HB 530: Courts; authorization for electronic filing of pleadings in probate court; provide

Georgia's probate courts currently have no statewide requirement to accept electronic filings. House Bill 530 adds a new section to Georgia law directing every probate court to set up electronic filing for civil pleadings and other documents, following standards written by the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia, by January 1, 2029. After that date, attorneys and self-represented parties would generally have to file electronically once a court starts mandatory e-filing, though courts must still accept paper documents brought in person and convert them to electronic form, and must provide a public terminal for filing. The bill caps what electronic filing companies can charge: a one-time fee of no more than $30 per filer per case, plus a capped convenience fee for credit card or bank payments. Government agencies, court-appointed attorneys, and guardians ad litem are exempted from fees. Sealed, in camera, pauper's affidavit, and emergency-area filings are excluded from some of the new rules. Attorneys and parties get free unlimited access to their own case documents.

• Requires every Georgia probate court to offer electronic filing for civil pleadings and related documents by January 1, 2029, under statewide standards.
• Makes electronic filing mandatory for attorneys and self-represented parties once a court turns it on, while requiring courts to still accept and convert paper documents brought in person.
• Caps the electronic filing fee at $30 per filer per case and limits the credit card convenience fee to 3.5 percent plus 30 cents per transaction.
• Exempts government agencies, court-appointed attorneys, guardians ad litem, and certain leave-of-absence filings from the electronic filing fee.
• Guarantees attorneys and pro se parties free, unlimited access to view and download documents from their own cases.
• Excludes sealed filings, in camera or ex parte filings, pauper's affidavits, and filings in declared emergency areas from some of the new requirements.

Probate court judges and clerks, attorneys who practice in probate court, self-represented (pro se) litigants, electronic filing service providers, county governments that receive a share of filing fees, and government agencies or guardians ad litem who file paperwork in probate cases.

Georgians dealing with wills, estates, guardianships, and other probate matters would eventually have to file paperwork online rather than on paper, which could speed up access to court records but also creates new fees and requires courts to provide backup options like public terminals for people without internet access or legal help.

• Adds new Code Section 15-9-86.2 requiring probate courts to enable electronic filing for civil matters by January 1, 2029, under rules set by the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia.
• Once mandatory e-filing begins, clerks generally cannot accept paper filings from attorneys, but must accommodate pro se parties and in-person filers by converting paper documents into electronic form.
• Courts must provide a public terminal at the courthouse or county law library for filing once mandatory electronic filing starts.
• Sets fee limits: up to $30 per filer per case for the one-time filing fee, and up to 3.5 percent plus 30 cents for credit card or bank draft convenience fees.
• The probate court keeps $2.00 of each filing fee for the county, with no other portion going to any other government office.
• Certain filers, including government agencies, court-appointed attorneys, and guardians ad litem, are exempt from the electronic filing fee.
• Sealed filings, pauper's affidavits, in camera or ex parte submissions, and filings in declared emergency areas are excluded from several of the new requirements.
• Judges and their staff must have continuous access to all electronically filed documents, and filings are considered submitted at the time received by the filing service provider.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-05Act 383
3. 2026-05-05House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-27House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2026-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2026-03-25Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)

• Rob Leverett (R, HD-123)Primary sponsor
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
• Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-014)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)
• Mary Oliver (D, HD-084)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 6, 2025

   174 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #207

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #806

3. PassedHouse voteMarch 27, 2026

   159 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 12 absent)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #781

• probate court
• electronic filing
• court fees
• Georgia courts
• estate and guardianship cases