2021 Georgia Code
Title 53 - Wills, Trusts, and Administration of Estates
Chapter 5 - Probate

- This chapter was effective January 1, 1998, to the extent that no vested rights of title, year's support, succession, or inheritance are impaired, as provided by the version of Code Section 53-1-1 enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 504, § 10, as amended by Ga. L. 1997, p. 1352, § 1.

Ga. L. 1996, p. 504, § 10, effective January 1, 1998, repealed the Code sections formerly codified at this chapter, and enacted the current chapter. The former chapter consisted of §§ 53-5-1 through53-5-21, and was based on Laws 1838, Cobb's 1851 Digest, p. 296; Laws 1850, Cobb's 1851 Digest, p. 297; Ga. L. 1853-54, p. 34, § 1; Ga. L. 1855-56, p. 148, §§ 1-4; Ga. L. 1862-63, p. 30, §§ 1-3; Code 1863, §§ 2531-2533, 2535, 2536; Ga. L. 1865-66, p. 31, § 1; 1866, p. 66, § 1; Code 1868, §§ 2530-2533, 2535-2537; Code 1873, §§ 2571-2574, 2576-2578; Code 1882, §§ 2571-2574, 2576-2578; Ga. L. 1884-85, p. 49, § 1; Ga. L. 1890-91, p. 227, § 1; Civil Code 1895, §§ 3465-3473; Ga. L. 1899, p. 47, § 1; Ga. L. 1903, p. 76, § 1; Civil Code 1910, §§ 4041-4051; Ga. L. 1918, p. 122, § 1; Code 1933, §§ 113-1001.1, 113-1002, 113-1002.1, 113-1003 through 113-1005.3, 113-1006, 113-1006.1, 113-1007 through 113-1012; Ga. L. 1937, p. 861, §§ 1-5; Ga. L. 1939, p. 236, § 1; Ga. L. 1943, p. 621, § 1; Ga. L. 1947, p. 866, § 1; Ga. L. 1953, Jan.-Feb. Sess., p. 453, § 1; Ga. L. 1955, p. 731, § 1; Ga. L. 1958, p. 378, § 1; Ga. L. 1958, p. 657, § 11; Ga. L. 1959, p. 136, § 5; Ga. L. 1960, p. 227, § 1; Ga. L. 1968, p. 997, § 1; Ga. L. 1976, p. 1059, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1977, p. 545, §§ 1-3; Ga. L. 1979, p. 1325, § 2; Code 1981, § 53-5-1.1; Ga. L. 1983, p. 3, § 42; Ga. L. 1986, p. 982, § 20; Ga. L. 1986, p. 1272, §§ 1-8; Ga. L. 1987, p. 375, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 948, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1992, p. 6, § 53; Ga. L. 1993, p. 1054, § 1.

- For article, "Probate and Administration of Small Estates in Georgia: Some Proposals for Reform," see 6 Ga. L. Rev. 74 (1971). For article, "The Probate and Establishment of Domestic and Foreign Wills: An Analysis of Statutory Requirements," see 13 Ga. L. Rev. 133 (1978).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

ALR.

- Establishment of will lost before testator's death, 34 A.L.R. 1304.

Situs of corporate stock for purposes of probate jurisdiction and administration, 72 A.L.R. 179.

Prima facie case for proponent in will contest as shifting burden of proof, 76 A.L.R. 373.

Admissibility and credibility of testimony of subscribing witness tending to impeach execution of will or testamentary capacity of testator, 79 A.L.R. 394.

Admissibility of declarations of testator on issue of undue influence, 79 A.L.R. 1447; 148 A.L.R. 1225.

Right to probate of will as affected by prior appointment of administrator, 95 A.L.R. 1107; 2 A.L.R.4th 1315.

Arbitration of issues or questions pertaining to probate matters, 104 A.L.R. 359.

Character of instrument as will, or its admissibility to probate as such, as affected by its failure to make any disposition of property or by fact that there is no beneficiary entitled to take thereunder, 147 A.L.R. 636.

Contingent interest as sufficient to entitle one to oppose or contest will or codicil, 162 A.L.R. 843.

Estoppel to contest will or attack its validity, 28 A.L.R.2d 116.

Right of executor or administrator to contest will or codicil of his decedent, 31 A.L.R.2d 756.

Necessity that executor or administrator be represented by counsel in presenting matters in probate court, 19 A.L.R.3d 1104.

Right to probate subsequently discovered will as affected by completed prior proceedings in interests administration, 2 A.L.R.4th 1315.

Modern status: inheritability or descendability of right to contest will, 11 A.L.R.4th 907.

Attorney's delay in handling decedent's estate as ground for disciplinary action, 21 A.L.R.4th 75.

Authority of probate court to depart from statutory schedule fixing amount of executor's commissions and attorneys' fees, 40 A.L.R.4th 1189.

Fraud as extending statutory limitations period for contesting will or its probate, 48 A.L.R.4th 1094.

Sufficiency of evidence to support grant of summary judgment in will probate or contest proceedings, 53 A.L.R.4th 561.

Estoppel to contest will or attack its validity by acceptance of benefits thereunder, 78 A.L.R.4th 90.