Georgia Medical Records Retention Requirements
Georgia physicians must keep a patient's complete treatment records for at least 10 years from the patient's last office visit (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 360-3-.02). The 10-year rule does not apply to a physician who retires from or sells the practice, provided the physician notifies active patients by mail, publishes notice in the newspapers the rule specifies, and keeps a conspicuous sign posted at the office from 30 days before the retirement or sale until that date. The details are below.
Last reviewed September 2026
Georgia Medical Record Retention Law:
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 360-3-.02(a) (Composite Medical Board)
- Adult patients: No less than 10 years.
- Patients who were minors: The Composite Medical Board rule sets no separate minors period. The '10 years after the patient turns 18, or 28 years from last service' formulation sometimes cited for Georgia does not appear in this rule.
- The retention period runs from: The patient's last office visit.
Closing or Retiring a Medical Practice in Georgia
Georgia sets out what has to happen to patient records. The points below are taken from the source above.
Rule 360-3-.02(b): the 10-year duty does not apply to a physician who has retired from or sold the practice, provided all of the following are done:
- Notify active patients by mail at their last known address, offering records or copies to another provider of the patient's choice, or to the patient on request
- Publish notice in the newspaper of greatest circulation in each county where the physician practiced, and in a local newspaper serving the immediate practice area, stating the date of retirement/sale and the same offer
- Post a conspicuous sign in or on the facade of the office, placed 30 days before retirement/sale and kept until that date
- Both the notice and the sign must advise patients of their opportunity to transfer or receive their records
Rule 360-3-.02(c) notes that the 10-year period may be shorter than needed to defend against other legal actions; physicians may wish to take private advice.
Georgia closing-practice checklist
The same requirements as a checklist you can print and work through, with the retention periods and the notice each rule requires.
Open the Georgia checklist →
This page summarises the source above and is not legal advice. Retention periods change, so confirm the current text before you rely on a date or a period.
Medical Records Custodian Services: What to Expect
When Morgan Records Management becomes the custodian of your records:
- Plan the transition. Tell us about your practice; we send a quote and a plan.
- Notify your patients. Closing letters and emails to your patients, and a closure page that tells them where their records are.
- Transfer the records. We collect paper charts and take in the export from your EHR.
- Store them securely. HIPAA-compliant physical and digital storage for the full retention period.
- Answer records requests. We handle requests from patients, providers, insurers and attorneys after you close.
- Destroy them securely. Records are destroyed securely once the retention period ends.
More on our medical records custodian services and on hospital closures.
About Morgan Records Management
Planning to close your medical practice or retire? Morgan Records Management (MRM) is the top choice for managing medical records in the US, and we’re here to help. Our team will guide you through every step of the process to ensure a smooth transition.
- Over 25 years of experience with providers in all 50 states
- 3,000-4,000 patient record requests handled a month
- Over 1,500 physician practices managed nationwide
- Responsible for over 15 million patient records
- Fully HIPAA compliant
Call us at (833) 888-0247 or fill out our request form and we’ll be glad to help.