The Estate Planning Guide Est. 2026

Alabama Probate Fee Sheet (Printable)

By The Estate Planning Guide Editorial Team Researched against primary sources

Published August 15, 2026 4 min read

Quick answer

Alabama does not set probate fees by statute. Attorney fees for a routine estate typically run $2,500 to $5,000 flat (or hourly), and the personal representative's commission is capped, so a typical estate usually costs a few thousand dollars in fees plus a few hundred in court costs.

⚠️ Educational information only — not legal, tax, or financial advice.

The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Alabama with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.

This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Alabama reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Alabama probate pages.

Alabama probate fees

Item Alabama
Court filing fee Varies by county; typically a few hundred dollars to open the estate, plus per-document and certification charges.
Attorney fees Not statutory. Attorneys charge a flat fee (commonly $2,500-$5,000 for a routine administration) or hourly, and the court reviews the charge for reasonableness.
Executor / personal representative fees Under Ala. Code §43-2-848 the personal representative's compensation is capped at up to 2.5% of property received and 2.5% of disbursements, plus possible extra pay for extraordinary services. Family executors often waive it.
Fee basis reasonable
Appraisal / referee Not used. Alabama does not appoint a state appraiser. The personal representative files an inventory unless the will or the heirs waive it (Ala. Code §43-2-311).

Worked example

On a $400,000 Alabama estate that is fully collected and distributed, the statutory ceiling is about $20,000 — up to $10,000 on the $400,000 received (2.5%) and up to $10,000 on the $400,000 disbursed (2.5%). Courts award only a reasonable amount within that cap, so many estates pay less.

Alabama thresholds and deadlines

Item Alabama
Small-estate threshold Alabama's Small Estates Act allows summary distribution without full administration when the estate's value falls at or below the combined homestead, exempt-property and family allowances — roughly $47,000 for 2026, adjusted each March for inflation under Ala. Code §43-8-116. See Ala. Code §43-2-692. The estate generally cannot include real property.
Creditor claim period Claims must be presented within 6 months after letters are granted (or 5 months after first publication of notice, whichever is later), under Ala. Code §43-2-350; a specifically-noticed creditor gets at least 30 days.
Typical duration About 6 to 12 months for a routine uncontested estate; the 6-month creditor claim window sets the practical floor.
Transfer-on-death deed Alabama does not currently authorize a transfer-on-death (beneficiary) deed for real estate. Real property owned solely by the decedent generally must pass through probate, a living trust, or joint ownership with survivorship.
Note on the creditor-claim clock. The period above does not start on the same event in every state — depending on the statute it can run from the date of death, from the date letters are issued to the personal representative, or from first publication of notice. The Alabama trigger is stated in the row above, as written in the statute.

What passes outside Alabama probate

These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:

  • Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
  • Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
  • Transfer-on-death deed — Alabama does not currently authorize a transfer-on-death (beneficiary) deed for real estate. Real property owned solely by the decedent generally must pass through probate, a living trust, or joint ownership with survivorship.
  • Assets titled into a funded living trust.

Sources for this sheet

Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Alabama court before relying on it.

The full Alabama guides

Fee sheets for other states

California · Texas · Florida · New York · Pennsylvania · Illinois · Ohio · Georgia · North Carolina · Michigan · Connecticut · Arkansas · Indiana · Oklahoma · Oregon · New Jersey · Washington · Arizona · Colorado · Massachusetts · Maryland · Minnesota · Missouri · Alaska · Delaware · Hawaii · Idaho · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Mississippi · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Mexico · North Dakota · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

This sheet sets out Alabama probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Alabama courts or a licensed Alabama attorney.

Related guides