Tracey Teague appointed associate probate judge

  • Tracey Teague, pictured with husband, Bobby and Probate Judge Scott Chastain, during her swearing-in ceremony.
    Tracey Teague, pictured with husband, Bobby and Probate Judge Scott Chastain, during her swearing-in ceremony.

Tracey A. Teague has been officially appointed as the Associate Probate Judge of Gilmer County. She will assume that new role Jan 1, 2021. 

“As it stands now, if something happens to me and I am unable to continue my duties as the Probate Judge, the probate office would be left without someone to continue the day-to-day operations,” said Gilmer County Probate Judge Scott Chastain.

Back in July when Chastain tested positive for COVID-19, he was not allowed to enter the courthouse for nearly a month. 

“During that time, we got behind on a few things,” he said.

Probate clerks recognized
Gilmer County Probate Judge Scott C. Chastain recently recognized two probate clerks in his office — Jennifer Carney (left) and Jennifer West — with certificates for completing 90 hours of state training to become certified probate clerks. Carney is a deputy probate clerk who focuses most of her time on probate matters. West is a deputy probate clerk who focuses most of her time assisting citizens with general questions, licenses, traffic citations, death and birth certificates. With the completion of the 90-hour certification program, Gilmer County now has all five of the probate clerks state certified. The training is administered and approved by the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education and the Council of Probate Judges.

Across the state of Georgia, probate courts were hit pretty hard by the virus, and unfortunately, Georgia lost three probate judges and other probate court staff. 

It was during this time, the Council for Probate Judges suggested judges look at the possibility of something happening to them and what it would do to the office and citizens of the county, Chastain said. 

By law, the probate judge has the authority to appoint an associate judge. It requires that the probate judge seek approval of that appointment from the governing body of the county. 

“A few weeks ago, I sent a request to the board of commissioners asking them to approve the appointment of Tracey A. Teague,” he said. “They approved my request at a public meeting Oct. 28.”

Teague has been an employee of the probate office for over six years and previously worked for Judge Mullins. She served as the chief clerk for Judge Mullins and currently serves in that same role for Judge Chastain. 

She is a 1992 Gilmer County graduate. She is married to Bobby Teague and has two children, Taylor and Boston. 

“She has been a tremendous asset to this office, and I truly appreciate all she has done to assist me in making the probate office in Gilmer County one of the best in Georgia,” Chastain said.