section,subject,provision,key_figure,notes
"O.C.G.A. 44-7-1","Self help eviction prohibited","A landlord may not remove a tenant without a court issued writ of possession. Changing locks, removing belongings or cutting utilities to force a tenant out is unlawful.","no self help","This is the provision behind every other step. A landlord who bypasses the court process is exposed regardless of whether the tenant owed rent."
"O.C.G.A. 44-7-7","Ending a tenancy at will","Sixty days written notice from the landlord is required to terminate a tenancy at will. A tenant must give thirty days.","60 days landlord, 30 days tenant","Applies to tenancies at will rather than fixed term leases. Once the tenancy ends the landlord must still demand possession before filing."
"O.C.G.A. 44-7-50(a)","Demand for possession","Before filing a dispossessory action the landlord must demand possession. If the tenant refuses or fails to deliver possession when demanded, the owner may go before a judge or magistrate.","demand required","The statute permits the demand to be oral or written. Published sources disagree on whether nonpayment carries a three business day waiting period after the demand; see the unresolved note in this dataset."
"O.C.G.A. 44-7-51(b)","Seven days to answer","The tenant has seven days from the date of actual service to answer the summons, orally or in writing. If day seven falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday the deadline extends to the next business day.","7 days from service","The single most time critical deadline for a tenant. An answer, even a brief one, moves the case to a hearing rather than a default judgment."
"O.C.G.A. 44-7-53(a)","Default judgment","Where the tenant files no answer, the writ of possession issues instanter with the default judgment.","immediate on default","This is why the seven day answer window matters. No answer means no hearing."
"O.C.G.A. 44-7-55","Writ after a contested judgment","Where the case is tried and judgment is entered for the landlord, the writ becomes effective at the expiration of seven days after the date judgment was entered.","7 days after judgment","The seven day window matches the appeal period. A tenant appealing keeps possession only by paying the judgment rent and future rent into the court registry."
"pay and stay","Tender of rent owed","A tenant sued for nonpayment may end the case by tendering all rent owed plus court costs within seven days of the summons.","once per 12 months","The landlord must honor this only once in any twelve month period. It is a right worth knowing about before the seven day answer window closes."