Can a business represent itself in the Georgia Magistrate Court?
The magistrate court in Georgia handles small claims matters of 15K or less (amongst other matters). In state or superior courts in Georgia, a business must retain counsel; however, in magistrate court, a business, such as an LLC, corporation, and most other business types, may represent itself. There is a limit, however. The court in Georgia handles small claims matters of 15K or less (amongst other matters). If your business litigation total is under 15K, then yes, you can represent your own business in Magistrate Court.
What Does the Process Look Like for Self-Representation?
To represent your own business in Georgia Magistrate Court, you can send a business representative (any member of your business or someone you want to represent your business) with documents and information to argue the case on behalf of the business.
When Should You Hire a Professional?
Magistrate court is the only court in Georgia where a business can represent itself. Often times this can be advantageous and cost-conscious for a business. While this approach is great to keep expenses down, it can consume quite a bit of time and take a bit of independent research on behalf of the business owner/representative. If you want to represent your own business in court but still need some support behind the scenes, book a strategy session with us today.
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