Section 7-4-12. Interest on judgments

   (a) All judgments in this state shall bear annual interest upon the principal amount recovered at a rate equal to the prime rate as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as published in statistical release H. 15 or any publication that may supersede it, on the day the judgment is entered plus 3 percent.

(b) If the judgment is rendered on a written contract or obligation providing for interest at a specified rate, the judgment shall bear interest at the rate specified in the contract or obligation.

(c) The postjudgment interest provided for in this Code section shall apply automatically to all judgments in this state and the interest shall be collectable as a part of each judgment whether or not the judgment specifically reflects the entitlement to postjudgment interest.

(d) This Code section shall apply to all civil actions filed on or after July 1, 2003.

Laws 1845, Cobb's 1851 Digest, p. 394; Code 1863, § 2027; Code 1868, § 2028; Code 1873, § 2054; Code 1882, § 2054; Civil Code 1895, § 2882; Civil Code 1910, § 3432; Code 1933, § 57-108; Ga. L. 1980, p. 1118, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 195, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 352, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 14, § 7; Ga. L. 2003, p. 820, § 1.