Probate & Magistrate Courts

Estates

Traffic Citations

Guardianship

Civil Cases

Marriage License

Firearms Permits

Birth & Death
Certificates

Contact

Jennifer M. Williams

Probate Judge
Chief Magistrate Judge

The Probate and Magistrate Courts of Taylor County, Georgia work every day to serve the citizens of Taylor County with professionalism, respect, and dignity. We strive to provide justice that is timely, honest, and rooted in the values of our community.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The Probate Court staff are committed to providing you with excellent customer service. We will be happy to assist you with any questions or concerns that you may have about Probate/Magistrate Court services or procedures. Please be advised, however, that state law prohibits our staff from rendering legal advice, restating the law, or recommending specific ways to pursue legal action.

Nothing on this website is intended to advise anyone regarding legal remedies for a particular circumstance. Many matters of law are quite complex and may require special knowledge of legal principles and procedures. If you have a problem involving the interpretation of the law, we suggest you contact an attorney licensed in the State of Georgia.

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm

Closed on weekends and holidays

If you have an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

For mental health emergencies call 9-8-8.

Probate Court Magistrate Court Contact Us

Taylor County Probate Court

There are many petitions that may be filed in the Probate Court. Many standard petitions can be found at Gaprobate.gov. If you are unsure what you need to file, please consult an attorney.

Duties of the Taylor County Probate Court:

Probate Estates
Wills for safe keeping
Marriage Licenses
Traffic Court
Weapons Carry/Firearms Permits
Guardianship and Conservatorship of Adults and Minors
Birth and Death Records
Orders to Apprehend
Administer Official Oaths

To look up Probate records tht have been filed in Taylor County Probate Court, go to Georgiaprobaterecords.com ( note all of our records are not available at this time but we are working diligently to make all records available ).

Click here to view the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia Videos.

What to do when your loved one has passed?

Estates:

The Clerk of Taylor County Probate Court understands bereavement and handling the estate of a loved one can be stressful and daunting. The Clerk is here to help with the process within the limits allowed by law.

Probate is the legal process allowing the estate to be transferred to the beneficiaries, those who are named in

a will to receive property, or heirs, those who are determined by law to inherit from the estate if the deceased had no will.

While an attorney is not required to probate an estate, it may be useful. The court strongly recommends hiring an attorney as we are not allowed by law to provide legal advice to anyone.

What to do if there IS a will:

Upon the death of the testator (the person who made the will), the will must be filed in the Probate Court in the county where the testator was domiciled at the time of his/her death. If the testator was not domiciled in Georgia at the time of his/her death, the will may be filed in any county in Georgia where the testator owned property.

Probating the will gives the executor the legal authority to distribute the estate.

Even if the will is not going to be probated, anyone who is in possession of the will of an individual who has died must bring the will to the Probate Court for filing. There is no fee for filing the will not for probate.

Wills for Safe Keeping:

A testator may file his/her will in the office of the judge of the Probate Court for safe keeping in the county of the testator’s residence. After completion of the information sheet, the will is then placed in a sealed envelope and filed in a fire-proof cabinet. There is a $15.00 storage fee for filing a will for safekeeping.

What to do if there is NOT a will:

A person who dies and has no will is said to have died intestate. In most cases involving an intestate estate, the Probate Court will need to appoint an administrator to handle the estate. If your loved one died intestate, you may file to be appointed as the administrator of his/her estate in the probate court of the county where he/she was domiciled at the time of his or her death. If your loved one was not domiciled in Georgia at the time of his or her death, you may file to administer the estate in any Georgia county where he/she owned property.

Additional Resources

Marriage
License

To obtain your marriage license, both applicants, who must be at least 18 years old, must appear to the Court in person. Both applicants must have a picture ID. Proof of divorce or death is required for applicants with a prior marriage.

The cost is $56 unless there is a signed and notarized form stating premarital counseling has been performed, which reduces the cost to $16. These fees are payable by cash, money order, or Visa / MasterCard (plus convenience fee).

Marriage ceremonies are NOT performed by the Taylor County Probate Court. You will have to make other arrangements for someone to perform the marriage ceremony.

After a couple is married by a person who is authorized to perform the ceremony, the license should be returned to the Probate Court within 30 days. Marriage licenses and certified copies can be purchased for $10 each.

Marriage Application Marriage Counseling Form

If you have received a traffic citation in Taylor County, you may contest the ticket or, if a court appearance is not mandatory, you may plead guilty to the offense and pay the fine prior to the court date listed on your citation. Online payment or payment by phone/mail will be considered a guilty plea.

Ways to pay:

If you are under the age of 21, most offenses require you to appear for court.
Money order or cashier’s check made payable and mailed to the
Taylor County Probate Court, PO Box 536, Butler, GA 31006.
Online at ezcourtpay.com
In person via cash, money order, cashier’s check, or Visa/MasterCard. A convenience fee will be added.
By phone by calling 800.262.0128
Many tickets can be paid without making a court appearance. To see if your case is eligible to pay online visit www.ezcourtpay.com. Note that it can take up to 14 business days for tickets to appear in the system.
You may be eligible to enter a plea in absentia. Please click here if you wish to submit a reduction request to the Solicitor. If you are still unsure, you should contact the court about your case before the scheduled court date.
Partial Payments / Payment Plans Partial payments are not accepted and payment plans are provided if you are placed on probation.

Pay Citation

Additional Resources

If you fail to pay the citation by the court date or fail to appear at the court date (if you don't pay in advance) your license may be suspended and a bench warrant could be issued for your arrest.
Payment must be received by the court date shown on your citation unless you plan to attend court.

When is my court date?

Your court date is written on your ticket.
You can also lookup your citation on ezcourtpay.com to confirm your court date.

What should I do on my court date?

Arrive early. You should plan to arrive early for your case to compensate for any unexpected delays. Once you arrive, you will pass through a mandatory security check before being allowed to enter.

Proceed to the courtroom. The Courtroom is located on the 2nd Floor. The Deputy at security check will show you the stairs to access the courtroom.

Please be advised that cell phones and purses/bags are not allowed in the Courthouse during court. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Check in with the Court Clerk to learn more about what will be required of you. Be advised that court staff, solicitors and the Judge cannot give you legal advice. Be patient as there are multiple cases on the court’s calendar. Please consult an attorney or a public defender if you have a legal question regarding your case.

What should I do if I miss my court date?

Missing your court date is a serious offense and you should contact the court immediately if you realize you have missed your court date. If you miss your court date for either a criminal or traffic citation, you are in failure to appear (FTA) status and a bench warrant could be issued for your arrest. In addition, your driver’s license could be suspended. If you are pulled over by an officer, you could be arrested.

You may be charged an FTA fee for missing your original court date. If you have a valid medical excuse or documentation of being incarcerated, bring evidence to your new court date.

Georgia no longer requires a license for eligible "Lawful Weapons Carriers," including out-of-state permit holders. However, there are reasons to consider applying for a Weapons Carry/Firearms Permit.

Since Georgia Weapons Carry Permit holders have already been vetted through a background check process, they can purchase firearms from a licensed federal firearms dealer without having an instant background check through the FBI NICS system.
Georgia Weapons Carry Permit holders enjoy reciprocity with other states which recognize our permit within their jurisdiction. A list of those states can be found at:

Click Here for List of States

The Taylor County Probate Court can issue a firearms permit to all qualified residents of Taylor County.

Applicants must be:

21 years of age or 18 if enlisted in the military
Resident of Taylor County

Our Process:

Picture identification with physical address listed is required. If you do not have a physical address on your picture ID, you must bring an acceptable form of proof of residency. A power bill or voter registration are some examples you can provide to the court.

We will take your picture in our office.
You will have to go to Sheriff’s office to be fingerprinted once you have completed your paperwork in the Probate Court office.

After the applicant has been processed/fingerprinted, the Probate Court will review the relevant histories and make a determination regarding the applicant’s eligibility.
$78 new applicant fee
You can fill out an application in the Taylor County Probate Court office or Online.

Permits can be renewed 90 days prior or 30 days after expiration. A renewal requires an application be made in person at the Probate Court office and a $35 renewal fee.

If you have a P.O. Box on your Georgia Driver’s License or State-Issued ID, you will need to bring proof of domicile in Taylor County (example: utility statement, voter registration, motor vehicle registration).

NOT ACCEPTED: Bank statements, credit card statements or anything that has your Social Security number on it.

Guardianships and conservatorships are legal relationships wherein the Probate Court appoints a person to make certain decisions for another person, a ward, proven to need assistance. Guardians make decisions concerning the ward, whereas conservators manage and make decisions concerning the income and property of the ward.

Guardianships and conservatorships may be established for minors and incapacitated adults.

Guardianship is a major and life altering decision and should not be made lightly or without proper support. To assist in this decision, the Georgia Advocacy Office has provided a pamphlet in the link below.

Guide on Supported Decision-Making

Conservatorship for Minors:

A conservator is a fiduciary in charge of the funds and property of a minor. Granted by the Court, the conservator may make decisions regarding the minor’s property acting in the minor’s best interest.

Handbook For Conservators For Minors

Guardianship/Conservatorship of Aging Adults:

In Georgia, the Probate Courts may grant guardianship of an adult resident if that adult is found by the Court to lack sufficient ability to make responsible decisions for themselves, their safety, or their health. The Court may also grant conservatorship of an adult residents’ property should they be found by the Court to lack sufficient ability to make responsible decisions concerning the management of their property.

Handbook For Guardians & Conservators Of Adults

Do I need to have a lawyer?

People are not required to have a lawyer to represent them, but in most cases, it is advisable to have a lawyer. The Clerks of the Probate Court may not serve as your legal advisors, and you should not expect them to perform legal or clerical services for you. They work for and at the direction of the Probate Judge. It is their responsibility to process the volume of paperwork filed in the office and to attend to the administrative aspects of the operation of this office. They are here to serve you, and they will do so to the best of their abilities. They are not allowed to complete any paperwork for you, nor can they make a legal determination or advise you on which proceeding is most appropriate or advisable. The information on this web page and the Probate Court Standard Forms are designed to help you perform simple filings on your own; however, if you find that the filing is more difficult than you expected, you should seek the assistance of an attorney. When deciding whether or not to hire an attorney, you may want to consider how important the outcome of the case is to you. You are strongly encouraged to hire an attorney to represent you, the petitioner, in an adult guardianship case. The court by law must appoint an attorney (or they may hire their own) who will vigorously represent the Ward (the adult who may be in need of a guardian) and who will oppose the guardianship if that is what the Ward wishes.

Birth & Death
Certificates

The Taylor County Probate Court can issue birth and death certificates for anyone born or
someone that passed away in the state of Georgia.

Fees include:

$25 for the first copy ($5 for each additional copy of the same certificate)

Payable by cash, money order, or Debit/Credit card with convenience fees

Birth Certificates are not public record and can only be issued to certain qualifying individuals who can present a valid picture ID.

Qualifying individuals include:

Person listed on birth certificate
Listed natural parent of person on birth certificate
Listed adoptive parents of person on birth certificate
Grandparents of person on birth certificate
Siblings of person on birth certificate
Spouse of person on birth certificate

Death Certificates can be purchased by qualifying individuals. Individuals who are not qualified may still purchase a death certificate, but will receive a redacted version.

Qualifying individuals include:

Legal spouse
Adult child
Adult sibling
Parent
Grandparent
Grandchild
Those with a “tangible interest,” such as a beneficiary or insurance company

You can email your request to
Scobb.probate@taylorga.us or mail request to
Probate Court , PO Box 536, Butler, GA 31006

You must include the following:

The name and date of birth/death of the individual you are requesting the record for
The mother's name
If the name has changed from what is on birth certificate please include the name at birth
A picture/copy of the requester's picture ID and the relationship to the individual you are requesting the record for
A phone number and valid mailing address

Call if you have questions about payments.

Order to Apprehend and Mental Health:

An Order to Apprehend directs law enforcement to apprehend an individual who appears to be mentally ill or unstable and deliver him/her to the nearest receiving facility for examination. An Order to Apprehend issued by the Probate Court is for an examination only, to determine whether an individual requires involuntary treatments due to mental illness. The order is not a guarantee of treatment or hospital admittance.

Call the Crisis line at 800.715.4225 for mental health emergencies or
crises, or call 988 or go to the NAMI Georgia Helpline for help before contacting the Probate Court. You can also call Middle Flint Health and Wellness at 833.215.2545

For more information, visit
Georgia’s Division of Behavioral Health

For Mental health emergences
or Crisis call 988.

Taylor County Magistrate Court:

The Taylor County Magistrate Small Claims Court handles money claims under $15,000.00. A Magistrate judge holds an informal hearing to listen to and decide each case. Any person may file a claim in Magistrate Court without an attorney. You may have an attorney represent you if you choose, at your own expense. The court does not appoint attorneys for civil cases. Either a person or a business may be sued.

Can I see the Judge before the hearing takes place?
You will be notified by mail when your case is scheduled for a hearing. At the hearing, the Magistrate Court Judge talks with all parties in a case at the same time before making a judgment

To Sue or Not to Sue
The first step is deciding whether to sue. Remember, you must prove the person or business you are suing owes you something. Do you have proof of the debt such as a receipt, note, bill of sale, warranty or a witness? In deciding to sue, consider whether you have any evidence. In addition, if you sue an individual, they must be a resident of Taylor County. If you sue a corporation, the business must be in Taylor County or the registered agent for the corporation must be located in Taylor County. Or, if you sue a sole proprietor of a business, the sole proprietor must be a resident of Taylor County. This office cannot advise you on who to sue or if you have a good claim.

The duties of the Taylor County Magistrate Court:

Civil cases up to $15,000.00
Arrest and Search Warrants
Warrant Applications

County Ordinances
Dispossessory
Bad Check (Deposit Account Fraud)

The Taylor County Magistrate Court handles civil cases in which a party is seeking money damages from another party for alleged wrongs. The Court generally hears suits for money owed from one party to another, claims for damage to person or property, landlord/tenant disputes, writs of possession matters, and breach of contract cases.

The Court does not hear divorce cases, cases where equitable relief is sought, or issues involving the title to land.

Please contact Superior Court at 478.862.5594 for these issues.

How to begin a civil case

Plaintiff files a complaint against the Defendant, which involves putting forth a complaint, providing the address of the Defendant, and stating a claim for damages.
Plaintiff pays the filing fee, $112 for one defendant and $50 for each additional defendant living at a separate address. Cash, Check, Money orders accepted. Also credit /debit cards accepted with a small convenience fee.
Defendant must then file an answer to the complaint within the time limits required by law.
If the Defendant fails to file a timely answer, the Plaintiff will receive a default judgment upon request.

Forms & Information for Plaintiffs and Defendants

To generate customized forms that you can take to the Magistrate Court visit
georgia.tylertech.cloud/SRL/SRL/ExecuteInterview

To watch helpful Videos
georgiamagistratecouncil.com/video-tutorials/

To look up Civil cases that have been filed in Taylor County Magistrate Court go to
georgiamagistraterecords.com