Echols County Probate & Magistrate Courts

Probate & Magistrate Judge – Carlos L. Rodgers

Probate & Magistrate Chief Deputy Clerk – Teri Laseter

P.O. Box 118
Statenville, GA 31648
229-559-7526
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Closed for lunch 12 – 12:30)

Traffic Court

Payments for traffic citations do not require mandatory court appearances or unless you were arrested or were charged for DUI, reckless driving, road rage, misdemeanor marijuana, littering, affray, hunting at night, if anyone under the age of 21 was charged for anything besides speeding under 24 mph over the speed limit you must appear. You may either pay on line at www.ezcourtpay.com or call 1-800-262-0128. You may mail in your payment to Echols County Probate Court, P.O. Box 118, Statenville, GA 31648. All payments must either be a money order or cashier checks. You can also pay your fines at the Echols County Probate Court office located in the Echols County Court House.

Traffic court is held on the 3rd Friday of every month unless it is noted on your citation or bond papers, court is held at 9:00 a.m. until all cases has been called.

If you wish to contest your citation please call the court at 229-559-7526 and to request a trial date. If you have an attorney he should file for a court date and a notice of appearance. If you request a court appointed attorney you must come to the court and fill out a request and there is a $50.00 filing fee.

Probation Services

Probation services for the court are handled with Georgia Probation Management. They can be contacted at 229-253-1770. Their hours are Monday – Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm, Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm.

Marriage Licenses

You may obtain a marriage licenses during the hours listed above. If you have ever been married you must bring in your last divorce decree or a death certificate. There is no charge for marriage ceremonies done during office hours any ceremonies done after office hours will be between you and the Judge doing the ceremony. Marriage license fee is $76.00.

Fire Arms Licenses

You can apply for a firearm license only if you live in Echols County. The fee to file for a license is $74.75. You must have a picture ID or a valid GA License.

The Probate Court also does the following duties:

• Probate Wills
• Probate Estates
• Petitions for Temporary Letters of Administration
• Petition for Letters of Administration
• Petition for Order declaring no Administration
• Filing fee for all of the above cases is $158.00
• Temporary Guardianship of minor, filing fee $103.00

For any other cases to be filed in the Probate Court office, please call 229-559-7526.

Magistrate Courts fees and duties:

There is a $104.00 filing fee for the following cases:

• Filing a civil suit
• Dispossessory Warrant
• Filing for Garnishment

The fee for a FIFA is $5.00 for Magistrate Court and $5.00 for Superior Court.

There is a $10.00 fee for a pre-warrant application.