Serves Atlanta, Georgia, along with Fulton County, Cobb County, Cherokee County, Forsyth County, DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, and Douglas County.
Probate in DeKalb County
Probate Court Record
DeKalb County Probate Court
DeKalb County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-11:30 AM and 12:30 PM-4:00 PM (by appointment only)
Office
556 North McDonough Street, 1100 Judicial Tower, Decatur, GA 30030
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Appointment required
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in DeKalb County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in DeKalb County? →Settling an estate in DeKalb County →
Trust Administration Firms Serving DeKalb County
A Johns Creek estate planning firm serving individuals, families, and small business owners with wealth preservation, trusts, special needs planning, wills, probate, and elder law services.
A Lawrenceville probate and estate litigation firm handling probate matters across Georgia. Opens estate administrations, challenges wills in jury trials, litigates life-insurance and retirement-account ownership disputes and trust and estate disputes, mediates probate disputes, and files guardianship and conservatorship petitions.
An Alpharetta estate planning firm founded in 1995 that provides individualized estate plans, trust administration, probate, tax planning, and business succession planning for individuals and families across north metro Atlanta.
A Midtown Atlanta firm (with a St. Simons Island office) whose attorneys volunteer at the Probate Information Center in Fulton and DeKalb counties. Assists families, heirs, and personal representatives with probating the will, obtaining letters testamentary, administering the estate, transferring title, and administering trusts. Includes an attorney/CPA who handles postmortem tax planning.
A Valdosta-founded firm, with offices in Atlanta and Jacksonville, Florida, practicing since 1937. Its Estate & Private Wealth group handles trust and estate planning, estate and trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and probate controversies.
All 7 Georgia trust administration firms serving DeKalb 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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Pour-Over Will
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.
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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 Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Georgia happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteO.C.G.A. § 53-12-1 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysO.C.G.A. §§ 53-12-242, 53-12-243, 53-12-307Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
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What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
In Georgia, trustee compensation follows a statutory fee scheduleO.C.G.A. §§ 53-12-210 to 53-12-214Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount. The schedule is an annual commission on principal.
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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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Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Georgia requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040O.C.G.A. §§ 48-7-20(a.1), 48-7-27(a)(1)(B); HB 463 (2026)Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?
Inherited assets in Georgia take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces ordinary income tax at the state's regular ratesO.C.G.A. § 48-7-20 as amended by HB 463 (2026, AS PASSED) — flat rate 4.99% for taxable years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2026Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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