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
Solo PracticeHuntsville, AL
Huntsville solo practice handling wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and probate administration for Madison County families. Also assists with estate administration and trust funding after a death.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmDaphne, AL
Over 50 years of experience preserving legacies and guiding clients through Alabama's probate process.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmFlorence, AL
Florence firm representing clients across Northwest Alabama with wills, durable powers of attorney, advance directives, conservatorships, guardianships, probate administration, and probate litigation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationGuardianship
FirmScottsboro, AL
Husband-wife estate planning and elder law team with offices in Scottsboro and Birmingham. Specializes in long-term care planning, VA benefits, special needs trusts, Medicaid guidance, and business succession planning. John Holliman is a 4th-generation attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more
Solo PracticeClanton, AL
Clanton-based practice handling estate planning, probate court matters, trust formation, guardianships, conservatorships, and adoptions. Attorney Inman also serves as Municipal Attorney for the City of Clanton.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianship
FirmGadsden, AL
Gadsden's oldest law firm with over 100 years in practice. Provides estate planning, wills, trusts, healthcare power of attorney, and probate court services.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Law
FirmMoody, AL
Established in 1980 with offices in Moody and Springville. Provides estate planning, wills, trusts, and probate administration to families throughout St. Clair, Jefferson, and Shelby counties.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianship
FirmCullman, AL
Wills, trusts, power of attorney, living wills, probate, and estate planning services in Cullman County. Same-day and walk-in appointments available.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmMobile, AL
Mobile estate planning firm serving Mobile and Baldwin counties since 1995. Practice covers wills, trusts, probate, special needs planning, long-term care planning, powers of attorney, elder law, and nursing home pre-planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
FirmHuntsville, AL
Serves Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley with ten estate planning attorneys. Handles estate probate and trust administration, business succession, and estate and gift tax matters. The largest firm in northern Alabama, with roots dating to 1899.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planning
FirmHaleyville, AL
Established in 1971 with offices in Haleyville and Hamilton. Drafts wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents for families throughout Northwest Alabama. AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmOrange Beach, AL
Boutique estate planning practice serving Baldwin County with four office locations. Specializes in estate planning, probate, elder law, asset protection, and Medicaid planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
Solo PracticeDothan, AL
Over three decades of experience serving southeast Alabama. Handles probate of wills, administration of estates, and estate planning including living trusts. Located half a block from the Houston County Courthouse.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmHuntsville, AL
Serves Madison County and north Alabama from Huntsville's Northside Square. Probate and estate administration team handles wills, trusts, conservatorships, and probate litigation. In continuous practice since 1937.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Law
Solo PracticeOpelika, AL
Solo estate planning practice serving the Auburn-Opelika-Tuskegee corridor including Macon County. Handles wills, revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, and probate administration.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmMontgomery, AL
Montgomery firm representing individuals and businesses across Central Alabama in estate planning, wills, trusts, probate administration, and tax planning. Personalized approach focused on minimizing future expenses and reducing tax liability.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planning
Solo PracticeMontgomery, AL
Serves Montgomery and the surrounding River Region counties from Dexter Avenue downtown. Handles wills, trusts, estate administration, long-term care planning, and asset protection. Over 20 years of experience, with virtual consultations available.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmScottsboro, AL
Serves Jackson, Madison, DeKalb, and Marshall counties from Scottsboro. Handles probate, estate and trust administration, executorship duties, guardianship and conservatorship, will disputes, and special needs trusts. Over 40 years in estates and trusts, with virtual consultations available.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
FirmSylacauga, AL
Sylacauga general civil practice firm with long-standing service to Talladega County. Handles wills, probate, estate planning, and real estate matters. Barry Vaughn was admitted to the Alabama bar in 1975.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigation
FirmAlexander City, AL
Alexander City law firm with over 60 years of continuous service to Tallapoosa County. Partners Jason Jackson and Thomas Radney handle estate planning, wills, trusts, probate administration, estate claims, and will contests from the county seat courthouse square.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
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.