If the person named as Executor in a Last Will and Testament does not wish to serve, most Probate Court require that he or she file a renunciation from executorship (if the named executor is deceased, file a copy of his or her death certificate). The following form is not an official form, but it […]
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Unless the applicable Probate Court requires a different form, the following form may be used when preparing an estate inventory (if one is required). Use additional sheets as necessary. The inventory must be delivered to estate beneficiaries if there is a Will and to heirs-at-law if the estate is being administered. In uncontested cases, if […]
The following form may be used when seeking authority to open a safety deposit box after a decedent’s death to determine whether the Last Will and Testament is there. If the Will is located, the attached Order authorizes the Petitioner to deliver the Will to the Probate Court. Source: Cobb County Probate Court
When you file a Petition to Probate a Will or for Letters of Administration, you must give notice to the heirs-at-law. Sometimes it’s difficult to determine who is an heir-at-law. The following worksheet can be used when identifying them: Source: Cobb County Probate Court (This form is available on several Probate Court websites) See O.C.G.A. […]
In Georgia, a Will must be self-proved or the witnesses to the Will must either sign written witness interrogatories or provide testimony that they observed the Will’s execution and that requisite formalities were observed. What happens if the witnesses are deceased or cannot be located? The law allows (O.C.G.A. § 53-5-24) someone familiar with the […]
When you file a Petition to Probate a Will or a Petition for Letters of Administration in Georgia, you must give notice to all heirs-at-law. Why? Because those are the persons who have legal standing to file an objection (caveat) to the Will or file an objection to your Petition for Letters of Administration. What […]
In Georgia, anyone in possession of an original Will after the Will-maker’s death, must file it with the appropriate Probate Court. HOWEVER, that does not mean you must file a Petition to Probate the Will. The following form may be used to file the Will for information purposes only. Source: Cobb County Probate Court (modified […]
In addition to a health care advance directive, one way to create evidence regarding your health treatment wishes and end-of0life wishes is to complete a health values questionnaire. One of the issues in Cruzan and Schiavo was the absence of adequate evidence demonstrating what the patient would want if she could speak for herself. Wouldn’t […]
An Ethical Will is a statement of values you want to pass along to those you leave behind. It is not a replacement for a Last Will & Testament, which distributes your property. However, money isn’t necessarily the most important thing you leave behind when you depart this world. You can use this form (or […]
One gift you can give your family is a guide to what you want (and don’t want) after you die. Many families are grieving when they make choices at the funeral home. Completing a planning guide can help them get it right so they don’t overcompensate when making funeral plans.
