Jackson County
Probate Court

Handled by

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.

County building

Jackson County Courthouse In Scottsboro, AL — street address not tagged in OpenStreetMap. OpenStreetMap · view the map entry

Phone

No phone number published in an open source. Use the county website's contact page — we don't list numbers we can't source.

Opening hours

Not published in an open source. Check the court or county website before you go.

County website

jacksoncountyal.govWikidata

State courts & e-filing

judicial.alabama.govCase search: Alabama Judicial System AlaFile / JustiData

1. 01

   Secure the original will

   Find the original signed will and order certified death certificates. Alabama deadline: Will must be offered for probate within 5 years of death (Ala. Code § 43-8-161).

2. 02

   Pick the right track

   If the probate estate is under $47,000, a small-estate procedure (Ala. Code § 43-2-690 et seq. (esp. § 43-2-692), as amended by 2025 HB164) may avoid full administration.

3. 03

   Petition the court

   File the petition with the Probate Court (County Judge of Probate) for Jackson County. The court appoints the executor or administrator and issues letters.

4. 04

   Inventory the estate

   Open an estate bank account (the IRS issues the EIN), list assets at date-of-death values and file the inventory if the court requires it.

5. 05

   Notify creditors

   Publish or send notice to creditors. Window: 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.

6. 06

   Account and distribute

   Pay debts, taxes and fees (Ala. Code § 43-2-848 & § 43-2-680), file the final account if required, distribute to heirs and ask to close the estate.

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 · wait 30 days

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 · estimate the fee

Handwritten wills

Not recognized without witnesses. Alabama does NOT recognize unwitnessed handwritten (holographic) wills unless executed in another state that permits them under choice of law.

Estate tax

No state estate tax.Alabama imposes no state estate tax (repealed following federal pick-up tax elimination).

Inheritance tax

No.No state inheritance tax in Alabama.

Typical duration

6 to 12 monthsA lawyer is not required by statute, though most formal estates use one.

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