About the Chatham County Probate Court
Chatham County Probate Court is led by Judge Thomas C. Bordeaux, Jr. The office sits in Room 509 of the Frank S. Coleman Courthouse in downtown Savannah. Office hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Thursday hours begin at 8:45 a.m. because of a staff meeting. Licenses and permits are processed until 4:30 p.m. each day. The Record Room is open until 4:30 p.m. The court is closed on county holidays. The Probate Court homepage lists the full schedule.
Chatham County Probate Court
Judge Thomas C. Bordeaux, Jr.
133 Montgomery Street, Room 509
Savannah, GA 31401-3242
(912) 652-7264
Fax: (912) 652-7262
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thu 8:45 a.m.–5 p.m.
Chatham Probate is an Article 6 court under O.C.G.A. Title 15, Chapter 9. Article 6 status comes with expanded jurisdiction tied to county population. The court has concurrent jurisdiction with Superior Court in certain matters and can hold jury trials for issues properly before it. Appeals from an Article 6 probate court go to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court of Georgia as the case allows.
The homepage links to marriage licenses, decedents' estates, guardianships, the Record Room, and the Filer Resources hub for pro se and attorney filers.
How to Search Chatham County Probate Records
Probate Court states that its case management system permits access to publicly available court records online through Georgia Probate Records. Service status in estate matters can be tracked through the same portal. Users select the public records option, pick the county, and search by case or by name. The portal is the fastest path to a probate file when you know the decedent or case number.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portal selection | link / button | Yes | Choose public records, county, or service. |
| County | dropdown | Yes | Select Chatham County where available. |
| Case / estate name | text | Optional | Search by decedent or party name. |
| Case number | text | Optional | Recommended if known. |
| Record type | dropdown / filter | Optional | Estate, marriage, guardianship, or conservatorship. |
| Search | button | n/a | Runs the search. |
For a walkthrough of the live portal, the official source is the Georgia Probate Records landing page.
The same portal is used for marriage license applications, so Chatham filers move through one system for several record types.
Probate Terms to Know
Probate uses words that do not show up in everyday speech. The short glossary below covers the terms used most often in Chatham estate and guardianship files.
- Testator
- Person who made the will.
- Executor
- Personal representative named in a will to manage the estate.
- Administrator
- Personal representative appointed when there is no executor or no valid will.
- Intestate
- A person who dies without a valid will. The estate is then handled under Georgia intestate succession rules.
- Guardian
- Person appointed to make personal, health, and safety decisions for a minor or incapacitated adult.
- Conservator
- Person appointed to manage the property and finances of a ward.
Note: Clerks and deputy clerks may help with filing steps but cannot practice law or give legal advice on a case.
Filing Probate Pleadings in Chatham County
Probate accepts pleadings by mail, by drop box, and by appointment. Filings are taken Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on county holidays. Mailed pleadings must be signed, verified, and include the correct fees. Pleadings sent without fees are returned without filing. The Probate appointment link covers estate filings and general information visits.
The official Filer Resources page hosts the Uniform Probate Court Rules, standard forms, service of notice guidance, the TLO heir search, publication rules, and attorney resources. Pro se filers can pull the same forms used by counsel.
Most probate petitions require service of notice to heirs, beneficiaries, or interested parties. The petition must say how service will be made and include any related service fees. Effective October 1, 2025, if personal service is required on an heir or beneficiary, the court requires the sheriff's service fee of $50 unless certified mail at $15 is expressly requested. Failed service may be noticed by email to the filing party. Publication notices usually go to the Savannah Morning News, the official organ, except for petition types where Probate staff supply the legal ad.
Chatham Probate Court Fees
Probate fees come from the local fee chart on the Probate Court fees page. The most common items are listed below. Research, copy, and certification fees apply to mailed and in-person requests alike.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Research fee (mailed or staff-assisted) | $10.00 |
| Certified copy, one page | $10.00 |
| Certified copy, more than one page | $10.00 + $1 per page |
| Exemplified copy | $15.00 + $1 per page |
| Uncertified copy | $1.00 per page |
| Annual Return — executor or administrator | $40.00 (waived if no assets or transactions) |
| Inventory — executor or administrator | $40.00 (waived if no assets or transactions) |
| Will safekeeping | $15.00 |
| TLO / heir search by court staff (per person) | $10.00 |
Mailed requests must include a money order or cashier's check. Onsite customers can use credit card, debit card, cash, money order, or cashier's check. Probate does not accept personal checks or American Express for research and copies. Credit and debit transactions carry a 5% convenience fee.
The same page lists payment rules and the contact path for fee questions.
Small Bank Affidavit and Will Safekeeping
Georgia has a quick path for very small estates when the only asset is a bank account. If the decedent had no will and the only asset is money in a bank or financial institution under $15,000, an heir-at-law may claim the funds by affidavit. There is no need to petition for Letters of Administration. The rule comes from O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239. Banks may ask for a Determination of Heirs Worksheet to confirm who can sign the affidavit.
Probate Court also accepts wills for safekeeping during life. A living person, or that person's attorney, may file a sealed will with the court. The fee is $15. The testator fills out an information sheet and the sealed will is stored in a fire-proof cabinet. The will remains confidential before death. Access is limited to the depositor, a legal representative, or an attorney in fact.
Guardianships and Conservatorships
Minor guardianship is filed in the county of domicile for a Georgia resident, or the county where the minor is found for a nonresident in physical control of a minor. The petition must include the minor's birth certificate, a valid state ID, proof of residence, parent information or consent, criminal background search consent, and the guardian information form. The temporary guardianship fee is $205. Fee waivers are available based on Federal Poverty Guidelines with proof of income.
Adult guardianship and conservatorship are filed in the proposed ward's county of domicile, or where the proposed ward is found. The standard is the adult's lack of sufficient capacity to make or communicate significant responsible decisions about health, safety, or property. After filing, the court serves the proposed ward, appoints an attorney, schedules an evaluator, sets a hearing, and notifies the nearest adult relatives. Conservators may have to post bond based on liquid assets. Chatham requires a conservator class for conservators of minors or incapacitated adults; the class can be taken before filing but must be done within two months after appointment.
Other Records Held by Chatham Probate
Marriage licenses and weapons carry licenses both come through Probate Court. Mental-health and involuntary hospitalization orders also fall under Probate Court jurisdiction in Georgia. The court handles emergency guardianships and conservatorships and orders to apprehend. These functions are kept open during emergency court operations notices because of their public-safety role.
The Temporary Guardianship page covers the filing venue, the required documents, the background search consent, and the bond rules in depth. Adult standard cases run through the Adult Guardianship and Conservatorship page. Each page lists the petition forms and the court process step by step.
Note: Probate fees and rules can change with new standing orders, so confirm the current chart on the official site before mailing a payment.