Free Alabama forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
In Alabama, a will is signed before 2Ala. Code § 43-8-131Verified Sep 15, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyAla. Code § 43-8-131Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Alabama requires 2Ala. Code § 22-8A-4(h)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredAla. Code § 22-8A-4(h)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
Alabama treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultAla. Code § 26-1A-101 et seq. (esp. §§ 26-1A-104, -105, -106, -107, -109, -113, -119, -201, -217, -301); § 26-1-1 (age of majority); § 35-4-28 (recording); §§ 19-1A-9, -10 (digital assets)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirementAla. Code § 26-1A-101 et seq. (esp. §§ 26-1A-104, -105, -106, -107, -109, -113, -119, -201, -217, -301); § 26-1-1 (age of majority); § 35-4-28 (recording); §§ 19-1A-9, -10 (digital assets)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source.
In Alabama, a pour-over will is signed before 2Ala. Code § 43-8-131Verified Sep 15, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Alabama: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
In Alabama, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 1.6%Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.5%Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
Probate in Alabama takes 6 months to 12 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 1.6%Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.5%Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Alabama runs $3,840Estimate: 10 hours at $384, Clio's Alabama Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,760Estimate: 15 hours at $384, Clio's Alabama Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $834Estimate: 3 hours at $278, Clio's Alabama Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $1,668Estimate: 6 hours at $278, Clio's Alabama Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Alabama costs an estimated $23,489Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 1.6%Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.5%Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
Alabama automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceAla. Code § 30-4-17Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Alabama costs an estimated $23,489Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 6 months to 12 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 1.6%Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.5%Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $47,000Ala. Code § 43-2-696.02Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
70 estate planning firms in Alabama, by county and firm type.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
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70 firms
FirmHaleyville, AL
Haleyville and Hamilton firm serving Northwest Alabama since 1971. Handles probate administration and represents executors and families, along with trust administration, wills, living and testamentary trusts, powers of attorney and advance directives.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
Solo PracticeOrange Beach, AL
Orange Beach estate planning and probate firm with Foley, Spanish Fort and Fairhope offices in Baldwin County. Helps executors and personal representatives probate a will, administer intestate estates, use summary distribution for a small estate, open an estate bank account, pay debts and taxes, and handle ancillary probate. Also handles trust administration, guardianship and Medicaid planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
Solo PracticeDothan, AL
Dothan solo practice half a block from the Houston County Courthouse, serving the Wiregrass counties of southeast Alabama. Probates wills, administers decedents' estates and trusts, and establishes guardianships and conservatorships, with trial experience in will contests, alongside wills, living trusts and estate and gift tax planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more
FirmHuntsville, AL
Huntsville firm on Northside Square, in practice since 1937, serving estate clients in Madison, Marshall, Morgan and Limestone counties. Takes estates through probate, inventorying assets, obtaining appraisals and settling debts, and litigates will and trust contests, disputes over an executor's performance and contested guardianships. A partner has served as Madison County Conservator since 2001.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 2 more
Solo PracticeOpelika, AL
Opelika solo practice serving Lee County and nearby Phenix City, Tuskegee, Tallassee and Valley. Assists with probate and estate administration in the Lee County Probate Court, from filing the will and petition through notifying creditors and inventorying assets, along with wills, revocable, irrevocable and special needs trusts, and estate tax planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax Planning
FirmMontgomery, AL
Montgomery firm serving Central Alabama clients for over 40 years. Administers probate estates and trust estates with a team approach that works alongside the personal representative or trustee and an accountant, and drafts wills, trusts, living wills and powers of attorney with estate tax planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planning
FirmAnniston, AL
Father-son firm on Leighton Avenue in Anniston, with a second office in Birmingham, serving Calhoun County, Gadsden and Northeast Alabama. Guides families after a death through probate and estate administration, from the petition to open the estate and the inventory to creditor claims and distribution to heirs, alongside wills, trusts and Medicaid planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawMedicaid Planning
Solo PracticeAlexander City, AL
Alexander City solo practice on Lee Street serving Tallapoosa County and surrounding counties since 1981. Handles wills and estate planning, probate of wills and estates, and the title and real property work that often follows an estate.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
Solo PracticeMontgomery, AL
Montgomery practice founded in 2016 by Nika Gholston, offering estate planning in Alabama and Georgia. Handles estate and trust administration, wills and trusts, long-term care and Medicaid eligibility planning, and guardianship matters, with virtual or in-person meetings.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more
Solo PracticeOneonta, AL
Oneonta practice of Brandon Neal, located directly across the street from the Blount County Courthouse. Handles probate and estate matters, wills, deeds, powers of attorney, and guardianship and conservatorship for family members, with in-person or phone consultations.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianship
FirmScottsboro, AL
Scottsboro firm in the Rossen Building on the Jackson County Courthouse Square, serving Jackson, Madison, DeKalb, and Marshall counties. Guides executors through probate in the Alabama Probate Court, from filing the will to valuing assets, paying debts, and locating beneficiaries, and represents beneficiaries and executors in will contests and estate disputes.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 5 more
Solo PracticeGreenville, AL
Greenville general practice serving Butler County, with nearly 100 years of service across three generations of the Poole family; Calvin Poole III has practiced here since 1980. Handles probate of wills and estate administration, will drafting, powers of attorney, and the deeds and titles that follow an estate.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
FirmDothan, AL
Dothan general practice firm formed in 2006, with a second office on West Court Square in Abbeville. Handles probate law and litigation, estate planning and administration, and the real estate closings and deeds that often follow an estate.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate Litigation
FirmSylacauga, AL
Sylacauga general civil practice on North Norton Avenue, serving the Talladega, Clay, and Coosa County area since 1975. Barry D. Vaughn handles probate, wills, and estate planning, along with the real estate work that often follows an estate.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
FirmAlexander City, AL
Alexander City firm on Court Square, founded in the late 1950s, serving Tallapoosa County and clients throughout Alabama. Assists in probate administration and estate litigation, including will contests, claims of executor breach of duty or undue influence, and heirs claiming an intestate estate, and prepares wills, trusts, and transfer on death deeds.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate Litigation
FirmGadsden, AL
Gadsden firm on Forrest Avenue serving Etowah County and Northeast Alabama since 1954. Assists named executors and estate administrators through the probate process and represents clients in will contests involving undue influence, and also prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate Litigation
FirmWetumpka, AL
Wetumpka elder law and estate planning firm serving Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery Counties in the River Region. Handles the probate of estates, trust administration, emergency guardianships and conservatorships, Medicaid planning and VA Aid and Attendance claims, with over 30 years of combined attorney experience.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more
Solo PracticeFlorence, AL
Florence practice serving the Shoals, led by attorney Nathan Ryan. Administers estates for named personal representatives and for families of people who left no will, defends wills against challenges, and brings trust and estate litigation against fraudulent wills and trust amendments. Offers a free consultation and virtual appointments.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
FirmOpelika, AL
Opelika firm serving Auburn, Opelika and Lee County since 1912, with clients throughout Alabama. Represents clients in Lee County Probate Court, Lee County Circuit Court and state courts across Alabama in estate administration, will contests, trust and estate matters, and guardianship or conservatorship proceedings.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTax Planningand 2 more
FirmHuntsville, AL
Downtown Huntsville firm whose probate work is mostly in the Madison County Probate Court, with estates also handled in Limestone, Morgan, Marshall and Jackson counties. Represents executors named in a will from the petition for letters testamentary through creditor notice, inventory and closing, and advises successor trustees through trust administration. Bills most work at set prices.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate