How Much Does Probate Cost in Paulding County, Georgia?
Understanding what probate costs before you start helps you plan and avoid surprises. Here's what families in Paulding County can expect.
What probate costs in Paulding 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 280 Constitution Boulevard, Room 2009, Dallas.
Local procedures at this court: After the proper paperwork is submitted and filing fees are paid, filers are notified of a date and time to appear before the Judge. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
Georgia charges $175O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60(e)(1) (eff. 1/1/2025)Verified Jun 11, 2026 to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The Probate Court accepts e-filing (https://tf3.truefiling.com/). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Georgia are negotiated, typically 2%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6 (personal representative may provide competent legal counsel; either PR or attorney may petition probate court for judgment fixing attorney fees and expenses; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-06-11)Verified Jun 11, 2026 to 4%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6 (personal representative may provide competent legal counsel; either PR or attorney may petition probate court for judgment fixing attorney fees and expenses; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-06-11)Verified Jun 11, 2026 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 (intestate bond requirement; unanimous-heir-consent waiver); § 53-6-53 (PR qualified to serve without bond; court may require bond on showing of mismanagement) (Verified 2026-06-11)Verified Jun 11, 2026 of estate value annually.
Probate in Georgia typically runs 9 monthsO.C.G.A. § 7-1-239Verified Jun 11, 2026 to 12 monthsO.C.G.A. § 7-1-239Verified Jun 11, 2026, and costs accrue throughout. The 3 monthsO.C.G.A. § 53-7-41 (Verified 2026-06-11)Verified Jun 11, 2026 creditor claim window is the single biggest driver of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of estate complexity.
Legal Sources
- O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60(e)(1) (eff. 1/1/2025)
- O.C.G.A. § 53-6-50 (intestate bond requirement; unanimous-heir-consent waiver); § 53-6-53 (PR qualified to serve without bond; court may require bond on showing of mismanagement) (Verified 2026-06-11)
- O.C.G.A. § 53-7-41 (Verified 2026-06-11)
- O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6 (personal representative may provide competent legal counsel; either PR or attorney may petition probate court for judgment fixing attorney fees and expenses; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-06-11)
- O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239
Data sourced from Georgia statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Total probate costs usually run 3–8% of the estate value. For Paulding County, that means filing fees ($175 to open), attorney fees, executor compensation, publication costs, and possibly a bond. The calculator on this page runs the math for your estate size.
The petition to open probate costs $175 in Paulding County. Additional filings during administration (inventory, accounting, final petition) can add to the total. The calculator above shows the full picture.
Georgia uses "reasonable fees" — usually hourly billing or a percentage of the estate. Typical range is 2%–4% of estate value, negotiable based on complexity.
Georgia caps executor compensation by statute — the same schedule used for attorney fees in many states. Executors can waive this fee, which often makes sense for family members who are also beneficiaries.
Yes. Georgia estates under $15,000 can use a Bank Deposit Affidavit and avoid most probate costs. Check the Georgia self-filing assessment to see if this applies.
A revocable living trust skips probate entirely — no filing fee, no attorney schedule, no executor commission. The cost of setting up the trust is typically recovered many times over compared to what probate would cost the estate. Create a revocable trust online and keep the estate out of Paulding County probate.
Probate Court
Paulding County
280 Constitution Boulevard, Room 2009
Dallas, GA 30132
Phone:
770-443-7541Fax:
770-443-7631
Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Paper Filing Available
E-Filing Optional
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