For anyone planning an estate in Georgia or settling one: what a will or trust costs, whether an estate needs probate, what executors and trustees are paid, and the taxes on an inheritance, each answered under Georgia law.
36 tools for Georgia
Probate in Georgia takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2.1%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
Georgia authorizes transfer on death deedsO.C.G.A. 44-17-1 to 44-17-7Verified Jul 15, 2026: a recorded, revocable deed that passes real property at death outside probate.
Georgia does not offer a transfer-on-death designation on a vehicle title; a vehicle passes by will, trust, joint title, or 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 track (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-5-15 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
In Georgia, the Probate Court of the county of the decedent's domicile appoints the personal representative and the Probate court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; every appointment goes through the courtO.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 (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-5-15 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
In Georgia, the 3 monthsO.C.G.A. § 53-7-41(d) ("within three months from the date of publication of the personal representative's last notice") (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-41 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source period after the last publication of the creditor notice protects a representative who distributes after it; late claims can still reach undistributed assets.
When an estate owes more than it holds, Georgia pays the claims in 7O.C.G.A. § 53-7-40Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with year's support for the family.
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
Compare trust-account requirements bank by bank: how a revocable trust account is opened or retitled, and what proves the trust.
See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.
Georgia requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040O.C.G.A. §§ 48-7-20(a.1), 48-7-27(a)(1)(B); HB 463 (2026)Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
In Georgia, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2.1%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%O.C.G.A. § 53-7-6(4) (PR authorized "to provide competent legal counsel for the estate...either the personal representative or the attorney employed may, by petition to the probate court...obtain a judgment fixing the attorney's fees and expenses"; no statutory percentage) (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-6 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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 Sep 15, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
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 Jul 15, 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.
After a death in Georgia, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $15,000O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or goes through probate, where creditors have 3 monthsO.C.G.A. § 53-7-41(d) ("within three months from the date of publication of the personal representative's last notice") (Verified 2026-09-08 against GA Code § 53-7-41 (2025))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to file claims after notice.