MENTAL ILLNESS / RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF PATIENTS, THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, ETC., GENERALLY / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 37-3-140. Retention of rights and privileges by patients generally; right to due process.

Patients shall retain all rights and privileges granted other persons or citizens. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no person who is receiving or has received services for a mental illness shall be deprived of any civil, political, personal, or property rights or be considered legally incompetent for any purpose without due process of law.

## History

Ga. L. 1960, p. 837, § 16; Code 1933, § 88-516, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, p. 499, § 1; Code 1933, § 88-502.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1969, p. 505, § 1; Ga. L. 1978, p. 1789, § 1.

## Cross References

Rights of persons generally, T. 1, C. 2. Capacity of mentally ill persons to enter into contracts, § 13-3-24. Incurable mental illness as grounds for divorce, § 19-5-3. Testamentary capacity of insane persons, § 53-4-11.