Atlanta and Georgia Trust Planning Guide
Georgia estate tax, Fulton homestead exemptions, no-administration probate shortcut, Medicaid recovery, and family-home planning checkpoints.
Quick tax summary for 2026
| Issue | Atlanta / Georgia checkpoint |
|---|---|
| Federal estate tax | IRS filing threshold for 2026 deaths is $15,000,000. |
| Georgia estate tax | Georgia Department of Revenue says no state estate taxes are levied and no state estate tax returns are required on and after July 1, 2014. |
| Georgia inheritance tax | Georgia Department of Revenue says Georgia has no inheritance tax. |
| Fulton / Atlanta homestead | Fulton County basic homestead is available to owner-occupants; 2026 guide lists April 1 deadline and several senior/Atlanta exemptions. |
| Medicaid estate recovery | Georgia Medicaid estate recovery may apply to long-term-care costs, with a gross estate exemption for estates of $25,000 or less. |
Why this matters for Atlanta families
The main issue is usually not Georgia estate tax. It is keeping the family home affordable, titled clearly, protected from rushed sales, and easy for heirs to administer. Fulton and City of Atlanta homestead exemptions are practical wealth-preservation tools.
Practical planning moves
- File or confirm Fulton homestead exemption if the home is owner-occupied.
- If the home is in a trust, keep the trust affidavit and trust documents ready for exemption paperwork.
- Confirm beneficiary designations and account titling.
- If no will exists and no debts exist, ask a Georgia probate professional whether a no-administration-necessary petition fits.
- If Medicaid paid for long-term care, add Georgia estate recovery questions to the attorney packet.
- For family land, screen for heirs' property and unclear title.
Values to show in the app
- Federal estate tax filing threshold for 2026 deaths: $15,000,000.
- Georgia estate tax / inheritance tax: none for current estates under Georgia DOR guidance.
- Georgia Medicaid estate recovery gross estate exemption: $25,000 or less.
- Fulton basic homestead guide lists $30,000 off assessed value for County and $2,000 off school, with City of Atlanta owner-occupant benefits listed for city operations, park fund, and city school.
- Fulton 2026 homestead application deadline: April 1.
Source notes
- IRS estate tax filing thresholds: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estate-tax
- Georgia Department of Revenue estate tax FAQ: https://dor.georgia.gov/estate-tax-faq
- Georgia homestead overview: https://georgia.gov/apply-homestead-exemption
- Georgia DOR homestead exemptions: https://dor.georgia.gov/property-tax-homestead-exemptions
- Fulton County exemptions: https://fultonassessor.org/exemptions/
- Fulton 2026 homestead guide: https://fultonassessor.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2026/01/2026-Homestead-Exemption-Guide-final.pdf
- Georgia Medicaid estate recovery: https://medicaid.georgia.gov/programs/third-party-liability/medicaid-estate-recovery
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