http://www.gainesvillegalawyer.com/landlord-tenant-and-eviction-issues-in-georgia/
Eviction: In order to properly evict someone, the landlord must send a letter advising the tenant that the landlord demands possession of the property along with other fact specific notifications. Georgia eviction law states that a Notice of Termination is notice that the tenant has breached the lease. A Notice to Quit is a notice demanding possession. Any notice should be sent in a form such as certified mail with return receipt requested.
The next step in the eviction process, according to the eviction law in Georgia, is to apply for a Dispossessory Warrant, which is commonly shortened to Dispossessory or Dispo. The Dispossessory is basically a lawsuit asking for the judge to award the property back to the possession of the landlord, plus past due rent, if applicable. The period to answer is usually 7 days, which is far shorter than the 30 days for most court filings. Importantly, the landlord has two options for service upon the tenant, the first is personal service, which is when the Dispo is handed to the tenant. The second is tack and mail, which is literally nailing the Dispo notice to the rental property and sending a copy via mail. The main legal difference is that under tack and mail the landlord can attempt to get possession of the property, but would likely be prevented from recovery of back rent in a default judgment situation due to lack of personal service upon the tenant.
Eviction law in Georgia states that if the landlord wins either in court or as a result of the tenant not responding, then a Writ of Possession is issued to the landlord and the landlord should get the Sheriff's Department to execute the Writ by going to the property.
A common mistake landlords make is to begin the eviction process and not follow through due to either promises of the tenant to leave, or assumed abandonment. In keeping with the Georgia eviction law, not obtaining a Writ of Possession or not having it executed are a sure fire ways to eventually be sued for Wrongful Eviction and claims of valuable being taken when the landlord cleared out the tenant's personal items.
