Georgia

Where this often starts

A map, not a filing. Four facts suggest a Georgia petition. The probate court or a Georgia lawyer decides what gets filed, and what it costs.

Court

the Probate Court of the county where they lived

Estates are opened where they were domiciled at death — not where the funeral was, not where you live.

Four facts

Changing these marks tasks that do not apply. Work you already started is left alone.

Georgia county they lived in

Probate is filed in that county. All 159 are in the list.

Is there a will?

Do all the heirs agree on who gets what?

Are there unpaid debts (mortgage, cards, hospital)?

Is there a surviving spouse or a child under 18?

Often starts here

Probate the will in solemn form

GPCSF 5O.C.G.A. § 53-5-20 et seq.

Estates with a will most commonly begin here. The court issues Letters Testamentary. Common form (GPCSF 4) is weaker and easier to attack later — most families in this situation start with solemn form.

Open official GPCSF forms

Do not do this

Georgia has no generic small-estate affidavit. Do not file a form you downloaded from another state.
Filing is in the county where they were domiciled at death. Every county has its own Probate Court.
This is a starting map, checked against GPCSF forms as of October 2026. The probate court or a Georgia lawyer decides what gets filed.

Open the checklist Georgia letters

This is general information about Georgia probate, not legal advice. Confirm the right petition with the probate clerk in the county of residence or a Georgia probate attorney before filing.