Georgia Resources for Executors

The Peach State

Georgia probate courts, executor forms, probate cost and executor fee calculators, and the agencies and banks to notify after a death.

Settle an estate in Georgia, step by step

A Georgia settlement plan lists each task in order, from the death certificate to the final distribution, with the Georgia deadlines and forms attached to each step.

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Georgia Probate and Settlement Rules

Georgia has a relatively low threshold for simplified estate procedures—only estates under $15,000 can avoid formal probate. This means most families will need to go through the full probate process, making strategies like living trusts or beneficiary designations particularly valuable here.

Georgia does not impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax, which means estates are only subject to the federal estate tax (currently exempting the first $15,000,000 per person, or $30,000,000 for married couples using portability). This is a meaningful advantage over the states that layer their own death taxes on top of the federal system.

Georgia provides constitutional homestead protection up to $21,500 in home equity. This shields the family home from most creditors during the owner's lifetime. Executors must publish a notice to creditors, who then have 3 months to file claims against the estate.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated September 15, 2026

Legal Sources

Data sourced from Georgia statutes and official state code. How we research.

Find Your County’s Probate Court

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An estate is opened in the probate court of the county where the person lived. Click on any county in Georgia for that court’s contact information, filing procedures, fees, and what to do when someone dies there.

All 159 Georgia counties

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Georgia Estate Settlement Forms

Probate petition, notice to creditors, inventory, closing. Free for Georgia.

Free

EIN Application

Get the tax ID number (EIN) banks require to open an estate account or trust account after someone dies.

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Free

Petition for Probate and Letters

Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.

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Free

Notice to Creditors

Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.

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Free

Renunciation of Executor

Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.

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Free

Affidavit of Heirship

Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.

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Free

Small Estate Affidavit

Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.

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Free

Estate Inventory

Prepare the probate inventory of estate property — every asset at its date-of-death value, with your state's filing or delivery instructions.

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Free

Estate Closing

Prepare the paperwork that closes the estate — the state's closing instrument with its closing instructions, and the optional federal forms.

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Free

Letter of Instruction

Prepare the letter a bank or insurer requests during estate settlement, addressed to its claims department.

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Free

Digital Assets Recovery Letter

Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.

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Georgia Tools & Calculators

Probate cost, executor fees, creditor deadlines and more for Georgia.

How Much Does Probate Cost in Georgia?

Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.

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How Much Can an Executor Charge in Georgia?

Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.

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Who Inherits Without a Will in Georgia?

Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.

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What's Fair Trustee Compensation in Georgia?

Find out what's fair compensation for serving as trustee. Compare family, professional, and corporate trustee rates based on your situation.

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How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes in Georgia?

Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.

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How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Georgia?

Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.

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Do I Need Probate in Georgia?

Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.

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What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance in Georgia?

See which states charge inheritance tax, what federal tax applies, and how long it takes to receive money, property, or retirement assets from an estate or trust.

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How Does Step-Up in Basis Work in Georgia?

Estimate the stepped-up basis on inherited stock, real estate, or business interests. Project federal and state capital gains tax with vs. without the step-up to see how much it saves at sale.

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Can I Self-File Probate in Georgia?

Get a score-based recommendation on whether self-filing probate is right for your situation. See estimated savings vs. hiring an attorney and get a step-by-step checklist.

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How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Georgia?

See how a personal representative is appointed in your state: the appointing court, the petition that opens the estate, what supporting documents to file, and bond rules.

See the Steps

What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines in Georgia?

See when creditors must file claims, what notice you must publish, whether direct notice is required, and the statutory priority for paying debts. Enter dates to calculate specific deadlines.

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What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent in Georgia?

Enter the estate's assets and the claims in each class of the state's payment order to see which classes are paid in full, which are paid in part, and which go unpaid, with each class cited to the statute and the executor's personal liability under state law.

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Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died in Georgia?

See which federal and state tax returns need to be filed after a death. Check income tax, estate tax, and fiduciary return requirements with deadlines, form links, and tax clearance rules.

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What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate in Georgia?

Estimate the fair market value of furniture, electronics, clothing, appliances, and more. See how reporting accurate values instead of purchase prices can reduce probate fees in your state.

Estimate Value

How Do I Settle an Estate in Georgia?

Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.

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How Do I Settle a Trust in Georgia?

Get a personalized plan for settling a trust after the grantor passes away. Covers beneficiary notification, asset transfers, creditor handling, taxes, and distributions.

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What Do I Do When Someone Dies in Georgia?

The free checklist from the first days through closing the estate: death certificates, securing the home, notifications, documents, probate or trust administration, creditors, taxes, and distribution. State rules and official forms are noted on each step. Downloadable as a PDF.

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