Probate Court

IMPORTANT PROBATE OFFICE NOTICE


PRESS RELEASE

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For Immediate Release: Thursday, July 20, 2023 

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY SENTINEL TO RAISE PUBLICATION RATES WITHOUT NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

 

As you all know, the Douglas County Sentinel, is the legal organ for Douglas County. If you have any legal publications that need to be published, it is published in the Sentinel. There was recent legislation, HB254, that allows the legal organ to change the rates to no more than $15 per 100 words. The Sentinel has chosen to increase its rates to the maximum rate of $15 per 100 words but refuses to publish this information to the public of this rate increase. What was published was what the new law allows- “up to $15 per 100 words.” Judge Peterson had extensive email exchanges with Sentinel and they advised that they WOULD NOT notify the public of their rate increase to the maximum charge of $15 because “there is no notice requirement in the new statute.” It is imperative that the public knows this rate change is outside of the control of the Probate Court.

 

Probate petitions are very pricey as the fees are set by statute. With Sentinel’s new rate change, publication fees for estate cases will be increased from $132 to $192 (a $60 increase). In order to relieve this increased inconvenience and burden on the citizens of Douglas County, Judge Peterson has edited all Probate publication notices to reduce the word count so citizens will not really be affected by the increased rate. Therefore, most notices for publications will remain the same price and some will be lower, including the publication listed above that will remain at $132. There are only a few publications that will be increased by $20 in which there was no remedy due to $15 being the set rate and the ad was less than 100 words, such as the Notice to Debtors and Creditors. It is discouraging that the Sentinel chooses not to be transparent about their operations and rate increase by publishing a sufficient public notice but as always, we are here to serve you and make the probate process less of a burden. We look forward to continuing serving you.


THE PROBATE OFFICE WILL BE OPEN THE FOLLOWING SATURDAYS FROM 9:00A-3:00P FOR ALL PROBATE SERVICES:

  • OCTOBER 7, 2023

  • APRIL 6, 2024

  • AUGUST 3, 2024

  • DECEMBER 7, 2024

Probate Public Records are now available online:

Estate Records    Marriage Records    Death Records

BEGINNING JUNE 14, 2021, THE PROBATE OFFICE WILL BE OFFERING EXTENDED HOURS FOR WEAPON'S CARRY LICENSE APPLICATIONS FROM 8 AM-4:30 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.  

You may now apply for Weapons Carry and Marriage Licenses Online.

Weapons Carry Application    Marriage Application

Purpose

Douglas County Probate Court establishes the validity of wills, documents the administration of estates, appoints a guardian when none has been established, maintains vital records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates, and issues gun permits.

 Notice

The forms for Temporary Guardianship are not complete in that the local Probate Court office has additional forms that are required. Please see the form provided on this page or you may pick up the complete package in the Probate Court Office.

All forms must be completed, including necessary signatures and attachments, before this office will accept for filing.

If you are filing any pleadings or petitions in Probate Court, you may find some COMMON FORMS here. We now have a Petition Fee Calculator to assist you in determining the fees to file your pleadings or petitions.

  1. Wills
  2. Estate Records
  3. Estate Filings
  4. Guardianship Filing
  5. Creditors' Claims Against an Estate
  6. Georgia Weapons Carry License

Details

For $15, you may file your will with the Probate Court for safekeeping. Only you, (or in the case of your death, your executor), will be able to access this document. See the Georgia Probate Court Information System for more information.