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Gwinnett County, GA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Gwinnett County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Gwinnett County Probate Court, Estate Division |
| Courthouse | Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 |
| Current estates counter notice | As posted March 4, 2026, Estates and Guardianships clerks are taking in-person filings at the Certificates and Licensing Division on the first floor of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center while the Estates and Guardianships office and Courtroom 1-H are under renovation. |
| Mailing address | Gwinnett County Probate Court, Estate Division, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 |
| Phone | 770-822-8350 |
| Fax | Estate Division: 770-822-8217 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Estates Division filings are accepted Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. |
| Published estate filing fees | Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026: $202.00 for the main decedent's estate petitions, including Forms 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10; $187.00 for temporary letters, discharge, waiver of bond or grant of powers, leave to sell and related petitions; $10.00 certified letters; $1.00 per page copies. |
| Local forms | Yes. Gwinnett uses the Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms and also publishes local non-standard forms for recurring situations where no standard form is available. |
| E-filing | Available through Tyler Technologies Odyssey eFileGA. It is not mandatory. Original wills, codicils, surety bonds and service materials still have paper requirements under Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.12(B). |
| Case search | Gwinnett Courts Portal, Tyler Odyssey: https://portal-gagwinnett.tylertech.cloud/Portal. A free registered account has been required since March 3, 2023. |
| Remote appearance | The court states that Probate Court proceedings may be conducted wholly by remote video conference. The Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists $0.00 for a request for virtual hearing and $0.00 for a request for in-person hearing. |
| Website | https://www.gwinnettcourts.com/probate/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Gwinnett petition, identify the will, heirs, assets, debts, real estate and whether any creditor or heir will need notice. Gwinnett's fee and service documents make those facts especially important because publication, sheriff service, certified mail and the $25.00 Certificate of Award listed in the Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 can change what must be filed and paid.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 institutions, then helps organize the information a Gwinnett filing needs. That preparation can make it clearer whether the next step is probate of a will, letters of administration, year's support, no administration necessary, a sale petition or attorney help.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Gwinnett County Probate Court serves estate matters for decedents domiciled in Gwinnett County, including Lawrenceville, Duluth, Suwanee, Snellville, Norcross, Lilburn, Buford, Sugar Hill, Grayson, Peachtree Corners, Dacula and other Gwinnett communities. Estate filings are handled at the single Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center location in Lawrenceville.
For a will, venue is the probate court in the county where the testator was domiciled at death, and if the decedent was not domiciled in Georgia, venue can be in a Georgia county where the decedent owned property (O.C.G.A. § 53-5-1). For administration of an estate without a will, the Probate Judge may grant administration where the decedent was a resident at death or, for a nonresident of Georgia, where the decedent left property or had a bona fide cause of action in the county (O.C.G.A. § 15-9-31).
Gwinnett is an Article 6 expanded-jurisdiction Probate Court. That means a contested estate matter is before a licensed-attorney judge, a party may demand a jury trial under the Article 6 rules, and an appeal from a final judgment goes directly to the Court of Appeals of Georgia or the Supreme Court of Georgia rather than to the superior court (O.C.G.A. §§ 15-9-120, 15-9-121, 15-9-123, 15-9-127).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the right Gwinnett filing path. Start with whether there is a will, whether the decedent was domiciled in Gwinnett County, whether real property is involved, whether all heirs agree, and whether the family needs letters testamentary or letters of administration for the estate settlement.
- Use the current Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms. Gwinnett names GPCSF 5 for solemn form probate, GPCSF 3 for Letters of Administration, GPCSF 10 for year's support and GPCSF 33 for discharge among its frequently used forms. Gwinnett also publishes local non-standard forms, including the Probate Heirs Determination Worksheet and Probate Records Request Form.
- File at the Gwinnett County Probate Court. File in person at the current estates counter, mail the signed and verified pleadings with the fee enclosed to the Estate Division at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046, or use eFileGA if the filing is eligible for electronic filing.
- Send paper originals when required. Under Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.12(B), an original will or codicil must be filed with the Probate Court within ten days of any electronic filing and before a final order and letters testamentary issue, and original surety bonds and service materials have paper requirements.
- Pay the Gwinnett filing fee at filing. The Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists the main decedent's estate petitions at $202.00, many related estate petitions at $187.00, certified letters at $10.00 and copies at $1.00 per page. Gwinnett says mailed pleadings without fees are returned without filing.
- Handle service and publication. Use Gwinnett's Service Chart dated December 31, 2024 to budget sheriff service at $50.00, certified mail at $10.00, publication costs such as $180.00 for year's support, and the parties who must receive notice depending on the petition.
- Prepare for the hearing or remote setting. Gwinnett publishes no hearing-day schedule. The court states that proceedings may be conducted wholly by remote video conference. During the Courtroom 1-H renovation, contact the court three business days before any hearing date to check the courtroom location.
- Qualify and receive authority documents. After an appointment order, Gwinnett sends remote oath instructions. Once the oath and any bond requirements are satisfied, the court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration. Certified letters are $10.00 each in the Fee Book updated January 14, 2026.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative gathers assets, pays valid expenses and debts, keeps beneficiaries or heirs informed, files any required Gwinnett inventory or return, seeks sale authority or expanded powers when needed, and files for discharge when the estate is ready to close.
Executor duties
Once the Gwinnett County Probate Court appoints a personal representative, the court sends remote oath instructions after the order is entered. If an oath must be commissioned outside Georgia, the Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists the motion to commission an out-of-state oath at $20.00.
| Local duty | Gwinnett County detail |
|---|---|
| Use Gwinnett inventory and return forms when required | Gwinnett publishes local Inventory and Annual Return forms. The Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists an estate inventory, annual return or final return at $40.00 when assets are listed and $0.00 when there are zero assets. |
| Order certified letters when needed | The Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists certified letters at $10.00 each and a single letter at $10.00. |
| Keep contact information current | Gwinnett publishes a Notification for Change of Address form for executors, administrators, personal representatives, guardians, conservators, wards and minors. |
| Revisit bond if estate assets change | Gwinnett publishes a Petition to Reduce Bond. The Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists a motion to reduce bond at $75.00. |
| Plan for deed-recording paperwork when real property is awarded | The Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists a Certificate of Award at $25.00 where real property is awarded, payable to Superior Court so the award reaches deed records kept by the Clerk of Superior Court. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Gwinnett County
Gwinnett requires the current Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms for procedures covered by the statewide form set. The court also publishes local non-standard forms for recurring situations where no standard form is available. These local forms do not replace GPCSF petitions.
| Form category | Gwinnett County detail |
|---|---|
| Frequently used statewide forms named by Gwinnett | Petition to Probate Will in Solemn Form, GPCSF 5; Petition for Letters of Administration, GPCSF 3; Petition for Year's Support, GPCSF 10; Petition for Discharge of Personal Representative, GPCSF 33. |
| No administration necessary | The correct statewide form is GPCSF 9, Petition for Order Declaring No Administration Necessary. Gwinnett's Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists Petition for No Administration Necessary, Form 9, at $202.00. |
| Local non-standard forms published by Gwinnett | Annual Return; Application to Appoint Successor Executor; Generic Motion form; Information Sheet for a Will Filed not for Probate; Inventory; Notification for Change of Address; Petition to Accept Resignation; Petition to Open Safe Deposit Box; Petition to Reduce Bond; Will Filed for Safekeeping information sheet; Probate Heirs Determination Worksheet; Petition to Proceed in Forma Pauperis; Probate Records Request Form. |
| Heir worksheet | Gwinnett publishes a Probate Heirs Determination Worksheet and explains that heirs and beneficiaries may not be the same people. |
| Poverty filing request | Gwinnett publishes a Petition to Proceed in Forma Pauperis for filers who cannot afford filing fees. The court says fees may be required later after an estate is opened and money is available to the personal representative. |
Fees
Gwinnett publishes a Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 and a Service Chart dated December 31, 2024. Fees are due at filing. The court accepts cash, credit cards, personal check or money order, charges a separate 2.5% card processing fee as stated on the court's decedent's estate page, and says it cannot accept international money orders.
| Filing or cost item | Published amount and date |
|---|---|
| Main decedent's estate petitions, including Letters of Administration, common form probate, solemn form probate, solemn form with will annexed, no administration necessary and year's support | $202.00, Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 |
| Temporary Letters of Administration, discharge, waiver of bond or grant of certain powers, leave to sell property, leave to sell perishable property, and related listed petitions | $187.00, Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 |
| Objection, caveat, motion where no cost is set, answer and counterclaim with jury demand, and motion to reduce bond | $75.00, Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 |
| Petition for expanded powers | $387.00, Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 |
| Motion to open safe deposit box | $87.00, Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 |
| Motion to commission an out-of-state oath | $20.00, Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 |
| Estate inventory, annual return or final return with assets | $40.00, Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 |
| Estate inventory, annual return or final return with zero assets | $0.00, Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 |
| Certified letters | $10.00, Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 |
| Copies | $1.00 per page, Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 |
| Certificate of Award where real property is awarded | $25.00, Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026, with matching Service Chart note dated December 31, 2024 |
| Sheriff service | $50.00, Service Chart dated December 31, 2024 |
| Certified mail | $10.00, Service Chart dated December 31, 2024 |
| International air mail | $35.00, Service Chart dated December 31, 2024 |
| Publication for year's support | $180.00, Service Chart dated December 31, 2024 |
| Publication for Letters of Administration when powers are requested or an heir's address is unknown | $180.00, Service Chart dated December 31, 2024 |
| Publication for solemn form probate when powers are requested or an heir's address is unknown | $120.00, Service Chart dated December 31, 2024 |
| Publication for discharge | $45.00, Service Chart dated December 31, 2024 |
Local nuance
Gwinnett County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Gwinnett County |
|---|---|
| Article 6 expanded jurisdiction | Gwinnett estate contests can involve jury practice, and appeals from final judgments go directly to Georgia's appellate courts. |
| Temporary estates counter location | As posted March 4, 2026, Estates and Guardianships clerks are taking in-person filings at the Certificates and Licensing Division on the first floor during renovations. |
| Courtroom 1-H closed during renovation | The court tells anyone with a hearing date to contact 770-822-8350 or [email protected] three business days before the hearing to check the courtroom location. |
| Two local cost documents | The Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 gives filing and copy amounts. The Service Chart dated December 31, 2024 gives service and publication amounts. |
| Real property award charge | Where real property is awarded, the Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists a $25.00 Certificate of Award payable to Superior Court. |
| Remote oath practice | After appointment, a deputy clerk sends the order and remote oath instructions to the personal representative. |
| Bulk estate file requests | Estate and title searchers requesting more than ten estate files in a day must give 24 hours' notice by email to [email protected]. |
| Legal organ | Gwinnett Daily Post is the legal organ for Gwinnett County legal notices. |
Recent updates
| Update | Date | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Estates and Guardianships office and Courtroom 1-H renovation | Posted March 4, 2026 | Estate and guardianship clerks are taking in-person filings at the Certificates and Licensing Division on the first floor. Electronic filing remains available through eFileGA. Hearing participants are told to contact the court three business days before the hearing to check the courtroom location. |
| Clerk's Office Fee Book update | Updated January 14, 2026 | The book lists $202.00 for the main decedent's estate petitions, $187.00 for a second tier of estate petitions, $75.00 for objection, caveat, motion where no cost is set and answer and counterclaim with jury demand, $40.00 for returns or inventories with assets, $10.00 certified letters and $1.00 per page copies. |
| Gwinnett Courts Portal account requirement | Effective March 3, 2023 | All portal users must register for a free account to search the Gwinnett County Portal, including Probate Court estate cases. |
| Archived estate books digitized | Court page reviewed August 17, 2026 | The court states that previously lobby-based probate books have been digitized and are available online and on lobby computers, and physical books can be requested from records management with up to two business days for retrieval. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Gwinnett path | Local cost and filing notes | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Year's support may be the Gwinnett path when a surviving spouse seeks a property set-aside. The statewide deadline and right come from O.C.G.A. §§ 53-3-1 and 53-3-5. | Gwinnett's Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists year's support, GPCSF 10, at $202.00. The Service Chart dated December 31, 2024 lists four publications at $180.00, first class mail to heirs and creditors who have not consented, and the Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists a $25.00 Certificate of Award where real property is awarded. | Sunset helps identify accounts, deeds, debts and heirs before the petition is filed, then organizes the estate settlement packet and attorney questions. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the parent was domiciled in Gwinnett, the filing belongs in Gwinnett. A petition for Letters of Administration, GPCSF 3, may be needed when there is no will and assets require authority. | Gwinnett accepts mail filings with fees enclosed and eFileGA filings when eligible. The Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists GPCSF 3 at $202.00. The original will or codicil, if any, must still reach the court on paper under Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.12(B). Gwinnett sends remote oath instructions after appointment. | Sunset helps the child avoid unnecessary travel where possible by finding assets, organizing the petition information and flagging what still must be mailed or handled with the court. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale may require letters with powers, a waiver of bond or grant of powers, a leave-to-sell petition, or, where there is no will, no debts and all heirs agree, no administration necessary under O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40. | Gwinnett's Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists GPCSF 32, waiver of bond or grant of certain powers, at $187.00; leave to sell property, GPCSF 13, at $187.00; petition for expanded powers at $387.00; and no administration necessary, GPCSF 9, at $202.00. The Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists a $25.00 Certificate of Award where real property is awarded. | Sunset helps map the house, mortgage, title company needs and heir information, then connects the parent with a Gwinnett probate attorney if sale authority or a title issue needs legal advice. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Gwinnett County Probate Court, Estate Division | Estate filings, local fee documents, service chart, records requests and local non-standard forms. Clerks can explain procedure, but the court states they cannot practice law or help prepare legal strategy. | 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046; 770-822-8350; [email protected]; https://www.gwinnettcourts.com/probate/decedents-estate |
| Gwinnett County Probate Court Pro Bono Clinic | Free fifteen-minute consultations on basic uncontested wills, estates, administrations, guardianships and conservatorships. The court states that Legal Aid is currently offering virtual probate clinic appointments. | Reservations: https://www.gwinnettcourts.com/pro-bono/calendar4T.aspx; questions: [email protected] |
| Legal Aid Lawyer in the Library | Walk-in brief legal advice from a lawyer from Gwinnett Legal Aid. The flyer lists Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., subject to availability. | Homer M. Stark Law Library, Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046; 770-822-8575 |
| Homer M. Stark Law Library | Public law library with computers, printers, copiers, legal research databases and help finding materials. Library staff cannot give legal advice. | 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046; 770-822-8575; [email protected]; https://gcll.org/ |
| Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Gwinnett County office | Free civil legal help for people who qualify. Atlanta Legal Aid is the correct legal aid provider for Gwinnett County. | 6075 The Corners Pkwy NW, Suite 120, Norcross, GA 30092; 678-376-4545; main number 404-524-5811; https://atlantalegalaid.org/apply |
| Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia | Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms, Uniform Probate Court Rules and Georgia probate court directory. | https://gaprobate.gov/ |
| Supreme Court of Georgia standard forms listing | Second official location for the Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms and general instructions. | https://www.gasupreme.us/probate-court-standard-forms/ |
| GeorgiaLegalAid.org | Plain-language Georgia civil legal information, including wills, estates and heirs property topics. | https://www.georgialegalaid.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, benefits and other assets that shape the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for the Gwinnett filing path, including heirs, assets, debts, forms, fees and court-specific filing details.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Gwinnett estate needs legal advice, a sale order, a caveat response, an Article 6 jury issue or court advocacy, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Georgia probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset, so more of the estate can stay focused on the people and obligations that matter.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Gwinnett County?
File with the Gwinnett County Probate Court, Estate Division, at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. As posted March 4, 2026, Estates and Guardianships clerks are temporarily taking in-person filings at the Certificates and Licensing Division on the first floor while the estates office and Courtroom 1-H are under renovation.
Can I mail a Gwinnett probate filing?
Yes. Mail pleadings to Gwinnett County Probate Court, Estate Division, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. The court says mailed pleadings must be signed, verified and include the appropriate filing fees, and that pleadings without fees will be returned without filing.
Does Gwinnett County Probate Court accept e-filing?
Yes. Gwinnett states that electronic filing remains available through eFileGA, a Tyler Technologies Odyssey portal. It is not mandatory. The original will, any codicil, surety bond and service materials still have paper requirements under Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.12(B).
How much does a Gwinnett estate petition cost?
The Clerk's Office Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists the main decedent's estate petitions, including Forms 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10, at $202.00. It lists temporary letters, discharge, waiver of bond or grant of certain powers, leave to sell and related petitions at $187.00. Publication, service and real-property recording costs can be additional under Gwinnett's Service Chart dated December 31, 2024.
Can I look up a Gwinnett probate estate case online?
Use the Gwinnett Courts Portal, Tyler Odyssey, for Probate Court estate cases. The portal states that a free registered account has been required since March 3, 2023. The court also points readers to re:SearchGA for select documents.
Are remote hearings available in Gwinnett probate cases?
The court states that Gwinnett probate proceedings may be conducted wholly by remote video conference. The Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists $0.00 for a request for virtual hearing and $0.00 for a request for in-person hearing. Members of the public interested in a remote video conference are told to contact [email protected].
Do I need to travel to Gwinnett County to take the oath after appointment?
Not always. Gwinnett says that after the order appointing a personal representative is entered, a deputy clerk sends the order with instructions for taking the oath remotely. If an out-of-state oath must be commissioned, the Fee Book updated January 14, 2026 lists the motion at $20.00.
What should I do if I already have a Gwinnett probate hearing date?
Because Courtroom 1-H is closed during the renovation described in the March 4, 2026 notice, the court tells hearing participants to contact the court three business days before the hearing at 770-822-8350 or [email protected] to check the courtroom location.
Who provides legal aid for probate questions in Gwinnett County?
Atlanta Legal Aid Society is the correct legal aid provider for Gwinnett County. Its Gwinnett office is at 6075 The Corners Pkwy NW, Suite 120, Norcross, GA 30092, and the office number is 678-376-4545.
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.