Bentley and Sons Funeral Home was founded in Macon in 1976 and moved to its present building at 2714 Montpelier Avenue in 1984. The site also names homes in Roberta and Jeffersonville, and its history page says the Roberta home on Highway 341 was bought in 1988.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Bibb County, Georgia
How probate works in Bibb County: the Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Bibb County Probate Court
Bibb County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
601 Mulberry Street, 2nd Floor, Macon, GA 31201
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalThe court accepts probate filings through TrueFiling. The original will and any surety bond are still filed on paper. On paper: Self-represented filers may file on paper (Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.12(B)(6)).
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe court's Probate Proceedings page explains each estate proceeding. Forms must be typed or legibly printed, and staff can schedule uncontested hearings.
P.O. Box 6518
Macon, GA 31208
Departments
- Court Division1-478-621-6494 · probatecourt-courtdiv@maconbibb.us
- Licensing Division1-478-621-6493 · probatecourt-licensediv@maconbibb.us
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Bibb County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Bibb County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 601 Mulberry Street, 2nd Floor, Macon.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Georgia intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Georgia estates take 9 months to 12 months to move through this process. 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 a claim, counted from the last publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Bibb County
What probate costs in Bibb County, Georgia comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Probate Court at 601 Mulberry Street, 2nd Floor, Macon.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Arrive before 4:00 PM to finish business with the court by 5:00 PM; no payments are taken after 4:30 PM.
Georgia's statutory fee for an estate petition is $175 statewide, and a $15 indigent defense fee is added to each petition that opens an estate. County law library and dispute resolution add-ons and any publication are charged on top, so counties' posted totals for an opening petition run about $200 to $209O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60(e)(1) (2024 Ga. L. Act 515 / SB 232, eff. 1/1/2025)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Georgia are negotiated, typically 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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
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. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Georgia requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under O.C.G.A. § 53-6-50(a),(c) (bond required of the personal representative of an intestate estate or a temporary administrator; relieved by the unanimous consent of the heirs)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Georgia typically runs 9 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Probate Court
Probate documents in Bibb County can be filed in person at the Probate Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Court Division and Licensing Division.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
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.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Bibb County Self-Filing Assessment.
Bibb County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Court Appearances
Some estate and guardianship hearings are held by video conference.
To watch a remote hearing, email the Court Division with the names of the parties or the estate and your contact information.
SourceOther Requirements
Legal notices for the county, including estate notices, are published in The Macon Reporter.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Probate Court: Original will (and any codicils), for testate estates (GPCSF 5/4); Acknowledgments of service / consents of heirs or beneficiaries, sworn before a notary or probate clerk (O.C.G.A. § 53-11-6); Oath of personal representative (GPCSF Supplement 4), administered by a probate judge or clerk (not a notary) — the oath is not part of the petition form itself (O.C.G.A. §§ 53-6-16, 53-6-24); Bond on the intestate track, unless all heirs consent to waive it (O.C.G.A. § 53-6-50(a), (c)); executors under a will are not within § 53-6-50 and give no bond by defaultO.C.G.A. § 53-5-20 et seq. (probate of will in solemn form / Letters Testamentary); § 53-6-20 et seq. (Letters of Administration); § 53-6-1 (eligibility), § 53-6-10 (nomination by testator), § 53-6-11 (qualification)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Bibb County
In Georgia a death is registered locally, and in Bibb County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Macon-Bibb County Health Department, Vital Records as well as by Georgia Department of Public Health - State Office of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
County Vital Records Office
Bibb County · Macon-Bibb County Health Department, Vital Records
Fax
1-478-749-0151
Local rule
- A valid state-issued photo ID is presented at the time of the request.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $25 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $5 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Bibb County · Macon-Bibb County Coroner's Office
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Bibb County
11 funeral homes and crematories in Bibb County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
Central Georgia Crematory is in Macon and serves Bibb County and nearby towns such as Warner Robins, Forsyth and Milledgeville. It offers direct cremation, cremation after a private family viewing, and cremation with a memorial service, and families can preplan a cremation. The company was established in 2018.
FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services is in Macon and has cared for families of Middle Georgia since it opened its doors in 2014. Its funeral home stands on Mount Pleasant Church Road.
In Macon, Hart's at the Cupola opened in August 2008 as the first branch location of Hart's Mortuary. It provides burial and cremation services, and its chapel has stained glass and a grand piano for live musical tributes. Its cremation center is built so families can include it in the ceremony.
In Macon, Hart's on Cherry Street opened in 1931 as the central location of Hart's Mortuary & Cremation Center, which has served Central Georgia since 1899. The firm provides burial and cremation services for families in Bibb County, Jones County and surrounding Middle Georgia. Its two-story colonial building holds a spacious chapel.
In Macon, HICKS & Sons Mortuary has served Middle Georgia since 1984, when the family added it to the funeral home it began in Reynolds in 1955. The firm provides funeral care from four locations, in Macon, Reynolds, Roberta and Fort Valley.
Funeral homes by city: Macon
Cremation Services in Bibb County
4 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Bibb County
2 listings
Burial Services in Bibb County
3 listings
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Bibb County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Clerk of Superior Court.
Deeds and other real property documents for Bibb County are recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court at 601 Mulberry Street, Suite 216, Macon, GA 31201. Phone: 1-478-621-6527. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
The Clerk of Superior Court charges $25 flat, regardless of page count.
Bibb County requires electronic recording through the GSCCCA eFile Portal; paper documents are not accepted.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of Superior Court
Bibb County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
601 Mulberry Street, Suite 216, Macon, GA 31201
Website
E-recording
Fees
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $25 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
O.C.G.A. 15-6-77(f)(1)(A)(i)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Death Form · Affidavit of Heirship Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Bibb County
Georgia allows independent administrationO.C.G.A. § 53-7-1(b) (unanimous consent to the § 53-12-261 powers, without court authorization); § 53-7-33 (will may dispense with the inventory); § 53-7-69 (and the annual return)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so the personal representative manages, pays and distributes the estate without returning to the court for approval at each step. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Georgia are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Bibb County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Has served the legal needs of clients in Macon and middle Georgia since 1956. Practice areas include estate/trust and tax planning law, corporate and transactional law, and civil litigation.
Anderson, Walker & Reichert, LLP
577 Mulberry St., Suite 1410, Fickling & Company Building, Macon, GA 31201
A Macon firm on Mulberry Street tracing its origins to 1849, serving Bibb County. Its estate practice covers estate planning and administration, and represents clients in will contests and other estate litigation, including breach of fiduciary duty, incapacity, guardianship, and wasting-asset disputes. Also prepares wills, trusts, and business succession plans.
A Macon litigation firm serving Middle Georgia whose probate practice handles disputes after a death, including contested wills, questions of the decedent's capacity, and estates left without a will. Also handles business, civil, and criminal litigation and eminent domain.
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.
A Macon firm focused on business, real estate, and nonprofit clients that also handles estate planning. Prepares wills, advance healthcare directives, general powers of attorney, and special needs trusts, and advises and represents heirs, administrators, executors, and trustees in probate.
From its downtown Macon office, Martin Snow LLP serves Middle and South Georgia in trusts, probate, and estate planning. The firm drafts wills and trusts and handles informal and formal probate, estate administration, trust administration, and will contests, along with estate and gift tax planning. Its January 2026 merger with Haygood, Lynch added offices in Forsyth and Monticello.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
(10)·
- O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60(e)(1) (2024 Ga. L. Act 515 / SB 232, eff. 1/1/2025)
- O.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 track
- O.C.G.A. § 53-5-20 et seq. (probate of will in solemn form / Letters Testamentary); § 53-6-20 et seq. (Letters of Administration); § 53-6-1 (eligibility), § 53-6-10 (nomination by testator), § 53-6-11 (qualification)
- 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)
- O.C.G.A. § 53-7-1(b) (unanimous consent to the § 53-12-261 powers, without court authorization); § 53-7-33 (will may dispense with the inventory); § 53-7-69 (and the annual return)
- O.C.G.A. §§ 53-7-40, 53-7-41, 53-7-42, 53-7-43, 9-3-36
- O.C.G.A. 15-6-77(f)(1)(A)(i)
- Bibb County Probate Court, official page
- Bibb County Clerk of Superior Court, official page
- Bibb County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Georgia statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Georgia
Free tools for settling an estate in Georgia: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Georgia.
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.
See the Steps
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.
See the Steps
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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