Save money, avoid surprises, and minimize hassle with our statewide, unbundled probate services and up-front, flat-fee pricing
Welcome to the only statewide probate law firm in Alabama that helps you:
- Save Costs with Unbundled Probate Services – Keep costs lower by doing some of the legwork yourself. Our probate attorney provides you with the necessary documents on an as-needed basis only, so that you only pay for what you need.
- Avoid Surprises with Up-front, Flat Fee Pricing – We use a value pricing model as an alternative to hourly billing. You will know your fees up-front, before you hire our firm to do the work. (See the price chart below.)
- Avoid Hassles with Virtual Representation – We handle all of our client communications by mail, telephone, and e-mail, allowing you to take care of the details on your schedule.
Our goal is to make the Alabama probate process as painless and inexpensive as possible.
What is Alabama Probate? The Probate Process in a Nutshell
Alabama probate is a court-supervised process for passing legal title from a deceased person to his or her beneficiaries or heirs. It involves three general stages:
- Opening the Estate – The judge recognizes the validity of the will (if there is one) and appoints a personal representative to act on behalf of the estate.
- Administering the Estate – The personal representative gathers the assets and notifies and pays creditors of the estate.
- Closing the Estate – Once the estate has been fully administered, the personal representative distributes the assets to the beneficiaries or heirs.
Since Alabama law requires the estate to remain open for at least 6 months, even the most simple probate proceedings take between 6 and 12 months to complete.
Is Alabama probate always required?
Not always. Depending on the assets and facts involved, there are a few alternatives to probate that could apply. This is the first thing we go over in our free telephone consultation, but here is a quick explanation of the various options:
- Petition for Summary Distribution
- Consents and Waivers (Up to 5)
- Order Granting Petition for Summary Distribution (If Necessary)
- Guide to the Alabama Small Estate Procedure
- Up to 30-Minute Telephone Consultation
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- Petition for Probate of Will or Petition for Letters of Administration
- Consents and Waivers (Up to 5)
- Order and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (If Necessary)
- Alabama Personal Representative’s Handbook
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(Custom Quote)
- Petition for Probate of Will or Petition for Letters of Administration
- Consents and Waivers (Unlimited)
- Order and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (If Necessary)
- Notice to Creditors (If Necessary)
- Notice to Heirs (If Necessary)
- Proof of Will (If Not Self-Proved)
- Request for Deposition of Subscribing Witness (If Necessary)
- Personal Representative’s Inventory
- Petition for Final Settlement
- Consent to Final Settlement
- Decree of Final Settlement
- Alabama Personal Representative’s Handbook
- Unlimited Telephone and E-mail Consultations
Do I need an Alabama probate attorney?
Unlike many states, Alabama law does not require the assistance of an attorney in probate matters. But as a practical matter, Alabama probate is not a do-it-yourself project. Alabama probate proceedings involve complex legal rules and fiduciary duties that can get you in trouble if not handled correctly.
In our experience, Alabama probate courts uniformly recommend that you engage an Alabama probate attorney to help you with the estate. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that the attorney needs to handle every single step. Our unbundled probate services allow you to keep costs down by choosing which areas that you need assistance with (such as pleading preparation).
How much does Alabama probate cost?
The cost of an Alabama estate proceeding depends in large part on what needs to be done to accomplish your goals. We offer several probate packages at different price points:
| Description | Option #1 | Option #2 | Option #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each piece of copy is carefully crafted. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Each paragraph is deliberately formulated and diligently prepared to maximize the use of space and ensure that it occupies more than one line. | No | Yes | Yes |
| Each phrase is succinct and to the point. | No | No | Yes |
| This is an example of a beneficial phrase. | No | No | Yes |
| Here is a sentence that describes something. | No | No | Yes |
| The number of amazing widgets found. | No | No | Yes |
| The inability to truncate the innumerable discrepancies is overwhelming. | No | No | Yes |
Small Estate Procedure (Summary Distribution) – $199
Unbundled Pleadings to Open Estate – $499
Full Alabama Estate Administration – Get Quote
Still Have Questions?
Feel free to review the probate resources below, but sometimes there’s no substitute for a conversation with a probate attorney.
About Jeramie Fortenberry