Georgia Sexual Abuse Lawyer
If you were harmed in Georgia, you can pursue justice on your own terms. A Georgia attorney who represents survivors will listen first, explain your options in plain language, and move at your pace.
Your local attorneyJohn Bey, Esq.
Justice in Georgia
Yes, you can pursue a civil case for sexual abuse in Georgia
A civil claim is separate from any criminal case. It is your private action, brought on your timeline, to hold the person who harmed you, and any institution that enabled it, accountable. You do not need a criminal conviction, a police report, or anyone else's permission to begin. You only need to take the first step and talk with a lawyer who works with survivors every day.
Georgia law has changed in recent years to give survivors more room to come forward, including expanded windows for childhood abuse claims. Whether your experience happened in a school, a church, a youth program, a medical setting, a workplace, or a private home, a Georgia sexual abuse lawyer can tell you where you stand and what is realistically possible, without pressure and without judgment.
Time limits do apply, and they vary by state. Many states have recently expanded or reopened the window to file. A free, confidential call simply tells you where you stand — no pressure, no obligation.
Your local attorney
John Bey, Esq.
Bey & Associates, LLC
- 4200 Northside Parkway NW, Building 9, Atlanta, GA 30327
- Admitted: State Bar of Georgia, 2008
- University of Alabama School of Law (J.D., 2007); University of Cincinnati (B.A.)
John Bey is the founding partner of Bey & Associates, LLC in Atlanta, with offices in Macon and beyond. Admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 2008, he has spent nearly two decades trying complex, high-stakes civil cases, including a $52 million jury verdict in a negligent-security matter.
His leadership reflects a national reputation for advocacy: he serves in elected leadership of the American Association for Justice and is a past president of the Gate City Bar Association. For survivors in Georgia, that means a seasoned trial lawyer who understands how to build a case, confront powerful institutions, and pursue accountability where security failures and supervision breakdowns allowed abuse to happen.
Handles: Child sexual abuse, Institutional & negligent-security abuse, Sexual assault, Catastrophic injury & wrongful death
Why survivors trust us
Real attorneys. Proven results. Quiet strength.
Filing Deadlines
Georgia's statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims
In Georgia, the deadline depends on how old you were when the abuse happened and the type of claim you bring. These are calm facts, not a countdown, and the only way to know your exact deadline is to have a lawyer review your situation. Here is the general framework:
- Childhood sexual abuse (civil): Georgia's Hidden Predator Act, first passed in 2015 and later expanded, extended the civil window for survivors abused as children, allowing claims to be brought into adulthood beyond the old, much shorter deadlines.
- Discovery rule: For many childhood abuse survivors, the clock can be tied to when you knew, or reasonably should have known, that the abuse caused your injuries, which recognizes that the effects of abuse often surface years later.
- Adult survivors: Sexual assault claims by adults generally fall under Georgia's personal-injury statute of limitations, which is a shorter, separate timeframe measured from the date of the assault.
- Claims against institutions: Later amendments to the Hidden Predator Act expanded survivors' ability to pursue entities, such as organizations that employed or supervised an abuser, in certain circumstances.
This is general information, not legal advice; deadlines depend on the facts of each case.
Georgia Cases
Sexual abuse cases handled across Georgia
Whatever the setting, you can ask about your specific situation in confidence.
School & Youth Programs
Abuse by teachers, coaches, or staff in Georgia schools, day cares, camps, and after-school programs where supervision failed.
Religious & Faith Institutions
Clergy and faith-community abuse, including cases where leaders concealed or ignored warning signs.
Medical & Care Settings
Abuse by doctors, therapists, caregivers, or facility staff in hospitals, clinics, and residential care.
Negligent Security & Premises
Assaults enabled by inadequate security at apartments, hotels, businesses, and other Georgia properties.
Simple & safe
How it works
Reach out privately
Call or fill out a short, confidential form. Tell us only what you’re comfortable sharing.
We listen & match you
We connect you with an attorney licensed in your state who handles your type of case.
You decide what’s next
Your free consultation is no-obligation. If you move forward, there’s no fee unless you win.
Georgia Questions
Common questions from Georgia survivors
Can I still file a sexual abuse case in Georgia if it happened years ago?
Often, yes. Georgia's Hidden Predator Act expanded the civil window for childhood sexual abuse, and a discovery rule can apply when the harm surfaced later. The only way to know your exact deadline is a confidential case review with a Georgia lawyer.
Can I sue a school, church, or other institution in Georgia?
Yes, in many cases. If an organization employed, supervised, or enabled an abuser, or ignored warning signs, it may share legal responsibility. Later changes to Georgia law expanded survivors' ability to pursue institutions, not just individuals, in certain situations.
Do I need to have reported the abuse to police to bring a civil case?
No. A civil claim is independent of the criminal system. You do not need a police report, a criminal charge, or a conviction to pursue a civil case in Georgia and seek accountability for what happened to you.
How much does a Georgia sexual abuse lawyer cost?
Survivor cases are typically handled on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no upfront fees. The lawyer is paid a percentage only if your case results in a recovery. Your first conversation is free and confidential.
Will my case be kept confidential?
Your initial conversation is private and protected. Many survivor cases are resolved with confidentiality in mind, and a number of survivors are able to proceed without their identity being made public. Your lawyer will explain the protections available in your situation.
Will I have to testify in court?
Most civil cases resolve without a trial. If your case does go forward, your lawyer will prepare and support you every step of the way, and there are measures that can ease the process. You will never be pushed into anything you are not ready for.
What is the difference between the criminal case and my civil case?
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish an offender. Your civil case is your own action, focused on accountability and recovery for the harm you suffered. They can proceed separately, and you control your civil claim.
What if the abuse happened when I was a child?
Georgia gives childhood survivors expanded time to come forward under the Hidden Predator Act. Many survivors who thought their window had closed still have options. A confidential review can tell you whether you can move forward.
Free & confidential
Talk to a Georgia sexual abuse lawyer
Your message goes privately to our Georgia intake team. There is no cost and no obligation to share your story and learn your options.
- 100% confidential — your privacy is protected
- No fee unless we win your case
- You stay in control of every step
Prefer to talk now? (877) 421-9608
Start your free case review
It only takes a minute. Share what you’re comfortable with.
You don’t have to carry this alone.
Take the first step on your terms. A free, confidential conversation could be the start of getting the justice and support you deserve.