---
title: O.C.G.A. § 53-12-4. Law governing the validity of the trust.
collection: code
id: 53-12-4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 53-12-4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12-4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12-4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12-4/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t52-t53-(v40)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d23ba203_0#page=767
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12-3.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: WILLS, TRUSTS, AND ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES / TRUSTS / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 53-12-4. Law governing the validity of the trust.

(a) As to real property, the validity of a trust shall be determined by the law of the situs of the real property.

(b) As to all other property, the validity of a trust shall be determined by:

(1) The law of the jurisdiction designated in the trust instrument unless the effect of the designation is contrary to the public policy of the jurisdiction having the most significant relationship to the matter at issue; or

(2) In the absence of an effective designation in the trust instrument, the law of the jurisdiction having the most significant relationship to the matter at issue.

## History

Code 1981, § 53-12-4, enacted by Ga. L. 2010, p. 579, § 1/SB 131.