The Georgia probate guide
Plain-language Georgia probate, written for the grieving family.
Most online probate advice is written for California, Texas, or Florida. These guides are Georgia-specific. No legalese, no pressure. If your situation isn't covered, call us and we'll write it next.
Quick roadmaps
I just inherited a house in Georgia. Now what?
The 7-step roadmap. With-will and without-will forks, the first 30 days don'ts, and what to do this week.
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No will (intestate) probate in Georgia
Who inherits under Georgia law when there's no will, Letters of Administration, and the Year's Support option.
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Selling an inherited house in Georgia
What's actually possible before probate clears, and your three real options after.
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All 159 Georgia counties: probate court directory
Every Georgia county we serve, with links to local probate court info, filing fees, and average timelines.
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Out-of-state executor guide to Georgia probate
You live in NY, CA, FL, or anywhere else. The house is in Georgia. What you can handle remotely, what you can't, and the two-week setup.
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Before you file
What to do in the days and weeks after the death, before anyone files probate. Most families don't know to do these things; doing them well saves months later.
What to do in the first week after a death in Georgia
Before the funeral, before the probate filing, before the lawyer: the short list of what to do (and what NOT to do) in the first seven days.
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How to order a Georgia death certificate
Order 6–10 certified copies. Where to do it, what it costs, how long it takes, and where each copy goes.
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How to find out what property your loved one owned
Free public records, county-by-county. Real estate, accounts, unclaimed property. How to discover assets without paying for a search.
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Bank accounts after a death in Georgia
The bank froze the account. The funeral home wants $9,000. Here's how the freeze actually works and what unlocks it.
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The first 30 days: printable checklist
A week-by-week checklist. Print it. Cross things off. Forward it to whoever needs it. No email gate.
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During probate
I'm the executor of a Georgia estate. Where do I start?
The first 30 days, the documents to find, and the order to call the bank, the mortgage servicer, and the probate court.
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How long does probate take in Georgia?
Real timelines by case type. The three hard floors. And the four things that quietly add months you didn't plan for.
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Letters Testamentary vs. Letters of Administration in Georgia
Same job, different name. The legal authority to act on the estate, and what changes depending on whether there's a will.
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Year's Support in Georgia: the faster path for spouses and minor children
A 6–10-week petition that bypasses regular probate. Underused, powerful, and often the right move when a surviving spouse is involved.
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What happens to the mortgage when the owner dies in Georgia?
The Garn-St. Germain Act, why the bank can't call the loan due, and what to actually say when you call the mortgage servicer.
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Can I sell the house before probate clears in Georgia?
Usually no, and the people telling you yes are usually trying to lock you into a contract you can't legally sign. The three real exceptions.
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Don't sign that “cash for the house” offer yet
How cash buyers find your filing in days, the four pressure tactics they use, and the four questions to ask before you sign anything.
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Don't list the inherited house yet. Here's why.
Listing pre-Letters fails at title and may put you on the hook personally. When listing is safe, and how to be ready the day you can.
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Should our family keep or sell the inherited Georgia home?
Honest tradeoffs. The four questions to answer before anyone signs anything, and the math nobody runs in time.
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How to skip probate in Georgia (when you legally can)
The three-condition path that lets families skip formal probate when there's no debt and all heirs agree. Underdiscussed; faster than full probate when it fits.
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What if an heir refuses to sign probate papers?
Regular probate doesn't actually require sibling signatures. Four real options when one heir won't cooperate, ranked from easiest to hardest.
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Can a sibling live in the inherited house rent-free?
The default rule, the ouster exception, and the four things the other heirs can actually do about it.
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Don't see your situation?
The free 15-minute call is when we sort through it. We'll map your specific case, name the attorney match, and tell you what step one looks like for your family.