PRIA Logo™
GeorgiaHB 5302025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Courts; authorization for electronic filing of pleadings in probate court; provide

Sponsored By: Trey Kelley (Republican), Rob Leverett (Republican), Mary Oliver (Democrat), Matt Reeves (Republican), Mitchell Scoggins (Republican)

Signed by Governor

JudiciaryGeneral Bill

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Free access to probate case documents

Parties representing themselves and their attorneys get unlimited, free viewing and downloading of electronic documents in their civil probate case. Exceptions apply to filings tied to pauper’s affidavits, sealed or other restricted filings, declared emergencies, and earlier cases. A document counts as filed when the filing service receives it. It is not publicly accessible until the court accepts it. After acceptance, the public can view it free at a courthouse terminal during normal business hours, unless law restricts access. Judges and court staff must have ongoing access once the court electronically accepts the documents.

Probate filers face capped online fees

The filing service can charge a one-time electronic filing and service fee of up to $30 per filer per case. This fee counts as a recoverable court cost and is due with the first filing. Using a public terminal delays payment until the first filing made without that terminal. Credit-card or bank-draft payments can carry a fee capped at 3.5% of the payment plus 30 cents per transaction. Government offices and agencies, probate-court-appointed attorneys, and guardians ad litem are exempt from filing-service fees. Filings for municipal or county governments, leaves of absence, and conflict notices are also exempt. Paper filings accepted and converted as an accommodation carry no electronic filing transaction fee, but payment convenience fees can apply. The court keeps $2 of the one-time fee and sends it to the county governing authority. No other portion can go to a state, county, or municipal entity.

Georgia probate filings move online

By January 1, 2029, Georgia probate courts must provide electronic filing and electronic payments for civil matters. Beginning that date, most civil case papers must go through the court’s electronic filing service. Once mandatory filing starts, clerks generally cannot accept paper filings from attorneys or people representing themselves. However, courts must reasonably accommodate paper filings by accepting and converting documents presented at the courthouse. They must also accommodate paper documents otherwise received from people representing themselves. Courts must provide a public filing terminal in the administrative office or county law library. Exceptions cover filings tied to pauper’s affidavits, sealed or other restricted filings, declared emergencies, and cases started before electronic filing begins. Earlier cases keep their original fee rules unless parties choose electronic filing for later papers. The Council of Probate Court Judges sets filing standards, and each court must adopt policies to carry them out. The Judicial Council sets emergency rules. Courts retain their separate authority to accept electronic payments.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Trey Kelley

    Republican • House

  • Rob Leverett

    Republican • House

  • Mary Oliver

    Democrat • House

  • Matt Reeves

    Republican • House

  • Mitchell Scoggins

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Brian Strickland

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 381 • No: 0

House vote • 3/27/2026

Agree to Senate Substitute

Yes: 159 • No: 0 • Other: 9

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 5

House vote • 3/6/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 174 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2026

  2. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/5/2026House

  3. Act 383

    5/5/2026

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/6/2026House

  5. House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

    3/27/2026House

  6. Senate Third Read

    3/25/2026Senate

  7. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/25/2026Senate

  8. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/18/2026Senate

  9. Senate Taken from Table

    1/12/2026Senate

  10. Senate Recommitted

    1/12/2026Senate

  11. Senate Tabled

    4/2/2025Senate

  12. Senate Read Second Time

    3/21/2025Senate

  13. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    3/20/2025Senate

  14. Senate Read and Referred

    3/10/2025Senate

  15. House Third Readers

    3/6/2025House

  16. House Passed/Adopted

    3/6/2025House

  17. House Committee Favorably Reported

    2/26/2025House

  18. House Second Readers

    2/21/2025House

  19. House First Readers

    2/20/2025House

  20. House Hopper

    2/19/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB 530/AP* (v5)

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation