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Bulloch County, GA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Bulloch County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Bulloch County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | 2 North Main Street, Suite 103, first floor of the Historic Bulloch County Courthouse, Statesboro, GA 30458 |
| Mailing | The court publishes no separate mailing address. Use the courthouse address or call the court before mailing original papers. |
| Phone | (912) 489-8749 |
| Fax | (912) 764-8740 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The court says appointments are available from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. |
| Filing fee | Bulloch County does not publish a combined estate filing total. The statutory base for a decedent's-estate petition is $175.00 under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, effective January 1, 2025, plus the $15.00 indigent defense fee under O.C.G.A. § 15-21A-6, effective January 1, 2025, and any required service, publication and statutory add-ons. The court tells petitioners to email a completed petition for a bill statement. |
| Local forms | No county-specific estate forms are published. Bulloch County uses the statewide GPCSF forms. |
| E-filing | The court publishes no electronic filing instructions for estate cases. Its published route is paper at the counter or by mail, with an emailed petition used to request a bill statement. The original will and any codicil must be delivered on paper under Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.12(B). |
| Case lookup | Bulloch appears in georgiaprobaterecords.com, a records portal used by participating Georgia probate courts. If the estate does not appear, call the Probate Court. |
| Remote appearance | No remote appearance policy is published. Ask the court before assuming a hearing can be handled by phone or video. |
| Website | https://bullochcounty.net/probate/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before choosing a Georgia probate form, make a practical inventory of the assets and liabilities. For a Bulloch County estate settlement, the first questions are whether there is an original will, whether any home, land, farm, timber interest, account or vehicle was in the decedent's sole name, and whether debts or creditor issues will require administration.
Sunset can help identify accounts and assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions before you email a petition to the Bulloch County Probate Court for a bill statement. That preparation makes the court's pricing step more useful and helps you decide whether you need a Georgia probate attorney before filing.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Bulloch County Probate Court in Statesboro serves the whole county from one filing location at 2 North Main Street, Suite 103. Bulloch County communities include Statesboro, Brooklet, Portal, Register and the surrounding unincorporated areas. Georgia has one probate court in each county, so a Bulloch County estate is filed with the Bulloch County Probate Court, not with a district office or another county.
Venue depends on the decedent and the property. The Probate Court may grant administration for a person who lived in Bulloch County at death, or for a nonresident of Georgia who owned property in Bulloch County or had a cause of action here (O.C.G.A. § 15-9-31). For an order that no administration is necessary, the petition is filed in the probate court of the decedent's county of domicile, or in the county where the real property is located if the decedent was not domiciled in Georgia (O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40).
If a party seeks review of a Bulloch County Probate Court decision, the route is a petition for review in the superior court within 30 days of the judgment (O.C.G.A. § 5-3-7(b)). The superior court proceeding is de novo under O.C.G.A. § 5-3-5(d).
The jurisdiction process
- Locate the original will, if there is one, and file it with the Bulloch County Probate Court with reasonable promptness (O.C.G.A. § 53-5-5). The original will is a paper document and goes to the court at 2 North Main Street.
- Choose the correct Georgia standard form. With a will, probate may be in common form or solemn form (O.C.G.A. § 53-5). Common form does not become conclusive for four years from the order admitting the will (O.C.G.A. § 53-5-19). With no will, use the letters of administration path under O.C.G.A. § 53-6-20.
- Complete the statewide GPCSF petition. Bulloch County publishes no estate form of its own, and the current standard forms are on the Council of Probate Court Judges' site.
- Email the completed petition to [email protected] for a bill statement, or bring it to the courthouse. Bulloch County does not publish a combined estate filing total. The statutory base is $175.00 under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, effective January 1, 2025, plus the $15.00 indigent defense fee under O.C.G.A. § 15-21A-6, effective January 1, 2025, and any required add-ons, service and publication.
- Ask the court how it wants the signed petition, any original will, service copies and payment delivered. Georgia filing costs are paid at filing (O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60(d); Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.14).
- The court issues the citation. Arrange service, acknowledgment or publication as required. Bulloch County probate publications run in the Statesboro Herald when the legal notice must be published.
- Take the oath before the probate judge or a clerk. A notary cannot administer this oath. If you are outside Georgia, use GPCSF 53 to take the oath before a court of record where you live.
- Post bond if required. An administrator of an intestate estate must give bond unless the heirs unanimously consent to waive it (O.C.G.A. § 53-6-50). A surety bond is always paper.
- After qualification, the court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration. Ask the court how many certified copies to buy for banks, insurers, title companies and real estate work.
- Publish the creditor notice within 60 days of qualifying, once a week for four weeks, in the Statesboro Herald. Creditors who do not notify the personal representative within three months after the last publication lose equal participation (O.C.G.A. § 53-7-41).
- File the inventory with the Bulloch County Probate Court and mail it to heirs or beneficiaries within six months of qualifying unless it is waived (O.C.G.A. § 53-7-30; O.C.G.A. § 53-7-32).
- Collect assets, pay allowed claims, distribute property, file required fiduciary compliance reporting under O.C.G.A. § 53-7-30, and petition for discharge on GPCSF 33 when the estate settlement work is complete.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Bulloch County
Bulloch County uses Georgia's statewide probate forms, the numbered GPCSF series. The current PDFs are on the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia site at https://gaprobate.gov/standard-forms/. The Supreme Court of Georgia also publishes an index of the standard forms, and a document prepared on the standard form is acceptable in any Georgia probate court under Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.9.
The Bulloch County Probate Court publishes no county-specific estate cover sheet, checklist or petition packet. Its own forms button leads to a page the public cannot open, so use the Council's standard-forms page instead. Common estate settlement forms include GPCSF 3 for letters of administration, GPCSF 4 for common form probate under O.C.G.A. § 53-5, GPCSF 5 for solemn form probate under O.C.G.A. § 53-5, GPCSF 7 for solemn form with letters of administration with will annexed, GPCSF 9 for an order that no administration is necessary under O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40, GPCSF 10 for year's support under O.C.G.A. § 53-3, GPCSF 13 for leave to sell property, GPCSF 32 for waiver of bond or grant of powers, GPCSF 33 for discharge, and GPCSF 53 for an out-of-state oath.
Fees
Bulloch County publishes a short charges list, but it does not publish a combined fee for opening a decedent's estate. Do not add the numbers yourself. The Probate Court's own instruction is to complete the petition and email it to [email protected] for a bill statement, or bring it to the courthouse at 2 North Main Street.
| Fee item | What to use in Bulloch County |
|---|---|
| Decedent's-estate petition | $175.00 base fee under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, effective January 1, 2025, before required statutory add-ons, service and publication. |
| Indigent defense fee | $15.00 indigent defense fee under O.C.G.A. § 15-21A-6, effective January 1, 2025, on each listed decedent's-estate petition. |
| Certified copy | Bulloch County posts certified copies at $10.00, matching O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, effective January 1, 2025. |
| Abstract or records examination | Bulloch County posts an abstract fee at $10.00, matching O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, effective January 1, 2025. |
| Will filed for safekeeping | Bulloch County posts a will deposit at $15.00, matching O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, effective January 1, 2025. |
| Publication | Separate from court fees. Creditor notices and citations are published in the Statesboro Herald when required, and the court should tell you the current publication charge. |
Local nuance
Bulloch County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Bulloch County filing |
|---|---|
| Email for a bill statement | The Probate Court says that after completing a petition in full, you may email it to [email protected] for a bill statement or bring it to 2 North Main Street. Treat the email as a pricing step, then ask how to deliver the signed petition, payment and any original will. |
| Earlier court hours | The Probate Court's hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., while the county website header shows general county hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Do not rely on the header for this court. |
| Appointment cutoff | The court says appointments are available from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It publishes appointment requirements for some matters, but not for decedent's-estate petitions, so call before traveling. |
| Forms path | The court's forms button leads to a page the public cannot open. Use the Council of Probate Court Judges' standard forms page instead. |
| Two courthouse buildings | Estate filings go to the Probate Court at 2 North Main Street. The Clerk of Superior Court is at the Judicial Annex at 20 Siebald Street and is the place where an order affecting Bulloch County land is recorded in the deed records. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Bulloch County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Property with survivorship rights or a beneficiary designation may pass outside probate. If a house, land or account was in the decedent's sole name, the spouse files with the Bulloch County Probate Court on the statewide forms. Year's support under O.C.G.A. § 53-3 can be important because it may set aside property for a surviving spouse or minor children and must be filed within 24 months under O.C.G.A. § 53-3-5. | Sunset helps identify jointly held assets, beneficiary assets and sole-name assets before the spouse chooses a filing path or emails the petition for a bill statement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | The court publishes no electronic filing option for estates, so plan for paper documents. Email the completed petition to [email protected] for a bill statement, then ask how to deliver the signed petition, original will and payment. The oath cannot be notarized, so use GPCSF 53 if you need to take it before a court where you live. If the only asset is a bank deposit of an intestate decedent, ask the bank whether O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239 avoids a court filing. | Sunset helps locate accounts first, then organizes the information needed for the correct GPCSF petition and flags when a trip to Statesboro may be avoidable. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Selling a Bulloch County house usually requires authority from the Probate Court. The personal representative may seek powers under O.C.G.A. § 53-7-1(b) with required consents and publication, or may use GPCSF 13 for leave to sell. If there is no will, all heirs agree, and creditor issues are handled, an order that no administration is necessary under O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40 may vest title in the heirs. An order affecting Bulloch County land is recorded through the Clerk of Superior Court at the Judicial Annex, not at the Probate Court counter. | Sunset helps identify debts, heirs, land and accounts so the family and any attorney can choose between administration, leave to sell, powers, or the no-administration route. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Bulloch County Probate Court | Filing office for Bulloch County estates. The court page lists the phone, email, hours, charges for services and the instruction to email a completed petition for a bill statement. |
| Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms, Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia | Current GPCSF forms for all Georgia probate courts, including GPCSF 1, GPCSF 3, GPCSF 4, GPCSF 5, GPCSF 7, GPCSF 9, GPCSF 10, GPCSF 13, GPCSF 32, GPCSF 33 and GPCSF 53. |
| Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms and General Instructions, Supreme Court of Georgia | Statewide index for the standard probate forms. Use the Council page for the current PDFs. |
| Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia | Statewide probate court information, including the Uniform Probate Court Rules and probate court directory. |
| Georgia probate records portal used by participating probate courts | Bulloch is listed in the participating estate search. Search by county, decedent name or date range, then call the Probate Court if the case does not appear. |
| Georgia Legal Services Program | Free civil legal help for people who qualify in Georgia counties outside metro Atlanta, including Bulloch County. Apply online or call statewide intake at 1-833-457-7529, and ask whether the program can take an estate matter. |
| GeorgiaLegalAid.org | Plain-language Georgia legal information, including information about wills, estates and what to do after a death. |
| Georgia Courts self-help resources | Judicial Council and Administrative Office of the Courts information for people navigating Georgia courts without a lawyer. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can find accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before choosing a Bulloch County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for the Georgia standard forms, including heirs, beneficiaries, assets, debts and the original will, so you know what to bring or email to the Bulloch County Probate Court for the bill statement.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate includes Bulloch County real estate, a disagreement among heirs, a caveat, a sale, or a petition for review, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Georgia probate attorney who handles Bulloch County matters.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families understand assets, next steps and local filing requirements without charging families to get organized.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Bulloch County?
File with the Bulloch County Probate Court at 2 North Main Street, Suite 103, in the Historic Bulloch County Courthouse in Statesboro. Administration belongs in Bulloch County when the person lived there at death, or when a nonresident of Georgia owned property in Bulloch County or had a cause of action here (O.C.G.A. § 15-9-31).
Can I file a Bulloch County probate case online?
The court publishes no electronic filing instructions for estate cases. Its published route is paper at the courthouse or by mail, and the court invites a completed petition by email only so it can send a bill statement. The original will and any codicil must be delivered on paper under Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.12(B).
What does it cost to open an estate in Bulloch County?
Bulloch County does not publish a combined estate filing total. The statutory base for a decedent's-estate petition is $175.00 under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, effective January 1, 2025, plus the $15.00 indigent defense fee under O.C.G.A. § 15-21A-6, effective January 1, 2025, and any required statutory add-ons, service and publication. Email the completed petition to [email protected] for the court's bill statement.
What are the Bulloch County Probate Court's hours?
The Probate Court is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The court says appointments are available from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., so call (912) 489-8749 before traveling for a filing.
Does Bulloch County have its own probate forms?
No county-specific estate forms are published. Use the statewide Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms, the GPCSF series, at https://gaprobate.gov/standard-forms/.
How do I look up a Bulloch County estate case?
Use georgiaprobaterecords.com, a records portal used by participating Georgia probate courts, and choose Bulloch in the county list. The index may not show every estate, so call the Probate Court at (912) 489-8749 if you do not find the case.
Do I have to travel to Statesboro if I live out of state?
Not for every step. You can email a completed petition to the court for a bill statement and ask how to send the signed papers, original will and payment. The oath cannot be notarized, though. You either take it before the Bulloch County probate judge or clerk, or use GPCSF 53 to take it before a court of record where you live.
Where does the notice to creditors get published in Bulloch County?
In the Statesboro Herald, the county's legal organ. A personal representative must publish the notice to creditors within 60 days of qualifying, once a week for four weeks, and creditors who do not notify the personal representative within three months after the last publication lose equal participation (O.C.G.A. § 53-7-41).
What if I disagree with the Bulloch County Probate Court's decision?
A party seeking review files a petition for review in the superior court within 30 days of the judgment (O.C.G.A. § 5-3-7(b)). The superior court proceeding is de novo, meaning the matter is heard again rather than reviewed only on the probate court file, and the jury right is preserved (O.C.G.A. § 5-3-5(d)).
Is the Probate Court in the same building as the Clerk of Superior Court?
No. Estate filings go to the Probate Court at 2 North Main Street. The Clerk of Superior Court is in the Judicial Annex at 20 Siebald Street, a different building. That office matters only when an order affecting Bulloch County land, such as an order that no administration is necessary under O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40, must be recorded in the deed records.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.