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Georgia probate & fiduciary bonds.
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Before the probate court issues letters, it usually requires the fiduciary to post a bond. This probate bond protects the heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors of the estate. The court fixes the amount from the value of the property passing through your hands. It is underwritten, not flat-rated — tell us the estate and the role, and we quote it.

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Required before letters issue under O.C.G.A. § 53-6-51 for personal representatives, with conservators under O.C.G.A. §§ 29-3-41 / 29-5-41
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Amount is fixed by the court — based on the value of the estate property
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Underwritten on credit and the estate — larger estates may require financials
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Price

How much does a Georgia probate & fiduciary bond cost?

It is underwritten: the premium is quoted from the bond amount and your financial picture, so there is no flat price to show.

How it works

Built for the letters of appointment.

The probate court won’t issue your letters until the bond is approved and filed. Here is the whole process:

TODAY · 10 MINUTES

Tell us the role & the estate

Send your role (executor, administrator, guardian, or conservator), the probate court, and the estimated value of the property passing through your hands. That figure drives the court-set amount and the quote.

ABOUT 1 BUSINESS DAY

A specialist underwrites & quotes

A surety specialist reviews the matter, including a soft credit check, and returns a quote. Most fiduciary bonds clear on credit; larger estates may require financial statements, which we’ll flag up front.

ON APPROVAL

Execute & file

We issue the bond on the probate court’s form, with the surety’s power of attorney attached, so it can be approved and your letters can issue.

In plain English

How a probate bond works, and what to have ready.

  1. Why the court asks for it

    A court has appointed you, or is about to, to manage someone else's money: as executor or administrator of an estate, or as a guardian or conservator. The court can require a bond before you act.

  2. Who it protects

    The estate and the people entitled to it: heirs, creditors, or the person under guardianship. If money is mishandled, they can recover the loss from the bond, up to the bond amount.

  3. If there is a claim

    The surety pays a valid claim and you repay the surety. A will can ask the court to waive the bond; the court decides.

Have these ready

  • The court order or letters appointing you, or your petition if the appointment is pending
  • The court and case number
  • The bond amount the court set
  • A summary of the assets you will control
  • The will, if there is one
  • Your attorney's name and contact details
About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What a fiduciary bond guarantees

When someone is appointed to handle a decedent’s estate or to manage the affairs of a ward, the Georgia probate court holds them to a fiduciary duty — and usually requires a bond to back it.

The probate (or fiduciary) bond guarantees that the personal representative or guardian will faithfully perform their duties: inventory the assets, account honestly, and distribute the estate as the law and the court direct. If they don’t, the bond compensates the harmed parties.

The probate court sets the amount. Under O.C.G.A. § 53-6-51 the bond is double the value of the estate to be administered — but only the single value when secured by a licensed commercial surety, and computed without regard to real property until it is converted into personalty.

Georgia StatuteO.C.G.A. § 53-6-51 requires the personal representative’s bond to be payable to the probate court and conditioned on faithful discharge of duty, in a sum equal to double the value of the estate — or equal to the value of the estate if secured by a licensed commercial surety, computed without regard to real property until it is converted. The same single-value-for-corporate-surety framework applies to conservators under O.C.G.A. §§ 29-3-41 (minors) and 29-5-41 (adults).

You need this bond if you’re

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An executor named in a will and required by the court to post a bond before letters testamentary issue
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An administrator appointed over an intestate estate (no will, so a bond is the default)
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A guardian or conservator managing the person or estate of a minor or incapacitated adult
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A relative or professional fiduciary the probate court has ordered to be bonded
After you buy

Claims, renewal, filing, and what sets the price.

If a claim is made

A court bond answers to the court and the party its order protects: if the judgment or order the bond secures is not satisfied, that party can claim against it, up to the penal sum the court set.

The surety pays a valid claim after the court rules, and you repay the surety. A court bond is a guarantee of your performance, not insurance for you.

Renewal and term

Term and renewal are set in the underwriter's quote; a court bond usually runs until the case or appeal it secures is resolved.

Keep the bond in force for as long as the obligation behind it runs.

How to file it

Execute & file. We issue the bond on the probate court’s form, with the surety’s power of attorney attached, so it can be approved and your letters can issue.

What sets the price

Court bonds are underwritten: the premium is quoted from the bond amount the court sets and your financial picture, so there is no flat price to show.

Start with your role and the estate value.

These are the actual underwriting fields — your fiduciary role, the court, the estate, and your business. Submit once and a surety specialist responds in about one business day with a quote and any financial requirement. No charge until the bond is issued.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

What is a Georgia probate bond?It is a fiduciary bond required by the probate court before it issues letters to an executor, administrator, guardian, or conservator. Under O.C.G.A. § 53-6-51 it is payable to the probate court and conditioned on the faithful discharge of the fiduciary’s duty, protecting heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors.
Who sets the bond amount?The probate court. Under O.C.G.A. § 53-6-51 the amount is double the value of the estate to be administered — but only the single value of the estate when secured by a licensed commercial surety, and computed without regard to real property until it is converted into personalty.
How much does it cost?There is no flat rate. The bond is underwritten individually: premium depends on the court-set penal sum, the underwriting, and the estate. Most fiduciary bonds clear on a soft credit check; larger estates may require financials. Tell us your role and the estate value and a specialist returns a quote.
Do you check credit?Fiduciary bonds are underwritten, so a soft credit check is part of the review. Credit affects approval and terms; it is not the whole picture, and the role and estate size matter too. We’ll tell you what, if anything, else is needed when we quote.
Can the bond be waived?Sometimes — a will may waive bond, or all heirs or beneficiaries may consent. But the probate court can still require one, and when it does, this is the bond. If you’re not sure, send us the order and we’ll size it to what the court asked for.
Which A-rated carriers underwrite these bonds?Typically Arch Insurance Company (A.M. Best A+) or Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (A.M. Best A). Which one writes your bond depends on the bond type and your state. The carrier's name and official signature are printed on the bond you receive.
How do I contact Light RFP about this bond?Email insurance@lightrfp.com. It reaches the bond team at Light RFP Risk Management Services LLC (NY DFS License # PC-1978982). Write to us about quotes, applications, bond forms or certificates. We will respond within 24 hours.
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Nearby states

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Get bonded so your letters can issue.

Send your role and the estate value. A surety specialist underwrites it and returns a quote — typically within one business day. No charge until the bond is issued.

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