Birmingham firm handling probate in Jefferson County and across Alabama, including ancillary estates for property in other states. Guides personal representatives through asset valuation, creditor claims and distribution, represents successor trustees and beneficiaries in trust administration, and litigates will contests and fiduciary-duty disputes.
Probate in St. Clair County
Probate Court Record
St. Clair County Probate Court
St. Clair County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
165 5th Avenue, Suite 101, Ashville, AL 35953
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
How to file probate in St. Clair County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in St. Clair County? →Settling an estate in St. Clair County →
Probate Firms Serving St. Clair County
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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