A decedent (pronounced da-See-dunt) is a deceased person. This term is commonly used to refer to a deceased person in the law of wills, trusts, and estates.
In Georgia, the term 'decedent' refers to an individual who has passed away. In the context of wills, trusts, and estates law, the decedent is the person whose estate is being managed or distributed after their death. Georgia law outlines specific procedures for handling a decedent's estate, which include the appointment of an executor or administrator if the decedent had a will, or the appointment of an administrator if there was no will. The executor or administrator is responsible for managing the estate, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to the rightful heirs or beneficiaries according to the decedent's will or, if there is no will, in accordance with Georgia's intestacy laws. These laws determine the order of inheritance and are designed to distribute the decedent's assets to close relatives, such as a spouse or children.