Hiring a Wills, Trusts or Probate Lawyer in Georgia

What Georgia requires for a valid will, when probate applies, how estate lawyers charge, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.

What a lawyer costs in Georgia: fee rules

If you disagree with a lawyer's bill	The State Bar of Georgia's Fee Arbitration Program handles fee disputes between lawyers and clients (and between lawyers). It is free to clients and lawyers in attorney/client disputes. Participation is a choice, but the program offers only binding arbitration, so both sides agree to be bound by the award. Most hearings use a panel of two lawyers and one non-lawyer. Start with a Petition for Fee Arbitration. Phone: 404-527-8750. Source: State Bar of Georgia, Fee Arbitration
If a lawyer takes your money	The State Bar of Georgia Clients' Security Fund, created in 1968, can reimburse eligible clients who lost money through a Georgia lawyer's dishonest conduct in a lawyer-client relationship. The lawyer must have been disbarred, indefinitely suspended or voluntarily surrendered the license (unless deceased). Malpractice and insured or bonded losses are excluded. There is no fixed cap on the page: the Board of Trustees sets amounts based on available funds, number of claims and work the lawyer actually did, and claims are typically not paid in full. Apply no later than two years after the Supreme Court of Georgia's final disciplinary action; no filing fee is listed. Source: State Bar of Georgia, Clients' Security Fund

If you disagree with a lawyer's bill

The State Bar of Georgia's Fee Arbitration Program handles fee disputes between lawyers and clients (and between lawyers). It is free to clients and lawyers in attorney/client disputes. Participation is a choice, but the program offers only binding arbitration, so both sides agree to be bound by the award. Most hearings use a panel of two lawyers and one non-lawyer. Start with a Petition for Fee Arbitration. Phone: 404-527-8750.

Source: State Bar of Georgia, Fee Arbitration

If a lawyer takes your money

The State Bar of Georgia Clients' Security Fund, created in 1968, can reimburse eligible clients who lost money through a Georgia lawyer's dishonest conduct in a lawyer-client relationship. The lawyer must have been disbarred, indefinitely suspended or voluntarily surrendered the license (unless deceased). Malpractice and insured or bonded losses are excluded. There is no fixed cap on the page: the Board of Trustees sets amounts based on available funds, number of claims and work the lawyer actually did, and claims are typically not paid in full. Apply no later than two years after the Supreme Court of Georgia's final disciplinary action; no filing fee is listed.

Source: State Bar of Georgia, Clients' Security Fund

Georgia rules to know first

Requirements for a valid will	Anyone 14 or older may make a will unless they lack mental capacity or full freedom of action. The will must be in writing and signed by the will-maker (or by another person in the will-maker's presence and at their direction), and attested and signed in the will-maker's presence by at least two competent witnesses. Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024). Source: O.C.G.A. §§ 53-4-10, 53-4-20
How probate works	Main steps: file a petition in the probate court of the county where the decedent lived (to probate a will in common or solemn form, or for letters of administration if there is no will); the court issues letters to the executor or administrator (with bond unless excused); publish notice to creditors once a week for four weeks, starting within 60 days after qualifying; prepare an inventory and file it with the court, and mail copies to beneficiaries or heirs, within six months after qualifying (unless waived or relieved); pay debts and distribute property; petition for discharge. The Council of Probate Court Judges publishes standard forms for each petition. Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024). Source: O.C.G.A. §§ 53-7-41, 53-7-30; Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms

Requirements for a valid will

Anyone 14 or older may make a will unless they lack mental capacity or full freedom of action. The will must be in writing and signed by the will-maker (or by another person in the will-maker's presence and at their direction), and attested and signed in the will-maker's presence by at least two competent witnesses.

Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024).

Source: O.C.G.A. §§ 53-4-10, 53-4-20

How probate works

Main steps: file a petition in the probate court of the county where the decedent lived (to probate a will in common or solemn form, or for letters of administration if there is no will); the court issues letters to the executor or administrator (with bond unless excused); publish notice to creditors once a week for four weeks, starting within 60 days after qualifying; prepare an inventory and file it with the court, and mail copies to beneficiaries or heirs, within six months after qualifying (unless waived or relieved); pay debts and distribute property; petition for discharge. The Council of Probate Court Judges publishes standard forms for each petition.

Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024).

Source: O.C.G.A. §§ 53-7-41, 53-7-30; Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms

Full Georgia guide

Find and check a lawyer

Lawyer referral service	The State Bar of Georgia says it "is not able to directly refer clients to lawyers." It offers the ReliaGuide Enhanced Directory to search for lawyers by type of law, and points people to the referral services run by many local and voluntary bar associations (it links a list of referral services that comply with Bar Rule 7.3(c)(2)). Source: State Bar of Georgia, Find a Lawyer
Check that the lawyer is licensed	The State Bar of Georgia offers an online Member Directory with basic and advanced search for looking up Georgia lawyers. Source: State Bar of Georgia, Member Directory
Check discipline history or file a complaint	Grievances about Georgia lawyers are filed online with the State Bar of Georgia's Office of the General Counsel (OGC). An OGC attorney reviews each grievance to see whether it shows a possible violation of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct; grievances outside its jurisdiction or without sufficient evidence or merit are dismissed. If a possible violation appears, the grievance is sent to the lawyer for a response, and those that appear to involve a violation go to the State Disciplinary Board for investigation. The lawyer will likely see what you submit. State Bar: 104 Marietta St. NW, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30303; 404-527-8700 or 800-334-6865. Online grievance portal: https://portals.georgiabar.org/ogc/grievance Source: State Bar of Georgia, Office of the General Counsel - File a Grievance

Free legal help

Free legal aid	Georgia's LSC-funded legal aid organizations are Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Georgia Legal Services Program, which give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people. The State Bar of Georgia points people to GeorgiaLegalAid.org for a complete directory of civil legal assistance programs, and to the Pro Bono Resource Center (co-sponsored by Georgia Legal Services Program and the State Bar) at 404-527-8763. The Bar warns that many businesses advertise "legal aid" online, so ask whether a service is free. Bar page: https://www.gabar.org/public/legal-aid---pro-bono-resource-center Source: Legal Services Corporation, Our Grantees; State Bar of Georgia, Legal Aid/Pro Bono Resource Center

Free legal aid

Georgia's LSC-funded legal aid organizations are Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Georgia Legal Services Program, which give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people. The State Bar of Georgia points people to GeorgiaLegalAid.org for a complete directory of civil legal assistance programs, and to the Pro Bono Resource Center (co-sponsored by Georgia Legal Services Program and the State Bar) at 404-527-8763. The Bar warns that many businesses advertise "legal aid" online, so ask whether a service is free.

Bar page: https://www.gabar.org/public/legal-aid---pro-bono-resource-center

Source: Legal Services Corporation, Our Grantees; State Bar of Georgia, Legal Aid/Pro Bono Resource Center

All legal help in Georgia · Do I need a lawyer?

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.