Alabama follows the reasonable-compensation standard for trusteesAla. Code § 19-3B-708Verified Sep 18, 2026View source. A court decides what is reasonable case by case, on the trust's size, its complexity and the trustee's actual work. A family-member trustee often waives the fee. A professional trustee (a bank, a trust company, an attorney) typically charges 0.5% to 1.5% of trust assets a year, and a corporate fiduciary applies an annual minimum. The Alabama trustee compensation calculator breaks it down by trust situation.
Trust administration in Alabama is typically faster than probate because a trust needs no court supervision. The trustee can shorten the creditor-claim window to 3 monthsAla. Code § 19-3B-505(b)(2)-(3): trustee "may" give notice triggering a 90-day claims bar (elective); absent notice the default 6-month presentment period from PR appointment / date of death governs. Verified 2026-06-19.Verified Jul 15, 2026View source by publishing Alabama's optional notice; otherwise the general 6 monthsAla. Code § 19-3B-505(b)(2)-(3): trustee "may" give notice triggering a 90-day claims bar (elective); absent notice the default 6-month presentment period from PR appointment / date of death governs. Verified 2026-06-19.Verified Jul 15, 2026View source period governs before final distributions are safe. A simple trust often wraps up in six to nine months; a trust holding a business interest, real property in more than one state, or one that files an estate tax return takes longer. The Alabama trust settlement plan carries the full process.
Estate planning attorneys in Alabama average $278Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jul 1, 2026View source an hour for wills and estates work. A flat-fee package runs $834Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jul 1, 2026View source to $1,668Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jul 1, 2026View source for a simple individual will and $3,840Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jul 1, 2026View source to $5,760Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jul 1, 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.
55 trust administration 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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55 firms
FirmMontgomery, AL
Montgomery firm handling probate and estate administration for area families, including validation of wills, will contests, and estate planning documents. Serves Montgomery and Prattville.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmMontgomery, AL
Major regional law firm with a dedicated estate planning and trusts practice. Handles estate and tax planning, estate and trust administration, litigation, and special needs planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigation
FirmBirmingham, AL
Birmingham probate lawyer helps individuals and families manage the estate administration process with care and efficiency.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmPhenix City, AL
Three-generation family law firm serving Phenix City and the Lee-Russell area. Nearly 70 years of combined legal experience in estate planning, probate, elder law, and guardianship/conservatorship matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawGuardianship
Solo PracticeAuburn, AL
Auburn-based estate planning practice focused on wills, trusts, business succession planning, and estate administration.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateBusiness Succession
FirmDothan, AL
Dothan law firm providing estate planning, will drafting, trusts, probate of wills, and powers of attorney services to Southeast Alabama families.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmMontgomery, AL
Serves Montgomery, Autauga, and Elmore counties, with offices in Auburn and Tuscaloosa. Handles estate and trust administration, probate, guardianships and conservatorships, and estate tax planning. Eight attorneys hold advanced taxation degrees and one is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
Solo PracticeVestavia Hills, AL
Vestavia Hills solo practice serving Jefferson and Shelby counties and the greater Birmingham area. Handles estate administration, probate, wills, and trusts. Offers a free initial consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianship
FirmEnterprise, AL
Estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, and mediation services serving Enterprise and Coffee County. Virtual consultations available.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmPrattville, AL
Wills, trusts, estates, and probate administration serving the Tri-County Area. Over 20 collective years of experience.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationGuardianship
Solo PracticeTuscaloosa, AL
Serves Tuscaloosa County from Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. Handles wills, living trusts, probate, and estate administration, with estate planning as the sole focus of the practice. Offers a free 15-minute consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planning
FirmTuscaloosa, AL
Tuscaloosa firm serving West Alabama families and businesses for over 25 years with estate planning, probate, elder law, and corporate taxation. Founding partner Joel F. Dorroh is a past president of the Tuscaloosa Estate Planning Council.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawTax Planning
FirmMobile, AL
Mobile estate and trust practice focused on revocable living trusts, wills, probate administration, special needs trusts, and corporate entity formation for Alabama and Southern Mississippi clients.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateSpecial Needs
FirmBirmingham, AL
Probate and estate planning services in Birmingham. Over 30 years combined experience specializing in trust and estate administration, will contests, and probate litigation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigation
Solo PracticeBirmingham, AL
Estates opened in 47 Alabama counties. Provides estate planning, probate and estate administration, estate and trust litigation, guardianships and conservatorships, and elder law services.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawGuardianship
Solo PracticeMobile, AL
Focused exclusively on probate-related matters. Assists individuals and families in all stages of probate and trust administration in Mobile and Baldwin County.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianship
FirmSelma, AL
Established Selma law firm continuously representing clients since 1923. Practices trusts, estate planning, probate, tax law, and civil practice. Distinguished peer review rating.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planning
FirmDecatur, AL
Decatur law firm providing wills, probate, trusts and estates, estate administration, and probate litigation services. Serves Decatur, Hartselle, and all of Northern Alabama.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigation
FirmBirmingham, AL
Serving Alabama since 2005. Jefferson County probate lawyers and estate planning attorneys dedicated to giving clients peace of mind and expert legal support.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmFlorence, AL
Florence firm practicing elder law, probate, Medicaid applications, estate planning, trusts for disabled children, guardianships and conservatorships, and long-term care planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawGuardianship
Free Alabama forms and tools to get started.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Transfer assets to your existing trust. State execution requirements included.
Find out what's fair compensation for serving as trustee. Compare family, professional, and corporate trustee rates based on your situation.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
See which federal and state tax returns need to be filed after a death. Check income tax, estate tax, and fiduciary return requirements with deadlines, form links, and tax clearance rules.
Estimate the stepped-up basis on inherited stock, real estate, or business interests. Project federal and state capital gains tax with vs. without the step-up to see how much it saves at sale.