A boutique firm of estate planning attorneys in Savannah specializing in wills and trusts, estate planning, probate, fiduciary litigation, taxation, and business succession planning.
Probate in Chatham County
Probate Court Record
Chatham County Probate Court
Chatham County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Wednesday, Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM; Thursday 8:45 AM-5:00 PM
Office
133 Montgomery Street, Room 509, Savannah, GA 31401
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Appointment required
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Chatham County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Chatham County? →Settling an estate in Chatham County →
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Georgia
Free Georgia forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Georgia.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Last Will and Testament
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.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Georgia
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Georgia: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Georgia.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Georgia costs an estimated $38,748O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (petition to the probate court for a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 2.1%Modeled estimate under O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (petition to the probate court for a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%Modeled estimate under O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (petition to the probate court for a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Georgia, descendants divide what passes to them per stirpesO.C.G.A. § 53-2-1Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and the state sets no survival period for heirs.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Georgia, the 3 monthsO.C.G.A. § 53-7-41(d) ("within three months from the date of publication of the personal representative's last notice")Verified Sep 8, 2026View source period after the last publication of the creditor notice protects a representative who distributes after it; late claims can still reach undistributed assets.
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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Georgia: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 180 daysO.C.G.A. §§ 53-7-30, 53-7-31, 53-7-32, 53-7-33Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 3 monthsO.C.G.A. §§ 53-7-40, 53-7-41, 53-7-42, 53-7-43, 9-3-36Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Georgia sets executor compensation by statute — about $25,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 5.0%O.C.G.A. § 53-6-60(b)(1)-(4) (2 1/2 percent on sums received and on sums paid out; 10 percent on interest; up to 3% on property delivered in kind; up to 10% of annual income for working land)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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