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Docket No. 13253 · Georgia

Seminole County
Probate Court

In Georgia, estates are probated in the Probate Court (County Probate Court). This page gathers where to file in Seminole County, the state rules that apply, and where every detail comes from.

County website ↗ Directions ↗
County seat
Donalsonville
Population
9,092
Court
Probate Court
Record
Courthouse mapped
GA · 1325330°56′ N · 84°52′ W
● Seminole County Courthouse
located via OpenStreetMap
Small-estate limit
$15,000
No statutory waiting period
Creditor window
3 months
O.C.G.A. § 53-7-41
Executor fee
Up to ~5%
Capped by statute
Death taxes
None
No state death tax
§ I

Where to file in Seminole County

Handled by
Probate Court (County Probate Court)Georgia has an independent Probate Court in each of its 159 counties. The elected Probate Judge has exclusive jurisdiction over the probate of wills, administration of estates, involuntary mental health commitments, and marriage licenses.
County building
Seminole County Courthouse Court Street, Donalsonville, GA 39845 OpenStreetMap · view the map entry
Phone
No phone number published in an open source. Use the county website's contact page — we don't list numbers we can't source.
Opening hours
Not published in an open source. Check the court or county website before you go.
County website
seminolecountyga.comWikidata
State courts & e-filing
georgiacourts.govCase search: Georgia Judicial E-Filing System (PeachCourt / re:SearchGA)
§ II

How probate runs in Seminole County

Six stages, with the Georgia rules that set the pace.

  1. 01

    Secure the original will

    Find the original signed will and order certified death certificates. Georgia deadline: Must be filed with Probate Court with reasonable promptness.

  2. 02

    Pick the right track

    If the probate estate is under $15,000, a small-estate procedure (O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40 (No Administration) & O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239) may avoid full administration.

  3. 03

    Petition the court

    File the petition with the Probate Court (County Probate Court) for Seminole County. The court appoints the executor or administrator and issues letters.

  4. 04

    Inventory the estate

    Open an estate bank account (the IRS issues the EIN), list assets at date-of-death values and file the inventory if the court requires it.

  5. 05

    Notify creditors

    Publish or send notice to creditors. Window: 3 months from the date of the last publication of Notice to Debtors and Creditors (published once a week for 4 weeks); late creditors lose equal-priority participation.

  6. 06

    Account and distribute

    Pay debts, taxes and fees (O.C.G.A. § 53-6-60), file the final account if required, distribute to heirs and ask to close the estate.

Need help with an estate in Seminole County, Georgia?

Where to get help.

We don't sell leads or take referral fees. Eligibility, availability and fees depend on the provider; confirm them directly.

  1. 01 Georgia courts — self-help & formsOfficial judiciary website: forms, filing rules and e-filing.
  2. 02 Legal aid directory — LawHelp.orgNonprofit directory of free and low-cost legal aid by state, including probate and estates.
  3. 03 Find a probate lawyer — American Bar AssociationState-by-state links to bar lawyer-referral services and pro bono programs.
§ III

Georgia rules that apply here

Probate law is state law — these apply in all 159 Georgia counties.

Small estates
No general small-estate affidavit. Options: Petition for Order that No Administration Is Necessary (O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40); bank may pay intestate decedent's deposits up to $15,000 to spouse/children/parents/siblings by affidavit (O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239)O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40 (No Administration) & O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239
Filing the will
Must be filed with Probate Court with reasonable promptness
Creditor claims
3 months from the date of the last publication of Notice to Debtors and Creditors (published once a week for 4 weeks); late creditors lose equal-priority participationO.C.G.A. § 53-7-41
Executor fees
Statutory Commission: 2.5% of all money received and 2.5% of all money paid out (maximum 5% total) plus up to 3% on property delivered in-kind with court approvalO.C.G.A. § 53-6-60 · estimate the fee
Handwritten wills
Not recognized without witnesses. Georgia does NOT recognize unwitnessed handwritten wills. All wills must be attested by at least two competent witnesses (O.C.G.A. § 53-4-20).
Estate tax
No state estate tax.Georgia has no state estate tax.
Inheritance tax
No.No state inheritance tax in Georgia.
Typical duration
6 to 12 monthsA lawyer is not required by statute, though most formal estates use one.

Rules re-checked Sept 2026 against: codes.findlaw.com (statute) · law.justia.com (statute)

§ IV

Neighbouring probate courts

SeminoleDecaturMillerEarlyBakerGrady
Related officeSeminole County Clerk & RecorderDeath certificates, recorded deeds and marriage records for the estate file.uscountyclerks.com ↗ Related officeSeminole County Property AppraiserAssessed values and parcel records for the estate inventory.uspropertyappraisers.com ↗
§ V

Questions about Seminole County probate

Where is the Seminole County Probate Court located?
In Georgia, probate is handled by the Probate Court (County Probate Court). The Seminole County Courthouse is mapped in OpenStreetMap at Court Street, Donalsonville, GA 39845. Check the official county website (seminolecountyga.com) to confirm which counter or building handles probate filings.
What is the small estate affidavit limit in Seminole County, GA?
Small-estate rules are set by state law, so they are the same in every Georgia county: No general small-estate affidavit. Options: Petition for Order that No Administration Is Necessary (O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40); bank may pay intestate decedent's deposits up to $15,000 to spouse/children/parents/siblings by affidavit (O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239) (O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40 (No Administration) & O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239).
How do I search probate case records in Seminole County?
Start with the Georgia judiciary website (georgiacourts.gov), which points to Georgia Judicial E-Filing System (PeachCourt / re:SearchGA). Older files and certified copies are requested from the probate clerk in Donalsonville.
What are the deadlines for filing a will and creditor claims in Seminole County?
Will: Must be filed with Probate Court with reasonable promptness. Creditors: 3 months from the date of the last publication of Notice to Debtors and Creditors (published once a week for 4 weeks); late creditors lose equal-priority participation (O.C.G.A. § 53-7-41).
How much can an executor charge in Seminole County?
Georgia rule: Statutory Commission: 2.5% of all money received and 2.5% of all money paid out (maximum 5% total) plus up to 3% on property delivered in-kind with court approval (O.C.G.A. § 53-6-60). You can estimate the amount with our executor fee calculator.