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