Why this exists.
Most Georgia families we talk to aren't stuck because probate is hard. They're stuck because the first attorney they called wanted a $3,000 or $4,000 retainer, and nobody has that sitting around the month after a funeral. So the house sits in a loved one's name. Taxes and insurance come due. The “we buy houses” calls start.
Fee assistance breaks that stall. The house itself is usually the biggest thing the family owns. When it has value, that value can pay for the probate that unlocks it.
What we cover.
- Probate attorney fees. Typically $2,000 to $4,000 for a straightforward Georgia case, paid on your behalf.
- Court costs. Filing fees, letters, and the required newspaper notice to creditors.
- Getting the house ready for market. Cleanout, repairs, and cleanup after years of a loved one living there.
- Renovation, when it pays. If updating the kitchen or floors would raise the sale price by more than it costs, we can front that too. If it wouldn't, we'll tell you not to bother.
Who qualifies.
The house has to have equity — it's worth more than whatever is still owed on it (mortgage, back taxes, liens). That's what the advance is repaid from.
Everything else is case by case. Call us, tell us about the house and the family, and we'll tell you on that same free 15-minute call whether fee assistance is a fit. If it isn't, we'll still walk you through your options and what a fair attorney fee looks like.
How repayment works.
You never pay us out of pocket. There are no monthly payments. What we advanced comes back to us in one amount from the closing, the day the house sale (or refinance, or transfer) becomes final. You get every term in writing before you sign anything.
How we make money. All of it, up front.
You should know exactly how we're paid before you decide anything. When the house sells, it's one of three ways:
- We (or a buyer we know) buy the house at a price you agree to.
- We (or a partner real estate agent) sell it for you and earn the standard commission.
- A buyer we introduce you to pays us a referral fee.
Which one applies to your family is in writing before you sign. You're never obligated to take an offer from us, and we'll show you how it compares to listing the house on the open market.
The attorney works for your family. Not for us.
Even though we cover the fee, the probate attorney represents you and owes their duty to you. You can choose an attorney from our network of vetted Georgia probate attorneys or bring your own. We are not a law firm and don't give legal advice.
Questions families ask about fee assistance.
Can someone else pay my probate attorney fees in Georgia?
Yes. If the inherited house has equity, we can pay the probate attorney's fees and the court filing costs on your behalf. You don't pay anything out of pocket. We're repaid from the closing when the house sells, refinances, or transfers.
What does fee assistance cover?
The probate attorney's fees (typically $2,000 to $4,000 for a straightforward Georgia case), court filing and publication costs, and the work to get the house ready for market: cleanout, repairs, and renovation when it makes sense for the sale price.
Who qualifies?
The house has to have equity, meaning it's worth more than what's still owed on it. Beyond that, we look at each family's situation on the free 15-minute call and tell you on that call whether it's a fit.
Will I have monthly payments?
There are no monthly payments. What we advance is repaid in one amount out of the closing. You'll get every term in writing before you sign anything.
How do you make money?
When the house sells, we're paid in one of three ways: we or a buyer we know buys the house at a price you agree to; we or a partner real estate agent sell it for you for the standard commission; or a buyer we introduce you to pays us a referral fee. We tell you which one applies, in writing, before you sign anything.
If you pay the attorney, who does the attorney work for?
Your family. The attorney represents you, not us, even though we cover their fee. You can also choose your own attorney instead of one from our network.
Find out if you qualify in 15 minutes.
Tell us about the house. We'll tell you on the call whether fee assistance fits, what probate will look like in your county, and what happens next. Free, and no pressure either way.