---
title: O.C.G.A. § 9-16-3. Jurisdiction.
collection: code
id: 9-16-3
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 9-16-3 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-16-3
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-16-3.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-16-3/text
source_url: https://archive.org/download/gov.ga.ocga.2024/T09%20Ch12-16%20%28V7A%29%202015.pdf#page=452
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/9-16.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: CIVIL PRACTICE / UNIFORM CIVIL FORFEITURE PROCEDURE ACT
---

# O.C.G.A. § 9-16-3. Jurisdiction.

(a) A civil forfeiture proceeding shall be filed by a state attorney in the name of the State of Georgia in any superior court of this state and may be brought:

(1) In the case of an in rem action, in the judicial circuit where the property is located;

(2) In the case of an in personam action, in the judicial circuit in which the defendant resides; or

(3) By the state attorney having jurisdiction over any offense which arose out of the same conduct which made the property subject to forfeiture.

(b) If more than one state attorney has jurisdiction to file a civil forfeiture proceeding, the state attorney having primary jurisdiction over the conduct giving rise to the forfeiture shall, in the event of a conflict, have priority over any other state attorney.

(c) A civil forfeiture proceeding may be compromised or settled in the same manner as other civil actions.

## History

Code 1981, § 9-16-3, enacted by Ga. L. 2015, p. 693, § 1-1/HB 233.