Cannon Cleveland Funeral Directors serves Henry County families from McDonough. In October 1999 the firm purchased Rainer Carmichael Funeral Home and Rainer Funeral Home, and its facility has two chapels of distinctly different styles. The home owns and operates its own crematory, so the deceased stays in its care at all times.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Henry County, Georgia
How probate works in Henry County: the Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Henry County Probate Court
Henry County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-11:45 AM and 1:00 PM-4:15 PM
Office
99 Sims Street, McDonough, GA 30253
Website
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedThe probate and guardianship counter keeps posted weekday hours and closes from 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe court does not require an attorney to probate a will, and staff cannot help prepare a petition. Its Estate Forms & Petitions page links the standard petitions and the county's inventory, return and notice forms.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card, Debit card.Cash is accepted in bills of $50 or less unless the payment is exact. Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit and debit cards carry a processing fee. Checks are accepted only on local Henry County accounts numbered over 500, and money orders are accepted.
Fax
1-770-288-7616
Departments
About the court
- The court is in the George C. Alexander Building, the first brick building on the left on Sims Street.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Henry 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 Henry County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 99 Sims Street, McDonough.
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 Henry County
What probate costs in Henry 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 99 Sims Street, McDonough.
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 cases in Henry County are filed at the Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Vital Records fax and TTY.
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 Henry County Self-Filing Assessment.
Henry 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
When the office closes for bad weather on a day that is not a legal holiday, pleadings may be left in the locked mailbox to the left of the court entrance until 4:30 PM.
The closing does not extend a filing deadline.
SourceRecords Access
Newer estate cases are viewable at georgiaprobaterecords.com, and the Records Room at the courthouse is open for research during counter hours.
Copies are $1.00 a page, and staff run simple estate searches for $10.00.
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 Coroner in Henry County
In Georgia a death is registered locally, and in Henry County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Henry County Probate Court, Vital Records as well as by Georgia Department of Public Health - State Office of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
County Vital Records Office
Henry County · Henry County Probate Court, Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-11:45 AM and 1:00 PM-4:15 PM
Office
99 Sims Street, McDonough, GA 30253
Website
Fax
1-770-288-7616
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $25 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $5 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Henry County · Henry County Coroner
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Henry County
8 funeral homes and crematories in Henry County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In McDonough, Haisten Funeral Home provides burial options and cremation services to the Southeast Atlanta metro area, listing Henry, Butts and Spalding counties among the communities it serves. It opened in 1993, and its chapel seats up to 290 guests.
In McDonough, the home sits on the grounds of Eastlawn Memorial Park, with a funeral home, crematory and cemetery on one site for families in Henry County. It offers burial, cremation including witness cremation, preplanning, veterans benefits help and international shipping. Spanish assistance is available by phone, and the general list of charges is posted with its effective date.
Southern Crescent Crematorium has served McDonough families since 2010 and is a member of the Cannon Cleveland Funeral Directors family of businesses. Its crematory is operated by staff certified through the Crematorium Association of North America, for families who choose cremation with no memorial service. Its offerings include filing the death certificate and assistance with veterans benefits.
Sylvain Funeral Home and Cremation Services in McDonough serves Henry County, Clayton County and the Atlanta metro area. The home offers traditional cremation with a visitation, direct cremation, domestic funeral shipping and pre-planning. Its facility has family planning rooms and a chapel, and it makes programs and video tributes for services.
In McDonough, W.D. Lemon & Sons Funeral Home has its McDonough Chapel at 300 Griffin Street. The firm has a second chapel on Joy Lake Road in Morrow.
Funeral homes by city: McDonough, Stockbridge
Cremation Services in Henry County
6 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Henry County
3 listings
Burial Services in Henry County
4 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Henry County
2 listings
Funeral Transport in Henry County
3 listings
Spanish-Speaking Funeral Homes in Henry County
1 listing
Green Burial in Henry County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Henry 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 Henry County are recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court at 1 Courthouse Square, McDonough, GA 30253. Phone: 1-770-288-8022. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The Clerk of Superior Court charges $25 flat, regardless of page count.
Henry County requires electronic recording through the GSCCCA eFile Portal; paper documents are not accepted.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of Superior Court
Henry County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
1 Courthouse Square, McDonough, GA 30253
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 Henry 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 Henry 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 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 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)
- Henry County Probate Court, official page
- Henry County Clerk of Superior Court, official page
- Henry 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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