A Georgia Pro Hac Vice Application is the verified court pleading an out-of-state attorney files to get permission to handle one specific case in a Georgia court, even though that attorney does not hold a Georgia bar license. It is filed under Uniform Superior Court Rule 4.4, it must be sponsored by a licensed Georgia lawyer, and it comes with a fee paid to the State Bar of Georgia.
Getting it right matters because Georgia courts treat pro hac vice as a privilege, not a right. A missing certificate of good standing, a skipped disclosure, or an unsigned verification can stall your appearance, force a refiling, or even get your request denied. The State Bar charges $275 for most applicants (or $75 if you already paid the annual fee this year), and that money is non-refundable once you submit, so a careless error costs both time and cash.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What the Pro Hac Vice Application is and exactly who must file it in Georgia
- 🗂️ Every document and detail you need to gather before you open the form
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of all 14 numbered paragraphs, with sample entries
- 👥 Three full filled-out examples following real types of attorneys through the form
- ⚠️ The mistakes that get applications rejected and how to avoid each one
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Georgia Pro Hac Vice Application is a sworn pleading that asks a Georgia court to let a non-resident lawyer appear “for this turn only” in a single, named case. The phrase pro hac vice is Latin for “for this occasion.” You file it because Georgia does not let lawyers practice in its courts unless they are active members of the State Bar of Georgia, and this application is the legal exception that opens the door for one matter.
The rule that requires it is Uniform Superior Court Rule 4.4, which governs State and Superior Courts. If you ignore this rule and appear without admission, the court can strike your filings and your client can lose ground in the case. For example, an out-of-state lawyer who files a motion before being admitted may see that motion thrown out, which can blow a deadline. Many filers wrongly believe a federal admission or another state’s license lets them walk into a Georgia state court, but it does not.
You must file this form if you are a domestic lawyer (licensed in another U.S. state) or a foreign lawyer (licensed in another country) who wants to represent a client in a Georgia court without a Georgia license. The application is submitted to the specific court hearing your case, and a copy with the fee goes to the State Bar’s Office of the General Counsel. The agency that reviews the fee and tracks your admissions is the State Bar of Georgia, while the judge in your case decides whether to grant the request.
Different courts use the same core form but point to different rules. State and Superior Courts use Rule 4.4, Magistrate Courts use Uniform Magistrate Court Rule 7.5, the Georgia State-wide Business Court uses Business Court Rule 4-4, and the Supreme Court of Georgia uses Supreme Court Rule 4(9). The State Bar reviews the fee for all of these except where a court handles it directly.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form, because the application is verified under oath and you cannot guess at the answers. Missing even one item can send your application back to you.
- Certificate of good standing from every bar you belong to. It must be issued no more than 30 days before you file, or the court can reject the application as stale.
- Your full home and business addresses, phone, and email. The court uses these for service and notice, and a wrong address means you miss orders.
- The exact client name and the case caption and number. A mismatch with the court’s docket can delay processing while the clerk sorts out which case you mean.
- Your bar number and admission date for each jurisdiction. The court verifies these against bar records, so an error looks like a misrepresentation.
- A complete list of prior Georgia pro hac vice admissions this year and the past two years. Georgia tracks frequency, and leaving cases off can be treated as a false statement.
- Full details of any past discipline, sanction, or contempt. You must disclose these even if they feel minor, because hiding them is far worse than the event itself.
- Your Georgia sponsoring attorney’s name, bar number, firm, and contact info. Without a local sponsor, the application cannot be filed at all.
- The filing fee. Have a $275 check or money order ready (or $75 if you already paid the annual fee), or a credit card for the online portal.
- A notary. The verification must be sworn before a notary public, so line one up before signing.
If any item is missing, do not file yet. A common scenario: Daniel, a Texas attorney, files without his Georgia certificate because his case is in Georgia, forgetting he still needs his Texas certificate of good standing. The clerk flags it, and he loses three days he did not have before a hearing.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
Georgia does not use a single fill-in-the-blank PDF that every court mails out. Instead, the State Bar’s pro hac vice page hosts an online generator that builds the verified application pleading for you to print, based on the court you select. You answer the prompts, and the system produces a formatted document that follows the Rule 4.4 Appendix.
To reach it, go to the State Bar’s pro hac vice section and click the link to access the application for Magistrate, State and Superior Courts, the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, or the Georgia State-wide Business Court. The tool generates a pleading matching the official Appendix to Rule 4.4. You can then file that pleading with your court and submit a copy plus the fee to the State Bar.
Many courts also publish sample versions. Fulton County, for example, posts filed examples like the verified application used in a real election case, which shows the exact 14-paragraph layout. The Supreme Court of Georgia keeps its own content rules on its pro hac vice page. Always confirm you are using the version tied to your court, because a Magistrate Court will not accept a form built for the Business Court.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Georgia Pro Hac Vice Application Line by Line
The verified application follows a numbered structure set by the Appendix to Rule 4.4. Below, each paragraph gets its own walkthrough in the order it appears on the generated pleading. Fill them in exactly, because this is a sworn document and every line is a statement made under oath.
Caption and Opening Paragraph
The form opens with the court name, the case caption (all party names), and the civil case number, followed by the title VERIFIED APPLICATION FOR PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION. The opening line reads, “Pursuant to Georgia Uniform Superior Court Rule 4.4, I, [your name] (Applicant), hereby apply to this Honorable Court for admission to practice in the above-styled case pro hac vice.”
To answer it, copy the caption word for word from a document already filed in your case so the parties and case number match the docket. Enter your full legal name as it appears on your bar records. For example, Anuj Dixit writes his name into the applicant line and lists Civil Case No. 24CV010786 in the caption.
A common edge case is a case with many parties, like a class action. You may use the lead party followed by “et al.” only if the court’s existing filings do the same, so check the docket first. A frequent mistake here is typing the wrong case number, which routes your application to the wrong file and delays the judge’s review. People often think the caption is just formatting, but it is what ties your admission to one specific case and nothing else.
Paragraph 1: Your Residence Address
This paragraph asks where you personally live. It is your home address, not your office.
Write it in standard mailing format with street, city, state, and ZIP. For example, Anuj Dixit enters 1550 N. El Centro, Apartment 1203, Los Angeles, CA 90028.
If you recently moved, use the address that matches your current bar registration, then update your bar record so they agree. A common mistake is listing your firm address here by habit, which can create confusion if the court later needs to confirm your residency for jurisdiction. Some filers think this line is optional because the case is in Georgia, but the court uses your residence to confirm you are in fact a non-resident who needs pro hac vice.
Paragraph 2: Your Business Address
This line asks for your law office address, phone, and the firm you practice with. It is how the court and opposing counsel reach you during the case.
Enter your firm name, full street address, and a working phone number. For example, Anuj Dixit lists WilmerHale, 350 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071, (213) 443-5300.
If you are a solo practitioner with a home office, use that address and say so plainly rather than inventing a separate office. A mistake filers make is giving a general firm switchboard number instead of a line that reaches them, which means they miss urgent calls about the case. A misconception is that email alone is enough; the form wants a phone number because some courts still call counsel directly.
Paragraph 3: The Client You Represent
This paragraph asks who you have been retained to represent in the case. The court must know exactly which party you speak for.
List the client’s full legal name and address, and match it to how the party appears in the caption. For example, Anuj Dixit writes Democratic National Committee, 430 South Capitol Street Southeast, Washington, DC 20003.
If you represent more than one party, list each one separately so there is no doubt about your scope. A common mistake is naming a person when the real client is their company, which can later raise questions about who you actually represent. Filers sometimes assume “the plaintiffs” is specific enough, but the court wants named parties so your authority is clear.
Paragraph 4: Jurisdictions Where You Are Admitted
This is the heart of the application. It asks for every bar you belong to, with the jurisdiction, date admitted, current status, and your bar or registration number.
List each one in a clean block. For example, Anuj Dixit enters Jurisdiction: California; Date admitted: 1/30/2021; Current Status: Active; Bar No.: 335417, then adds his federal court admissions below it.
If you are admitted to federal courts too, include them, since they show the breadth of your practice and back up your good standing. A serious mistake is leaving off a jurisdiction where you have an inactive or suspended status, because the certificates of good standing will reveal it and the omission looks like concealment. Many lawyers think only their home state matters, but the court wants every admission so it can judge your full record.
Paragraph 5: Georgia Bar Membership History
This paragraph asks whether you have ever been a member of the State Bar of Georgia. It separates true non-residents from former Georgia lawyers.
Most applicants write, “I have never been a member of the State Bar of Georgia.” For example, Anuj Dixit enters exactly that line.
If you once held a Georgia license that lapsed, you must say so and explain, because pro hac vice may not be the right path for a former member. A mistake is glossing over an old Georgia admission, which the Bar can easily find in its own records. People wrongly assume a long-expired membership does not count, but it does, and honesty here protects you.
Paragraph 6: Prior Denials of Pro Hac Vice in Georgia
This line asks whether any Georgia court has ever denied you pro hac vice admission. The court wants to know your track record in the state.
If you have never been denied, write, “I have never been denied pro hac vice admission in Georgia.” For example, Anuj Dixit uses that exact statement.
If you were denied before, disclose it and briefly explain the outcome, because the current judge will weigh whether the old issue still matters. A mistake is treating a withdrawn or abandoned application as a denial, or vice versa, which muddies your answer; describe what actually happened. Filers often fear any prior denial is fatal, but an honest, explained denial is far better than a hidden one.
Paragraph 7: Prior Revocation of Pro Hac Vice in Georgia
This paragraph asks whether a Georgia court ever revoked a pro hac vice admission you held. Revocation is more serious than denial because it means you were admitted and then removed.
If it never happened, write, “I have not had pro hac vice admission revoked in Georgia.” For example, Anuj Dixit states exactly that.
If you were revoked, you must describe the case, the reason, and the status, since the court needs the full picture. A mistake is assuming a case that simply ended counts as a revocation; revocation is a court order removing you, so describe only that. A misconception is that revocation in one county stays local, but Georgia courts share this information and another county will likely learn of it.
Paragraph 8: Sanctions or Discipline by a Georgia Court
This line asks whether you have ever been sanctioned or formally disciplined by a court in Georgia. It targets your conduct inside the state specifically.
If clean, write, “I have never been sanctioned or formally disciplined by a court in Georgia.” For example, Anuj Dixit enters that line.
If you were sanctioned, disclose the court, the nature, and whether it is resolved. A common mistake is deciding a minor fee sanction is too small to mention, when the rule asks about any formal sanction; disclose it and let the court decide its weight. Filers often think only bar discipline counts, but courtroom sanctions count too.
Paragraph 9: Formal Disciplinary Proceedings Anywhere
This paragraph broadens the question to any jurisdiction, asking whether you have ever been the subject of formal disciplinary proceedings. This is the disclosure filers most often get wrong.
If you have none, write, “I have never been the subject of any formal disciplinary proceedings.” For example, Anuj Dixit states exactly that.
If you have any, describe the nature and status of each, even pending matters, because the rule requires it and the court can check with other bars. The most damaging mistake on the entire form is omitting a disciplinary matter here, because that omission itself becomes grounds to deny admission and can trigger a referral. Many lawyers believe a dismissed or private matter need not be reported, but the question covers formal proceedings regardless of outcome, so disclose and explain.
Paragraph 10: Contempt or Court Sanctions for Disobedience
This line asks whether you have ever been formally held in contempt or sanctioned in a written order for disobeying a court’s rules or orders. It looks at how you behave under court authority.
If you have not, write, “I have never been formally held in contempt, or otherwise sanctioned by a court in a written order, for disobedience to its rules or orders.” For example, Anuj Dixit uses that full statement.
If you have, describe the order and the resolution. A mistake is reading this narrowly as only criminal contempt, when it includes civil contempt and written sanction orders too. Filers assume an informal scolding from the bench counts, but this paragraph is about written orders, so focus on those.
Paragraph 11: Prior Georgia Pro Hac Vice Admissions (Appendix A)
This paragraph asks you to list how many times you have applied for or been admitted pro hac vice in Georgia recently, usually over the past two years, often by referring to an attached Appendix A. Georgia uses this to spot lawyers who effectively practice in the state without a license.
In the body, write “See Appendix A,” then in the appendix list each matter with the court, case number, case name, application date, and whether it was granted. For example, Anuj Dixit references Appendix A and lists Northern District of Georgia, Case 1:21-cv-05337-SCJ, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity v. Raffensperger, applied 2/28/2023, granted: Yes.
If you have no prior Georgia admissions, say so plainly rather than leaving it blank. A mistake is undercounting your admissions, which can suggest you are skirting the rule against routine unlicensed practice and may draw extra scrutiny. Lawyers often think only granted admissions count, but the form asks about applications, so list pending and denied ones too.
Paragraph 12: Familiarity with Georgia Rules
This paragraph asks you to confirm you have read and are familiar with the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and the court rules for the court where you seek admission. It binds you to Georgia’s ethics standards.
Write, “I have reviewed and am familiar with the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and all court rules relevant to practice before the court in which I am seeking admission.” For example, Anuj Dixit enters that statement.
Before you sign it, actually read those rules, because by appearing you submit to the State Bar’s disciplinary authority. A mistake is signing this as boilerplate without reading the rules, which leaves you exposed if you breach a Georgia-specific rule you never learned. Filers assume their home-state ethics rules transfer, but Georgia applies its own rules to your conduct in the case.
Paragraph 13: Your Local Sponsoring Attorney
This paragraph names your Georgia local counsel, who must be an active State Bar member and will stay on the case with you. Georgia requires a local sponsor for every pro hac vice lawyer.
Enter the sponsor’s name, Georgia Bar number, firm, address, phone, and email. For example, Anuj Dixit lists Kurt G. Kastorf, Georgia Bar No. 315315, Kastorf Law LLC, 1387 Iverson Street NE, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30307, (404) 900-0330.
Your sponsor must be willing to actively participate, not just lend a name, because the court holds local counsel responsible for the case. A mistake is naming a sponsor who is inactive or who has not agreed in writing, which can void the whole application. Many out-of-state lawyers think local counsel is a formality, but Georgia courts expect that lawyer to appear and remain accountable.
Paragraph 14: Fee Statement
This final paragraph states that you will forward a copy of the application to the State Bar of Georgia with payment. It locks in your promise to pay the required fee.
Write that you will send a check or money order payable to the State Bar of Georgia in the amount of $275, or $75 if you already paid the annual fee this year. For example, Anuj Dixit states he will forward $275 because he has not paid the annual fee this calendar year.
If you represent an indigent client pro bono, you may seek a fee waiver by including a statement and proof, as the Supreme Court rule allows. A mistake is choosing the $75 amount when you have not actually paid the annual fee, which leaves your payment short and your application incomplete. Filers think the fee is refundable if denied, but it is non-refundable, so confirm your application is complete before paying.
Verification, Notary, and Signature
After the 14 paragraphs, you must verify the application under oath. The verification reads that you swear the facts are true and accurate to the best of your knowledge, and you sign before a notary public.
Sign only in front of the notary, who completes the jurat with the date, county, and seal. For example, Anuj Dixit signs and a California notary completes a jurat under Government Code 8202.
If you are out of state, use a notary in your own state; the court accepts an out-of-state jurat. A mistake is signing before seeing the notary, which voids the verification and forces a redo. People assume any signature works, but an unsworn application is not “verified” and the court can reject it outright.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common types of applicants walked through the form. Each shows what a named attorney enters in the key sections.
Example 1: Out-of-State Attorney, Clean Record, Single Case
Sarah Bennett is a New York litigator joining one Georgia contract dispute with a spotless record and no prior Georgia admissions.
| Form Section | What Sarah Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | Superior Court of Cobb County, Civil Case No. 26CV001234 |
| Opening line | “I, Sarah Bennett, hereby apply… pro hac vice” |
| Paragraph 1 (Residence) | 44 Hudson Street, Apt 5B, New York, NY 10013 |
| Paragraph 2 (Business) | Bennett & Cole LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166, (212) 555-0190 |
| Paragraph 3 (Client) | Apex Manufacturing Inc., 18 Industrial Way, Marietta, GA 30060 |
| Paragraph 4 (Jurisdictions) | New York, admitted 6/12/2015, Active, Bar No. 4998761 |
| Paragraphs 5–10 (Disclosures) | “Never” to each — no Georgia membership, denials, discipline, or contempt |
| Paragraph 11 (Prior PHV) | “I have no prior pro hac vice admissions in Georgia” |
| Paragraph 13 (Sponsor) | Marcus Reed, Georgia Bar No. 412009, Reed Law Group, Atlanta, GA |
| Paragraph 14 (Fee) | Will forward $275, has not paid annual fee this year |
Example 2: Attorney With Prior Georgia Admissions This Year
David Okafor is an Illinois attorney who already paid the annual fee this calendar year and has two prior Georgia pro hac vice admissions, so he pays the reduced fee and details his history in Appendix A.
| Form Section | What David Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | Georgia State-wide Business Court, Case No. 26BC000456 |
| Paragraph 1 (Residence) | 920 Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611 |
| Paragraph 2 (Business) | Okafor Trial Group, 55 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603, (312) 555-0144 |
| Paragraph 3 (Client) | Continental Freight LLC, 700 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 |
| Paragraph 4 (Jurisdictions) | Illinois, admitted 5/2/2012, Active, Bar No. 6299002 |
| Paragraphs 5–10 (Disclosures) | “Never” to each |
| Paragraph 11 / Appendix A | Lists 2 prior 2026 admissions with caption, case number, dates, all granted |
| Paragraph 12 (Rules) | Confirms he has read the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct |
| Paragraph 13 (Sponsor) | Lena Choi, Georgia Bar No. 388215, Choi & Partners, Atlanta, GA |
| Paragraph 14 (Fee) | Will forward $75, already paid the annual fee this year |
Example 3: Attorney With a Past Disciplinary Matter to Disclose
Robert Hayes is a Florida attorney who received a public reprimand five years ago and must disclose it fully in Paragraph 9 rather than hide it.
| Form Section | What Robert Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | Superior Court of Fulton County, Civil Case No. 26CV007788 |
| Paragraph 1 (Residence) | 310 Bayshore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606 |
| Paragraph 2 (Business) | Hayes Litigation PA, 101 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602, (813) 555-0177 |
| Paragraph 3 (Client) | Gulf Coast Holdings Inc., 1100 Spring St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309 |
| Paragraph 4 (Jurisdictions) | Florida, admitted 9/20/2008, Active, Bar No. 0099231 |
| Paragraph 8 (GA sanctions) | “Never sanctioned by a Georgia court” |
| Paragraph 9 (Discipline) | Discloses 2021 public reprimand by the Florida Bar, fully resolved, no suspension |
| Paragraph 11 (Prior PHV) | “No prior Georgia pro hac vice admissions” |
| Paragraph 13 (Sponsor) | Angela Torres, Georgia Bar No. 455310, Torres & Hale LLC, Atlanta, GA |
| Paragraph 14 (Fee) | Will forward $275, has not paid annual fee this year |
How to File the Completed Form
Georgia gives you two ways to handle the State Bar side of the filing, plus filing with the court itself. You always do both: file the verified application with your court and send a copy plus the fee to the State Bar.
File with the court. File the verified application in the court hearing your case, usually through that court’s e-filing system, and serve a copy on all parties. There is no separate State Bar court fee, but your court may charge its own filing fee; keep the e-filing confirmation as proof.
Online portal to the State Bar. Use the State Bar’s upload portal to submit your verified application and pay by credit card. The fee is $275, or $75 if you already paid the annual fee, plus a non-refundable convenience fee per card transaction. Save the acknowledgment email as proof of submission and payment.
By mail to the State Bar. Send the verified application with a check or money order for $275 or $75 payable to the State Bar of Georgia to: Office of the General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, 104 Marietta St. NW, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30303, Attn: Pro Hac Vice. Use certified mail so you have a delivery receipt. Processing by mail takes longer than the portal, so allow extra time before any hearing.
For Supreme Court of Georgia cases, you also file the application in that Court and attach an affidavit stating the date you submitted to the State Bar, with the Bar’s acknowledgment or proof of electronic submission as an exhibit, per Supreme Court Rule 4(9). For the Pro Hac Vice Administrator, call 404-526-8603.
What Happens After You File
After you submit, the State Bar logs your application and fee and issues an acknowledgment of submission and payment. This acknowledgment is your proof that the Bar received everything, and some courts require you to attach it to your court filing.
The judge in your case then decides whether to grant admission. The court reviews your disclosures, your certificates of good standing, and your local counsel, and it may grant the request without a hearing or set one if something needs explaining. Once granted, you submit to the authority of the court and the disciplinary jurisdiction of the State Bar of Georgia for everything you do in the case.
After admission, you carry a continuing duty. If a new disciplinary proceeding or sanction arises against you anywhere while your admission is active, you must promptly notify the court, as Supreme Court Rule 4(9) spells out. You also gain access to the court’s e-filing system and must register and follow all of its rules. Failing to update the court about a new disciplinary matter can lead to revocation of your pro hac vice status.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each error below has stopped real applications. Read them before you file.
- Filing a stale certificate of good standing. If it is older than 30 days, the court can reject the application as out of date.
- Omitting a disciplinary matter in Paragraph 9. The omission itself becomes grounds to deny admission and may trigger a referral.
- Naming an inactive local sponsor. An inactive or unwilling Georgia sponsor voids the application and you must start over.
- Copying the wrong case number into the caption. Your application lands in the wrong file and the judge never sees it on time.
- Choosing the $75 fee without paying the annual fee. Your payment falls short and the Bar treats the application as incomplete.
- Signing before reaching the notary. An unsworn verification is invalid and the court can reject the entire filing.
- Listing your office address as your residence. This blurs the non-resident showing the court needs to grant pro hac vice.
- Undercounting prior Georgia admissions in Paragraph 11. It suggests you are practicing in Georgia without a license and draws scrutiny.
- Forgetting to serve all parties. Opposing counsel can object, and the court may delay ruling until service is fixed.
- Skipping the copy to the State Bar. The court may admit you, but an unpaid Bar fee leaves your status defective.
- Leaving a federal court admission off Paragraph 4. Gaps invite questions about whether you concealed a problem admission.
- Assuming the fee is refundable. Once you pay, the money is gone even if the court denies you, so confirm completeness first.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do read the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct before signing Paragraph 12, because you are bound by them once admitted.
- Do request fresh certificates of good standing right before filing, since the 30-day clock is strict.
- Do confirm your local sponsor will actively participate, because the court holds that lawyer accountable.
- Do disclose every discipline or sanction, because honesty is judged more kindly than concealment.
- Do keep your acknowledgment and e-filing receipts, because they prove submission and payment.
- Do match every name and number to the court’s docket, because mismatches cause delays.
- Don’t appear or file substantive motions before the court grants admission, because they can be struck.
- Don’t treat local counsel as a name-only formality, because Georgia expects real participation.
- Don’t guess at fee amounts, because the wrong fee leaves your application incomplete.
- Don’t round or shorten the verification language, because the sworn statement must be exact.
- Don’t ignore your continuing duty to report new discipline, because silence can cost you your admission.
- Don’t wait until the day of a hearing to file, because mail and review take time.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most pro hac vice applications are handled by the out-of-state attorney with the Georgia local sponsor’s help. Here is how going it alone compares to leaning on local counsel or a service.
- Pro (on your own): You save money, since no extra preparation fee is added beyond the $275 Bar fee.
- Pro (on your own): You control the disclosures directly, which matters because you know your own record best.
- Pro (on your own): The form is short and standardized, so a careful lawyer can complete it without help.
- Pro (with local counsel): Your Georgia sponsor knows the local court’s quirks, which speeds approval.
- Pro (with local counsel): A sponsor can file and serve correctly the first time, avoiding rejections.
- Con (on your own): You may miss a local filing rule, since each court has its own e-filing setup.
- Con (on your own): A disclosure judgment call is risky without Georgia-specific guidance.
- Con (on your own): You bear the full cost of any error, including a non-refundable fee.
- Con (with local counsel): You pay for the sponsor’s time, which adds to the cost.
- Con (with local counsel): You rely on someone else’s calendar, which can slow filing if they are busy.
Rule 4.4 vs. Supreme Court Rule 4(9): Key Differences
The same applicant facts can require slightly different steps depending on the court. The table below compares the trial-court path under Rule 4.4 with the Supreme Court of Georgia path.
| Feature | Rule 4.4 (State/Superior) | Supreme Court Rule 4(9) |
|---|---|---|
| Governing authority | Uniform Superior Court Rule 4.4 | Supreme Court Rule 4(9) |
| Where filed | The State or Superior Court hearing the case | The Supreme Court of Georgia |
| Certificate of good standing | Required, recent | Required, issued within 30 days |
| Affidavit of Bar submission | Standard fee statement in Paragraph 14 | Separate affidavit with Bar acknowledgment attached |
| Local counsel | Required Georgia sponsor | Required member of this Court’s bar |
| Fee | $275 or $75 to the State Bar | $275 or $75, with possible indigency waiver |
FAQs
Do I need a Georgia attorney to sponsor my application?
Yes. Every pro hac vice application requires an active Georgia Bar member to serve as local counsel of record, and that sponsor must actively participate in the case throughout.
Do I have to file a certificate of good standing?
Yes. You must attach a current certificate from the highest court of each bar you belong to, issued no more than 30 days before you file the application.
Do I write my home address or office address in Paragraph 1?
Yes, Paragraph 1 asks for your residence, so enter your home address there; your office address goes in Paragraph 2 with your firm name and phone.
Do I list federal court admissions in Paragraph 4?
Yes. Paragraph 4 asks for every jurisdiction where you are admitted, so include federal district and appellate court admissions along with your home-state license.
Do I have to disclose a disciplinary matter that was dismissed?
Yes. Paragraph 9 asks about any formal disciplinary proceeding regardless of outcome, so disclose it and describe the nature and status, even if dismissed.
Do I count denied applications in Paragraph 11?
Yes. Paragraph 11 asks about your Georgia pro hac vice applications, so list pending and denied ones, not only the ones that were granted.
Do I pay $275 or $75?
No single answer fits all; you pay $275 unless you already paid the annual fee this calendar year, in which case the fee drops to $75.
Do I get my fee back if the court denies me?
No. The State Bar fee is non-refundable once submitted, so make sure your application is complete and accurate before you pay.
Do I have to serve the application on the other parties?
Yes. The application must be served on all parties, and skipping service can lead opposing counsel to object and the court to delay its ruling.
Do I sign the application before seeing a notary?
No. The verification must be sworn before a notary public, so sign only in front of the notary or the application is not properly verified.
Do I need to file in the Supreme Court if my State Bar application is still pending?
Yes. If the Bar has not approved it before your first filing, you must still file in the Supreme Court contemporaneously and attach an affidavit of submission.
Do indigent-client representations qualify for a fee waiver?
Yes. Attorneys representing an indigent party pro bono may seek a fee waiver by filing a statement and proof of indigency with the application.
Do I have a duty after I am admitted?
Yes. You must promptly notify the court of any new disciplinary proceeding or sanction against you while your pro hac vice admission remains active.
Do magistrate and business courts use the same form?
No. They use the same generated application tool but cite different rules, so select the correct court in the State Bar generator before printing.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out California State Bar Pro Hac Vice Application (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Florida Bar Pro Hac Vice Verified Motion (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Bar Pro Hac Vice Application (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Pennsylvania Pro Hac Vice Application (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington WSBA Pro Hac Vice Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Multistate Pro Hac Vice Verified Statement + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the State Bar of Arizona Annual Registration + FAQs