---
title: O.C.G.A. § 42-12-6. Determination as to whether prisoner’s action frivolous.
collection: code
id: 42-12-6
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 42-12-6 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-12-6
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-12-6.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-12-6/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t41-t42-(v29a)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=4afea80d_0#page=666
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/42-12.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-12-5.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: PENAL INSTITUTIONS / PRISON LITIGATION REFORM
---

# O.C.G.A. § 42-12-6. Determination as to whether prisoner’s action frivolous.

Upon the dismissal of a prisoner action or upon the entry of judgment in favor of the responding party, the court shall make a finding as to whether the prisoner’s action was frivolous. The court may award reasonable costs and attorney’s fees to defendants or respondents if the court finds that:

(1) Any material allegation in the prisoner’s in forma pauperis affidavit is false; or

(2) The action or any part of the action is malicious or frivolous as defined in Code Section 9-15-14.

## History

Code 1981, § 42-12-6, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 400, § 1.