GEORGIA BAR EXAM DISTINCTIONS — ONE-PAGE CHEAT SHEET
Condensed companion to the Georgia Bar Exam Distinctions long outline.
1. EXAM FORMAT
NON-UBE — own exam: MBE + MPT + four 45-minute Georgia-law essays · passing score 270 · essays test Georgia law plus BOTH Georgia and Federal Practice and Procedure · UCC Article 9 no longer tested · write state-specific (cite O.C.G.A.).
2. CIVIL PROCEDURE
Georgia Civil Practice Act · multi-tier courts (Superior / State / Magistrate / Probate / Juvenile) · six-month renewal statute (§ 9-2-61) revives a dismissed claim past the SOL.
3. STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS
Personal injury 2 yr · property damage + oral contracts 4 yr · written contracts 6 yr · defamation 1 yr · med-mal 2 yr + 5-yr repose · (PI vs. property split is a trap).
4. EVIDENCE
2013 Evidence Code (Title 24) modeled on the FRE — pre-2013 materials are obsolete · Georgia courts follow federal precedent on parallel rules · few retained doctrines (necessity exception, similar-transaction evidence).
5. FAMILY LAW
Equitable distribution (NOT community property) · 13 divorce grounds · adultery/desertion = complete BAR to alimony (§ 19-6-1) · common-law marriage abolished as of Jan. 1, 1997 (pre-1997 grandfathered).
6. WILLS, TRUSTS & ESTATES
NO elective share — YEAR'S SUPPORT instead (12 months' support set aside, priority over the will) · spouse CAN be disinherited subject only to year's support · no holographic wills (strict two-witness) · will-making capacity at age 14 · intestate spouse's share never less than one-third.
7. REAL PROPERTY
Race-notice recording · security deed (lender holds legal title) · non-judicial power-of-sale foreclosure — first-Tuesday courthouse auction after notice/advertisement; judicial confirmation needed only for a deficiency · adverse possession 20 yr (7 yr with color of title).
8. TORTS
Modified comparative, strict 50% bar (barred AT 50%; § 51-12-33) · joint and several liability ABOLISHED — apportionment to all parties AND non-parties, several only · punitives capped at $250k (no cap for product liability, specific intent, or intoxication; 75% of product-liability punitives go to the state) · med-mal noneconomic cap STRUCK DOWN (Nestlehutt 2010) · dram-shop § 51-1-40.
9. CONTRACTS / UCC
UCC Articles 2 & 3 tested, NOT Article 9 · conventional Statute of Frauds (§ 13-5-30) with part-performance exception.
10. BUSINESS ENTITIES
Georgia Business Corporation Code (Model Act) + flexible LLC Act · Business Organizations is its own essay subject · standard fiduciary duties / business-judgment rule.
11. PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Georgia Rules track ABA Model Rules but attach maximum-penalty levels · discipline via State Bar / State Disciplinary Board under the Supreme Court · IOLTA.
12. CRIMINAL
Common-law-flavored code (Title 16) · death penalty RETAINED (Gregg v. Georgia) · stand-your-ground self-defense (NO duty to retreat) · broad defense-of-habitation · statutory felony murder + party-to-a-crime.
KEY FLAGS
① NON-UBE, four Georgia essays, score 270 · ② renewal statute revives dismissed claims · ③ NO elective share — YEAR'S SUPPORT; no holographic wills; capacity at 14 · ④ security deed + non-judicial power-of-sale foreclosure; race-notice; 20-yr AP · ⑤ strict 50% bar + apportionment to non-parties + $250k punitive cap · ⑥ adultery bars alimony; common-law marriage gone since 1997 · ⑦ stand-your-ground, death penalty retained.