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.
Probate in Shelby County
Probate Court Record
Shelby County Probate Court
Shelby County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
112 North Main Street, Room A101, Columbiana, AL 35051
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
How to file probate in Shelby County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Shelby County? →Settling an estate in Shelby County →
Probate Firms Serving Shelby County
Moody firm, established in 1980, serving St. Clair, Jefferson and Shelby counties from the Leeds-Moody-Odenville area. Assists spouses, children and other heirs after a death in probating wills and administering estates through the probate court, and prepares wills, trusts and powers of attorney.
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.
Birmingham firm on 21st Way South with a second office in Gardendale, serving the Birmingham metro area. Its attorneys represent personal representatives in probate and estate administration, represent fiduciaries and family members in will contests and other estate-related probate litigation, and draft wills and powers of attorney.
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.
Downtown Enterprise practice near the Coffee County Courthouse, Enterprise Division, working primarily in Coffee County. Ashley Cranford Marshall handles estate and probate work, will drafting and guardian nominations for children, including for military families, and also mediates. Virtual consultations are available.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Alabama
Free Alabama forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Alabama.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Last Will and Testament
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.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Alabama
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Alabama: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Alabama.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
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%Modeled estimate under Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.5%Modeled estimate under Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Alabama: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 daysAla. Code §§ 43-2-835, 43-2-836Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsAla. Code §§ 43-2-60, 43-2-61, 43-2-350, 43-2-354, 43-2-371Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 12 months.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Alabama pays executors reasonable compensationAla. Code § 43-2-848 (reasonable compensation capped at 2.5% of property received/controlled + 2.5% of disbursements; court may award more for extraordinary services)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
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Do I Need Probate?
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.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Alabama, creditors have 6 monthsAla. Code § 43-2-350Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from the personal representative's appointment to present claims; late claims are barred.
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Can I Self-File Probate?
In Alabama, informal probate is not availableAla. Code §§ 43-2-20, 43-2-40 (letters granted by the probate court; Alabama has no registrar/informal-appointment track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
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