How long does probate take in Georgia?

“Uncontested” here means the heirs agree on who serves as executor/administrator, no one challenges the will, and no creditor disputes a claim. Most cases start uncontested. Some become contested in month three when a sibling reads something they don't like.

1. 1

   The petition and appointment.

   Filing the initial petition, serving notice to interested parties, and waiting for the court to appoint the executor or administrator. Typically 3–8 weeks once the file is complete.

2. 2

   Notice to creditors.

   Georgia requires publication of a Notice to Creditors in the county legal organ for four consecutive weeks, which starts a three-month window during which creditors can present claims. You can't fully distribute the estate (or sell the house and disburse proceeds in most cases) until that window closes. This is the hard 3-month floor on most Georgia probate cases.

3. 3

   Final accounting and distribution.

   Once debts are paid and the creditor window has closed, the executor files a final accounting with the court and distributes remaining assets to the heirs. Typically 2–8 weeks.

• Out-of-state heirs. Notice has to reach them. Acknowledgments come back slowly. Add 2–6 weeks.
• Missing original will. If only a photocopy turns up, the court can probate a copy in Georgia — but you'll need affidavits explaining why the original is missing, and the timeline grows. Add 1–3 months.
• Real estate sale during probate. If the estate needs to sell the house to pay debts or because heirs agree to sell, the closing typically requires court approval and adds 4–10 weeks even on a smooth transaction.
• A single objecting heir. One sibling who files an objection — even a thin one — can push the case from uncontested into contested. Add 6–18 months and several thousand dollars in attorney fees.

Georgia's probate code is statewide; the underlying timeline is the same in every county. What varies is court volume. Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Cobb handle the most cases; their hearings calendar tight and the longer end of the range is more common. Smaller suburban and exurban counties (Fayette, Rockdale, Newton) often hit the shorter end because their dockets move faster.

See our 159-county directory for county-specific notes.