Alfonso Dawson Mortuary is at 3000 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in southwest Atlanta, in Fulton County, near I-285 and I-20. The family firm opened in Atlanta in December 1965 and also operates Resthaven Gardens of Memory, a cemetery in Decatur. It offers pre-need arranging, financing and grief counseling, and its staff includes a Spanish interpreter.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Fulton County, Georgia
How probate works in Fulton County: the Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Fulton County Probate Court
Fulton County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM (financial transactions until 4:00 PM)
Office
136 Pryor Street Southwest, 2nd Floor, Suite C230, Atlanta, GA 30303
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalMany new and existing estate petitions can be filed through eFileGA at any hour, by attorneys and self-represented filers alike. The original petitions and supporting documents, including the original will, are delivered by mail or in person within 10 days of e-filing. Guardianship cases are not open for e-filing. On paper: Guardianship cases; Self-represented filers may file on paper (Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.12(B)(6)).
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedAt the downtown courthouse, estate filings are by appointment except on Walk-In Wednesdays, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The North Service Center takes petitions by appointment or on Walk-In Wednesdays, and the South Service Center takes them as walk-ins Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Filings are complete by 4:00 PM, so arrival by 3:30 PM is asked.
Self-represented filing
AllowedA petitioner may file without an attorney; clerks cannot choose the document or fill it in. The court publishes the Georgia standard forms, a handbook for personal representatives and how-to videos. A filer who cannot afford the fees can file a Petition to Proceed in Forma Pauperis with proof of income.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card.Filing fees are due when the petition is filed. The court takes cash, Visa, Discover, MasterCard, business checks and money orders; a petition sent by mail is paid by attorney's check or money order, payable to Fulton County Probate Court.
Departments
- Decedents Estates1-404-612-4694 · probate.estates@fultoncountyga.gov
- Attorney Liaison1-404-613-4070
- Customer Service1-404-612-4692 · probate.customerservice@fultoncountyga.gov
- Adult Guardianship1-404-612-4660
- Minor Guardianship1-404-612-4697 · probate.minorguardianship@fultoncountyga.gov
- Records1-404-612-4692 · probate.records@fultoncountyga.gov
- Marriage Licenses1-404-613-4583 · probate.licenses@fultoncountyga.gov
- North Service Center (Intake)1-404-613-7638 · 7741 Roswell Road, Suite 219, Sandy Springs, GA 30350
- South Service Center (Intake)1-404-612-3048 · 5600 Stonewall Tell Road, Suite 218, College Park, GA 30349
About the court
- Estate petitions are also taken at the North Service Center in Sandy Springs and the South Service Center in College Park, where clerks docket and bill petitions and administer fiduciary oaths.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Fulton 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 Fulton County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 136 Pryor Street Southwest, 2nd Floor, Suite C230, Atlanta. Fulton County uses efilega.tylertech.cloud for probate e-filing, while most Georgia counties file through TrueFiling.
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 Fulton County
What probate costs in Fulton 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 136 Pryor Street Southwest, 2nd Floor, Suite C230, Atlanta.
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 Oct 17, 2026View source to open a probate case. 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 Fulton 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 Decedents Estates, Attorney Liaison, Customer Service, and Adult Guardianship.
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 Fulton County Self-Filing Assessment.
Fulton 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
Orders in administrations and temporary administrations set a bond of at least $25,000, or the assets listed in the petition if higher, posted before letters issue.
The minimum does not apply where the administrator's powers are granted by publication.
SourceA petition filed by mail is signed, verified and sent with its filing fee; a pleading without its fee is returned unfiled.
SourceDocument Requirements
A new petition to open an estate includes a copy of the obituary.
A petitioner has 10 days from the original filing date to submit it.
SourceRecords Access
The status of a pending matter can be checked through a [re:SearchGA](https://researchga.tylerhost.net/CourtRecordsSearch/Home#!/home) account.
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 Fulton County
In Georgia a death is registered locally, and in Fulton County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Fulton County Board of Health, Vital Records Division as well as by Georgia Department of Public Health - State Office of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
County Vital Records Office
Fulton County · Fulton County Board of Health, Vital Records Division
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
141 Pryor Street Southwest, Suite 1029A, Atlanta, GA 30303
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Order online
Fulton County BOH Vital Records
141 Pryor Street
Suite 1029A
Atlanta, GA 30303
Local rule
- Most records print on demand at the counter, and some take up to 72 hours before they can be printed. The Board of Health also issues certificates at the College Park Regional Health Center and at Health and Human Services North in Alpharetta.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $25 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $5 |
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Fulton County · Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office
Phone
Hours
8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
430 Pryor Street Southwest, Atlanta, GA 30312
Website
Mail and offices
Fax
1-404-612-2463
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Fulton County
27 funeral homes and crematories in Fulton County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In Atlanta, the Cremation Society of Georgia provides cremation for families anywhere in Georgia, with the crematory in its own building. It works with national cemeteries, including Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, for veterans, and offers the option of a Memorial at Sea. It states it has served families since 1982.
Divine Preservation Funeral Services is at 5529 Old National Highway in Atlanta, situated minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The home offers traditional services, cremation arrangements and pre-planning support. It handles domestic and international funeral shipping by air and ground transport.
Goolsby Mortuary is a family-owned and operated funeral home at 1375 Jonesboro Rd SE in Historic Southeast Atlanta. It states that it was established in 1977 and views its work as a ministry of service and compassion. Its site carries an online pre-planning form.
In Atlanta, Herschel Thornton Mortuary serves families from 3346 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW in the Adamsville community. Its packages include a traditional funeral with services at a church or the home's chapel, a graveside service, and a chapel service followed by cremation. Its history page states it was founded in 1945 and moved to its current location in 1964.
Hines Home of Funerals has served Atlanta from West Lake Avenue NW since 1990, in the former New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, with a chapel that seats three hundred. The family traces its funeral service in Atlanta to the late 1800s.
Funeral homes by city: Atlanta, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Roswell, Sandy Springs
Cremation Services in Fulton County
14 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Fulton County
8 listings
Burial Services in Fulton County
5 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Fulton County
3 listings
Funeral Transport in Fulton County
5 listings
Spanish-Speaking Funeral Homes in Fulton County
2 listings
Jewish Funeral Homes in Fulton County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Fulton 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 Fulton County are recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court at 136 Pryor Street Southwest, Suite C155 J2-101, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone: 1-404-613-5313. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
The Clerk of Superior Court charges $25 flat, regardless of page count.
Fulton County requires electronic recording through the GSCCCA eFile Portal; paper documents are not accepted.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of Superior Court
Fulton County · Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
136 Pryor Street Southwest, Suite C155 J2-101, Atlanta, GA 30303
Website
E-recording
Fax
1-404-332-0391
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 Fulton 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 Fulton 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.
Serves Atlanta, Georgia, along with Fulton County, Cobb County, Cherokee County, Forsyth County, DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, and Douglas County.
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.
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.
An Atlanta firm on Auburn Avenue handling estate planning, probate administration, and guardianship and conservatorship matters. Attorney Althea DeBarr-Johnson, in private practice since 1997, also serves as a professional fiduciary acting as conservator, administrator, or trustee.
A Marietta firm near Marietta Square handling estate matters before the Cobb County Probate Court for clients across Cobb and north metro Atlanta. Prepares wills, revocable living trusts, and powers of attorney, and represents executors and families through probate, estate administration, and adult guardianship.
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.
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)
- Fulton County Probate Court, official page
- Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court, official page
- Fulton 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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