Charter Funeral Home is on Highway 31 in Calera, in Shelby County, in the Saginaw community between Alabaster and Calera. It states it provides burial and cremation services with an on-site crematory, and runs the Charter Cremation Society, established in 1994, for preplanning. Its site states the home was established in May 1997.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Shelby County, Alabama
How probate works in Shelby County: the Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Shelby County Probate Court
Shelby County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
112 North Main Street, Room A101, Columbiana, AL 35051
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
E-filing
OptionalAttorneys e-file through the court's Benchmark Web system at judicial.shelbyal.com/Web after requesting an account from the court. Filing fees on a new case are paid by credit or debit card with a processing fee, and no fee may be waived on an e-filed case. On paper: Original wills and codicils; Original letters and orders from the court of origin in an ancillary estate; Surety bonds; Documents filed under seal; Exhibits offered at a hearing or trial; Summons for service by publication; Guardian ad litem reports.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe probate office cannot give legal advice or provide estate forms. The Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service is at 1-800-392-5660.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCredit card.Card payments on judicial filings carry a processing fee: 5.0% or $4.99 minimum online, 3.5% or $2.99 minimum at the counter.
P.O. Box 825
Columbiana, AL 35051
Departments
- Judicial1-205-670-5210 · Room A101
- Recording1-205-670-5220 · Room A401
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Shelby County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Shelby County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 112 North Main Street, Room A101, Columbiana.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Alabama intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Alabama estates take 12 months to 18 months to move through this process. 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 a claim, counted from the opening of the estate.
What Probate Costs in Shelby County
What probate costs in Shelby County, Alabama comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Probate Court at 112 North Main Street, Room A101, Columbiana.
The Probate Court charges $45Ala. Code § 12-19-90(a)(1); Ala. Code § 12-19-90(a)(2)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Alabama are negotiated, typically 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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Alabama allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payAla. 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. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Alabama requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under Ala. Code § 43-2-851Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Alabama typically runs 12 months to 18 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Probate Court
Probate documents in Shelby County can be filed in person at the Probate Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Judicial and Recording.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
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.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Shelby County Self-Filing Assessment.
What to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Probate Court: Sworn (verified) petition for letters / for probate of will, stating the decedent, domicile, date of death, heirs/devisees, and the estimated value of the estate; Original will and any codicils (testate estates), to be admitted to probate before letters testamentary issueAla. Code §§ 43-2-20 to 43-2-27 (letters testamentary); §§ 43-2-40 to 43-2-48 (letters of administration); § 43-2-851 (bond)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Shelby County
In Alabama a death is registered locally, and in Shelby County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Shelby County Health Department as well as by Alabama Department of Public Health - Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Shelby County · Shelby County Health Department
Phone
Hours
7:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
2000 County Services Drive, Pelham, AL 35124
Website
Certified copies
At the counter, issued while you wait
P.O. Box 846
Pelham, AL 35124
Fax
1-205-664-4148
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $15 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $6 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Shelby County · Shelby County Coroner's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
108 West College Street, Butch Ellis Building, Room 107, Columbiana, AL 35051
Website
Release of remains
1-205-669-4181 · After hours
Cremation authorization
Signed by this office
Mail and offices
P.O. Box 1321
Columbiana, AL 35051
Fax
1-205-669-3886
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Shelby County
8 funeral homes and crematories in Shelby County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
Westside Funeral Home's Calera location is on Highway 31 in Calera, in Shelby County, and was the operator's first location; the home says it has served since 1986. Its services list includes cremation through an outside crematory, applying for veterans' benefits, and transfer from a place of death anywhere in the world.
Bolton Funeral Home is on Highway 47 South in Columbiana. Its history page traces the home to 1950, when Walton Funeral Home, the first freestanding funeral home in Columbiana, was purchased and renamed, and its staff page names a caretaker for Pinelawn Gardens cemetery.
Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens is on John Hawkins Parkway in Hoover, with the funeral home and the Jefferson Memorial Gardens South cemetery on the same property. The cemetery was established in 1959 and offers ground burial, a community mausoleum, niches for cremation and a Field of Honor for veterans and their spouses.
W.E. Lusain Funeral Home has a Hoover location on Lorna Road in Riverchase near the Cahaba River, and the home has a second location on Goldwire Way SW in Birmingham. The site states the home has an on-site crematory and that the Hoover location keeps weekday morning hours.
Rockco Funeral Home is on Highway 25 South in Montevallo and states it frequently provides services at Alabama National Cemetery, less than 4 miles away. Its chapel seats up to 200 guests, families can plan ahead in person or virtually, and it is part of the Dignity Memorial network.
Funeral homes by city: Calera, Columbiana, Hoover, Montevallo, Pelham
Cremation Services in Shelby County
3 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Shelby County
4 listings
Burial Services in Shelby County
3 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Shelby County
3 listings
Funeral Transport in Shelby County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Shelby County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Judge of Probate.
Deeds and other real property documents for Shelby County are recorded with the Judge of Probate at 112 North Main Street, Room A401, Columbiana, AL 35051. Phone: 1-205-670-5220. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 825, Columbiana, AL 35051.
The Judge of Probate charges $22 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Shelby County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC and ePN.
Recording Office Record
Judge of Probate
Shelby County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
112 North Main Street, Room A401, Columbiana, AL 35051
Website
E-recording
P.O. Box 825
Columbiana, AL 35051
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $22 |
| Each additional page | $3 |
Ala. Code 12-19-90(b)(22), (b)(24); Ala. Code 40-22-1(c); Shelby County Probate Court published recording fees
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Shelby County
Alabama allows independent administrationAla. Code § 43-2-834Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so the personal representative manages, pays and distributes the estate without returning to the court for approval at each step. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Alabama are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Shelby County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Vestavia Hills practice representing clients in Birmingham, Jefferson County and Shelby County. Daniel H. Chambers takes personal representatives through Alabama estate administration, from appointment and the inventory to creditor claims and distribution, and also handles wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships and special needs planning.
Moody firm, established in 1980, serving St. Clair, Jefferson and Shelby counties from the Leeds-Moody-Odenville area. Assists spouses, children and other heirs after a death in probating wills and administering estates through the probate court, and prepares wills, trusts and powers of attorney.
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.
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.
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.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
(10)·
- Ala. Code § 12-19-90(a)(1); Ala. Code § 12-19-90(a)(2)
- Ala. Code § 43-2-834
- Ala. 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)
- Ala. Code §§ 43-2-20 to 43-2-27 (letters testamentary); §§ 43-2-40 to 43-2-48 (letters of administration); § 43-2-851 (bond)
- Ala. Code §§ 43-2-20, 43-2-40 (letters granted by the probate court; Alabama has no registrar/informal-appointment track)
- Ala. Code §§ 43-2-60, 43-2-61, 43-2-350, 43-2-354, 43-2-371
- Ala. Code 12-19-90(b)(22), (b)(24); Ala. Code 40-22-1(c); Shelby County Probate Court published recording fees
- Shelby County Probate Court, official page
- Shelby County Judge of Probate, official page
- Shelby County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Alabama statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Alabama
Free tools for settling an estate in Alabama: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Alabama.
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.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Alabama happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeAla. Code § 19-3B-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysAla. Code §§ 19-3B-813, 19-3B-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
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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