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Bibb County, AL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Local detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Bibb County Probate Court |
| Probate office | Bibb County Probate Office, Courthouse Annex Building |
| Courthouse address | 8 Court Square West, Suite A, Centreville, AL 35042 |
| Mailing address | Use the courthouse address. No separate mailing address is published. |
| Phone | (205) 926-3104. The office also publishes (205) 926-3108 for the probate judge's office. |
| Filing fee | Bibb County does not publish an estate filing total. Ask the probate office for the current amount because Alabama probate costs combine a statutory base under Ala. Code § 12-19-90 with local charges that can affect the total. |
| Local forms | No downloadable estate petition forms are published by Bibb County. |
| Electronic filing | The county does not publish an electronic filing process for estate petitions. Ask the probate office before sending anything. |
| Case search | Bibb County's online lookup includes land records and probate case records from 1996 forward. Historical records from 1819 through 1995 are searched through a separate historical-records system. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the probate office when a hearing is set. Bibb County does not publish a standing phone or video appearance procedure for estate hearings. |
| Website | bibbal.com/the-probate-office/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Bibb County, make a practical list of the assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles, and possible beneficiaries. Estate settlement moves faster when you know whether the estate needs full administration, whether an original will exists, and who is asking to serve as executor or administrator.
Sunset can help organize that inventory before you file in Centreville. Its asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions so families can identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property that may affect the probate packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Bibb County Probate Court serves all of Bibb County from the probate office at 8 Court Square West, Suite A, Centreville, AL 35042. No satellite probate office is published for estate filings.
Alabama venue generally points to the probate court of the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. For a nonresident decedent, venue can be in a county where the decedent left assets (Ala. Code § 43-8-162).
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the original will if there is one, death information, a list of known heirs and beneficiaries, and a working inventory of assets and liabilities.
- Prepare the petition for letters testamentary if there is a will, or letters of administration if there is no will or no executor can serve.
- File the petition with the Bibb County Probate Office at 8 Court Square West, Suite A, Centreville. Because Bibb County does not publish a local estate form packet, call the probate office before filing to confirm the documents and copies the office wants.
- Confirm the filing cost with the probate office. Alabama uses a statutory probate fee structure under Ala. Code § 12-19-90, and local charges can affect the amount due in a particular county.
- The probate judge reviews the filing, determines whether a hearing or additional notice is needed, and acts on the request for appointment.
- If the appointment is granted, the court issues letters testamentary for an executor named in a will or letters of administration for an administrator.
- Publish and give creditor notice as required. Alabama's nonclaim rule bars many claims that are not presented within six months, with a separate 30-day period after actual notice for a creditor entitled to that notice (Ala. Code § 43-2-350).
- Use the authority in the letters to collect assets, secure property, pay valid expenses and claims, and keep records for the estate.
- Use Bibb County's online records lookup if you need to check probate case records from 1996 forward, and ask the probate office about older records or anything that does not appear online.
- When administration is ready to close, prepare the required accounting, settlement, distribution, or closing papers and file them with the probate office for the probate judge's review.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Bibb County
Bibb County does not publish downloadable estate petition forms, cover sheets, or a local probate checklist for families to file. The county probate pages describe other probate office services and records functions, but no public estate packet is posted.
Before you go to the Centreville probate office, call (205) 926-3104 and ask what petition, death information, original will, copies, and payment method the office wants for your specific filing.
Local nuance
Bibb County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Bibb County estate |
|---|---|
| Two records systems | Bibb County's current online lookup covers land records and probate case records from 1996 forward. Older records from 1819 through 1995 are routed through a separate historical-records system. |
| Two published phone lines | Use (205) 926-3104 for the probate office. The county also publishes (205) 926-3108 for the probate judge's office. |
| No local estate packet posted | Plan to call before filing. Bibb County does not publish downloadable estate petition forms for probate filings. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Small-estate law changed effective October 1, 2025 | Act 2025-431 changed Alabama summary distribution by tying the small-estate amount to the combined Article 6 allowances. The current published amount is $47,000 effective January 6, 2026, under Ala. Code § 43-2-696.02. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Bibb County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Confirm how title is held before opening an estate. If probate is needed for accounts, vehicles, or other assets, file through the Bibb County Probate Office in Centreville. | Sunset helps identify accounts and property, organize title information, and prepare a probate packet for local review. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Start by confirming the asset list and whether Bibb County is the right venue. Call the probate office about required papers because no local estate forms are posted online. | Sunset helps with estate settlement from out of state by finding assets, organizing documents, and connecting the family with local probate counsel if needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Real estate usually requires careful title review and authority from the probate court before a sale can be completed. File in Centreville if Bibb County is the proper venue. | Sunset helps gather financial records, build the probate packet, and identify an attorney when a home sale or family questions make the case more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Bibb County Probate Office | Local filing office for Bibb County estate matters and the place to ask about filing requirements, current costs, hearing scheduling, and copies. | 8 Court Square West, Suite A, Centreville, AL 35042. Phone: (205) 926-3104. |
| Bibb County online records lookup | Searches Bibb County land records and probate case records from 1996 forward. Older records from 1819 through 1995 are handled through a separate historical-records system. | altags.com/Bibb_probate/ for current records. Ask the probate office if you need help locating older records. |
| Legal Services Alabama | Free civil legal help for low-income Alabamians, subject to eligibility and case priorities. Its published intake information says civil cases only. | Statewide intake: 866-456-4995. Spanish line: 888-835-3505. |
| AlabamaLegalHelp.org | Self-help and referral site named by Legal Services Alabama. | AlabamaLegalHelp.org |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the will may be contested, heirs disagree, the estate includes real estate that must be sold, creditors are active, the family cannot locate assets, or you are filing from outside Alabama. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families locate bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts, and other assets that may belong in the estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family intake, asset information, and court details into an organized packet you can review before filing with the Bibb County Probate Office.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Alabama probate attorney who understands local filing practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find assets, and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Bibb County, Alabama?
File with the Bibb County Probate Office at 8 Court Square West, Suite A, Centreville, AL 35042. That office serves Bibb County estate filings.
Does Bibb County publish estate probate forms online?
No public Bibb County estate petition packet is posted. Call the probate office at (205) 926-3104 before filing so you know what documents, copies, and payment method to bring or send.
Can I look up a Bibb County probate case online?
Yes. Bibb County's online lookup includes probate case records from 1996 forward. Historical records from 1819 through 1995 are searched through a separate historical-records system.
Does Bibb County publish electronic filing for estate petitions?
Bibb County does not publish an electronic filing process for estate petitions. Ask the probate office how it wants the petition, original will, and supporting documents delivered.
What is the filing fee for probate in Bibb County?
Bibb County does not publish a local estate filing total. Ask the probate office for the current amount because Alabama probate costs include a statutory base under Ala. Code § 12-19-90 and local charges may affect the final total.
Can I attend a Bibb County probate hearing by phone or video?
Bibb County does not publish a standing phone or video appearance procedure for estate hearings. Ask the probate office about appearance options when the hearing is scheduled.
Do I have to travel to Centreville to start a Bibb County estate?
Not always, but you should call first. The probate office can tell you whether your filing can be delivered another way, what must be original, and whether a hearing will require your participation.
Who issues letters testamentary or letters of administration in Bibb County?
The Bibb County Probate Court acts on the petition. If appointment is granted, the court issues letters testamentary for an executor under a will or letters of administration for an administrator.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.