What is your name?

Kelli Wolk

Tell us more about yourself.

I didn’t set out to be a judge. I also moved a lot when I was a kid. My mom was an accountant, my dad a social worker. Dealing with feelings and money has always come naturally to me. When I found my passion for probate law and my home in Cobb County, I was all in. I have tried throughout my legal career to demystify the court system. Not every case has to be combative. We can be compassionate and respectful of each other and the process. Legal proceedings must have a level of formality, but they need not be cold, scary or unkind. I love this job and hope you will allow me to serve this community for four more years.

What office are you running for?

Cobb County Probate Court Judge

What is your party affiliation?

Libertarian

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

- Kickapoo High School, 1984-1988 - Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University), 1988-1992 - Georgia State University College of Law, 1996-1999

Provide the link to your campaign website.

KelliWolkforProbateJudge.com

What is your job/occupation?

Cobb County Probate Court Judge

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

Williams Park in Smyrna

Is this your first time running for office?

No

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

I have held this office since 2009. I have worked in and with this office since 1999 and dedicated my professional legal career to probate litigation, estate planning and guardianship matters. I have an incredibly supportive network of probate judges, probate lawyers, first responders, law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, legislators and citizens around Georgia. Those relationships provide feedback on developing issues and concerns. We can then work collaboratively to address problems. The challenges we face change day to day. My dedication to probate, commitment to my relationships, and my knowledge have best prepared me.

What would be your top priority upon winning office?

Finalizing some ongoing projects, particularly implementing e-filing (which is currently scheduled to be public by January 1, 2025), arranging for adequate physical work space to assist the citizens of Cobb effectively, as well as continuing our unprecedented access to probate court records and information. I will also continue to improve our online resources, my leadership role in the Georgia Council of Probate Judges, and my extensive efforts to help with the legislative process as it relates to the probate courts of Georgia.

What actions would you take to enhance government transparency and trust in government?

This has been a focus of mine since before I took office. We were one of the first Georgia Probate Courts to provide online records access. Outdated computer systems made that clunky and difficult. Through Herculean efforts, we have successfully implemented a new case management system that provides the public with real time case status, hearings and records information. We will continue to work to improve interactions and visibility. We prioritize outreach through the Cobb Legal Aid Probate Clinic, Cobb's Strategic Intercept Mental Health Model, and ongoing efforts to educate and inform Cobb citizens about the court and our functions.

Do you believe Georgia elections are secure and what additional security measures can be taken?

My office, unlike some probate courts throughout Georgia, do not handle elections.

What is government's responsibility to ensure affordable housing?

This is not an area of my jurisdiction or anything that I handle in my official capacity, so I do not think it appropriate for me to comment here.

Do you believe public access to public records is sufficient in your jurisdiction and, if not, what steps do you support to remedy that?

I can only speak to the records handled by the probate court (which are many.) We work very hard to make all public records available online and in person. We also work hard to protect sealed records to protect the interests established by Georgia law. We try hard to balance the interests of privacy with the obvious concerns about transparency and information. This is why we have directed significant resources to complete the transition to a case management system that allows greater, timely information.