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Probate in Alabama · 67 counties

Alabama Probate Courts

Estates here go through the Probate Court (County Judge of Probate). Pick a county on the map or search below — each record shows where to file and where every detail comes from.

Small-estate limit
$47,000
Wait 30 days
Death taxes
None
No state death tax
Executor fee
≤ ~5%
Capped by statute
Handwritten wills
No
Witnesses required
Plate · AL

Every Alabama county, on one map

Population, low → high courthouse probate office checked
§ I

Alabama probate rules

Court
Probate Court (County Judge of Probate)In Alabama, probate matters are handled by the county Probate Court, presided over by an elected Judge of Probate. The Probate Court has primary jurisdiction over wills, administration of intestate estates, guardianships, and conservatorships.
Small estates
Approx. $47,000 (personal property only): sum of homestead, exempt-property and family allowances under Ala. Code §§ 43-8-110 to -113, CPI-adjusted per § 43-8-116; set by the Revised Alabama Small Estates Act (2025 HB164, eff. Oct 1, 2025). Court-supervised summary distribution, not a pure affidavit.Ala. Code § 43-2-690 et seq. (esp. § 43-2-692), as amended by 2025 HB164
Filing the will
Will must be offered for probate within 5 years of death (Ala. Code § 43-8-161)
Creditor claims
Later of 6 months after grant of letters or 5 months after first publication of notice; creditors entitled to actual notice get an extra 30 days after noticeAla. Code § 43-2-350
Executor fees
Discretionary up to 2.5% of receipts and 2.5% of disbursements (maximum 5% total commission)Ala. Code § 43-2-848 & § 43-2-680 · calculator
Estate tax
NoneAlabama imposes no state estate tax (repealed following federal pick-up tax elimination).
Inheritance tax
NoneNo state inheritance tax in Alabama.
Typical duration
6 to 12 months
Official courts site
judicial.alabama.govCase search: Alabama Judicial System AlaFile / JustiData

Re-checked Sept 2026 against: provident.law · alison.legislature.state.al.us (statute) · legiscan.com (statute) · law.justia.com (statute) · law.justia.com (statute)

Need help with an estate in Alabama?

Where to get help.

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  1. 01 Alabama courts — self-help & formsOfficial judiciary website: forms, filing rules and e-filing.
  2. 02 Legal aid directory — LawHelp.orgNonprofit directory of free and low-cost legal aid by state, including probate and estates.
  3. 03 Find a probate lawyer — American Bar AssociationState-by-state links to bar lawyer-referral services and pro bono programs.
§ II · Register

All 67 counties

Sorted by population. office checked = probate office address/phone confirmed on the court's own website. courthouse mapped = located in OpenStreetMap.

#CountySeatPopulationRecord
1 Jefferson County Birmingham 662,895 office checked
2 Madison County Huntsville 412,600 courthouse mapped
3 Mobile County Mobile 411,640 courthouse mapped
4 Baldwin County Bay Minette 253,507 courthouse mapped
5 Tuscaloosa County Tuscaloosa 237,373 courthouse mapped
6 Shelby County Columbiana 233,000 courthouse mapped
7 Montgomery County Montgomery 224,980 courthouse mapped
8 Lee County Opelika 183,215 courthouse mapped
9 Morgan County Decatur 125,133 courthouse mapped
10 Calhoun County Anniston 116,429 courthouse mapped
11 Limestone County Athens 114,654 courthouse mapped
12 Houston County Dothan 108,462 courthouse mapped
13 Etowah County Gadsden 103,241 courthouse mapped
14 Marshall County Guntersville 100,756 courthouse mapped
15 Lauderdale County Florence 96,814 courthouse mapped
16 St. Clair County Ashville and Pell City 95,552 courthouse mapped
17 Cullman County Cullman 92,016 courthouse mapped
18 Elmore County Wetumpka 90,441 courthouse mapped
19 Talladega County Talladega 81,132 courthouse mapped
20 DeKalb County Fort Payne 72,569 courthouse mapped
21 Walker County Jasper 64,728 courthouse mapped
22 Autauga County Prattville 60,342 courthouse mapped
23 Blount County Oneonta 59,816 courthouse mapped
24 Russell County Phenix 58,744 courthouse mapped
25 Colbert County Tuscumbia 58,361 courthouse mapped
26 Coffee County ElbaandEnterprise 55,643 courthouse mapped
27 Jackson County Scottsboro 53,467 courthouse mapped
28 Dale County Ozark 49,871 courthouse mapped
29 Chilton County Clanton 46,431 courthouse mapped
30 Tallapoosa County Dadeville 40,677 courthouse mapped
31 Covington County Andalusia 37,952 courthouse mapped
32 Escambia County Brewton 36,558 courthouse mapped
33 Dallas County Selma 36,165 courthouse mapped
34 Chambers County LaFayette 34,079 courthouse mapped
35 Lawrence County Moulton 33,502 courthouse mapped
36 Pike County Troy 33,137 county site
37 Franklin County Russellville 31,802 courthouse mapped
38 Marion County Hamilton 29,244 courthouse mapped
39 Geneva County Geneva 26,988 courthouse mapped
40 Cherokee County Centre 25,666 courthouse mapped
41 Barbour County Clayton 24,585 courthouse mapped
42 Winston County Double Springs 23,611 courthouse mapped
43 Randolph County Wedowee 22,786 county site
44 Clarke County Grove Hill 22,337 courthouse mapped
45 Bibb County Centreville 21,868 courthouse mapped
46 Monroe County Monroeville 19,229 courthouse mapped
47 Pickens County Carrollton 18,688 courthouse mapped
48 Marengo County Linden 18,684 courthouse mapped
49 Butler County Greenville 18,382 courthouse mapped
50 Macon County Tuskegee 18,370 courthouse mapped
51 Henry County Abbeville 17,899 courthouse mapped
52 Fayette County Fayette 15,967 courthouse mapped
53 Cleburne County Heflin 15,639 courthouse mapped
54 Washington County Chatom 15,022 courthouse mapped
55 Hale County Greensboro 14,888 courthouse mapped
56 Clay County Ashland 14,111 courthouse mapped
57 Lamar County Vernon 13,661 courthouse mapped
58 Crenshaw County Luverne 13,101 courthouse mapped
59 Choctaw County Butler 12,252 courthouse mapped
60 Sumter County Livingston 11,727 courthouse mapped
61 Conecuh County Evergreen 11,174 courthouse mapped
62 Coosa County Rockford 10,268 courthouse mapped
63 Wilcox County Camden 9,944 courthouse mapped
64 Bullock County Union Springs 9,897 courthouse mapped
65 Lowndes County Hayneville 9,717 courthouse mapped
66 Perry County Marion 7,738 courthouse mapped
67 Greene County Eutaw 7,341 courthouse mapped
§ III

Alabama probate questions

What is the small estate affidavit limit in Alabama?
Approx. $47,000 (personal property only): sum of homestead, exempt-property and family allowances under Ala. Code §§ 43-8-110 to -113, CPI-adjusted per § 43-8-116; set by the Revised Alabama Small Estates Act (2025 HB164, eff. Oct 1, 2025). Court-supervised summary distribution, not a pure affidavit. (Ala. Code § 43-2-690 et seq. (esp. § 43-2-692), as amended by 2025 HB164). It can be used 30 days after death. Applies only if decedent was a resident of Alabama, total personal property does not exceed statutory threshold (adjusted annually for inflation), no real estate is transferred via affidavit, and no petition for personal representative is pending.
How are executor and administrator fees calculated in Alabama?
Discretionary up to 2.5% of receipts and 2.5% of disbursements (maximum 5% total commission) (Ala. Code § 43-2-848 & § 43-2-680). Courts can award more for extraordinary services, such as running a business or litigation.
What is the creditor claim deadline for estates in Alabama?
Later of 6 months after grant of letters or 5 months after first publication of notice; creditors entitled to actual notice get an extra 30 days after notice (Ala. Code § 43-2-350). Claims filed after the deadline are generally barred.
Does Alabama recognize handwritten (holographic) wills?
No — witnesses are required. Alabama does NOT recognize unwitnessed handwritten (holographic) wills unless executed in another state that permits them under choice of law.
Does Alabama have a state estate tax or inheritance tax?
Alabama has no state estate tax. There is no inheritance tax.