What to Do After a Death in Mobile County, Alabama
The first weeks after losing someone involve time-sensitive tasks. Here's what to prioritize and what can wait.
The weeks after a death in Mobile County come with urgent responsibilities. Securing the property and ordering death certificates are the first priorities, followed by contacting the Probate Court about whether probate is needed.
Death certificates are typically the first requirement—banks, insurance companies, and the Probate Court all require certified copies. You can often find ordering information through Mobile County vital records, though many families order extra copies during the initial filing to avoid delays later.
1. Order Death Certificates
Use this tool to figure out how many certified copies you need:
2. Estate Settlement Checklist
Keep track of what's done and what's next:
Once appointed as personal representative, Alabama law requires filing an inventory of estate assets with the Probate Court within 60 daysAla. Code §§ 43-2-310, 43-2-312Verified May 5, 2026. The inventory includes identifying and valuing all property owned at the time of death—real estate, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, and personal belongings.
Alabama requires publishing a notice to creditors in a local newspaper. Creditors then have 6 monthsAla. Code § 43-2-350Verified May 5, 2026 to file claims against the estate.
Your first priorities focus on securing the property and gathering essential documents. Start by collecting mail, protecting valuable items from loss or damage, and notifying Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to stop benefit payments—this prevents overpayments that you'd later have to repay.
Notify the deceased's banks and credit card issuers as soon as possible to freeze accounts and stop any recurring charges or unauthorized activity.
When you're ready to start the probate process, contact the Probate Court at 251-574-6000 to confirm what documents you'll need. You can file in person or by mail—families handling probate themselves don't need to use e-filing.
Submit life insurance claims as soon as you identify the policies. These payouts go directly to named beneficiaries outside of probate and are often available within weeks.
Many families handling estates through the Probate Court choose to hire an attorney, particularly when Probate Judge Hon. C. Mark Erwin must rule on complex asset valuations or resolve disputes among beneficiaries.
Expect attorney fees of 2%Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified May 5, 2026 to 4%Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)Verified May 5, 2026 of estate value in Alabama. For simple estates without disputes, many Mobile firms offer flat-fee alternatives.
Estates exceeding Alabama's estate tax filing thresholds, involving unfamiliar probate procedures, or raising concerns about executor liability are situations where professional guidance often proves valuable.
Legal Sources
- Ala. Code § 43-2-350
- Ala. Code § 43-2-682 (court fixes reasonable attorney fees at settlement)
- Ala. Code §§ 43-2-310, 43-2-312
Data sourced from Alabama statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before anything court-related, handle three things: get the doctor or coroner to sign the death certificate, secure the home and any valuables, and locate the will. Only then does probate planning make sense.
Plan on 8–12 certified copies. Each financial institution, title company, insurer, and the Mobile County probate court will ask for an original. Ordering too few is the most common delay families run into. Use the Alabama death certificate calculator for a personalized count.
Alabama does not set a strict filing deadline for opening probate, but delay has costs: the creditor claim period is 6 months, assets stay frozen until probate opens, and some banks refuse to act without letters. Most families file within 30–60 days.
Funeral homes typically report the death to Social Security. Bank and brokerage notifications are on the executor — accounts freeze on notification, so timing matters. The Alabama estate settlement checklist walks through the order.
Yes. A revocable living trust keeps the estate out of Mobile County probate entirely — no filing, no hearings, no public record. Families who plan ahead settle in weeks instead of months. Create a revocable trust online before the next generation has to go through what you're handling now.
Probate Court
Mobile County
151 Government Street
Mobile, AL 36602
Phone:
251-574-6000Fax:
251-574-6005
Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Paper Filing Available
E-Filing Optional
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
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