How Does The Alabama Probate Court Work?

Alabama Probate Courts are limited jurisdiction courts that handle matters related to estates. There are currently 68 Probate Courts in the Alabama court system, and these courts are non-jury trial courts.

Alabama Probate Court judges are elected in a partisan election to a six-year term. Elected judges can serve successive terms. However, a judge is statutorily ineligible for re-election after the age of 70. In situations where there is a vacant Probate Court judge position, the position is occupied by an individual appointed by the state governor.

Probate Court judges are not statutorily required to be licensed attorneys. However, all newly elected or appointed probate judges are required to attend an orientation program for at least six hours during their first year in office. Probate Court judges are also required to earn a minimum of 12 approved judicial-education credits every year they remain in office. These credits are earned by attending conferences or courses either offered or approved by the Alabama Law Institute, the Alabama Probate Judges’ Association, and the National Probate Judges’ Association. At least six of these judicial-education credits must be earned through courses offered by the Alabama Law Institute.

The length of an Alabama Probate Court proceeding varies depending on the parties involved and the type of case. However, most probate cases typically last for an average of six months. In some cases, a Probate Court matter may be transferred to either an Alabama Circuit or District Court.

Probate Courts have original jurisdiction over the following types of judicial matters:

• Administration of estates
• Probate of wills
• Involuntary mental health commitments
• Adoptions and name changes
• Matters involving trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships

Decisions rendered in a case heard in a Probate Court may be appealed in a Circuit Court.

Records of Probate Court cases are maintained at the court where the case was filed. Parties that wish to access copies of these records may do so by contacting the clerk at the appropriate court.

Alabama Probate Courts can be contacted at the following locations:

Autauga County Probate Court

176 W 5th St

Prattville, AL 36067

Phone: (334) 361–3728

Baldwin County Probate Court

220 Courthouse Square

P. O. Box 459

Bay Minette, AL 36507

Phone: (251) 937–0260

Barbour County Probate Court 1

303 E Broad St

P. O. Box 758

Eufaula, AL 36072

Phone: (334) 687–1530

Barbour County Probate Court 2

201 Court Square

P. O. Box 158

Clayton, AL 36016

Phone: (334) 775–8371

Bibb County Probate Court

8 Court Square W

Suite A

Centreville, AL 35042

Phone: (205) 926–3104

Blount County Probate Court

Blount County Courthouse

220 2nd Ave E

Oneonta, AL 35121

Phone: (205) 625–4191

Bullock County Probate Court

217 N Prairie Street

Suite 103

P. O. Box 71

Union Springs, AL 36089

Phone: (334) 738–2250

Butler County Probate Court

700 Court Square

P. O. Box 756

Greenville, AL 36037

Phone: (334) 382–3512

Calhoun County Probate Court

1702 Noble Street

Suite 102

Anniston, AL 36201

Phone: (256) 241–2825

Chambers County Probate Court

2 S Lafayette St

LaFayette, AL 36862

Phone: (334) 864–4397

Chambers County Probate Court—Lanett Annex

610 S Gilmer Ave

Lanett, AL 36863

Phone: (334) 644–7781

Cherokee County Probate Court

260 Cedar Bluff Rd

Suite 101

Centre, AL 35960

Phone: (256) 927–3363

Chilton County Probate Court

500 2nd Ave N

P. O. Box 270

Clanton, AL 35045

Phone: (205) 755–1555

Choctaw County Probate Court

117 S Mulberry Street

Butler, AL 36904

Phone: (205) 459–2417

Clarke County Probate Court

Clarke County Courthouse

114 Court St

P. O. Box 10

Grove Hill, AL 36451

Phone: (251) 275–3251

Clay County Probate Court

Clay County Courthouse

25 Court Square

P. O. Box 1120

Ashland, AL 36251

Phone: (256) 354–2198

Cleburne County Probate Court

Cleburne County Courthouse

120 Vickery St

Suite 101

Heflin, AL 36264

Phone: (256) 463–5655

Coffee County Probate Court - Elba

230 Court Ave

Elba, AL 36323

Phone: (334) 897–2211

Coffee County Probate Court - Enterprise

101 S Edwards St

P. O. Box 311247,

Enterprise, AL 36331

Phone: (334) 347–2688

Colbert County Probate Court

Colbert County Courthouse

201 N Main St

P. O. Box 47

Tuscumbia, AL 35674

Phone: (256) 386–8542

Conecuh County Probate Court

Conecuh County Courthouse

111 Court St

Suite 104

P. O. Box 149, Evergreen, AL 36401

Phone: (251) 578–1221

Coosa County Probate Court

100 Main St

P. O. Box 218

Rockford, AL 35136

Phone: (256) 377–4919

Covington County Probate Court

Covington County Courthouse

1-K N Court Square

P. O. Box 789

Andalusia, AL 36420

Phone: (334) 428–2512

Crenshaw County Probate Court

Crenshaw County Courthouse

29 S Glenwood Ave

Luverne, AL 36049

Phone: (334) 335–6568 ext. 227

Cullman County Probate Court

Cullman County Courthouse

500 2nd Ave SW

P. O. Box 970

Cullman, AL 35056

Phone: (256) 775–4665

Dale County Probate Court

100 Court Square

Suite 1

Ozark, AL 36360

Phone: (334) 774–2754

Dallas County Probate Court

105 Lauderdale St

P. O. Box 987

Selma, AL 36702

Phone: (334) 874–2513

DeKalb County Probate Court

DeKalb County Courthouse

300 Grand Ave SW

Suite 100

Fort Payne, AL 35967

Phone: (256) 845–8510

Elmore County Probate Court

Elmore County Courthouse

100 East Commerce Street

P. O. Box 280

Wetumpka, AL 36092

Phone: (334) 567–1140

Escambia County Probate Court 1

Escambia County Courthouse

314 Belleville Avenue

P. O. Box 557

Brewton, AL 36427

Phone: (251) 867–0301

Escambia County Probate Court 2

8600 Highway 31

Atmore, AL 36502

Phone: (251) 368–5371

Etowah County Probate Court

800 Forrest Ave

Gadsden, AL 35901

Phone: (256) 549–5334

Fayette County Probate Court

Fayette County Courthouse

113 Temple Ave N

P. O. Box 670

Fayette, AL 35555

Phone: (205) 932–5916

Franklin County Probate Court

Franklin County Courthouse

410 N Jackson Ave

P. O. Box 70

Russellville, AL 35653

Phone: (256) 332–8801

Geneva County Probate Court

200 N Commerce St

P. O. Box 430

Geneva, AL 36340

Phone: (334) 684–5600

Greene County Probate Court

Greene County Courthouse

400 Morrow Ave

P. O. Box 656

Eutaw, AL 35462

Phone: (205) 372–3340

Hale County Probate Court

1001 Main St

Greensboro, AL 36744

Phone: (334) 624–8470

Henry County Probate Court 1

Henry County Courthouse

101 Court Square

Suite A

Abbeville, AL 36310

Phone: (334) 585–3257

Henry County Probate Court 2

Headland Municipal Complex

25 Grove St

Headland, AL 36345

Phone: (334) 693–0695

Houston County Probate Court

462 N Oates St

P. O. Box 6404,

Dothan, AL 36302

Phone: (334) 677–4728

Jackson County Probate Court

Jackson County Courthouse

102 E Laurel St

P. O. Box 128

Scottsboro, AL 35768

Phone: (256) 574–9290

Jefferson County Probate Court 1

Jefferson County Courthouse

716 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd N,

Suite 115

Birmingham, AL 35203

Phone: (205) 325–5420

Jefferson County Probate Court 2

1801 3rd Ave N

Bessemer, AL 35020

Phone: (205) 481–4102

Lamar County Probate Court

44690 Hwy 17

P. O. Box 838

Vernon, AL 35592

Phone: (205) 695–9119

Lauderdale County Probate Court

200 S Court St

P. O. Box 1059

Florence, AL 35631

Phone: (256) 760–5804

Lawrence County Probate Court

Lawrence County Judicial and Administrative Annex

14451 Market St

Moulton, AL 35650

Phone: (256) 974–2439

Lee County Probate Court

Historic Lee County Courthouse

215 S 9th St

P. O. Box 2266

Opelika, AL 36803

Phone: (334) 737–3670

Limestone County Probate Court

Clinton Street Courthouse Annex

100 S Clinton St

Suite D

Athens, AL 35611

Phone: (256) 233–6427

Lowndes County Probate Court

Lowndes County Courthouse

1 S Washington St

P. O. Box 5

Hayneville, AL 36040

Phone: (334) 548–2365

Macon County Probate Court

101 E Rosa Parks Ave

Suite 101

Tuskegee, AL 36083

Phone: (334) 724–2552

Madison County Probate Court

Madison County Courthouse

100 North Side Sq

Suite 101

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: (256) 532–3330

Marengo County Probate Court

Marengo County Courthouse

101 E Coats Ave

Linden, AL 36748

Phone: (334) 295–2210

Marion County Probate Court

Marion County Courthouse

132 Military St S

P. O. Box 1687

Hamilton, AL 35570

Phone: (205) 921–2471

Marshall County Probate Court

425 Gunter Ave

Suite 110

Guntersville, AL 35976

Phone: (256) 571–7764

Mobile County Probate Court

Mobile County Government Center Annex

151 Government St

P. O. Box 7

Mobile, AL 36601

Phone: (251) 574–6001

Monroe County Probate Court

Monroe County Courthouse

65 N Alabama Ave

P. O. Box 665

Monroeville, AL 36461

Phone: (251) 743–4107

Montgomery County Probate Court

P. O. Box 223

Montgomery, AL 36101

Phone: (334) 832–1240

Morgan County Probate Court

Morgan County Courthouse

302 Lee St NE

P. O. Box 848

Decatur, AL 35602

Phone: (256) 351–4676

Perry County Probate Court

Perry County Courthouse

300 Washington St

P. O. Box 478

Marion, AL 36756

Phone: (334) 683–2210

Pickens County Probate Court

50 Courthouse Sq

Suite 106

P. O. Box 370, Carrollton, AL 35447

Phone: (205) 367–2010

Pike County Probate Court

Pike County Courthouse

120 W Church St

Troy, AL 36081

Phone: (334) 566–1246

Randolph County Probate Court

P. O. Box 249

Wedowee, AL 36278

Phone: (256) 357–4933

Russell County Probate Court

1000 Broad St

Phenix City, AL 36867

Phone: (334) 298–7979

Shelby County Probate Court

Shelby County Courthouse

112 N Main St

P. O. Box 825

Columbiana, AL 35051

Phone: (205) 669–3710

St. Clair County Probate Court 1

165 5th Ave

P. O. Box 220

Ashville, AL 35953

Phone: (205) 594–2120

Fax: (205) 594–2125

St. Clair County Probate Court 2

1815 Cogswell Ave

Suite 212

Pell City, AL 35125

Phone: (205) 338–9449

Sumter County Probate Court

Sumter County Probate Annex

115 Marshall St

P. O. Box 1040

Livingston, AL 35470

Phone: (205) 652–7281

Talladega County Probate Court 1

400 N Norton Ave

Sylacauga, AL 35150

Phone: (256) 245–1453

Talladega County Probate Court 2

1 Courthouse Square

P. O. Box 737

Talladega, AL 35161

Phone: (256) 362–4175

Tallapoosa County Probate Court 1

395 Lee St

Alexander City, AL 35010

Phone: (256) 234–3264

Tallapoosa County Probate Court 2

3 Freeman Ave

Tallassee, AL 36078

Phone: (334) 252–1804

Tallapoosa County Probate Court 3

125 N Broadnax St

Dadeville, AL 36853

Phone: (256) 825–4266

Tuscaloosa County Probate Court

Tuscaloosa County Courthouse

714 Greensboro Ave

Suite 121

Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Phone: (205) 464–8204

Walker County Probate Court

1900 3rd Ave S

P. O. Box 502

Jasper, AL 35502

Phone: (205) 384–7281

Washington County Probate Court

Washington County Courthouse

1 Court St

P. O. Box 549

Chatom, AL 36518

Phone: (251) 847–2201

Wilcox County Probate Court

Wilcox County Courthouse

100 Broad St

P. O. Box 668

Camden, AL 36726

Phone: (334) 682–4883

Winston County Probate Court

25125 Hwy 195

P. O. Box 27

Double Springs, AL 35553

Phone: (205) 489–5219