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Alabama estate planning
Home→States→Alabama

Alabama Estate Planning: Free Wills, Forms & Calculators

Heart of Dixie

Download FREE Alabama estate planning forms including Last Will and Testament, Pour-Over Will, Financial Power of Attorney, and Healthcare Proxy. Understand Alabama's estate laws and probate process.

What Makes Alabama Different

Like all states, Alabama recognizes formally executed wills and living trusts as valid estate planning tools. A standard will here requires 2 adult witnesses, and adding a notarized self-proving affidavit can streamline the probate process later.

If you die without a will in Alabama, your heirs must survive you by at least 5 days to inherit anything. This "survival period" exists to prevent property from passing through multiple estates in quick succession when family members die close together in time, such as in an accident. The amount a surviving spouse inherits without a will depends on whether your parents are still alive. If they are, your spouse may have to share the estate with them—a result that surprises many people and underscores why having a will matters.

Unlike states with formal independent administration statutes (such as California and Texas), Alabama doesn't offer a simplified procedure for executors to petition for reduced court oversight. However, executors typically have statutory authority to manage routine estate matters. For families looking to avoid probate court involvement entirely, a revocable living trust remains the most reliable option.

Find Your County's Probate Court

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Each county in Alabama handles probate matters through its local court system. Click on any county to view specific court contact information, judges, filing procedures, and local requirements.

Alabama Estate Law

Probate costs, will requirements, trust laws, and more. Compare with other states.

Explore

Alabama Estate Planning Forms

Pick what's right for you. Free for Alabama.

$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Free

Last Will and Testament

Name your heirs, guardians, and final wishes. Free for every state.

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Free

Pour-Over Will

Catch anything outside your trust. Pairs with your revocable trust.

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Free

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Name someone to make medical decisions if you can't.

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Free

Financial Power of Attorney

Name someone to manage your finances if you can't.

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Alabama Tools & Calculators

Run the numbers for Alabama for free.

How Much Does Probate Cost in Alabama?

Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.

Use Calculator

How Much Can an Executor Charge in Alabama?

Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.

Use Calculator

Who Inherits Without a Will in Alabama?

Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.

Use Calculator

What's Fair Trustee Compensation in Alabama?

Find out what's fair compensation for serving as trustee. Compare family, professional, and corporate trustee rates based on your situation.

Use Calculator

How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes in Alabama?

Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.

Use Calculator

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Alabama?

Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.

Use Calculator

Do I Need Probate in Alabama?

Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.

Check Now

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost in Alabama?

See the true cost of estate planning. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys including life events like marriage, divorce, and having children.

Compare Costs

How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost in Alabama?

Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.

Compare Costs

How Much Does a Will Cost in Alabama?

Compare the cost of creating a will. See document costs plus probate fees your heirs will pay. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys.

Compare Costs

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need in Alabama?

Calculate how much life insurance coverage you need. Accounts for income replacement, debt payoff, college funding, and state-specific factors like cost of living and estate taxes.

Use Calculator

I'm Inheriting - What Should I Expect in Alabama?

Find out what to expect when inheriting money, property, or other assets. See timeline estimates, inheritance tax implications, and understand what the executor or trustee is handling behind the scenes.

Learn More

Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected in Alabama?

See how your state handles beneficiary designations after divorce, inherited IRA creditor protection, and spousal consent requirements for retirement accounts.

Check Now

What Are the Estate Laws in My State in Alabama?

Understand your state's estate planning landscape. See will execution requirements, probate procedures, trust administration rules, and what happens if you die without a plan.

Check Your State

How Do Trust Laws Differ Between States in Alabama?

See side-by-side differences in trust execution requirements, remote notarization, transfer-on-death deeds, and administration rules. Calculate settlement costs for each state.

Compare States

How Do I Sign Estate Documents in Alabama?

Understand what you need to execute your estate planning documents. Check witness requirements, notarization rules, and whether you can sign remotely via video call (RON).

Check Requirements

Will My Estate Documents Transfer in Alabama?

Moving states? Find out if your will, trust, healthcare proxy, or power of attorney will be recognized in your new state. See the legal basis for interstate recognition and any potential issues.

Check Portability

Do I Need a Revocable Trust in Alabama?

Answer questions about your estate size, real estate, family situation, and privacy preferences to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone.

Take the Quiz

Can I Self-File Probate in Alabama?

Get a score-based recommendation on whether self-filing probate is right for your situation. See estimated savings vs. hiring an attorney and get a step-by-step checklist.

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Do I Need a Trust or Will in Alabama?

Compare trusts vs wills for your specific situation. See probate costs, trust administration expenses, and whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures based on your state and estate value.

Compare Options

How Do I Settle an Estate in Alabama?

Get a personalized checklist for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.

Get Checklist

What Are My Duties as Trustee in Alabama?

Step-by-step guide for successor trustees administering a trust. Understand your duties, notification deadlines, and asset management responsibilities.

Get Checklist

What Are My Duties as Executor in Alabama?

Complete guide for executors and personal representatives navigating probate. Court filings, creditor claims, and distribution timelines.

Get Checklist

Alabama Estate Attorneys

Find estate planning attorneys in Alabama by practice area.

Alabama Estate Planning Attorneys

41 firms

Alabama Estate Administration Attorneys

41 firms

Alabama Trust Administration Attorneys

34 firms

Alabama Elder Law Attorneys

5 firms

Alabama Tax Planning Attorneys

4 firms

Alabama Guardianship Attorneys

9 firms

Financial Institutions in Alabama

Banks, brokerages, and credit unions serving Alabama.

Ameris Bank

Ameris Bank logo

Bank serving the Southeast and Northeast

Ameris Bank

Auto-Owners Life

Auto-Owners Life logo

Insurance Company serving the Midwest, Southeast, and more

Auto-Owners Life

Bank of Hope

Bank of Hope logo

Bank serving the Southeast, West, and more

Bank of Hope

Cadence Bank

Cadence Bank logo

Bank serving the Southeast and Southwest

Cadence Bank

COUNTRY Financial

COUNTRY Financial logo

Insurance Company serving the Midwest, West, and more

COUNTRY Financial

First Horizon

First Horizon logo

Bank serving the Southeast, Northeast, and more

First Horizon

Hancock Whitney

Hancock Whitney logo

Bank serving the Southeast and Southwest

Hancock Whitney

Huntington

Huntington logo

Bank serving the Southeast, Midwest, and more

Huntington

Keesler Federal

Keesler Federal logo

Credit Union serving Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama

Keesler Federal

Origin

Origin logo

Bank serving the Southeast and Southwest

Origin

Pinnacle Bank

Pinnacle Bank logo

Bank serving the Southeast and Northeast

Pinnacle Bank

Redstone FCU

Redstone FCU logo

Credit Union serving Alabama and Tennessee

Redstone FCU

Regions

Regions logo

Bank serving the Southeast, Midwest, and more

Regions

Renasant Bank

Renasant Bank logo

Bank serving the Southeast

Renasant Bank

ServisFirst

S

Bank serving the Southeast

ServisFirst

SouthState Bank

SouthState Bank logo

Bank serving the Southeast, West, and more

SouthState Bank

Alabama Estate Planning Articles

Discover Alabama's probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning regulations specific to Alabama residents.

Cost of Probate in Alabama: Complete Guide to Expenses

Cost of Probate in Alabama: Complete Guide to Expenses

Alabama probate costs typically range from 2 to 8 percent of the total estate value.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 11, 2026
Revocable Trusts in Alabama Versus Nevada

Revocable Trusts in Alabama Versus Nevada

Discover why there’s no estate tax in Alabama and how it impacts estate planning decisions for those who live or own property there.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialDecember 16, 2025
Why There’s No Inheritance Tax in Alabama

Why There’s No Inheritance Tax in Alabama

Discover why there’s no inheritance tax in Alabama and how it impacts estate planning decisions for those who live or own property there.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialDecember 15, 2025
Why There’s No Estate Tax in Alabama

Why There’s No Estate Tax in Alabama

Discover why there’s no estate tax in Alabama and how it impacts estate planning decisions for those who live or own property there.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialDecember 12, 2025