Section 53-9-2. Filing and contents of petition; publication of notice

   (a) A petition for administration of the estate, for the probate in common form or solemn form of the will, for year's support, or for an order that no administration is necessary may be filed for the estate of a missing individual whose death may be presumed or established in the probate court as provided in Code Section 53-9-1. The petition may be made by anyone who would be entitled to file such petition on the estate of the missing individual if the missing individual were known to be dead and shall be filed in the county in which the estate of the missing individual would be administered were the missing individual known to be dead.

(b) In addition to complying with all of the requirements for petitions pertaining to the administration of an estate or the probate of a will or year's support or an order that no administration is necessary, as appropriate, the petition regarding the estate of a missing individual who is believed to be dead shall set forth the circumstances under which the individual disappeared, what inquiry has been made as to the individual's whereabouts, and such evidence as shall be offered, if necessary, for the purpose of proving death by a preponderance of the evidence.

(c) If the court finds the petition to be in compliance with the requirements set forth in subsection (b) of this Code section, the court shall issue an order directing that a notice be published once a week for four weeks giving notice that on a day stated, which shall be at least 90 days after the first publication of the notice, evidence will be heard by the court concerning the alleged absence of the individual presumed to be dead and the circumstances and duration of such absence and requiring the missing individual, if alive, or any other person to produce and present to the court evidence that the missing individual is still in life. The notice required by this subsection may be combined with any other notice required for the issuance of letters or an order for year's support or an order that no administration is necessary. The notice shall be served as provided in Chapter 11 of this title on all individuals who would be heirs if the missing individual were known to be dead. The order may also direct that the petitioner make a search for the missing individual and shall specify the manner in which the search is to be conducted to ensure that, in light of the circumstances of the particular case, a diligent and reasonable effort has been made to locate the missing individual. The order may prescribe any methods of search deemed by the judge to be adequate and appropriate, including but not limited to publishing notices in newspapers in appropriate locations and making inquiry of governmental agencies and of the missing individual's relatives and friends and at the missing individual's last place of abode or other appropriate places.

Code 1981, § 53-9-2, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 504, § 10; Ga. L. 2011, p. 752, § 53/HB 142.