MD Walker Funeral Home is a funeral home at 4552 Jonesboro Road in Forest Park, in Clayton County. Its site posts the home's obituaries and offers an obituary notification email list.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Clayton County, Georgia
How probate works in Clayton County: the Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Clayton County Probate Court
Clayton County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
121 South McDonough Street, Jonesboro, GA 30236
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalThe court accepts probate filings through TrueFiling from attorneys and self-represented filers, except emergency guardianship or conservatorship petitions and petitions for year's support. The original will is filed with the court within ten days of the electronic submission, and the original surety bond is filed on paper. On paper: Emergency guardianship or conservatorship petitions (adult or minor); Petitions for year's support.
Self-represented filing
AllowedPleadings may be filed in person, by mail or through TrueFiling; the court does not accept pleadings by email or fax. Every document carries an original wet signature; electronic signatures and the "/s/" designation are rejected.
County forms
- Estate Inventory (Clayton)Inventory of a decedent's estate
- Annual/Final Return of Personal Representative of Estate (Clayton)Annual or final return of a personal representative
- Annual/Final Return of Conservator (Clayton)Annual or final return of a conservator
- Personal Status Report (Clayton)Guardian's report on a ward
Fax
1-770-477-3306
Departments
- Licensing Division1-770-477-3301Marriage and weapons carry licenses, temporary guardianship of a minor, and mental health matters.
About the court
- The court is in Annex Building 3 of the Clayton County Courthouse complex; everyone entering passes through a metal detector. The main number, 770-477-3299, is the Estates Division line.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Clayton 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 Clayton County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 121 South McDonough Street, Jonesboro.
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 Clayton County
What probate costs in Clayton 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 121 South McDonough Street, Jonesboro.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: The court cannot accept bills larger than $50.
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 Clayton 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 a separate line for 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 Clayton County Self-Filing Assessment.
Clayton County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Petitions for temporary guardianship of a minor are not accepted after 3:00 p.m.
SourceRecords Access
Estate index searches are not done by phone; the index can be checked free in the office, online, or by mail for $10 per estate name with a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
SourceOther Requirements
A free probate pro bono clinic meets on scheduled Fridays from 8:15 a.m. to noon on the third floor of Annex 3, first come, first served.
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 Medical Examiner in Clayton County
In Georgia a death is registered locally, and in Clayton County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Clayton 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
Clayton County · Clayton County Health Department, Vital Records
Fees
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $25 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $5 |
Verified November 4, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Clayton County
Published contact
None published by the county. The office is created by O.C.G.A. § 45-16-80(a).
Verified November 4, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Clayton County
10 funeral homes and crematories in Clayton County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In Historic Jonesboro, Anthony L. Watkins Funeral Home serves families all over metropolitan Atlanta and the surrounding counties. Its handicapped-accessible facility has spacious reposing rooms and a 150-seat chapel. The home also runs two event venues, The W at Jonesboro and its community center, for repasts, weddings and gatherings.
In Jonesboro, Ford Funeral Home and Cremation Services states that it has served its community since 1997. Its site also lists a second location, A.S. Turner Funeral Home & Crematory in Decatur. Its general list of charges, effective September 1, 2026, is posted on its site.
Knight Mortuary Services, on Commercial Court in Jonesboro, serves families in Jonesboro and the surrounding communities, and its staff can be reached 24/7. Its general list of charges, effective January 1, 2026, is posted on its site.
Legacy Funeral Home and Life Center is a funeral home on Fayetteville Road in Jonesboro, in Clayton County. The home states that it takes pride in serving all families, and its funeral director has served the community for over twenty years.
In Jonesboro, this chapel has served the community since 1984 and offers burial and cremation services to families of all faiths, backgrounds, cultures and traditions. It serves Clayton County, Fayetteville, Morrow, Rex, Riverdale and Stockbridge from a newly remodeled facility on North Avenue.
Funeral homes by city: Forest Park, Jonesboro, Morrow, Riverdale
Cremation Services in Clayton County
2 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Clayton County
1 listing
Burial Services in Clayton County
2 listings
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Clayton 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 Clayton County are recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court at 9151 Tara Boulevard, Room 1CL25, Jonesboro, GA 30236. Phone: 1-770-477-3395. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The Clerk of Superior Court charges $25 flat, regardless of page count.
Clayton County requires electronic recording through the GSCCCA eFile Portal; paper documents are not accepted.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of Superior Court
Clayton County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
9151 Tara Boulevard, Room 1CL25, Jonesboro, GA 30236
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 Clayton 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 Clayton 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.
A Jonesboro firm on S. McDonough Street serving Clayton County families. Prepares wills, minor and contingent trusts, living trusts, advance directives for health care, and financial powers of attorney, and can complete simple plans the same day. Also handles business law, litigation, and local government work.
A family law firm with offices in Jonesboro and Fayetteville that also handles probate, adult and minor guardianships and conservatorships, and estate planning. Probate work covers estate administration and distribution of assets, and planning work covers wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives.
A Stockbridge estate planning and elder law firm, with a second office in Peachtree City, serving the Atlanta area since 1991. Represents executors in probate and trustees in trust administration, and handles Medicaid planning, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and special needs planning.
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.
A south metro Atlanta firm with offices in Stockbridge, McDonough, Jackson, Barnesville, Peachtree City, and Griffin. Handles estate administration and probate, estate litigation, guardianships and conservatorships, and powers of attorney, and establishes revocable living, special needs, marital, and irrevocable life insurance trusts.
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.
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)
- Clayton County Probate Court, official page
- Clayton County Clerk of Superior Court, official page
- Clayton 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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