Georgia Probate Costs
Georgia probate filing fees are set by petition type, not by estate value. The uniform statutory fee is $175, but county add-ons, publication, and certified copies push the real total higher. Use these as planning estimates and confirm with your county probate court.
Georgia probate filing fees do not scale with the size of the estate. The uniform statutory petition fee is $175 under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60 (SB 232, effective January 1, 2025), and the same base fee applies whether you file for letters of administration, to probate a will, for No Administration Necessary, or for year's support.
Each county then adds mandatory surcharges (indigent defense, ADR, Children's Trust Fund, and law library), so observed county totals commonly run about $206 and up, with year's support reaching roughly $354 once publication is included. Georgia has no state estate or inheritance tax. These are planning estimates. Confirm the current total with your county probate court.
Quick Summary
- Uniform petition fee
- $175O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60 (effective 1/1/2025)
- Typical county total
- ~$206Base + mandatory county add-ons
- State estate / inheritance tax
- $0Georgia has none
The $175 base petition fee is uniform statewide, but each county adds mandatory surcharges plus publication and certified-copy costs, so county totals vary (commonly ~$206 and up). Confirm the current total, payment methods, and local filing instructions with the county probate court.
Typical Total Cost Ranges
Estimate your county’s exact feesProbate Cost by Procedure
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| Procedure | Estate Size | Court Fee | Timeline | Attorney? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Administration Necessary | No will; no debts (or creditor consent) and heirs agree. Fee not based on estate value | About $206 (uniform $175 + county add-ons) | County court timing varies | No (often useful) | Intestate estates with no debts where all heirs agree on the division |
| Year's Support | Sets aside property for a surviving spouse and/or minor children. Fee not based on estate value | About $209 plus publication, up to ~$354 | County court timing varies (notice and any objection period) | No (often useful) | A surviving spouse and/or minor children needing support property set aside |
| Probate of Will (Common or Solemn Form) | There is a will. Fee not based on estate value | About $206 (uniform $175 + county add-ons) | Common form is faster; solemn form requires notice to heirs | No (often useful) | Estates with a will (common form for speed, solemn form for binding finality) |
| Permanent Letters of Administration | No will (intestate); no dollar cap. Fee not based on estate value | About $206 (uniform $175 + county add-ons) | County court timing varies (notice, possible bond, inventory) | No (often useful) | Intestate estates that do not fit a simplified no-will device |
Additional Costs to Expect
County Add-On Surcharges
Counties collect mandatory add-ons such as indigent defense (O.C.G.A. § 15-21A-6), ADR (O.C.G.A. § 15-23-7), Children's Trust Fund (O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60.1), and law library (O.C.G.A. § 36-15-9) fees on top of the uniform petition fee.
Publication and Notice
Publication of citation or notice (for example in year's support and many administration filings) is a cost of service charged in addition to the court fee and can add roughly $100 or more. The notice to creditors runs in the county's official legal newspaper once a week for four weeks; the newspaper sets the price, though many Georgia Probate Courts collect it as part of the filing package.
Executor / Administrator Commission
The personal representative is entitled to a statutory commission of 2.5% on sums received and 2.5% on sums paid out, plus possible extra compensation for non-money property distributed in kind (up to 3%) and interest earned, unless the will sets different terms.
Bond Premium
An administrator of an intestate estate generally must post bond, while a will can relieve a named executor, and an already-appointed representative can be relieved when the interested people unanimously consent under O.C.G.A. § 53-7-1(b) using form GPCSF 32. When a bond is required, a surety company charges an annual premium, commonly 0.5% to 1% of the bond amount per year; on a $175,000 bond that is roughly $875 to $1,750 a year, a legitimate estate expense payable from estate funds.
Certified Copies and Death Records
Certified death certificates and certified copies of court documents (letters, orders) carry per-copy charges that vary by issuing office and ordering method.
Recording and Title Costs
Recording a certified No Administration Necessary order or other documents in the county deed records, plus vehicle title and transfer work, can add separate costs. A sale of real property can also trigger Georgia's real estate transfer tax, which must be paid before the document is recorded.
Attorney and Tax Professional Fees
Georgia does not use a California-style statutory attorney fee schedule. Attorney and tax-preparation fees are set by written agreement and should be separated from court costs.
One more cost source to check: if the person who died received Medicaid long-term care benefits, the state may file a recovery claim against the estate. The Georgia Medicaid estate recovery guide explains when that applies.