Free Georgia forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
In Georgia, a will is signed before 2O.C.G.A. § 53-4-20Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyO.C.G.A. § 53-4-20Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Georgia requires 2O.C.G.A. § 31-32-4Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredO.C.G.A. § 31-32-4Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
Georgia treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultO.C.G.A. §§ 10-6B-1 through 10-6B-81Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before 1O.C.G.A. §§ 10-6B-1 through 10-6B-81Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witness and a notary.
In Georgia, a pour-over will is signed before 2O.C.G.A. § 53-4-20Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
In Georgia, a transfer-on-death deed is signed before a notaryO.C.G.A. 44-17-1 to 44-17-7Verified Oct 18, 2026 and 1O.C.G.A. 44-17-1 to 44-17-7Verified Oct 18, 2026 witness, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathO.C.G.A. 44-17-1 to 44-17-7Verified Oct 18, 2026.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Georgia: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
In Georgia, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2.1%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
Probate in Georgia takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2.1%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Georgia runs $2,980Estimate: 10 hours at $298, Clio's Georgia Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $4,470Estimate: 15 hours at $298, Clio's Georgia Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,146Estimate: 3 hours at $382, Clio's Georgia Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,292Estimate: 6 hours at $382, Clio's Georgia Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Georgia costs an estimated $38,748O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 2.1%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
Georgia does not revoke an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceO.C.G.A. § 53-4-49Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Georgia costs an estimated $38,748O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 2.1%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $15,000O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
108 estate planning firms in Georgia, by county and firm type.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
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108 firms
FirmForsyth, GA
A downtown Forsyth firm serving Monroe County and Middle Georgia since 2012. Handles estate administration and court-appointed guardianships and conservatorships, and prepares wills, advance health care directives, and powers of attorney, including plans that name guardians for minor children.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipand 3 more
Solo PracticeRossville, GA
A Rossville solo practice serving Catoosa County and northwest Georgia through the local probate courts. Handles probate petitions, proving wills, managing estate assets, and contested or disputed wills. Also practices family law and criminal defense.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
FirmPerry, GA
A Perry firm founded in 1965 serving individuals, families, and businesses in Houston County and Middle Georgia. Prepares wills, family trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives, and sets up guardianships and conservatorships.
PracticesEstate PlanningWills Trusts
Solo PracticeMoultrie, GA
Helps clients in Moultrie and Colquitt County with wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives. Joseph Weathers has been helping individuals and families throughout the greater Moultrie area for almost 30 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningWills Trusts
FirmCommerce, GA
A Commerce civil litigation firm serving Jackson, Banks, Madison, Clarke, and Hall counties. Handles probate and estate administration, will disputes and contests, and year's support petitions, along with estate planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
Solo PracticeMacon, GA
A Macon general practice handling estate planning and probate alongside personal injury, family law, and criminal matters. Prepares wills and powers of attorney, probates wills, files caveats or objections to wills, petitions for year's support, and establishes guardianships and conservatorships for incapacitated adults. Joe Williams has practiced in Macon since 1977.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
FirmMarietta, GA
The Marietta office of Smith Barid, LLC, serving Cobb County clients. Handles probate and estate administration, from opening probate and inventorying the estate to paying creditors and closing the estate, alongside wills, trusts, special needs planning, and guardianships and conservatorships for incapacitated adults and minors.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateSpecial Needs PlanningWills Trusts
FirmDuluth, GA
Duluth firm on Sugarloaf Parkway serving Gwinnett County and the Johns Creek, Suwanee, Lawrenceville, and Buford corridor. Guides families through probate estate administration and handles estate litigation, in addition to wills, trusts, advance directives, and financial powers of attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAsset ProtectionWills Trusts