The Safe at Home Act in Georgia gives survivors of family violence, stalking, and human trafficking a substitute mailing address managed by the Secretary of State’s office, so their real location stays out of public records. Government mail sent to the substitute address is forwarded to where you actually live. Participants get an authorization card and can use the address when dealing with state and local agencies, from voter registration to school enrollment.
Who Qualifies
The program is for Georgia residents who are victims of family violence, stalking, or human trafficking. You must show that you have relocated, or are actively relocating, to an address your abuser does not know. That requirement exists because the program only protects an unknown location. If the person you are hiding from already has your address, a substitute address on government forms won’t add meaningful safety.
Family violence under Georgia law is broader than many people expect. O.C.G.A. § 19-13-1 covers certain violent offenses committed between past or present spouses, parents of the same child, parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, foster parents and foster children, and people who live or formerly lived in the same household.1Justia Law. Georgia Code 19-13-1 – Family Violence Defined Stalking under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-90 covers following, surveilling, or contacting someone without consent for harassment or intimidation, including by phone, mail, or electronic communication. An overt threat is not required; a pattern of conduct that places you in reasonable fear for your safety or a family member’s safety is enough.2Justia Law. Georgia Code 16-5-90 – Stalking; Psychological Evaluation
What Documentation You Need
You have to provide evidence of the qualifying crime. That usually means a temporary or permanent protective order from a Georgia court, a police report documenting the violence or stalking, or, in trafficking cases, documentation from law enforcement or a prosecutor’s office. A criminal conviction against the abuser is not required. The documentation just needs to establish that you face a credible threat.
How to Apply
You cannot download the application or walk into a government office to fill it out. The form must be obtained through a Certified Application Assistant, a trained advocate typically based at a domestic violence shelter or victim assistance program. The assistant helps you complete the application, reviews your supporting documents, handles any required signatures and notarization, and submits the sealed package directly to the Secretary of State’s office.
During the meeting, you give your actual residential address and a working phone number. The state keeps the real address in a secured, confidential file. If your application is approved, the Secretary of State issues a participation card with your name, an identification number, and the substitute address. Enrollment lasts four years.
Where the Substitute Address Works
The substitute address is valid with state and local government agencies. Common uses include:
- Voter registration, which keeps your home address off publicly available voter rolls.
- Public school enrollment, so your location does not appear in school administrative records.
- Driver’s license applications and renewals through the Department of Driver Services.
- Local government offices and utility providers, which are required to accept it in place of your physical address.
If an agency refuses, the Act gives you a legal basis to challenge that refusal.
Private Businesses and Banks
Private companies generally are not required to accept the substitute address. You can ask an employer, landlord, or retailer to use it, and many will cooperate once you show your card, but the Safe at Home Act does not obligate them. Assume the substitute address covers your government interactions, not every part of your life.
Banks and credit unions are the important exception. Federal anti-money-laundering rules normally require a financial institution to collect a residential or business street address. FinCEN ruling FIN-2009-R003 addresses this directly for people in state address confidentiality programs: the ruling treats participants as not having a residential or business street address, and the Secretary of State’s office serves as the contact, with the program’s street address satisfying the bank’s identification requirement.3Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Customer Identification Program Rule – Address Confidentiality Programs In practice, you should be able to open an account without disclosing your home address, though you may need to walk branch staff through the ruling.
Penalty for False Information
Lying on a Safe at Home application is a misdemeanor. A conviction carries a fine of up to $1,000, up to twelve months in jail, or both.4Georgia General Assembly. HB 102 – Safe at Home Act Accuracy matters at the time you apply and throughout your enrollment.
Renewal and Ending Participation
Enrollment runs four years. If your safety situation hasn’t changed by then, you can apply for renewal through the same Certified Application Assistant process. Participation can end earlier if you move out of Georgia, if the Secretary of State determines you are no longer eligible, or if you withdraw voluntarily. Once participation ends, your real address is no longer shielded, and any agency using the substitute address will need updated contact information. Plan for that transition before it happens, especially if government services still have the substitute address on file.