---
title: O.C.G.A. § 43-17-21. Burden of proof on persons claiming exemption or exception; certified copies; certificate of compliance or noncompliance.
collection: code
id: 43-17-21
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 43-17-21 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/43-17-21
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/43-17-21.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/43-17-21/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t43-ch1-32-(v30)-2022-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=921d056f_0#page=619
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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current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: PROFESSIONS AND BUSINESSES / CHARITABLE SOLICITATIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 43-17-21. Burden of proof on persons claiming exemption or exception; certified copies; certificate of compliance or noncompliance.

(a) In a civil or administrative proceeding under this chapter, a person claiming an exemption or an exception from a definition has the burden of proving this exemption or exception.

(b) In a criminal proceeding, the burden of going forward with evidence of a claim of exemption or exception from a definition is on the person claiming the exemption or exception.

(c) In any action, civil or criminal, copies, photostatic or otherwise, certified by the Secretary of State of any documents filed in his office and of any of his records shall be admissible with the same effect as the original of such documents or records would have if actually produced.

(d) In any action, civil or criminal, a certificate signed and sealed by the Secretary of State, stating compliance or noncompliance with this chapter, shall constitute prima-facie evidence of such compliance or noncompliance with this chapter and shall be admissible in any such action.

## History

Code 1981, § 43-17-21, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 490, § 1.