Build Your Georgia Estate Plan with State-Compliant Forms

Like all states, Georgia recognizes formally executed wills and living trusts as valid estate planning tools. A standard will here requires 2 adult witnesses, and adding a notarized self-proving affidavit can streamline the probate process later. Georgia also has the lowest minimum age for creating a will in the country—just 14 years old—which can matter for young people who've inherited property.

The state adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act in 2017, modernizing its rules around financial powers of attorney. If you have older documents, it may be worth reviewing them to ensure they take advantage of the current law's protections.

Georgia has a relatively low threshold for simplified estate procedures—only estates under $15,000 can avoid formal probate. This means most families will need to go through the full probate process, making strategies like living trusts or beneficiary designations particularly valuable here. Unlike states with formal independent administration statutes (such as California and Texas), Georgia doesn't offer a simplified procedure for executors to petition for reduced court oversight. However, executors typically have statutory authority to manage routine estate matters. For families looking to avoid probate court involvement entirely, a revocable living trust remains the most reliable option.