How to run Settlement Allocator in DocketMath for Georgia

Step-by-step

This guide walks you through running Settlement Allocator in DocketMath for Georgia (US-GA). You’ll set the inputs, choose the Georgia jurisdiction rules, and interpret the output—using the default settlement period described by Georgia’s procedural rule.

1) Start at the tool

Open DocketMath’s Settlement Allocator here:

• /tools/settlement-allocator

If you’re already in DocketMath, navigate directly to the Settlement Allocator calculator and choose Georgia (US-GA) as the jurisdiction.

2) Enter the case inputs required by the allocator

Settlement Allocator typically asks for inputs that control the timing and apportionment of settlement value. Enter the amounts/dates you have for:

• Total settlement amount (the pool to allocate)
• Relevant payment date(s) or settlement/distribution timing (depending on the tool’s fields)
• Any claimant/prior-balance figures your version of the calculator supports (for example, claims, damages components, or allocation weights)

If DocketMath presents “line items” or “categories,” add each claimant/component you want included in the allocation.

Quick checklist for clean results

• Total settlement amount matches the agreement total
• Dates are entered in the correct format (avoid accidental month/day swaps)
• Any existing balances/credits are entered consistently with your case posture

3) Use Georgia jurisdiction-aware timing rules

For Georgia, Settlement Allocator uses the procedural default period described in:

• O.C.G.A. § 9-11-23 (Georgia’s general rule on “default” time period for settlement allocation)
  Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2022/title-9/chapter-11/article-4/section-9-11-23/

Important clarity (default rule):

So in practice, when you choose US-GA, the calculator will treat the case as governed by that general timing framework for allocation computations.

4) Review how changing inputs affects outputs

Before you generate the final allocation, sanity-check how each input is likely to move results:

• Increasing a claimant’s included amount / weight
  → claimant’s allocated share increases (others decrease if the total is fixed).
• Changing settlement timing dates
  → allocations may shift if the allocator’s logic depends on the period used in the Georgia computation under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-23.
• Adjusting balances/credits (if your interface includes them)
  → allocation can change even when the total settlement remains constant.

You don’t need to guess—run multiple attempts and compare the delta.

5) Generate the allocation and validate it

Run the calculation and check:

• Each line item’s allocated amount
• Total allocated sum (should reconcile to the total settlement pool, accounting for any rounding rules)
• Any breakdown the tool provides (for example, time-period adjustments based on the Georgia default period)

If DocketMath shows a breakdown panel, use it to confirm the Georgia timing rule is being applied.

Common pitfall: Allocations often “look wrong” due to date inconsistency—especially when settlement date(s) are entered but an additional start/reference date is missing or incorrect. That can distort any time-based adjustment derived from the O.C.G.A. § 9-11-23 default period.

6) Export or record the output for your workflow

After results generate, capture:

• The allocated amounts per claimant/component
• The applied jurisdiction label (“Georgia / US-GA”)
• The timing period basis (the calculator’s representation of the O.C.G.A. § 9-11-23 default)

For auditability, store your inputs alongside the outputs (many teams save a screenshot or export PDF from the tool).

Common pitfalls

Here are the issues that most often cause Georgia allocations to diverge from expectations when running DocketMath’s Settlement Allocator:

1) Using the wrong jurisdiction selection

If you accidentally choose a different jurisdiction (for example, Ohio or another state), the allocator may apply a different default period framework. For Georgia, ensure US-GA is selected so the tool aligns with O.C.G.A. § 9-11-23.

2) Expecting claim-type-specific periods that aren’t configured

3) Date formatting and missing dates

Typical date-related mistakes:

• Entering only a settlement date when the tool also expects a start/reference date
• Swapping day/month order
• Entering the same date for two different timeline events (which can collapse a period)

If the output includes time-dependent adjustments, these mistakes can be amplified.

4) Totals that don’t reconcile due to rounding

Allocation systems may round line items to whole dollars (or to two decimals). The sum of rounded line items may differ slightly from the total settlement.

What to do:

• Check whether DocketMath indicates a rounding policy
• If the interface allows it, increase precision in inputs or keep full decimals if supported (then let the tool round)

5) Inconsistent amounts across inputs

If you entered:

• a total settlement,
• plus a list of claimant amounts,
• plus any credits/balances,

make sure the relationships are consistent. When not, the allocator may scale shares in ways that surprise you.

Try it

Use this “fast run” workflow to confirm the Georgia default period is being applied via O.C.G.A. § 9-11-23:

1. Go to /tools/settlement-allocator
2. Select Georgia (US-GA)
3. Enter:

   • a total settlement amount
   • at least one claimant/component line item
   • the relevant settlement timing date(s) available in your materials
4. Click Calculate
5. Verify on the results screen that:

   • the jurisdiction is Georgia
   • the tool is using a general/default period framework (not claim-type branching)

Then do one controlled variation:

• Keep everything the same except adjust the settlement date by a few weeks.
• Re-run the calculation and observe which allocated shares move.

If allocated amounts don’t change when you change timing inputs, double-check that you actually edited the field the tool uses for Georgia’s time-based logic.

Related reading

• How to calculate Settlement Allocator in Ohio — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• How to calculate Settlement Allocator in Philippines — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Worked example: Settlement Allocator in Philippines — Worked example with real statute citations