Emanuel County $650,000 Fire Fee Settlement, Who Gets a Refund and Who Must File a Claim Form

Emanuel County, Georgia, agreed to create a $650,000 Aggregate Refund Fund to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging its flat $30-per-parcel fire protection fee was an illegal tax. Property owners who paid the fee on or after April 3, 2020, may be included.

Official settlement website: https://www.emanuelco-ga.gov/494/Fire-Fee-Settlement-Webpage Claims administrator: (800) 345-0837 | Class counsel: (912) 638-5200

Quick answer:

• Still own the property? You do not need to file a claim. A refund check is mailed to you.
• Sold the property? You must complete and return the Claim Form mailed to your current or last known address.
• Claim deadline: Follow the instructions printed on your Claim Form. No single claim deadline date was found in the official notice or in news reporting reviewed for this article.

Emanuel County Fire Fee Settlement Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Settlement amount	$650,000 Aggregate Refund Fund
Case	DRT Investments, LLC v. Emanuel County, Georgia
Court	Superior Court of Emanuel County, Georgia
Case number	25CV00072, per court filings hosted on the county’s website
Fee challenged	$30 per parcel, under the Emanuel County Fire Protection and Rescue Services Fee Resolution adopted September 17, 2018
Fee assessed	On tax bills for parcels in unincorporated Emanuel County and all cities except Swainsboro, 2019 through 2025
Who is included	Current and former owners who paid the fire fee on or after April 3, 2020, through the date of the court’s order and judgment
Current owners	No claim form. Refund is mailed
Former owners	Claim Form required
Individual payment	Pro-rata share of the fund. News reporting estimates about 45% of what you paid, minus court-approved fees and costs. Not guaranteed
Opt out	Not allowed. Class members could object by October 21, 2025
Final approval hearing	Scheduled for November 5, 2025
Official settlement website	https://www.emanuelco-ga.gov/494/Fire-Fee-Settlement-Webpage
Claim Form	Mailed to former owners. WRDW reports it is also on the county page. If you didn’t get one, call (800) 345-0837
Claims administrator	(800) 345-0837
Class counsel	Roberts Tate, LLC, (912) 638-5200

Who Is Included?

You are a class member if you own or owned property and paid the Emanuel County fire fee on or after April 3, 2020, through the date of the court’s order and judgment. The fee appeared on property tax bills. Paying the fee in an earlier year, before April 3, 2020, does not by itself qualify you.

Do You Need to File a Claim?

If you still own the property for which a refund is owed, the official notice says you do not have to do anything to receive your refund.

If you no longer own the property, you will receive a Claim Form at your current or last known address. You must complete and return it as the form instructs to receive your refund. News reporting says the form was mailed. If you sold property you paid fees on and haven’t received one, call the claims administrator at (800) 345-0837.

About the deadline: The official notice does not set one calendar date for all former owners. Use the instructions and date on your own Claim Form, and don’t wait.

How Much Will You Receive?

There is no fixed amount. Each person’s refund is a pro-rata share of the $650,000 fund, based on the fire fees that person paid. WRDW reported that refunds are estimated at about 45% of what was paid, after court-approved fees and costs. Treat that as an estimate only. Final amounts depend on the administrator’s calculations.

The $650,000 is a total fund, not a payment to each class member.

Why Was the Fee Challenged?

The lawsuit alleged that the flat $30-per-parcel charge was a tax and not a fee, and that it violates Georgia law requiring property taxation to be based on value, not a flat rate. Emanuel County agreed to the settlement to resolve the class claims. No trial decided whether the fee was unlawful.

What Has Happened in the Case?

Date	Event
September 17, 2018	Fire Protection and Rescue Services Fee Resolution adopted
2019–2025	Fee assessed on tax bills
April 3, 2020	Start of the refund period
September 2025	Court preliminarily approved the settlement; notices issued
October 21, 2025	Deadline to object
November 5, 2025	Final approval hearing scheduled
October 5, 2026	WRDW reports the settlement, with refunds to current owners and claim forms for former owners

The county’s settlement page reviewed for this article lists the preliminary approval documents and notices. A final approval order was not found there. To confirm the current status or whether you are on the class list, call the claims administrator.

What If You Think You Are Missing From the List?

Contact the claims administrator at (800) 345-0837 or visit the county settlement page. Do not rely on unofficial websites that ask for payment or sensitive information, and note that official notices direct questions to the administrator or class counsel, not the court or clerk.

What Should You Do Now?

1. Current owners: Keep your mailing address current with the county and watch for a refund check.
2. Former owners: Find the Claim Form, complete it and return it as instructed. Keep a copy and proof of mailing.
3. Everyone: Keep tax bills or payment records showing you paid the fire fee.
4. Not sure? Check the county’s official settlement page or call the administrator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for the Emanuel County fire fee settlement?

Current and former owners of property in the Fire Protection Tax District who paid the fire fee on or after April 3, 2020, through the date of the court’s order.

How much is the refund?

It is a pro-rata share of the $650,000 fund. News reporting estimates about 45% of what you paid, minus court-approved fees and costs.

Do I need to file a claim if I still own the property?

No. A refund check will be mailed.

What if I sold my property?

You must return the Claim Form sent to your current or last known address.

What is the claim deadline?

Follow the date and instructions on your Claim Form. No single deadline date was found in the official notice.

Does the settlement cover the City of Swainsboro?

The fee was not assessed in Swainsboro.

Can I opt out?

No. Class members could not exclude themselves, and the deadline to object was October 21, 2025.

Did a court rule the fee illegal?

No. The settlement resolved the lawsuit without a ruling on the fee.

Who can I contact?

The claims administrator at (800) 345-0837 or class counsel at (912) 638-5200.

Is this the same as the Richmond Hill fire fee case?

No. That is a separate Georgia case with different parties and terms.

Related Reading

• Richmond Hill $5M Fire Fee Illegal Tax Settlement: a separate Georgia fire fee case.

Legal information disclaimer: AllAboutLawyer.com is a U.S. consumer legal information website. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Settlement terms, status and deadlines can change, so verify current information with the official county settlement page or the claims administrator before acting.

Sources

1. Emanuel County, Georgia, Fire Fee Settlement Webpage. https://www.emanuelco-ga.gov/494/Fire-Fee-Settlement-Webpage
2. Court-authorized Publication Notice, DRT Investments, LLC v. Emanuel County, Georgia (September 5, 2025). https://www.emanuelco-ga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1344/Publication-Notice-2025-09-05-1
3. WRDW News 12, “Emanuel County agrees to pay $650K settlement over fire fees,” October 5, 2026. https://www.wrdw.com/2026/10/05/emanuel-county-agrees-pay-650k-settlement-over-fire-fees/
4. Unopposed Motion for Preliminary Approval with exhibits, filed August 27, 2025 (case number 25CV00072). https://www.emanuelco-ga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1341/DRT-v-Emanuel-Unopposed-Motion-for-Prelim-App-clean-8272025-with-exhibits-E-C42Q2USD-ACCEPTED