---
title: O.C.G.A. § 53-7-45. Compromise of claims.
collection: code
id: 53-7-45
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 53-7-45 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-7-45
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-7-45.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-7-45/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=624
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/53-7.md
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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 / ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES GENERALLY / CLAIMS AGAINST OR IN FAVOR OF ESTATE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 53-7-45. Compromise of claims.

Personal representatives are authorized to compromise, adjust, arbitrate, assign, sue or defend, abandon, or otherwise deal with or settle debts or claims in favor of or against the estate. A personal representative who declines to litigate any claim may assign the claim to a creditor or an heir of an intestate estate or a beneficiary of a testate estate for the purpose of prosecuting the claim at that person’s own expense and, after reimbursement of the expenses to the creditor, heir, or beneficiary, any remaining proceeds shall be paid over to the personal representative for administration.

## History

Code 1981, § 53-7-45, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 504, § 10; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1352, § 22; Ga. L. 1998, p. 1586, § 34.

## Law Reviews

For article, ‘‘Joint Bank Accounts: A Different Form of Joint Tenancy,’’ see 17 Ga. St. B.J. 184 (1981). For article commenting on the 1997 amendment of this Code section, see 14 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 313 (1997).