Georgia § 11-9-516 - What constitutes filing; effectiveness of filing.
Full text of Georgia Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 11-9-516 — What constitutes filing; effectiveness of filing., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 11-9-516. What constitutes filing; effectiveness of filing.
What constitutes filing. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, communication of a record to a filing office and tender of the filing fee or acceptance of the record by the filing office constitutes filing. Refusal to accept record; filing does not occur. Filing does not occur with respect to a record that a filing office refuses to accept because: The record is not communicated by a method or medium of communication authorized by the filing office; An amount equal to or greater than the applicable filing fee is not tendered; The authority is unable to index the record because: In the case of an initial financing statement, the record does not provide a name for the debtor; In the case of an amendment or information statement, the record: Does not identify the initial financing statement as required by Code Section 11-9-512 or 11-9-518, as applicable; Identifies an initial financing statement whose effectiveness has lapsed under Code Section 11-9-515; Identifies more than one initial financing statement; or Indicates that it is presented to accomplish more than one action, such as amendment and continuation; In the case of an initial financing statement that provides the name of a debtor identified as an individual or an amendment that provides a name of a debtor identified as an individual which was not previously provided in the financing statement to which the record relates, the record does not identify the debtor's surname; or In the case of a record filed or recorded in the filing office described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 11-9-501, the record does not provide a sufficient description of the real property to which it relates; In the case of an initial financing statement or an amendment that adds a secured party of record, the record does not provide a name and mailing address for the secured party of record; In the case of an initial financing statement or an amendment that provides a name of a debtor which was not previously provided in the financing statement to which the amendment relates, the record does not: Provide a mailing address for the debtor; or Indicate whether the name provided as the name of the debtor is the name of an individual or an organization; or In the case of an assignment reflected in an initial financing statement under subsection (a) of Code Section 11-9-514 or an amendment filed under subsection (b) of Code Section 11-9-514, the record does not provide a name and mailing address for the assignee. Rules applicable to subsection (b) of this Code section. For purposes of subsection (b) of this Code section: A record does not provide information if the filing office is unable to read or decipher the information; and A record that does not indicate that it is an amendment or accurately identify an initial financing statement to which it relates, as required by Code Section 11-9-512, 11-9-514, or 11-9-518, is an initial financing statement. Refusal to accept record; record effective as filed record. A record that is communicated to the filing office with tender of the filing fee, but which the filing office refuses to accept for a reason other than one set forth in subsection (b) of this Code section, is effective as a filed record except as against a purchaser of the collateral which gives value in reasonable reliance upon the absence of the record from the files. (Code 1981, § 11-9-516 , enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 362, § 1; Ga. L. 2013, p. 690, § 14/SB 185.) The 2013 amendment, effective July 1, 2013, substituted "information statement" for "correction statement" in the introductory language of subparagraph (b)(3)(B); substituted "surname" for "last name" in subparagraph (b)(3)(C); and, in paragraph (b)(5), added "or" at the end of subparagraph (b)(5)(A), inserted "name provided as the name of the" and "the name of" in subparagraph (b)(5)(B), and deleted former paragraph (b)(5)(C), which read: "(C) If the financing statement indicates that the debtor is an organization, provide: "(i) A type of organization for the debtor; or "(ii) A jurisdiction of organization for the debtor; or". Law reviews. - For article on the 1963 amendment to the Georgia Uniform Commercial Code, see 14 Mercer L. Rev. 378 (1963). For article, "The Revisions to Article IX of the Uniform Commercial Code," see 15 Ga. St. B.J. 120 (1977). For article, "H.B. 712: New Requirements for Financing Statements and Continuation Statements Filed in Georgia," see 22 Ga. St. B.J. 6 (1985). For article surveying commercial law in 1984-1985, see 37 Mercer L. Rev. 139 (1985). For article, "H.B. 1364: Revised Requirements for Financing Statements and Continuation Statements Filed in Georgia," see 23 Ga. St. B.J. 50 (1986). For annual survey of law of real property, see 38 Mercer L. Rev. 319 (1986). For survey article on commercial law, see 44 Mercer L. Rev. 99 (1992).
Source: official Georgia text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Georgia § 11-9-516
What does Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 11-9-516 cover?
Section 11-9-516 ("What constitutes filing; effectiveness of filing.") is part of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the codified statutory law of Georgia. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Georgia § 11-9-516?
A common citation format is "Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 11-9-516" (Georgia). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Georgia law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Georgia official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Georgia attorney.
How does Georgia § 11-9-516 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Georgia can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Georgia.