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First Steps After a Death in Georgia

Practical Georgia estate settlement first steps before choosing a probate or transfer path.

Get Death Certificates
Sources

If You Are the Named Executor in Georgia

If you are the named executor, personal representative, or the family member organizing a Georgia estate, start with the records and court tasks below at a steady pace. Each step links to its full instructions in the timeline.

  1. Order certified death certificates

    Use Georgia DPH or county vital records channels for certified death certificates needed by banks, insurers, courts, and title offices.

  2. Locate the will and title documents

    Find the original will, deeds, vehicle titles, account records, beneficiary forms, trust documents, and debts.

  3. Identify the proper county probate court

    Georgia probate filings usually start in the county probate court connected to the decedent or Georgia property facts.

  4. Secure records and property
  5. Identify the county probate court

Use this as an organizing checklist, then confirm county office instructions and legal questions with the right office or professional.

Timeline of Tasks

Start with the immediate tasks. Open each later phase as you reach it.

First 24-48 Hours

Secure records and property
Locate the will, IDs, account records, deeds, vehicle titles, insurance papers, and immediate property access details.
Start death-certificate requests
Use Georgia DPH or county vital records channels and verify requester eligibility before ordering certified copies.

First Week

Identify the county probate court
Match the decedent, will, property, and asset facts to the county probate court or transfer office that must be contacted.
List assets and title types
Separate beneficiary assets, survivorship assets, trust assets, vehicles, real property, and assets that may need court authority.

First Month

Choose the probate or transfer path
Compare will probate, letters of administration, no-administration-necessary review, deceased-depositor affidavit, and nonprobate transfers.
Verify county instructions
Confirm local probate court, tag office, Clerk, tax, and vital-records instructions before filing or relying on a deadline.

Ongoing Tasks

Track debts, notices, and receipts
Keep copies of court filings, receipts, title documents, creditor communications, and tax records.
Close transfer tasks carefully
Verify each bank, vehicle, real-property, insurance, and tax transfer against the office or institution handling that asset.

Who to Notify

Social Security Administration
Call 1-800-772-1213
Employer / HR Department
Phone call or email
Banks & Credit Unions
Visit branch with death certificate
Insurance Companies
Call policy customer service
Credit Card Companies
Call number on card
Utility Companies
Call to transfer or cancel
DMV / Vehicle Registration
Visit in person or online
Post Office
Submit change of address form

Documents to Gather

Death Certificates

Many estates start with 10-15 certified copies because banks, insurers, property-transfer contacts, and agencies may ask for them.

How to get death certificates →

Will & Trust Documents

Look in safe deposit boxes, home safes, attorney files, and records folders.

Probate guide →

Financial Statements

Bank statements, investment accounts, retirement accounts, and recent tax returns.

Asset transfer guide →

There is no rush on this. When you are ready, a short assessment can help you see whether probate is needed.

What Comes Next?

After the first 30 days, you may need to start probate or transfer assets. The Georgia probate guide walks through what usually comes next.

Read the Georgia Probate Guide

More Georgia Resources

Explore the rest of the Georgia probate hub.

Do I need probate?4 pages
Costs and money5 pages
File for probate2 pages
Transfer assets4 pages
Learn and reference5 pages