Magnolia Chapel Funeral Homes in Northport is on Highway 69 North, one of two Magnolia Chapel locations; the other is on Old Greensboro Road in Tuscaloosa. The site serves both locations and posts their obituaries together.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
How probate works in Tuscaloosa County: the Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Tuscaloosa County Probate Court
Tuscaloosa County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
714 Greensboro Avenue, Room 121, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe probate court and its staff cannot give legal advice or provide forms.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Credit card, Check.Checks payable to Judge of Probate. American Express is not accepted.
P.O. Box 20067
Tuscaloosa, AL 35402
Departments
- Records and Recording1-205-464-8206 · recordingrequest@tuscco.com
- Mental Health1-205-464-8459 · mentalhealth@tuscco.com
About the court
- Probate Judge also serves as Chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Commission.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 714 Greensboro Avenue, Room 121, Tuscaloosa.
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 Tuscaloosa County
What probate costs in Tuscaloosa 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 714 Greensboro Avenue, Room 121, Tuscaloosa.
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 cases in Tuscaloosa County are filed at the Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Records and Recording and Mental Health.
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 Tuscaloosa County Self-Filing Assessment.
Tuscaloosa County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Administrations require a commercial bond of at least $20,000
An administration requires a commercial bond with a $20,000 minimum, an inventory within 60 days and an annual settlement. A summary distribution requires no bond.
SourceDocument Requirements
The original will is required and stays with the court
A will or summary distribution filing requires the original will, which remains with the court; a lost original is replaced by a copy accompanied by proof of the will. Consents from all next of kin are also required.
SourceWhat 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 Tuscaloosa County
In Alabama a death is registered locally, and in Tuscaloosa County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Tuscaloosa County Health Department as well as by Alabama Department of Public Health - Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Tuscaloosa County · Tuscaloosa County Health Department
Phone
Hours
8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
2350 Hargrove Road East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Website
Certified copies
At the counter, issued while you wait
Fax
1-205-556-2701
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
Tuscaloosa County · Tuscaloosa County Coroner
Phone
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Tuscaloosa County
13 funeral homes and crematories in Tuscaloosa County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
Northport Funeral & Cremation Service is on Watermelon Road in Northport, in Tuscaloosa County, with a second location in Reform. Family owned and operated, it plans traditional funeral services and cremation; its Spanish page states it now serves Hispanic families in Spanish, including repatriation to their home country. The site states the establishment has an onsite crematory.
The crematory of Northport Funeral & Cremation Service on Watermelon Road in Northport, in Tuscaloosa County. The site states "This Establishment Has an Onsite Crematory" and that the home plans a traditional funeral service or cremation.
Sunset Brown-Service Funeral Home is a Dignity Memorial funeral home on Watermelon Road in Northport, beside Sunset Brown-Service Memorial Park; the site states the cemetery opened in 1973 and the funeral home in 1976. The cemetery grounds include a chapel mausoleum, a veterans garden and a private estate section.
Wills' Funeral Service is on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Northport, in Tuscaloosa County, and states it was established in July 1993 and is family owned and operated. Its building has a 500-seat chapel and four viewing parlors, and it lists nationwide and international shipping and receiving.
Heritage Chapel Funeral Home is on Old Birmingham Highway in Tuscaloosa, where its current building opened in 1996. It states it provides funeral and cremation services to Tuscaloosa, Northport and West Alabama, serves all cemeteries in Tuscaloosa and offers plan-ahead funeral options.
Funeral homes by city: Northport, Tuscaloosa
Cremation Services in Tuscaloosa County
5 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Tuscaloosa County
7 listings
Burial Services in Tuscaloosa County
1 listing
Veterans Funeral Services in Tuscaloosa County
2 listings
Funeral Transport in Tuscaloosa County
3 listings
Spanish-Speaking Funeral Homes in Tuscaloosa County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa County are recorded with the Judge of Probate at 714 Greensboro Avenue, Room 137, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. Phone: 1-205-464-8206. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 20067, Tuscaloosa, AL 35402-0067.
The Judge of Probate charges $5 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Tuscaloosa County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile and CSC.
Recording Office Record
Judge of Probate
Tuscaloosa County · Records and Recording
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
714 Greensboro Avenue, Room 137, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Website
E-recording
P.O. Box 20067
Tuscaloosa, AL 35402-0067
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $5 |
| Each additional page | $3 |
Ala. Code 12-19-90(b)(22), (b)(24); Ala. Code 40-22-1(c); Tuscaloosa County Judge of Probate Recording Fees for Deeds & Mortgages
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa 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.
Tuscaloosa firm founded by Joel F. Dorroh in 1996 as an estate planning and probate practice, serving clients throughout West Alabama. Its attorneys probate wills, administer estates where there is no will, handle will contests and property transfers through probate, give post-death tax planning for potentially taxable estates, and establish guardianships and conservatorships.
Tuscaloosa firm in Bedford Office Park serving Tuscaloosa, Northport and West Alabama. Handles estate administration for executors and personal representatives, representation of beneficiaries and heirs, and guardianship and conservatorship petitions. Quotes a flat fee for straightforward wills and powers of attorney and will meet clients at home, in the hospital or in a nursing home.
Family-owned Tuscaloosa firm near downtown led by father and daughter Cal Wilson and Anne Guthrie. Guides executors and beneficiaries through Alabama probate from identifying estate assets to final distribution, handles contested wills, and drafts wills, with free in-person, phone and video consultations.
Birmingham firm handling probate in Jefferson County and across Alabama, including ancillary estates for property in other states. Guides personal representatives through asset valuation, creditor claims and distribution, represents successor trustees and beneficiaries in trust administration, and litigates will contests and fiduciary-duty disputes.
Montgomery firm founded in 1947 whose attorneys regularly appear before the Montgomery County Probate Court, with offices in Opelika and Tuscaloosa. Advises executors, trustees and beneficiaries in estate and trust administration, handles contested will, trust and estate matters, guardianships and conservatorships, and gift and estate tax matters before the IRS.
Downtown Enterprise practice near the Coffee County Courthouse, Enterprise Division, working primarily in Coffee County. Ashley Cranford Marshall handles estate and probate work, will drafting and guardian nominations for children, including for military families, and also mediates. Virtual consultations are available.
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); Tuscaloosa County Judge of Probate Recording Fees for Deeds & Mortgages
- Tuscaloosa County Probate Court, official page
- Tuscaloosa County Judge of Probate, official page
- Tuscaloosa 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.
Get the Answer
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