Estate Planning & Probate in Harris County, Georgia
Harris County estate questions split two ways—planning so your family skips probate, or settling an estate that is already in it. Start with your situation below; both paths use Harris County's actual court and recording details.
Someone died — settling an estate
Filing probate at the Probate Court, what it costs, transferring property, and local attorneys.
What to do when someone dies in Harris County →Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Harris County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Harris County →The Probate Process in Harris 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 Harris County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 102 North College Street, Room 227, Hamilton.
Full Harris County probate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
Harris County Probate Court
Harris County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Self-represented filing
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Harris County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Recording Office Record
Clerk of Superior Court
Harris County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Recording fee
E-recording
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Vital Records Office Record
County Vital Records Office
Harris County · Harris County Health Department, Birth and Death Certificates
Phone
Office
Website
Certified copies
Certified copy fee
Full death certificate details →
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Harris County · Harris County Coroner
Full coroner or medical examiner details →
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Local Procedures at the Probate Court
The calendar of civil hearings is posted on georgiaprobaterecords.com.
Pleadings and documents may be filed in person or by mail; call ahead to arrange payment of court costs. The clerk files it when it is brought to the office.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Georgia
Free Georgia forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Georgia.
Last Will and Testament
In Georgia, a will is signed before 2O.C.G.A. § 53-4-20Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyO.C.G.A. § 53-4-20Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Pour-Over Will
In Georgia, a pour-over will is signed before 2O.C.G.A. § 53-4-20Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Georgia requires 2O.C.G.A. § 31-32-4Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredO.C.G.A. § 31-32-4Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
Financial Power of Attorney
Georgia treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultO.C.G.A. §§ 10-6B-1 through 10-6B-81Verified Oct 22, 2026View source, and it is signed before 1O.C.G.A. §§ 10-6B-1 through 10-6B-81Verified Oct 21, 2026View source witness and a notary.
Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Georgia
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Georgia: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay 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.
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.
Do I Need Probate?
In Georgia, estates with personal property of $15,000O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Bank Deposit AffidavitO.C.G.A. § 7-1-239Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Georgia, descendants divide what passes to them per stirpesO.C.G.A. § 53-2-1Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and the state sets no survival period for heirs.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Georgia costs an estimated $38,748O.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)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 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 the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
Georgia Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Harris County.
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