Estate planning attorneys in Alabama average $278Clio Compare Lawyer Rates, Alabama: Wills and Estates rate (2025 data)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source an hour for wills and estates work. A flat-fee package runs $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 for a simple individual will and $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 for a basic revocable trust. An online service prices the same documents in the tens to low hundreds of dollars; the Alabama will cost calculator sets the two side by side.
In Alabama, estates with personal property of $47,000Ala. Code § 43-2-696.02Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less qualify for the Summary DistributionAla. Code § 43-2-696.02Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysAla. Code § 43-2-696.02Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, a court procedure short of full probate. That route is a form rather than a court case, and most families handle it without an attorney. Above the line, formal probate generally benefits from counsel for the procedural work, even when nothing is contested. The Alabama probate calculator estimates the cost by estate value.
In Alabama, the situations where counsel is typically worth the cost are: a blended family with children from a prior relationship; a business, rental property or significant investment assets; a dependent with special needs, who needs a special-needs trust to keep benefits; substantial property in more than one state. Where none of these apply, an online or self-help document is often enough.
Filter the directory by county and by the practice area you need, and look for experience with your situation; a board certification in estate planning, trust or probate law is a strong signal. Most Alabama estate planning attorneys offer an initial consultation, some free and some for a flat fee. Ask up front whether the firm bills by the hour or by package, and what your situation is expected to cost.
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.
In Alabama, a will is signed before 2Ala. Code § 43-8-131Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyAla. Code § 43-8-131Verified Oct 18, 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.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Alabama: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
In Alabama, four years at a public university cost about $88,816NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is 11% below the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; no state estate or inheritance tax appliesNo state estate or inheritance tax. The Ala. Code Title 40, Ch. 15 estate tax (§ 40-15-2) is a federal-credit "pickup" tax — still codified, but levied "only ... to the extent of absorbing" the federal state death tax credit, so it has computed to $0 since Congress eliminated that credit. Alabama has no separate inheritance tax and no gift tax, and the Alabama Department of Revenue confirms estates with a date of death after Dec. 31, 2004 are not required to file.Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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.
Without a will in Alabama, a surviving spouse takes the first $50,000 plus half of the restAla. Code § 43-8-41Verified Sep 10, 2026View source when every child of either spouse is a child of both, and descendants divide what passes to them per capita with representationAla. Code § 43-8-45Verified Sep 10, 2026View source.
35 guardianship 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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35 firms
FirmGuntersville, AL
Guntersville firm founded in 1973 serving Marshall County and North Alabama families. Handles estate administration and estate litigation for executors and beneficiaries, conservatorships and guardianships, along with wills, trusts, powers of attorney and health care directives.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationConservatorshipGuardianship
FirmMontgomery, AL
Estate Planning & Trusts practice with attorneys in the Montgomery and Birmingham offices. Represents personal representatives, trustees and beneficiaries in probate and trust administrations, will contests and suits over the construction of wills and trusts, and estate and gift tax audits before the IRS.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
FirmPhenix City, AL
Phenix City firm serving Russell and Lee Counties since 1979, now in its third generation of Benton attorneys. Handles probate and the administration of estates, guardianships and conservatorships, and estate planning with wills, trusts, powers of attorney and advance directives.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawConservatorshipGuardianship
Solo PracticeAuburn, AL
Auburn practice of Anna F. Buckner, a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Handles probate, estate and trust administration, probate litigation, guardianships and conservatorships, and estate, special needs and business succession planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
FirmBirmingham, AL
Firm whose Dothan practice serves Houston County and the Wiregrass, with its office of record in Birmingham. Handles estate administration, probate of wills and intestate estates, guardianships, conservatorships and claims against trustees who mismanage trust funds, along with wills, trusts and powers of attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrust LitigationConservatorshipGuardianship
FirmMontgomery, AL
Montgomery firm founded in 1947 whose attorneys regularly appear before the Montgomery County Probate Court, with offices in Opelika and Tuscaloosa. Advises executors, trustees and beneficiaries in estate and trust administration, handles contested will, trust and estate matters, guardianships and conservatorships, and gift and estate tax matters before the IRS.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
Solo PracticeVestavia Hills, AL
Vestavia Hills practice representing clients in Birmingham, Jefferson County and Shelby County. Daniel H. Chambers takes personal representatives through Alabama estate administration, from appointment and the inventory to creditor claims and distribution, and also handles wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships and special needs planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planning
FirmPrattville, AL
Prattville firm with a second office on South Perry Street in Montgomery, serving clients in and around Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery counties. Its attorneys take executors through probate in the Alabama probate court, from filing the will and moving assets into the estate to paying debts and locating beneficiaries, and handle will disputes, guardianships, wills and living trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationGuardianship
FirmTuscaloosa, AL
Tuscaloosa firm founded by Joel F. Dorroh in 1996 as an estate planning and probate practice, serving clients throughout West Alabama. Its attorneys probate wills, administer estates where there is no will, handle will contests and property transfers through probate, give post-death tax planning for potentially taxable estates, and establish guardianships and conservatorships.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 4 more
FirmBirmingham, AL
Downtown Birmingham firm in the Renasant Bank Building, a short walk from the Jefferson County Courthouse, practicing mainly in Jefferson and Shelby counties with estates open in 47 Alabama counties. Lindsey Eastwood handles probate and estate administration and litigates will contests, undue influence claims, beneficiary designation disputes and fiduciary breaches by executors and trustees.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
FirmTuskegee, AL
Tuskegee firm on the downtown square with a second office in Montgomery. Its probate work covers wills, estate administrations and conservatorships, along with guardianships and estate planning. Founded in 1960 from Fred D. Gray's 1954 practice, the firm lists eight attorneys.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianship
FirmDecatur, AL
Decatur firm a short walk from the Morgan County Courthouse, serving Morgan, Limestone, Lawrence and Madison counties. Its attorneys advise personal representatives and trustees on probating wills, administering estates and trusts and estate tax, and handle will contests and creditor claims. One attorney is County Guardian and Conservator for Morgan County.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
FirmBirmingham, AL
Birmingham firm founded in 2007 that practices probate and estate planning statewide from offices in Birmingham, Chelsea, Huntsville and Montgomery. It opens, administers and closes estates with or without a will, including small estates by summary distribution, and administers trusts after a death. Probate phone consultations are free; in-person consultations are $100.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
FirmFlorence, AL
Florence elder law firm on East Tennessee Street. It handles wills, trusts and estates, estate administrations, guardianship and conservatorship petitions, Medicare and Medicaid advocacy, and trusts for disabled family members. Managing partner Troy A. Skipworth has practiced elder law since 2006.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawConservatorshipand 2 more
FirmDaphne, AL
Daphne firm on U.S. Highway 98 representing executors, beneficiaries and family members in probate, guardianship and conservatorship matters across Baldwin and Mobile counties. It handles will contests and disputes over executor conduct, accountings and creditor claims, along with trust administration. Consultations are held in Daphne or by Zoom.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more
FirmFlorence, AL
Downtown Florence firm representing clients across Northwest Alabama in probate and estate matters. Handles probate administration, probate litigation, conservatorships and guardianships, along with wills, durable powers of attorney and advance directives.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationConservatorshipGuardianship
FirmScottsboro, AL
Husband-and-wife firm with offices in Scottsboro and Birmingham, working in the Jackson, Jefferson and Shelby County probate courts. Guides personal representatives through probate and successor trustees through trust administration, alongside estate planning, special needs trusts, guardianships and conservatorships.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 6 more
Solo PracticeClanton, AL
Clanton practice serving Chilton County in probate court on estates, administrations and will contests, along with guardianships and conservatorships for minors and adults. Also prepares wills and forms trusts; attorney Joshua Inman serves as Municipal Attorney for the City of Clanton.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationConservatorshipGuardianship
FirmMobile, AL
Mobile firm in One St. Louis Centre, practicing since 1897 and serving Mobile and Baldwin counties. Its probate attorneys help executors identify and appraise estate assets, file court documents, pay debts and estate taxes, sell property and distribute assets to beneficiaries, and represent families when a will is contested. Its trust and estate attorneys hold advanced taxation degrees.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more
FirmAthens, AL
Athens firm, established in 2004, a block from the Limestone County courthouse. Handles estate administration under a will or Alabama intestacy, contested wills, trust administration and guardianship proceedings, along with wills, trusts and powers of attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationGuardianship