Probate Court

Click for  LOWNDES COUNTY PROBATE COURT GENERAL INFORMATION 2025

Judge of Probate Court

Honorable H. Burke Sherwood, Sr.

WELCOME TO LOWNDES COUNTY PROBATE COURT

Lowndes County Probate Court is here to serve the citizens in an effective, efficient, impartial and professional manner, and to perform the duties assigned to the Court under the Constitution and the laws of Georgia. The Lowndes County Probate Court is a Court of record with exclusive jurisdiction over Estates, Guardianships and Conservatorships of Incapacitated Adults, Temporary Guardianships of Minors, Conservatorships of Minors, Commitments to Involuntary Evaluation and Treatment for Mental Health and/or Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Involuntary Commitments, Issuance of Georgia Weapons Carry License, and Issuance of Marriage Licenses. Probate Court also perform numerous and other varied duties.

THE LOWNDES COUNTY PROBATE COURT DOES NOT HANDLE the following:

• Traffic Cases (Lowndes County State Court or surrounding municipalities)
• Election (Lowndes County Board of Elections)
• Vital Records (Lowndes County Health Department)
• Fish and Game Law Violation Cases (Lowndes County State Court)

Primary Functions

• Decedent’s Estates - Probate of Wills, Administration of Estates, Etc.
  • What to do when your loved one dies
  • Duties and Responsibilities of Personal Representatives of Decedents’ Estates in Georgia
  • Return of Personal Representative or Administrator
  • Inventory (Estate)
  • Estate Record Search Request
  • Estate Claims
  • Estate Videos
• Guardianships and Conservatorships of Minors and Incapacitated Adults
  • Guardianship and Conservatorship (Adult and Minor) Videos
  • Conservatorship Adult Inventory & Asset Management Plan
  • Conservatorship Annual Final Return Info.
  • Temporary Guardianship of Minor Information Sheet and Packet
  • Termination of Temporary Guardianship of Minor Information Packet
• Involuntary Intervention - Mental Health and Substance Abuse

MARRIAGE APPLICATIONS AND WEAPONS CARRY LICENSE APPLICATIONS ARE PROCESSED

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

8:30 A.M. - 4:15 P.M.

**It is recommended that you complete initial application online prior to your arrival**

• Issuance of a Georgia Weapons Carry License - The Application for Georgia Weapons Carry License, Renewal, & Replacement may be completed and submitted online or printed to present to our office. We highly recommend you utilize the online application process. You do not need to print the application if you utilize online submission. PLEASE NOTE: Your application is not complete until you personally appear in the Lowndes County Probate Court to finalize paperwork, present your State Issued Driver’s License or ID, GA Weapons Carry License (if renewing), and payment.  If renewing, this final step must be completed within your 30-day grace period after expiration of your GA WCL.  You will be processed as a first time applicant if you apply after the 30-day grace period on renewals.
  • GA WEAPONS CARRY LICENSE INFORMATION SHEET (READ FIRST BEFORE APPLYING) 
  • WCL APPLICATION IF NOT APPLYING ONLINE Please print and complete prior to appearing in Probate Court.
  • ONLINE APPLICATION GA Weapons Carry License First Time, Renewal, and Replacement

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2025: The Lowndes County Probate Court no longer performs wedding ceremonies. Please refer to O.C.G.A. §19-3-30(c) on who may officiate your ceremony.

• Issuance of Marriage License - The Application for a Marriage License may be completed and submitted online or printed to present to our office. We highly recommend you utilize the online application process. If you utilize the online application you will not need to print the document, and you will have three (3) days (including holidays and weekends) from online submission to complete the process in our office. Both parties must be present to complete the process in our office.
  • Marriage License Information Sheet (PDF)READ FIRST BEFORE APPLYING.
  • Marriage Application - Please print and complete prior to appearing in Probate Court if not applying online.
  • Affidavit of Underage Marriage Applicant
  • Premarital Education Certificate
  • CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE ONLINE MARRIAGE LICENSE APPLICATION AND/OR SEARCH MARRIAGE RECORDSSEE BELOW LINK TO REQUEST MARRIAGE RECORDS.
  • Marriage Record Requests by Mail
  • Online Request for Marriage Records
• Issuance of Veterans’ Business Licenses
• Occasional Limited Amendments on Birth Records
• Review of Accountings, Inventories for Guardianships and Estates

Proceeding as a Self-Represented Litigant in Probate Court

Georgia Probate Forms

Many Probate forms are available on the Georgia Probate Forms website.

Safety

For the safety and protection of all, the Lowndes County Courthouse is a secured facility. All persons entering the courthouse and all packages, purses, briefcases brought into the courthouse are subject to being searched.