Georgia Last Will and Testament Template

A last will and testament in Georgia must meet specific statutory requirements to be valid and enforceable in probate court. The testator must properly execute the document with the correct number of witnesses to ensure it directs the distribution of estate assets to named beneficiaries and appoints an executor to administer the estate. Georgia requires two competent witnesses who sign in the presence of the testator. Georgia does not recognize holographic (handwritten) wills — not recognized — all wills in Georgia must be formally witnessed under O.C.G.A. §53-4-20. available — a self-proving affidavit signed by the testator and witnesses before a notary eliminates the need for witness testimony in probate

Without a valid will, Georgia intestate succession laws determine who inherits — often in ways that contradict the decedent's wishes. A surviving spouse may receive only a portion of the estate, unmarried partners receive nothing, and a court appoints an administrator instead of the testator's chosen executor. Proper execution under Georgia law prevents these outcomes and reduces the risk of a will contest. A complete estate plan typically pairs a will with a power of attorney for lifetime incapacity protection.