---
title: SB 608. Administration of Estates; summary administration of certain estates; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb608
cite_as: SB 608, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb608
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb608.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb608/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73728
date: 2026-03-03
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb608.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 608
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-26
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
  - Russ Goodman
  - Sam Watson
  - Steve Gooch
  - David Lucas
  - Timothy Bearden
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB608/2025
upstream_id: 2125940
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - estate administration
  - probate law
  - inheritance
  - creditor claims
  - wills and estates
---

# SB 608. Administration of Estates; summary administration of certain estates; provide

## Text

Senate Bill 608
By: Senators Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Gooch of the 51st, Lucas of the 26th
and Bearden of the 30th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 7 of Title 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
administration of estates generally, so as to provide for the summary administration of certain
estates; to provide for manner of summary administration; to provide for petitions for
summary administration and their contents and filing; to provide for the distribution of estate
assets under certain circumstances; to provide for the rights of creditors in summary
administration; to provide for certain claims; to provide for a short title; to provide an
effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 7 of Title 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to administration
of estates generally, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:
<ins>"ARTICLE 7
53-7-100.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the 'Summary Administration Act of 2026.'
53-7-101.
(a) An estate may be administered in the same manner as the administration of any other
estate as provided in this chapter, or it may be administered as provided in this article if the
criteria set forth in subsection (b) of this Code section are satisfied.
(b) Summary administration shall be available to administer a decedent's estate, regardless
of whether the decedent was domiciled in this state, when it appears that:
(1) In a testate estate, the decedent's will does not direct administration as required by
another provision of this chapter; and
(2) Either the value of the entire estate subject to administration in this state, less the
value of property exempt from the claims of creditors, does not exceed $75,000.00, or
more than two years have passed since the decedent's death.
(c) In the case of a nondomiciled decedent, venue for filing the petition required by Code
Section 53-7-102 shall lie in any county where the decedent's real or personal property is
situated.
(d) A petition for summary administration may be filed at any stage of the administration
of an estate if it appears that, at the time of filing, the estate would qualify for summary
administration as set forth in this Code section.
(e) Nothing in this article shall be deemed to amend, alter, or otherwise revise the
requirements of Code Section 15-9-122.
</ins>
<ins>53-7-102.
(a) Except as expressly provided in this title, any person with an interest in an estate may
seek summary administration of an estate that meets the criteria set forth in Code Section
53-7-101 by filing a verified petition for summary administration in a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(b) In the event that any beneficiary does not join the petition for summary administration,
the person filing the petition shall serve such beneficiary with notice in the same manner
as provided under Chapter 11 of this title.
(c) In the event that a trust is a beneficiary of the estate of the decedent, the petition for
summary administration shall be signed either by each trustee of the trust who is then
serving or by every beneficiary of the trust. If the petition for summary administration is
not signed by all relevant trustees or all living trust beneficiaries who are legally competent
to do so, the person filing the petition shall serve each nonjoining trustee or beneficiary of
such trust with notice in the same manner as provided under Chapter 11 of this title.
53-7-103.
(a) Upon the filing of a petition for summary administration, the will, if any, shall be
proved in accordance with Chapter 5 of this title.
(b) Prior to the entry of an order of summary administration, if the decedent died less than
two years prior to the filing of the petition, the petitioner shall file an affidavit with the
court describing the diligent search and reasonable inquiry made for any known or
reasonably ascertainable creditors, serve a copy of the petition on those creditors as
provided in Code Section 53-7-41, and make provision for payment for those creditors to
the extent that assets are available. Any known or reasonably ascertainable creditor who
did not receive notice and for whom provision of payment was not made may enforce the
claim and, if the creditor prevails, shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees as an element
of costs against those who joined in the petition.
</ins>
<ins>(c) Not more than four years after entry of an order of summary administration, any known
or reasonably ascertainable heir or devisee of the decedent who was lawfully entitled to
share in the estate but who was not included in the petition or order of summary
administration and distribution may enforce all rights in appropriate proceedings against
any person who procured the order of summary administration and, if successful, shall be
awarded reasonable attorney's fees as an element of cost.
(d) If the conditions provided in this article have been satisfied, the court may enter an
order of summary administration allowing immediate distribution of the assets to persons
entitled to them.
(e) Upon entry of an order of summary administration:
(1) Persons entitled to receive specified parts of the decedent's estate, including exempt
property, shall have the right to collect and have such property transferred to them,
including by right of action, if necessary.
(2) Debtors of the decedent, those holding property of the decedent, and those with
whom securities or other property of the decedent are registered shall comply with the
order of summary administration by paying, delivering, or transferring assets or property
specified in the order to the person or persons identified in the order of summary
administration as being entitled to the subject property, and such payment, transfer, or
delivery shall be a defense to any action for recovery by any other person claiming an
interest in the assets or property.
(3) Bona fide purchasers of value from those to whom property of the decedent may be
assigned by the order shall take the property free of all claims of creditors of the decedent
and all rights of the surviving spouse and other beneficiaries.
53-7-104.
If a petition for summary administration is filed within two years from the date of death of
the decedent:
</ins>
<ins>(1) Any time before the entry of an order of summary administration, a creditor who is
entitled to property or assets of the estate may file a notice of a claim in any proceeding
where a petition for summary administration is filed. In addition to any other recognized
grounds, a creditor who timely files a notice of claim under this paragraph may move to
intervene in the proceeding;
(2) Within 20 days of the entry of the order of summary administration, the petitioner or
petitioners may publish the fact that an order of summary administration has been
entered, the total value of the estate, and the name or names and address or addresses of
the petitioner or petitioners in the same manner as provided in subsection (b) of Code
Section 53-7-41;
(3) If the petitioner or petitioners publish the order of summary administration as
provided in paragraph (2) of this Code section, and file a proof of publication with the
court, all claims and demands of creditors against the estate of the decedent who did not
file a motion to intervene as provided in paragraph (1) of this Code section, and are not
known or are not reasonably ascertainable to the petitioner or petitioners, will be barred
if notice of a claim against the estate is not filed with the court within three months after
the filing of the publication;
(4) If the petitioner's or petitioners' notice of publication is not timely filed as provided
in this Code section, and property of the decedent is not otherwise exempt from claims
of creditors, any person who receives property or assets pursuant to the order of summary
administration may be liable for the creditors' claims against the decedent subject to any
applicable statute of limitations; and
(5) In any claim against the decedent's estate, the beneficiary of the decedent's property
identified in the order of summary administration shall be personally liable for a pro rata
share of all lawful and timely claims against the estate of the decedent; provided,
however, that no beneficiary shall be liable for property or assets that are exempt from
claims of creditors under law, and no beneficiary shall be liable to any creditor of the
</ins>
<ins>estate in an amount in excess of the value of the property or assets of the estate the
beneficiary actually received pursuant to the order of summary administration."
</ins> SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia Senate bill would create a faster, simplified court process called summary administration for settling small or old estates, letting heirs get assets more quickly without full probate.

### Plain-language summary

Right now, Georgia estates generally go through a standard probate process regardless of size. This bill would add a new option called summary administration to Georgia's estate law (O.C.G.A. Title 53, Chapter 7). Estates could qualify if the estate is worth $75,000 or less (not counting property already exempt from creditors) or if more than two years have passed since the person died, as long as the will does not require regular administration.
Anyone with an interest in the estate could file a verified petition asking a court to approve summary administration. If beneficiaries or trusts are involved but do not join the petition, they must be notified. Once a court approves it, assets can be distributed immediately, and the order protects buyers and people who transfer property under it. Creditors and left-out heirs would still have limited windows, generally three months for creditors after publication and up to four years for heirs, to make claims. The law would take effect July 1, 2026.

### What it does

- Creates a new, faster estate settlement process called summary administration for estates worth $75,000 or less, or for estates open more than two years, as an alternative to standard probate.
- Lets any person with an interest in an estate file a verified petition asking a court to approve summary administration and immediate distribution of assets.
- Requires notice to beneficiaries or trustees who do not join the petition, using the same notice rules as other estate proceedings.
- Sets creditor protections, including a duty to search for creditors before distribution and a right for missed creditors to later collect and recover attorney's fees.
- Gives heirs left out of the process up to four years to enforce their rights against whoever obtained the summary administration order.
- Makes beneficiaries who receive estate property personally responsible, up to the value they received, for a fair share of valid creditor claims.

### Who it affects

People handling a deceased relative's estate, heirs and beneficiaries, creditors owed money by an estate, trustees and trust beneficiaries named in an estate, and buyers who purchase property that came from an estate through this new process.

### Why it matters

Families dealing with small estates or ones left unresolved for years could settle them faster and with less court involvement than standard probate requires. At the same time, creditors and heirs who are not part of the initial petition would have limited time windows to raise claims or object.

### Key provisions

- Code Section 53-7-101 sets eligibility: estates worth $75,000 or less after exempt property, or estates where more than two years have passed since death, and the will does not require regular administration.
- Code Section 53-7-102 requires a verified petition and notice to any beneficiaries or trustees who do not sign onto it.
- Code Section 53-7-103 requires a creditor search affidavit before distribution if the death occurred less than two years earlier, and lets missed creditors sue later and recover attorney's fees.
- Code Section 53-7-103 also lets courts order immediate distribution of assets and shields good-faith purchasers of estate property from later creditor claims.
- Code Section 53-7-104 sets a three-month deadline for unknown creditors to file claims after the order is published, or their claims are barred.
- Code Section 53-7-104 makes beneficiaries personally liable, up to the value of what they received, for a share of valid creditor claims against the estate.
- Section 2 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2026-02-26)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-03-03)
- Sponsors: Russ Goodman, Sam Watson, Steve Gooch, David Lucas, Timothy Bearden
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73728

> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb608.md?full=1