Updated September 7, 2026. Quick answer: Fulton County, Georgia’s most populous, charges $209.00 to file a petition to probate a will or to open administration without one.
If a trust could save your estate this fee in Georgia
A living trust avoids probate entirely in Georgia, which means the estate skips the $209.00 above along with every other cost the court charges once a case is open. LawDepot builds a state-specific one.
Build a living trust at LawDepot
LawDepot pays us a commission if you buy through this link, it costs you nothing extra. We are not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Affiliate Disclosure.
What Georgia charges to open probate
Georgia sets no single statewide figure for this fee; each county’s probate court sets its own schedule, so the exact amount depends on where the estate is opened.
| Petition to probate a will, initial filing (Fulton County) | $209.00 |
| Petition for letters of administration, initial filing (Fulton County) | $209.00 |
| Subsequent filing (Fulton County) | $205.00 |
Georgia’s probate fees are set at the county probate-court level; Fulton County (Atlanta) is shown as the largest-county example.
Where this money goes and who sets it
The authority for this figure is Fulton County Probate Court fee schedule; Senate Bill 232 updated Georgia’s statutory probate fees statewide effective January 1, 2026. In the source’s own words: “$209 Initial Filing”
What this fee doesn’t cover
Because Georgia leaves this to each county, the same estate could cost more or less to open depending on which county courthouse handles it. Either way, this is the court’s own charge just to open the file and issue letters, separate from what an attorney charges to actually handle the estate and separate from any state estate or inheritance tax the estate itself might owe.
Sources
Source: Fulton County Probate Court fee schedule; Senate Bill 232 updated Georgia’s statutory probate fees statewide effective January 1, 2026.