Probate in Chatham County runs through the Probate Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Chatham County, settling their estate runs through the Probate Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Chatham County
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Accepted paymentCash, Money order, Credit card, Debit card. Cash, money order, cashier's check (exact amount), and credit/debit (Visa, MasterCard, Discover). Personal checks NOT accepted. 5% convenience fee on any credit/debit transaction (effective Aug 1, 2022).
Departments
Article 6 Court with expanded jurisdiction. Licenses/permits processed until 4:30 PM; Record Room open until 4:30 PM.
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
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 Chatham County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 133 Montgomery Street, Room 509, Savannah.
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. 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 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-41 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What probate costs in Chatham 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 133 Montgomery Street, Room 509, Savannah.
Probate matters are handled through the Marriage Licenses. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court that affect cost: Accepts cash, money order, cashier's check (exact amount), and credit/debit (Visa/MasterCard/Discover); personal checks not accepted. 5% convenience fee on credit/debit transactions. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
Georgia charges $175O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60(e)(1) (2024 Ga. L. Act 515 / SB 232, eff. 1/1/2025)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. 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%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is also statutory in Georgia. Family executors who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Georgia requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%O.C.G.A. § 53-6-50(a),(c) ("any person who seeks to qualify to serve as the personal representative of an intestate estate or as a temporary administrator shall be required to give bond"; such a PR "may be relieved from the requirement for giving bond by the unanimous consent of the heirs of the estate") (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-6-50 (2025)); § 53-6-53 (PR qualified to serve without bond may still be ordered to give bond on a showing of mismanagement) (Verified 2026-07-14)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.
Probate cases in Chatham County are filed at the Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Filings here are routed through the Marriage Licenses. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Probate Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Chatham County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You Go
Appointments for filing or general information can be booked through the court's online NemoQ appointment portal; walk-ins are also accepted during filing hours.
Cash, Money order, Credit card, Debit card. Cash, money order, cashier's check (exact amount), and credit/debit (Visa, MasterCard, Discover). Personal checks NOT accepted. 5% convenience fee on any credit/debit transaction (effective Aug 1, 2022).
To file at the Probate Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
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 Chatham County are recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court, led by Tammie Mosley, at 400 W. Oglethorpe Avenue, Suite 178, Savannah, GA 31401. Phone: 912-434-8920. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 10227, Savannah, GA 31412.
The Clerk of Superior Court charges $25 flat, regardless of page count.
Chatham County requires electronic recording through GSCCCA eFile Portal; paper documents are not accepted.
Recording Office Record
Chatham County · Tammie Mosley
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $25 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
O.C.G.A. 15-6-77(f)(1)(A)(i)
Verified September 4, 2026 · Source
Georgia uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Chatham County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Georgia are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2.1%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Chatham 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.
FirmSavannah, GA
A small, specialized firm located on Skidaway Island in Savannah providing estate planning and probate services including preparing probate petitions, coordinating with heirs and beneficiaries, and corresponding with the Chatham County Probate Court.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate Administration
Solo PracticeSavannah, GA
Has been helping people in Chatham County and surrounding communities plan for the future with estate planning services for more than 20 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationGuardianshipProbate Administration
FirmSavannah, GA
Long-established Savannah firm guiding executors through the Georgia and South Carolina probate courts: filing the will, transferring assets to the estate, valuing the estate, and completing administration. Also litigates probate and will disputes and mediates among beneficiaries, with more than 70 years of combined trusts-and-estates experience.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
FirmSavannah, GA
A boutique firm of estate planning attorneys in Savannah specializing in wills and trusts, estate planning, probate, fiduciary litigation, taxation, and business succession planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationTrust LitigationTax Planningand 2 more
FirmSavannah, GA
A Savannah estate planning and elder law firm, with a second office in Marietta, whose attorneys work only in estate planning and estate administration. Guides executors and beneficiaries through probate, including appointment of an executor or administrator, required public notices, creditor claims, and distribution of the estate, with fixed upfront pricing.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate Administration
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.
Data sourced from Georgia statutes and official state code. How we research.
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Vehicles, jewelry, collectibles, etc.
Mortgages, credit cards, loans, etc.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
Select your state and enter an estate value to see a detailed cost estimate.
Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Total probate assets (exclude beneficiary-designated accounts)
Enter your state and estate value to get a personalized recommendation with estimated cost savings.
Score-based assessment with reasoning
Cost comparison vs. hiring an attorney
This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Step-by-step tools for families in Chatham County, Georgia.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get a personalized plan for settling a trust after the grantor passes away. Covers beneficiary notification, asset transfers, creditor handling, taxes, and distributions.
Get a score-based recommendation on whether self-filing probate is right for your situation. See estimated savings vs. hiring an attorney and get a step-by-step checklist.
Browse vetted Georgia attorneys handling probate matters.
