Probate in DeKalb 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 DeKalb 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
DeKalb County
Address
Phone
Hours
Departments
All services by appointment only. Paid parking in deck at 125 West Trinity Place. Second location at B190 Judicial Tower (Marriage Licenses, Weapons Carry, Wills/Estates; hours 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM - 3:00 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 DeKalb County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 556 North McDonough Street, 1100 Judicial Tower, Decatur. Probate e-filing in DeKalb County runs through efilega.tylertech.cloud, not the TrueFiling portal used by most Georgia counties.
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 DeKalb 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 556 North McDonough Street, 1100 Judicial Tower, Decatur.
Probate matters are handled through Wills and Estate Filings and Mental Health, Adult Guardianships/Conservatorships. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
The Probate Court 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 a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The Probate Court accepts e-filing (https://efilega.tylertech.cloud/). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
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 documents in DeKalb 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.
Filings here are routed through Wills and Estate Filings and Mental Health, Adult Guardianships/Conservatorships. 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.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationPaper Filing Required For
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 DeKalb County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Most filings can be e-filed, but Orders to Apprehend, Certificates of Residency, Veteran Certificates of Eligibility, Wills for Safekeeping, and original oaths and bonds cannot be e-filed.
All services performed by appointment only with no exceptions. Contact the court to schedule.
Paid parking in deck at 125 West Trinity Place. MARTA station located adjacent to courthouse.
Before You Go
An appointment is required to file in person. All services are handled by appointment only with no exceptions. Book at https://dekalbprobatega.com/appointment-calendar/.
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 DeKalb County are recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court, led by Debra DeBerry, at 556 N. McDonough Street, Judicial Tower Annex, Room G-130, Decatur, GA 30030. Phone: 404-371-2836. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
The Clerk of Superior Court charges $25 flat, regardless of page count.
DeKalb County requires electronic recording through GSCCCA eFile Portal; paper documents are not accepted.
Recording Office Record
DeKalb County · Debra DeBerry
Address
Phone
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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 DeKalb 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 DeKalb 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.
FirmAtlanta, GA
Serves Atlanta, Georgia, along with Fulton County, Cobb County, Cherokee County, Forsyth County, DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, and Douglas County.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate Administration
FirmAtlanta, GA
Family-operated Atlanta firm on North Druid Hills Road serving Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties. Its probate practice covers probate in solemn form (formal, with heir notification), probate in common form, and letters of administration for intestate estates, alongside estate and trust administration.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate Administration
FirmMarietta, GA
Founding attorney Ophelia Chan, former staff attorney and assisting judge of Cobb County Probate Court, has served clients in Marietta and the metro Atlanta area for more than 25 years.
PracticesEstate AdministrationProbate LitigationConservatorshipGuardianship
Solo PracticeJohns Creek, GA
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 3 more
FirmLawrenceville, GA
Serves Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta with estate planning, probate, estate administration, asset protection, and guardianship services.
PracticesEstate PlanningConservatorshipGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planningand 3 more
Solo PracticeDecatur, GA
A Decatur practice on Sycamore Street drafting wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives for health care, and representing executors and beneficiaries in probate and estate administration. Estate planning work is billed at a flat fee disclosed at the start.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
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.
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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.
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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.
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Step-by-step tools for families in DeKalb County, Georgia.
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