Appeal vs. Post-Conviction in Georgia
Review Georgia appeal vs. post-conviction procedures, issue-specific records, official sources, and attorney or non-attorney support options.
Distinguish record review from collateral review
A direct appeal reviews issues through appellate procedures; post-conviction proceedings have their own grounds and barriers. New evidence or facts outside the original record may require a different route from an issue preserved during trial. An unsuccessful appeal does not itself establish the next remedy.
Georgia procedure and this issue
Georgia’s 2025 HB 176 makes the comparison date-sensitive. It added an out-of-time leave mechanism for a motion for new trial or notice of appeal, with a generally 100-day request window after the missed period and a separate filing period after leave is granted. It also moved direct appeals from guilty pleas into an application requirement. State habeas remains a distinct collateral proceeding. The earlier transitional provision for specified dismissals ended June 30, 2026; an October 2026 guide must show that closure instead of implying indefinite restoration.
Check the record and procedural history
Georgia’s official habeas application separates the original conviction, appeals, earlier collateral proceedings and individual grounds. Its instructions identify different limitation periods for felony and misdemeanor judgments. Finality, a later-accruing statutory basis and the relevant exception must be examined together; a four-year or one-year number cannot be applied just by counting from the date someone first contacted a provider. The form is a starting resource, not a ruling on eligibility or timeliness.
Was the issue already raised? Is it visible in the existing record? Is the appeal still pending, and has the judgment become final for the procedure being considered?
Help with documents and court representation
PCRC is a non-attorney legal support and document-preparation service for pro se clients. Attorney advice and court representation are distinct services. Compare the provider type and written scope before engaging help; a featured directory listing does not establish a right to relief.
Records for this issue
- Notice of appeal
- briefs
- appellate decision and mandate
- trial record
- later evidence
Provider roles for this issue
| Type of help | Typical purpose | Confirm first |
|---|---|---|
| Law firm | Legal advice and court representation | Licensing, case fit, and engagement terms |
| Non-attorney legal support | Document preparation, research, organization | Permitted scope; who signs and files |
| Nonprofit / innocence review | Qualifying case review or legal services | Eligibility, intake, and representation status |
| Official resources | Forms, rules, records, and court contacts | Current version and local requirements |
Listings have no scores or ratings. Listing methodology
Post-Conviction Relief Center (PCRC)
Non-attorney legal support and document preparation for people representing themselves. PCRC operates this directory; services do not include attorney representation.
Michael Kennedy McIntyre & Associates
Atlanta firm focused on Georgia post-conviction representation, including state and federal habeas matters.
Brownstone Law
Publishes Georgia post-conviction and habeas representation. Ask the firm which attorney would handle your case and confirm coverage.
Wallack Law
Atlanta firm publishing post-conviction services including new-trial motions and habeas petitions.
Georgia Innocence Project
Free representation for qualifying Georgia convictions involving crimes the applicant did not commit. Eligibility is innocence-focused.
Georgia Courts — Inmate Forms
Official civil-action and habeas application forms, including requests to proceed without prepaying costs.
Related Georgia guides
Sources for Appeal vs. Post-Conviction
Common questions
Does finding a provider preserve a court deadline?
No. A directory visit, inquiry or service agreement is not itself a court filing. Use the actual judgment and filing history to check the procedure, current requirements and any applicable exception.
What records are useful for this inquiry?
Start with notice of appeal, briefs, appellate decision and mandate, trial record, later evidence. Include all earlier orders on the same subject rather than sending only a new summary.
PCRC offers non-attorney legal support and document preparation for pro se clients.
Updated October 8, 2026. General information; the appropriate filing, deadline, and relief depend on the case. Provider information is based on linked public pages, not a licensing audit.