---
title: O.C.G.A. § 53-7-72. Docket of persons liable to make returns; failure to make returns.
collection: code
id: 53-7-72
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 53-7-72 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-7-72
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-7-72.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-7-72/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t52-t53-(v40)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=5e4f6f40_0#page=79
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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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 / ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES GENERALLY / SETTLEMENT OF ACCOUNTS / ANNUAL RETURNS AND INTERMEDIATE REPORTS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 53-7-72. Docket of persons liable to make returns; failure to make returns.

It shall be the duty of the probate court to keep a docket of all personal representatives who are liable to make returns and, immediately after the ceasing of the January term or as soon thereafter as the court deems practical in each year, to cite all defaulters to show cause for their neglect. A willful and continued failure to make a return shall be good cause for removal.

## History

Code 1981, § 53-7-72, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 504, § 10; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1352, § 24; Ga. L. 2025, p. 806, § 63/HB 327, effective July 1, 2025.

## Amendments

The 2025 amendment, effective July 1, 2025, substituted “It shall be the duty of the probate court to keep a docket of all personal representatives” for “To ensure annual returns from every personal representative, it shall be the duty of the probate court to keep a docket of all those” in the first sentence.