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

Estimate the fair market value of household items for the Georgia estate inventory — what furniture, electronics, and appliances would sell for today, not what was paid.

Beyond personal items? Track every account, property, and asset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Personal property in Georgia is valued at fair market value — what the item would sell for on the open market, not the original purchase price.O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239 (bank deposit affidavit), § 53-2-40 (no administration necessary), § 53-5-15/§ 53-5-16 (common/solemn form probate), § 53-6-50 (bond), § 53-6-53 (bond on mismanagement), § 53-6-60 (executor commission), § 53-7-1(b)/§ 53-7-33/§ 53-7-69 (unsupervised administration), § 53-7-6 (attorney fees), § 53-7-41 (creditor claims/publication)Verified Jul 14, 2026 Most household items (furniture, electronics, clothing) lose 50-90% of their value. Professional appraisals are used for art, collectibles, jewelry, and other high-value items.

No. Executors in Georgia can typically group low-value household goods into a single line on the inventory — for example, "household furnishings and personal effects" — while valuable items such as jewelry, art, and collectibles are listed individually. Each value reflects fair market value as of the date of death.

In Georgia, the executor must file the estate inventory within 6 months of appointment. If assets are discovered later, Georgia requires a supplemental inventory.O.C.G.A. §§ 53-7-30, 53-7-31, 53-7-32Verified Jul 13, 2026

Estates with personal property under $15,000 in Georgia may qualify for Bank Deposit Affidavit, which avoids full probate.O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239 (bank deposit affidavit), § 53-2-40 (no administration necessary), § 53-5-15/§ 53-5-16 (common/solemn form probate), § 53-6-50 (bond), § 53-6-53 (bond on mismanagement), § 53-6-60 (executor commission), § 53-7-1(b)/§ 53-7-33/§ 53-7-69 (unsupervised administration), § 53-7-6 (attorney fees), § 53-7-41 (creditor claims/publication)Verified Jul 14, 2026 Accurate valuation at fair market value can determine whether the estate falls below this threshold. Check eligibility with the Georgia probate need checker.

High-value items such as art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles typically require professional appraisals, while typical household items — furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing — can be valued using comparable sales data. Georgia lets the executor value most property without a formal appraisal, though valuable items still warrant a qualified appraiser.O.C.G.A. §§ 53-7-30, 53-7-31, 53-7-32Verified Jul 13, 2026

Once the inventory is filed, tangible personal property in Georgia passes under any specific gifts in the will, then under the will's residuary clause. Without a will, it passes under Georgia intestate succession. See who receives it with the Georgia inheritance calculator.

Not necessarily. Items with named beneficiaries (life insurance, retirement accounts), jointly held property, and assets in a trust bypass probate. Only personal property owned solely by the deceased passes through probate in Georgia. The Georgia probate need checker determines which assets require probate.

Georgia Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering Georgia probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.