Nonprofit Corporation Member Books and Records Inspection in Georgia

At a glance

Requirements one by one

Two records tiers

Section 14-3-1602(a)–(b) gives a member a core-record route for current articles and bylaws, listed resolutions, recent member minutes and communications, current directors and officers, and the latest annual registration. The member gives written notice or demand at least five business days before inspecting and copying at a reasonable time and location specified by the corporation.

Board and committee excerpts, accounting records, and the member list are in the conditional tier (§ 14-3-1602(c)). Its demand must be made in good faith for a proper purpose reasonably relevant to the member's legitimate interest, describe the purpose and records with reasonable particularity, connect the records directly to that purpose, and use them only for the stated purpose (§ 14-3-1602(d)). The corporation may impose reasonable confidentiality, use, or distribution restrictions on this tier (§ 14-3-1602(e)).

Copies and financial statements

A member's agent or attorney has the same inspection and copying rights. The corporation may charge for copies, but no more than estimated production or reproduction cost; it must convert a nonwritten record to writing without charge on an entitled person's written request (§ 14-3-1603(a), (c)–(d)). A separate written or electronic member request reaches the latest prepared annual financial statements (§ 14-3-1620(a)).

What trips people up

A member list cannot be obtained or used for a purpose unrelated to member interests without board consent. Section 14-3-1605 also bars listed solicitation, commercial, and sale uses without that consent. Section 14-3-1601(c) requires the corporation to maintain the underlying member record, but access to the list still follows the conditional route above.

If routine-tier inspection is refused, the superior court may summarily order access at corporate expense. For other records the member may seek an expedited order; the court may award costs if it orders inspection, subject to the corporation's good-faith reasonable-doubt defense, and may restrict use or distribution (§ 14-3-1604).

Common questions

Can an agent inspect on the member's behalf?

Yes. Section 14-3-1603(a) expressly gives the member's agent or attorney the same inspection and copying rights.

Must a nonprofit create annual financial statements on demand?

Section 14-3-1620(a) requires furnishing the latest prepared annual financial statements on a member's written or electronic request. The word “prepared” matters to the scope of that route.

Statutes and sources

• O.C.G.A. § 14-3-1601: member records and inspection provisions. Official signed act, accessed 2026-10-02.
• O.C.G.A. § 14-3-1602: member records and inspection provisions. Official signed act, accessed 2026-10-02.
• O.C.G.A. § 14-3-1603: member records and inspection provisions. Official signed act, accessed 2026-10-02.
• O.C.G.A. § 14-3-1604: member records and inspection provisions. Official signed act, accessed 2026-10-02.
• O.C.G.A. § 14-3-1605: member records and inspection provisions. Official signed act, accessed 2026-10-02.
• O.C.G.A. § 14-3-1620: member records and inspection provisions. Official signed act, accessed 2026-10-02.