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Georgia Probate vs Living Trust Calculator

Compare what Georgia probate would actually cost your estate against the typical cost of setting up a living trust to avoid it.

Probate side: O.C.G.A. § 53-6-60 FigureMyTax Editorial Team Free · no sign-up

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Your Georgia estate

Enter your estate value — we'll estimate Georgia probate cost and compare it to a typical trust setup cost.

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Estimated Georgia probate cost vs trust setup
Probate (estimated)
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Living trust setup
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Is it worth it for me? →
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Georgia probate cost vs living trust cost

The probate side of this comparison reuses the same statutory figures as the Georgia Probate Cost Calculator: the executor commission under O.C.G.A. § 53-6-60 (2.5% of money received plus 2.5% of money disbursed), typical attorney fees, and court costs — together usually 3% to 8% of the gross estate. The trust side is market data, not a statutory figure: Georgia attorneys typically charge $1,000–$3,000 to draft and fund a straightforward revocable living trust, more for a complex estate. See the full breakdown in Georgia Living Trust Setup Cost.

Georgia probate vs living trust — frequently asked questions

Is a living trust worth it in Georgia?

Often, yes, for estates over roughly $200,000–$300,000 with real estate, because Georgia probate cost scales with the estate (statutory 2.5%+2.5% executor commission under O.C.G.A. § 53-6-60, plus attorney fees) while trust setup cost is closer to a fixed $1,000–$3,000. For a small, simple estate, Georgia's low-cost paths — No Administration Necessary or the bank affidavit — may already be cheap enough that a trust doesn't pay for itself.

How much does Georgia probate cost compared to a living trust?

Georgia probate typically runs 3% to 8% of the gross estate — the statutory executor commission (2.5% of receipts plus 2.5% of disbursements), attorney fees ($3,000–$8,000 flat for a straightforward estate), and court costs. A Georgia living trust typically costs $1,000–$3,000 to set up with an attorney, a one-time cost paid while the person is alive.

Does Georgia have a small estate shortcut that makes a trust unnecessary?

For some estates, yes. Georgia's No Administration Necessary petition (O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40) has no dollar cap and works for an intestate estate if every heir agrees and there's no debt — and the bank affidavit under § 7-1-239 releases up to $15,000 without probate at all. Neither requires a trust.

Georgia living trust tools & guides

Georgia Living Trust Setup CostThe market-rate breakdown Is a Living Trust Worth It in Georgia?A decision framework Georgia Living Trust Funding MistakesWhy trusts still fail to avoid probate Georgia Probate Cost CalculatorThe full statutory breakdown Georgia Probate Timeline CalculatorHow long probate would take

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal or financial advice. Probate-side figures are based on Georgia statute (O.C.G.A. § 53-6-60, § 15-9-60). Trust-side figures are illustrative market rates, not a legal or statutory amount, and vary by attorney and estate complexity. Confirm current figures with a licensed Georgia estate planning attorney before acting.