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Paulding County, GA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Paulding County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Paulding County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Paulding County Justice Center, 280 Constitution Boulevard, Room 2009, Dallas, GA 30132 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published for estates. Mail goes to the same Room 2009 address. |
| Phone | 770-443-7541 |
| Fax | 770-443-7631 |
| The court publishes no general estates email address. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Probate Court closes earlier than the Clerk of Superior Court and the law library in the same building. |
| Filing fee | The Paulding County Probate Court publishes no estate fee schedule and asks filers to call for the cost of a particular petition. Georgia's statutory base for a decedent's-estate petition is $175.00 under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, effective January 1, 2025, plus statutory add-ons, including the $15.00 indigent defense fee under O.C.G.A. § 15-21A-6, effective January 1, 2025, and excluding service and publication. Confirm the current total with the court before filing. |
| Local forms | Yes. Paulding County uses the statewide GPCSF forms and also publishes its own orientation brochure, Heirs Information Worksheet, Inventory, Annual/Final Return, Affidavit of Diligent Search and Amendment to Petition. |
| E-filing | The court's own pages describe paper filing at Room 2009 or by mail. An outside electronic filing service lists the court, but the court does not publish an online filing policy. Ask 770-443-7541 before relying on electronic filing. Paper filing works for self-represented filers. The original will and any codicil must be delivered on paper within ten days of any electronic filing and before the final order and letters testamentary issue under Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.12(B). |
| Case search | Paulding County estate cases can be searched through georgiaprobaterecords.com, a records portal used by participating Georgia probate courts. If a case does not appear, call the Probate Court. |
| Remote appearance | The court publishes no remote appearance policy. Ask whether your hearing can be handled without appearing in person. |
| Website | https://www.paulding.gov/182/Probate-Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before choosing a petition, list the assets, debts, heirs and known beneficiaries. In Paulding County, that list also helps you decide how many certified death certificates to get from the same Room 2009 counter before contacting banks, insurers and transfer agents. Death certificates cost $25 for the first copy, as posted in August 2026, and $5 for each additional copy of the same record obtained at the same time, as posted in August 2026, and the court accepts cash or money order only for vital records.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts before they commit to a Georgia probate path. A clear asset list makes the estate settlement faster, helps identify whether Paulding County is the right venue, and prevents paying for a petition that does not match the property that actually needs court authority.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One filing location serves the whole county: the Paulding County Probate Court, Room 2009 of the Paulding County Justice Center, 280 Constitution Boulevard, Dallas, GA 30132. The court publishes no branch or satellite estate filing counter.
The court serves the City of Dallas, the City of Hiram, the Paulding County portion of the Town of Braswell and the county's unincorporated areas. Because Braswell straddles a county line and many residents use mailing addresses tied to nearby communities, confirm the decedent's county of residence before filing.
Georgia has a probate court in every county, and a Paulding County estate is filed with the Paulding County Probate Court. Administration may be granted only on the estate of someone who was a resident of Paulding County at death, or on the estate of a nonresident of Georgia who owned property in Paulding County or had a bona fide cause of action here (O.C.G.A. § 15-9-31). For a petition seeking an order that no administration is necessary, venue is the probate court of the decedent's county of domicile, or the county where real property sits if the decedent was not domiciled in Georgia (O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40).
Paulding County is an Article 6 probate court. A party to a civil case may demand a jury trial in the Probate Court under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-121, appeals go directly to the Court of Appeals of Georgia or the Supreme Court of Georgia under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-123, and the court shares concurrent jurisdiction with superior courts over certain fiduciary and will-construction matters under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-127.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the will, death certificates, asset list and heir information. Whoever holds the will must file it with the Paulding County Probate Court with reasonable promptness (O.C.G.A. § 53-5-5). The original will is always paper and must be filed before letters testamentary issue.
- Choose the Georgia petition. With a will, decide between common form or solemn form probate under O.C.G.A. § 53-5. Solemn form gives notice to heirs and binds those served. Common form is faster but is not conclusive until four years from the date of the order admitting the will under O.C.G.A. § 53-5-19. With no will, use the petition for letters of administration under O.C.G.A. § 53-6-20. The court staff cannot choose the proceeding for you.
- Prepare the current forms. Use the statewide GPCSF form and any Paulding County document that fits the filing, such as the Heirs Information Worksheet, Inventory or Affidavit of Diligent Search. The court publishes that updated pleadings must use the current standard form.
- File in Room 2009 or by mail and pay the filing costs. File with the Paulding County Probate Court, 280 Constitution Boulevard, Room 2009, Dallas, GA 30132. Filing fees are due when the petition is filed. 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 statutory add-ons, including the $15.00 indigent defense fee under O.C.G.A. § 15-21A-6, effective January 1, 2025, and separate service and publication costs. Call 770-443-7541 for the current total.
- Handle citation, service and publication. The court issues the citation, and the petitioner arranges service, acknowledgment or publication. Solemn form requires notice to all heirs under O.C.G.A. § 53-5-22. Paulding County publishes that all heirs must be served or must acknowledge service and that a guardian ad litem will be appointed where a minor child is an heir.
- Wait for the hearing notice. In Paulding County, after the paperwork is filed and the fees are paid, the court notifies you of the date and time to appear before the Probate Judge. The court publishes no hearing calendar or waiting period.
- Take the oath and address bond. The oath must be administered by a Georgia probate judge or clerk, not by a notary (O.C.G.A. § 53-6-24). An out-of-state petitioner can use GPCSF 53 to take the oath before a court of record where they live. An administrator of an intestate estate gives bond unless all heirs consent to waive it (O.C.G.A. § 53-6-50), and the original bond is always paper.
- Receive letters and administer the estate. Once the court grants authority, it issues letters testamentary or letters of administration. Certified copies of letters cost $10.00 under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-60, effective January 1, 2025. Ask how many certified copies you need for banks, brokers and closing attorneys.
- Publish creditor notice, inventory, account and close. Publish the notice to debtors and creditors in The Dallas New Era within 60 days of qualifying, once a week for four consecutive weeks; creditors who do not notify the personal representative within three months of the last publication lose equal participation under O.C.G.A. § 53-7-41. File and mail the inventory within six months unless waived under O.C.G.A. § 53-7-30 and O.C.G.A. § 53-7-32, use Paulding County's Annual/Final Return as needed, pay claims, distribute property and petition for discharge on GPCSF 33.
Executor duties
Paulding County adds a few practical details to the statewide duties of a personal representative. Publish the notice to debtors and creditors in The Dallas New Era, the county's legal organ, within 60 days of qualifying and once a week for four consecutive weeks; creditors who do not notify the personal representative within three months of the last publication lose equal participation under O.C.G.A. § 53-7-41.
Use the county's own Inventory form when an inventory is required. The inventory is filed with the Paulding County Probate Court and mailed to heirs or beneficiaries within six months of qualification unless waived under O.C.G.A. § 53-7-30 and O.C.G.A. § 53-7-32. Paulding County also publishes an Annual/Final Return, an Affidavit of Diligent Search for missing addresses, and an Heirs Information Worksheet to help identify heirs before the petition is drafted.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Paulding County
Georgia uses statewide probate forms, the numbered GPCSF series, for decedent's-estate filings. A document prepared on a standard form is acceptable in any Georgia probate court, and a court may decline to process a substitute that does not conform to the standard form under Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.9.
Paulding County also publishes its own probate documents. The court warns that if a newer standard form exists, the pleading must be filed on the newer form, so download the current GPCSF form from the Council of Probate Court Judges on the day you prepare the packet.
| Form or resource | How it is used locally |
|---|---|
| Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms | The statewide GPCSF forms for petitions such as solemn form probate, common form probate, letters of administration, year's support, no administration is necessary and discharge. |
| Georgia probate proceedings, what to do when a loved one dies | Paulding County Probate Court's orientation brochure for estate filings. |
| Heirs Information Worksheet | Helps identify heirs before the petition is drafted. |
| Inventory | Paulding County fill-in inventory form for estate property. |
| Annual/Final Return | Paulding County fiduciary accounting form. |
| Affidavit of Diligent Search | Used when an heir's or beneficiary's address is unknown. |
| Amendment to Petition | Used to amend a filed petition. |
Local nuance
Paulding County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| One building, several useful stops | The Probate Court is in Room 2009, the Clerk of Superior Court's Real Estate Division is in Room 1023, and the county law library is on the 3rd floor of the same Justice Center. If a no administration is necessary order under O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40 or a year's support order under O.C.G.A. § 53-3 affects Paulding County land, recording happens through the Real Estate Division, not the Probate Court. |
| 4 p.m. Probate Court close | The Probate Court closes at 4 p.m., earlier than the Clerk of Superior Court and the law library in the same building. |
| Vital records at the probate counter | Certified death certificates are issued by the same office, with $25 for the first copy, as posted in August 2026, and $5 for each additional copy of the same record obtained at the same time, as posted in August 2026, payable by cash or money order only. |
| Current form version required | The court publishes that if a newer standard form exists, the pleading must be filed on that newer form. Download the current GPCSF form before filing. |
| Article 6 court | Contested civil probate matters can look like litigation because Paulding County is an Article 6 court, with a jury demand available under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-121 and direct appellate review under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-123. |
| Superior Court e-filing is different | Mandatory civil e-filing in the Paulding County Superior Court does not apply to estate filings in the Probate Court. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Passports at Probate Court | The Paulding County Probate Court now issues United States passports by appointment, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. The passport execution fee payable to the Probate Court is $35.00, as posted in August 2026, in addition to Department of State fees. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Archetype | Paulding County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Property held with survivorship or a beneficiary designation may pass outside probate. If the house or accounts were in the decedent's sole name, file with the Paulding County Probate Court in Dallas, Georgia. Georgia year's support under O.C.G.A. § 53-3 can set aside property for a surviving spouse or minor children and must be filed within 24 months of death under O.C.G.A. § 53-3-5. The citation is published in The Dallas New Era. | Sunset helps identify which assets actually need court authority, prepares the estate settlement packet and helps the spouse decide whether ordinary administration or year's support should be reviewed by counsel. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Paper filings can be mailed to Room 2009, but ask the court before relying on electronic filing. The original will must be sent on paper within ten days of any electronic filing under Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.12(B). The oath cannot be notarized; use GPCSF 53 if you need to swear before a court of record where you live. If the only asset is a qualifying bank deposit, ask the financial institution about direct payment under O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239 before opening a court case. | Sunset helps collect account information, identify whether a court filing is needed, build the Georgia forms and coordinate with a Paulding County attorney when travel, oath logistics or creditor issues make the case harder. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A house sale usually requires letters or a court order. The personal representative may need expanded powers under O.C.G.A. § 53-7-1(b) and GPCSF 32, or a petition for leave to sell on GPCSF 13. If there is no will, all heirs agree and debts are paid or creditors consent or do not object, an order that no administration is necessary under O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40 may vest title in the heirs. For Paulding County land, the recorded order goes through the Clerk of Superior Court's Real Estate Division in Room 1023 of the same Justice Center. | Sunset helps map the heirs, organize title and debt information, prepare the petition packet and connect the family to a Georgia probate attorney for sale authority, heir consent and closing issues. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Paulding County Probate Court | The filing office for Paulding County estates: 280 Constitution Boulevard, Room 2009, Dallas, GA 30132, 770-443-7541, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Paulding County estates and guardianships page | Explains the court's estate filing expectations, its cost guidance, the hearing notice process and the records portal used by participating Georgia probate courts. |
| Paulding County documents, forms and procedures | Provides the court's orientation brochure, Heirs Information Worksheet, Inventory, Annual/Final Return, Affidavit of Diligent Search and Amendment to Petition. |
| Council of Probate Court Judges standard forms | Current GPCSF PDFs for all Georgia probate courts, including GPCSF 1 and GPCSF 53. |
| Supreme Court of Georgia standard forms index | Statewide index of Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms and General Instructions. |
| georgiaprobaterecords.com | A records portal used by participating Georgia probate courts. Paulding County is listed for estate searches, but the portal does not state its coverage period. |
| Paulding County Law Library | Public law library on the 3rd floor of the Justice Center with Westlaw access, Georgia legal materials and copies for 25 cents per page, as posted in August 2026. |
| Georgia Legal Services Program, Piedmont Regional Office | Free civil legal help for eligible people in counties outside metro Atlanta, including Paulding County. Start through statewide intake at 1-833-457-7529 or the online application and ask whether it can take an estate matter. |
| GeorgiaLegalAid.org | Plain-language Georgia legal information, including material on wills, estates and what to do when someone dies. |
| Paulding County Bar Association lawyer referral | The Probate Court points the public to the local bar association when it cannot recommend a specific attorney. |
When to hire an attorney
The Paulding County Probate Court recommends consulting or retaining an attorney because the court cannot give legal advice, choose the right petition or complete forms for you. Counsel is especially useful when a house must be sold, heirs do not all agree, a minor child is an heir, a guardian ad litem may be appointed, a caveat is filed or an Article 6 jury demand or appeal is possible under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-121 and O.C.G.A. § 15-9-123. Sunset connects families with a vetted Georgia probate attorney who handles Paulding County matters.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps identify the accounts, real estate, insurance and other property that determine whether a Paulding County estate needs probate and which petition fits the estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the family information, asset list, heirs and documents into a probate packet built around Georgia's GPCSF forms and Paulding County's published form practices.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves a house sale, a minor heir, missing addresses, disagreement among heirs or an Article 6 contested matter, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Georgia probate attorney who handles Paulding County cases.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement path, gather documents and decide whether they need court filing help or attorney support.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Paulding County?
File with the Paulding County Probate Court, Room 2009 of the Paulding County Justice Center, 280 Constitution Boulevard, Dallas, GA 30132. Georgia venue for administration is the county where the decedent lived at death, or, for a nonresident of Georgia, a county where the decedent owned property or had a bona fide cause of action (O.C.G.A. § 15-9-31).
Can I file probate documents online in Paulding County?
The court's own pages describe filing at the office or by mail. An outside electronic filing service lists the court, but the court does not publish an electronic filing policy, so ask 770-443-7541 before relying on it. Paper filing works, and the original will and any codicil must be delivered on paper within ten days of any electronic filing and before the final order and letters testamentary issue under Uniform Probate Court Rule 5.3.12(B).
What does it cost to open an estate in Paulding County?
The court publishes no estate fee schedule and asks filers to call because costs vary by petition. 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 statutory add-ons, including the $15.00 indigent defense fee under O.C.G.A. § 15-21A-6, effective January 1, 2025, and excluding service and publication.
What are the Paulding County Probate Court's hours?
The Probate Court is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plan around the 4 p.m. close, especially if you also need the Clerk of Superior Court or the law library, which stay open later in the same building.
Does the Paulding County Probate Court have its own forms?
Yes. Paulding County uses the statewide GPCSF forms and also publishes its own orientation brochure, Heirs Information Worksheet, Inventory, Annual/Final Return, Affidavit of Diligent Search and Amendment to Petition. The court also tells filers to use the current version of any updated standard form.
How do I look up a Paulding County estate case?
Use georgiaprobaterecords.com, a portal used by participating Georgia probate courts. Paulding County is listed in the estate search, and the court links to the portal from its own estates page. The portal does not state its coverage period, so call the Probate Court if you do not find the case.
When will I get a hearing date in Paulding County?
The court publishes that once the paperwork is filed and the fees are paid, you will be notified of a date and time to appear before the Probate Judge. Court staff schedule uncontested hearings, but the court publishes no hearing days or waiting time.
Can Probate Court staff help me fill out my petition?
Staff can answer basic questions about standard forms and filing deadlines and can schedule uncontested hearings. They cannot choose the proceeding for you, give legal advice or perform clerical tasks for the public.
Where do I get certified death certificates in Paulding County?
The Probate Court is also the county's vital records office. Certified death certificates are issued at the same Room 2009 counter for $25 for the first copy, as posted in August 2026, and $5 for each additional copy of the same record obtained at the same time, as posted in August 2026. Payment for birth and death records is cash or money order only, and valid identification is required.
Can a Paulding County probate case go to a jury?
Yes, in the right kind of contested civil probate matter. Paulding County is an Article 6 probate court, so a party to a civil case may demand a jury trial in writing under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-121, and an appeal goes directly to the Court of Appeals of Georgia or the Supreme Court of Georgia under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-123.
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.