The
Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over
Wills, Estates, and Guardianships. Court records,
which date back to 1875, are retained in the court
vault. Most records are public record and the
public is invited to conduct research during
office hours.
In
the probate of a will, the domicile of the
testator at death, shall give jurisdiction to the
probate court of that county. The domicile of the
deceased who was in the care of a nursing home or
other similar facility at the time of death shall
be presumed to be the county in which the deceased
was domiciled immediately before entering the
nursing home or other facility.
In
the appointment of a guardian of a minor, the
county in which the minor is found, shall give
jurisdiction to the probate court of that county.
In the
appointment of a guardian of an incapacitated
adult, the county in which the incapacitated adult
resides, shall give jurisdiction to the probate
court of that county.
If
you have any legal questions or concerns regarding
an estate or guardianship matter, you may want to
consult with an attorney.
For
Standard Probate Court Forms and other information
click on the following site: www.gaprobate.org
If
you reside in Oconee County and would like to file
your Last Will & Testament for safe-keeping,
the Oconee County Probate Court can provide this
service for a one time fee of $10.00.
Upon
filing your will for safe-keeping, you will be
required to seal it in an envelope and sign and
date its entry into the court's record book. Once
it has been filed, it will be kept in the court
vault for safe-keeping, and no one but you or your
personal representative will be allowed to
withdraw it. (WILLS FILED FOR SAFE-KEEPING ARE
NOT PUBLIC RECORD)
Firearms
License Information
Ga.
Law (O.C.G.A. 16-11-126 thru 16-11-130)
Firearms
license applications are accepted in the Oconee
County Probate Court, Monday through Friday, 8:00
am until 4:30 pm. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age,
a legal resident of Oconee County, and submit a
photo I.D.
Effective July 1, 2006, all applicants (first
time and renewals) are required to complete
and sign an application and criminal history
consent form in the presence of the clerk of the
Probate Court. All applicants (first
time and renewals) will be required to be
fingerprinted by the Oconee County Sheriff's
Department.
Once the application and consent form has been
completed and signed, the applicant must, within
fifteen (15) days, submit the paperwork to the
Sheriff's Department where he/she will be
fingerprinted. Fingerprinting id done on
Tuesdays and Thursdays, between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
The applicant must submit the following to the
Sheriff's Department at the time of
fingerprinting:
-
Firearms
License Application (completed & signed)
-
Consent Form
(completed & signed)
-
$19.25 money order -
made payable to Oconee County Sheriff's
Department
After
the applicant has been processed/fingerprinted,
the Sheriff's Department will notify the Probate
Court of any findings relating to an applicant's
eligibility. Upon the receipt of the
information, the court will notify the applicant
regarding the eligibility/issuance of his/her
license.
The cost of the five year license is $15.00.
Personal checks are accepted and should be made
payable to Oconee County Probate Court.
Once
the license has been issued, as provided by law, a
firearm may only be carried in a shoulder holster,
waist belt holster, any other holster, hipgrip, or
any other similar device, in which event the
weapon may be concealed by clothing, or a handbag,
purse, attaché case, briefcase, or other closed
container. The applicant may carry a firearm in
any location in a motor vehicle, provided the
applicant has his or her license on their person.
The
license does not authorize and as provided by law,
prohibits persons from carrying any firearm to any
"public gathering". A "public
gathering" shall include, but shall not be
limited to, athletic or sporting events, churches
or church functions, political rallies or
functions, publicly owned or operated buildings,
or establishments at which alcoholic beverages are
sold for consumption on the premises.
The
license does not authorize and, as provided by
law, prohibits persons from carrying a firearm
within a "school safety zone".
"School safety zone" means in, on, or
within 1,000 feet of any real property owned by or
leased to any public or private elementary school,
secondary school, or school board and used for
elementary or secondary education and in, on, or
within 1,000 feet of the campus of any public or
private technical school, vocation school,
college, university, or institution of post
secondary education.
The
provisions of this law shall not apply to a person
who is licensed in accordance with the law, when
such person carries or picks up a student at a
school building, school function, or school
property or on a bus or transportation furnished
by the school. Also, the provisions of this
law shall not apply to a vehicle in transit
through a designated school zone by any person
other than a student, provided such weapon is
legally kept within the vehicle.
The
provision of this law shall not prohibit persons
who reside or work in a business or in the
ordinary course of conducting lawful business or
any person who is a visitor of such residence
located within a "School Safety Zone" from
carrying, possessing, or having under such
person's control a weapon within a "School
Safety Zone" at such locations.
Presently,
the State of Georgia Attorney General's Office has
a reciprocal agreement with certain other states,
that provides for persons who are licensed to
carry a handgun in the State of Georgia, may also
carry a handgun in such other state, provided that
such license holder is complying with that state's
law. Such agreement also provides that any
person licensed to carry a handgun in that state,
and who is not a resident of this state, shall be
authorized to carry a handgun in this state,
provided that such license holder is complying
with the laws of this state.
The
states in which Georgia has this reciprocal
agreement may be found at the following State of
Georgia Attorney General's web site address:
www.state.ga.us/ago
(click on Media Advisories)
Firearms
laws for individual states throughout the United
States, may be found at the following Department
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms web site address:
www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/statelaws/22edition.htm
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Vital
Records Information
The
Oconee County Judge of Probate Court is custodian
of vital records, which include birth and death
records. Records are retained in the Probate
Court, and date back to 1875. Certified
copies of birth and death records may be obtained
at a cost of $10.00 for the first copy and $5.00
for each copy thereafter.
A record of birth should be filed in the county
where the individual was born. A record of
death should be filed in the county where the
individual was pronounced dead.
