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2018 Georgia Code 16-10-20.1 | Car Wreck Lawyer

Link to State of Georgia Official Statute 2018 Georgia Code Annotated (sourced from legal.resource.org)
O.C.G.A. 16-10-20.1 Case Law from Google Scholar Amendments to OCGA 16-10-20.1

TITLE 16 CRIMES AND OFFENSES

Section 10. Offenses Against Public Administration, 16-10-1 through 16-10-98.

ARTICLE 2 OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND RELATED OFFENSES

16-10-20.1. Filing false documents.

  1. As used in this Code section, the term "document" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form and shall include, but shall not be limited to, liens, encumbrances, documents of title, instruments relating to a security interest in or title to real or personal property, or other records, statements, or representations of fact, law, right, or opinion.
  2. Notwithstanding Code Sections 16-10-20 and 16-10-71, it shall be unlawful for any person to:
    1. Knowingly file, enter, or record any document in a public record or court of this state or of the United States knowing or having reason to know that such document is false or contains a materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
    2. Knowingly alter, conceal, cover up, or create a document and file, enter, or record it in a public record or court of this state or of the United States knowing or having reason to know that such document has been altered or contains a materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation.
  3. Any person who violates subsection (b) of this Code section shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than one nor more than ten years, a fine not to exceed $10,000.00, or both.
  4. This Code section shall not apply to a court clerk, registrar of deeds, or any other government employee who is acting in the course of his or her official duties.

(Code 1981, §16-10-20.1, enacted by Ga. L. 2012, p. 90, § 1/HB 997; Ga. L. 2014, p. 741, § 1/HB 985.)

Cross references.

- Public officers and employees, T. 45.

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 37 Am. Jur. 2d, Fraud and Deceit, § 137 et seq.

Cases Citing O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20.1

Total Results: 5  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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Banta v. State, 642 S.E.2d 51 (Ga. 2007).

Cited 60 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Feb 25, 2007 | 281 Ga. 615

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In re Dorer, 819 S.E.2d 7 (Ga. 2018).

Cited 4 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Sep 10, 2018 | 304 Ga. 442

...According to the response filed by the State Bar of Georgia, a Houston County grand jury indicted Dorer, as well as his assistant, under OCGA § 16-10-20 (making it a felony to file false statements and writings with any state or local government agency) and OCGA § 16-10-20.1 (making it a felony to file false documents in a court of this state).1 Dorer entered a negotiated plea to the charges and pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor offense of violating OCGA § 45-17-8 (e) : "In performing any notarial act, a n...
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In the Matter of David Thomas Dorer, 304 Ga. 442 (Ga. 2018).

Cited 3 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Sep 10, 2018

...According to the response filed by the State Bar of Georgia, a Houston County grand jury indicted Dorer, as well as his assistant, under OCGA § 16-10-20 (making it a felony to file false statements and writings with any state or local government agency) and OCGA § 16-10-20.1 (making it a felony to file false documents in a court of this state).1 Dorer entered a negotiated plea to the charges and pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor offense of violating OCGA § 45-17-8 (e): “In performing any notarial act,...

In the Matter of Paul Gerard Wersant (Ga. 2025).

Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Sep 16, 2025

...admits that, in February 2025, he entered a guilty plea in the Forsyth County Superior Court to two counts of interstate interference with custody and one count of filing false documents. Both of these crimes are felonies. See OCGA § 16-5-45(c)(3); OCGA § 16-10-20.1(c)....
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Massey v. Duke Builders, Inc, 849 S.E.2d 186 (Ga. 2020).

Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Sep 28, 2020 | 310 Ga. 153

...Dishonest claimants, however, face other penalties, such as a defamation of title action, see OCGA § 51-9-11; Roofing Supply of Atlanta v. Forrest Homes, 279 Ga. App. 504, 508 (632 SE2d 161) (2006), or even a felony prosecution for knowingly filing a materially false lien, see OCGA § 16-10-20.1....