Inherited a house in Savannah? Start here
When a parent, grandparent or other relative dies and leaves a house in Savannah, the family usually faces two jobs at once: settling the estate through the Georgia probate system, and deciding what to do with a property that may be empty, dated or a long drive away. This guide explains how probate affects a sale in Chatham County and the surrounding counties, what the main options are, and how Trusty House Buyers can buy the house as-is if a quick, simple sale is the right fit.
Every estate is different. This page is general information, not legal advice. A Georgia probate attorney can tell you exactly what applies to your family’s situation.
Step 1: Figure out who can sign the deed
The most important question in any inherited-house sale is who has legal authority to sell. In Georgia that depends mainly on whether there was a will and how the estate is opened in the Probate Court.
There is a will that names an executor
The will is filed for probate in the probate court of the county where the person lived, which for a Savannah resident is the Probate Court of Chatham County. Once the court admits the will and the executor qualifies, the executor receives letters testamentary and can act for the estate. If the will gives the executor a power of sale, Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 23-2-115) generally lets the executor sell the house privately without asking the court for permission, unless the will limits that power.
There is no will
The house passes to the heirs set by Georgia law, typically a surviving spouse and children. To sell through the estate, a family member usually petitions the Probate Court to be appointed administrator. An administrator who does not already have the power to sell generally has to ask the court for leave to sell under O.C.G.A. § 53-8-13. The petition describes the property, the purpose of the sale and the proposed price and terms, and the heirs are served with notice. If no one files a written objection in time, the court orders the sale on the terms in the petition. After closing, the administrator reports the sale back to the court.
The heirs all agree and the debts are handled
Georgia also has a shorter route for some estates without a will. Under O.C.G.A. § 53-2-40, an heir can ask the court for an order that no administration is necessary when no personal representative has been appointed, all heirs sign an agreement on how to divide the estate, and the estate owes no debts or the creditors consent or are served. If the house still has a mortgage, the lender must consent or be served and not object. With that order, the heirs themselves sign the deed.
If the house is in Savannah but your relative lived outside Georgia, a petition for no administration is filed in the county where the property is located.
Not sure which of these fits your family? Tell us about the house and we’ll walk through how a sale could work, with no obligation.
Get My Cash OfferOr call or text (912) 978-4404
Probate courts in the Savannah area
Estates are opened in the probate court of the county where the person lived. These are the courts for Savannah and the nearby counties we buy in:
| County | Court | Location and contact |
|---|---|---|
| Chatham (Savannah, Pooler, Garden City, Tybee Island) | Probate Court of Chatham County | 133 Montgomery St., Room 509, Savannah, GA 31401. (912) 652-7264, option 4 for estates. Source: Chatham County courts website |
| Effingham (Rincon, Springfield, Guyton) | Effingham County Probate Court | 700 N. Pine St., Suite 146, Springfield, GA 31329. (912) 754-2112. Source: Effingham County Probate Court website |
| Bryan (Richmond Hill, Pembroke) | Bryan County Probate Court | Check the Bryan County government website for current office locations and hours |
| Liberty (Hinesville, Midway) | Liberty County Probate Court | Hinesville. Check the Liberty County government website for current hours |
The Chatham County Probate Court accepts estate filings by mail, drop box or appointment, and its staff can explain procedures but are not allowed to give legal advice. Its Record Room can provide copies of estate files, and the court offers a research request to help locate an heir who is entitled to notice but can’t be found.
What makes inherited houses in Savannah harder to sell
- Older homes and historic districts. Many family homes in Savannah are decades old. In the historic districts, exterior changes such as a new roof, windows or porch generally need design review before work starts, which slows down a fix-up-and-list plan.
- Carrying costs while the estate is open. Property taxes, insurance, utilities, lawn care and any mortgage keep coming due. Chatham County property taxes are billed by the county Tax Commissioner, and they stay with the house no matter who is paying.
- Insurance on an empty house. Many homeowners policies treat a vacant house differently. Call the insurer as soon as the house is empty so coverage doesn’t lapse, especially during hurricane season.
- Heirs who live far away. It’s common for the person handling the estate to live in another state. Managing repairs, contractors and showings from a distance is hard. With us, documents can usually be signed remotely and you don’t need to be at the house.
- Family land passed down without probate. Some older coastal Georgia properties have passed through several generations without an estate ever being opened. Title then belongs to many relatives at once, and it usually takes an attorney to sort out before anyone can sell. If that sounds like your situation, tell us early; it doesn’t automatically rule out a sale.
Your options for an inherited house
Keep it or move in. Possible if the heirs agree and someone can take over the mortgage payments, taxes and upkeep.
Rent it out. Can produce income, but the estate or heirs become landlords, and most older houses need work before they can be rented.
Fix it up and list it with an agent. Often brings the highest price for a house in good shape, but it means paying for repairs and carrying costs up front, plus commissions and a buyer whose financing and inspection can delay or end the deal.
Sell it as-is for cash. Usually a lower price than a fully renovated retail sale, but no repairs, no clean-out, no showings and no commissions, with a closing date you choose. This is what we do. Comparing a written offer from us with an agent’s estimate of the net after repairs and fees is a good way to decide.
How selling an inherited house to us works
We buy inherited and probate houses in Savannah and coastal Georgia in any condition, including houses still full of furniture and belongings. Here’s what the process looks like:
- We talk with the person handling the estate. We ask about the house, any mortgage or liens, and where the estate is in probate.
- You get a written cash offer. There’s no obligation, and you can share it with the other heirs or your attorney.
- We plan the closing around the court. If the court has to approve the sale, a signed purchase contract gives the administrator the price and terms that go in the petition. We set the closing date after the authority to sell is in place.
- A closing attorney or title company handles the paperwork. They confirm who has authority to sign, pay off any mortgage and taxes from the proceeds, and send the estate’s share where it belongs.
Documents that help
- A certified death certificate
- The will, if there is one, and any letters testamentary or letters of administration issued by the court
- A copy of the deed (Georgia deeds are recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the house is)
- The most recent mortgage statement, property tax bill and insurance policy
- Names and contact information for the other heirs
Read more:
Sources: O.C.G.A. §§ 23-2-115, 53-2-40, 53-2-41 and 53-8-13 (Official Code of Georgia, as published on Justia); Probate Court of Chatham County, Decedent’s Estate page; Effingham County Probate Court website. Checked October 23, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Talk with a Georgia probate attorney about your situation.