A Vidalia general-practice firm founded in 1971. Attorney Susan Salter Shook prepares wills and trust documents and handles the probate of estates and guardianships alongside the firm's personal injury, family law, and criminal defense work.
Probate in Emanuel County
Probate Court Record
Emanuel County Probate Court
Emanuel County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
125 South Main Street, Swainsboro, GA 30401
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Emanuel County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Emanuel County? →Settling an estate in Emanuel County →
Probate Firms Serving Emanuel County
A Statesboro firm serving southeast Georgia with estate planning, wills, and revocable, irrevocable, and insurance trusts. Handles estate and trust administration, year's support actions, and guardianships and conservatorships, and litigates will, trust, and estate contests.
A Liberty County firm with offices in Hinesville and Jesup, providing estate planning, probate, and real estate services across southeast Georgia with 46 years of combined experience.
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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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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Do I Need Probate?
In Georgia, estates with personal property of $15,000O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Bank Deposit AffidavitO.C.G.A. § 7-1-239Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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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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Can I Self-File Probate?
In Georgia, informal probate is not availableO.C.G.A. § 53-5-15 ("Probate of a will may be in common form or in solemn form or both") — both are proceedings in the probate court; no registrar/clerk appointment trackVerified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
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