About
Probate Courts in Georgia
Probate Courts in Georgia are courts of limited but
exclusive jurisdiction over (a) the probate of wills and the administration
of estates of deceased persons, (b) the appointment of guardians of the
person and property of incapacitated adults, (c) the appointment of guardians
of the property of minors, (d) the appointment, in certain circumstances,
of guardians of the person of minors, and (e) the commitment for involuntary
treatment of persons addicted to drugs or alcohol and/or suffering from
mental illness. Probate Courts also issue certain licenses and permits
and perform certain administrative duties. In many counties, the Probate
Court exercises limited criminal jurisdiction (traffic cases, game and
fish violations, etc.) Some Probate Judges also serve as the Elections
Superintendent and/or Vital Records Custodian for their counties. In
certain counties, the Probate Judge is also the Magistrate Court Judge.
The Probate Court of Bibb County is an “Article
6 Probate Court” [Title 15, Chapter 9, Article 6, Official Code of Georgia
Annotated] and has an enhanced or expanded jurisdiction. Under Article
6, which applies in counties having a population of 96,000 or more, the
Probate Judge must be a licensed attorney with experience and qualifications
equal to those for serving in the Superior Courts of Georgia. Article
6 Probate Courts have certain concurrent jurisdiction with the Superior
Courts and may conduct jury trials in issues properly before the court.
Appeals from Article 6 Probate Courts are directly to the Court of Appeals
or the Supreme Court, as appropriate.
Many of the procedures filed in the Probate
Courts in Georgia are by use of the Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms.
Not all proceedings have a standard form applicable to them. All Georgia
Probate Court Standard Forms are available in each Probate Court. These
forms are also available at, may be downloaded from, and may be compiled
on The
Georgia Probate Court On-Line System.
