Georgia Petition for Letters of Administration (GPCSF Form 3): Administering an Intestate Estate in Gwinnett County

What Is the Georgia Petition for Letters of Administration?

The Georgia Petition for Letters of Administration (GPCSF Form 3) is the official legal form filed with the probate court when a person dies without leaving a valid will — a situation known as dying intestate. This form asks the probate judge to appoint a qualified person (called the “administrator”) to manage and distribute the decedent’s estate according to Georgia’s intestacy laws.

The administrator’s responsibilities include collecting and safeguarding estate assets, paying valid debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining property to the decedent’s legal heirs as determined by O.C.G.A. Title 53. Until the court issues Letters of Administration, no one has the legal authority to act on behalf of the estate — not even a spouse or adult child.

When Is This Form Needed?

You need to file GPCSF Form 3 when:

• A loved one has died without a valid will
• The estate has assets that need to be transferred or sold (real estate, bank accounts, vehicles, investments)
• There is no executor already named to handle the estate
• No one has filed a petition for probate of a will

Why Does Georgia Law Require Notarization?

Under O.C.G.A. § 53-11-8, every petition filed in Georgia probate court must be verified by the oath of the petitioner. This means the person filing the petition must swear or affirm under oath that all the information in the petition is true and accurate. The oath must be administered by either a notary public or a clerk of the probate court.

This notarization requirement serves an important purpose: it puts the petitioner on notice that they are making a sworn statement to the court. Knowingly providing false information in a notarized petition can result in penalties for perjury. The court relies on these sworn statements to make decisions about who should administer the estate and whether the proposed administrator is qualified under O.C.G.A. § 53-6-1.

The form itself includes a signature block that says “Sworn to and subscribed before me” — the classic jurat notarization language, followed by a space for the notary’s signature, printed name, and commission expiration date.

Where to Get the Form

The official GPCSF Form 3 — Petition for Letters of Administration — is available as a free PDF download from the Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms website at gaprobate.gov.

Gwinnett County residents can file this form in person at the Gwinnett County Probate Court, located at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. The court’s Estate Division accepts filings and can answer general procedural questions.

Need this document notarized? Find a trusted notary in your area on Notary of Gwinnett.