--- name: ga-draft-order description: > This skill should be used to scaffold a Georgia proposed order for a judge's signature. Triggers include "proposed order Georgia", "draft an order for the judge", "draft a Georgia proposed order", "proposed order granting motion to compel Georgia", "default judgment order Georgia", "draft an order on summary judgment Georgia". Produces a proposed order with the caption replicated, recitals and findings, numbered "IT IS HEREBY ORDERED" decretal paragraphs mirroring the relief sought in the underlying motion, and a judge-signature line; flags that the order takes effect only upon signature and entry by filing under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58. version: 0.1.0 --- # Draft a Georgia Proposed Order > **NOT LEGAL ADVICE.** This skill scaffolds a court document > as a drafting aid. The user — not the skill — chooses the > findings, the relief, and the form of the order. Only a > judge signs an order; this skill prepares the proposed form > for the judge's consideration. Verify every rule, deadline, > and citation against current law before filing. Pair with > substantive review by counsel where stakes warrant. Use this skill in addition to `ga-statewide-format` when a motion or stipulation calls for a **proposed order** the judge can sign. The proposed order replicates the caption (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-10(a)), recites the matter before the court, states the findings, and sets out the decretal paragraphs. A judgment or order is effective only when it is **signed by the judge and filed with the clerk** (entry by filing, O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58). ## Cardinal rule — the proposed order mirrors the motion The order's relief should **mirror exactly** the relief requested in the motion. Two failure modes: - **Over-reaching**: ordering something the motion did not request — judges strike or modify these. - **Under-reaching**: omitting something the motion requested. Cross-check the prayer for relief in the motion (`WHEREFORE…`) against the order's decretal paragraphs (`IT IS HEREBY ORDERED…`) one item at a time. ## Standard proposed-order structure ``` [Caption — exactly matching the motion, per O.C.G.A. § 9-11-10(a)] [DOCUMENT TITLE: ORDER ON DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY] This matter comes before the Court on [Movant]'s [Motion Title] (the "Motion"), filed [date]. The Court, having reviewed the Motion, any response and reply, the supporting affidavits and exhibits, and the record, FINDS as follows: 1. [Finding 1 — e.g., "Defendant timely served Plaintiff with its First Interrogatories and Requests for Production on [date]."] 2. [Finding 2 — e.g., "Plaintiff did not timely respond to Interrogatories Nos. 3, 5, and 7 or Requests for Production Nos. 2 and 8 within the time allowed by O.C.G.A. § 9-11-33 and § 9-11-34."] 3. [Finding 3 — additional findings as needed.] The Court CONCLUDES that good cause exists to grant the Motion. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: (a) [Movant]'s Motion to Compel Discovery is GRANTED. (b) Plaintiff shall serve, within [14] days of entry of this Order, full and complete responses to Defendant's Interrogatories Nos. 3, 5, and 7 and Requests for Production Nos. 2 and 8, without objection. (c) [Additional decretal paragraphs as needed.] SO ORDERED, this ___ day of __________, 20__. _____________________________ Judge, [Superior / State] Court of [County] County ``` ## Findings vs. ordering — keep them separate Georgia judges expect a clear separation between **factual findings** (numbered, neutrally stated) and the **decretal paragraphs** (the lettered or numbered list of specific commands). Conflating the two makes it harder for the judge to delete a finding without invalidating a command. ## Default judgment order For a default judgment, the proposed order should recite the predicate findings: ``` This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff's motion for default judgment. The Court FINDS: 1. Defendant was served with the Summons and Complaint on [date] per the return of service filed [date]. 2. Defendant failed to answer or otherwise respond within the time allowed by O.C.G.A. § 9-11-12(a), and the case is in default under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-55(a); the default was not opened. 3. Plaintiff is entitled to judgment in the amount of $______, consisting of [principal $____; interest $____; costs $____]. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that judgment is entered in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant in the amount of $______. ``` ## Entry, signature, and effect — O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58 - **Only a judge signs and enters an order.** The filer submits the order in proposed form; the judge fills any remaining blanks, may strike portions the Court declines to grant, signs, and the clerk files it. - A judgment is effective only upon signing by the judge and **entry by filing** with the clerk (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58). Deadlines that run from "entry of judgment" run from that filing date, not the date the proposed order was submitted. - The signature line should name the court and county: `Judge, [Superior / State] Court of [County] County`. ## Filing checklist - [ ] Caption replicates the motion's caption exactly - [ ] Findings are numbered, neutral, and separate from the decretal paragraphs - [ ] Decretal paragraphs mirror the motion's prayer item-by-item - [ ] Signature line names the court and county; dated blank left for the judge - [ ] No relief beyond what the motion requested - [ ] Format check passes (`scripts/format-check.py`) ## Composition - For format: `ga-statewide-format` - For the supporting motion: `ga-draft-motion` - For the supporting affidavit: `ga-draft-declaration` - For the post-hearing signed-order workflow: `ga-submit-order` - For the venue overlay: `ga-fulton`, `ga-cobb`, `ga-gwinnett`, `ga-state-court`, `ga-magistrate`, `ga-county-courts`, `ga-family-court` - For post-judgment specifics: `ga-post-judgment` - For family-law decrees: `ga-family-law` - For pre-filing QC: `ga-quality-check`, `ga-fact-check` ## References - `references/proposed-order-template.md` — annotated template - `references/default-judgment-order.md` — default-judgment findings variant - `references/findings-vs-order.md` — separation conventions