---
title: O.C.G.A. § 5-3-5. Obligations of court; de novo proceedings; jury trials.
collection: code
id: 5-3-5
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 5-3-5 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/5-3-5
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/5-3-5.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/5-3-5/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t4-6-(v4)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=e24c7bd9_0#page=58
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: APPEAL AND ERROR / SUPERIOR AND STATE COURT APPELLATE PRACTICE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 5-3-5. Obligations of court; de novo proceedings; jury trials.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section or otherwise provided by law, a reviewing court shall:

(1) Review only matters raised in the record of the proceeding in the lower judicatory;

(2) Accept the findings of fact and credibility of the lower judicatory unless they are clearly erroneous;

(3) Accept a decision regarding an issue within the sound discretion of the lower judicatory unless such a decision was an abuse of discretion;

(4) Determine whether the final judgment was sustained by sufficient evidence; and

(5) Review questions of law de novo.

(b) A reviewing court shall conduct a de novo proceeding under this chapter if a de novo proceeding is specified by law. Cases reviewed under this subsection shall be heard by the reviewing court without a jury unless a jury trial is ordered by the reviewing court and authorized by law.

(c) A demand for a jury trial under this chapter shall be filed in the reviewing court within 30 days after filing a petition for review.

(d) Except for convictions under Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 40, the review of any appealable final judgment of a probate court subject to this chapter shall be a de novo proceeding with the right to a jury trial if demanded.

## History

Code 1981, § 5-3-5, enacted by Ga. L. 2022, p. 767, § 1-1/HB 916; Ga. L. 2024, p. 201, § 2/SB 450, effective April 22, 2024.

## Amendments

The 2024 amendment, effective April 22, 2024, added subsection (d).