An individual who dies (also called a "decedent") and who has no will is said to have died intestate. This means in most circumstances that the Probate Court will need to appoint an administrator to handle the property that the decedent owned.
Petition for Letters of Administration
In order to apply to have an administrator appointed, you should use Georgia Probate Court Standard Form #3 (Petition for Letters of Administration). The form must be filed in the Probate Court of the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Visit the
Administrators page for more information concerning eligibility and appointments.
Distributing Property to Heirs
After paying all debts, the Administrator will distribute the property to the decedent's heirs. The heirs are the closest relatives of the decedent and must be listed on Part 3 on page 1 of the Standard Form #3.
Determining Heirs
If you need help determining the heirs of the decedent, you may consult the
Rules of Inheritance page.