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Calhoun County, AL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Calhoun County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Calhoun County Probate Court |
| Where to file | Calhoun County Probate Office, Ken Joiner Administration Building, 1702 Noble Street, Suite 102, Anniston, AL 36201 |
| Mailing | Mail goes to the same street address: Calhoun County Probate Office, 1702 Noble Street, Suite 102, Anniston, AL 36201 |
| Phone | (256) 241-2825 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. County offices close on county holidays. |
| Filing fee | Calhoun County does not publish an estate filing fee. Alabama combines a statutory base under (Ala. Code § 12-19-90) with local-act charges that differ by county, so call the probate office for the current total before filing. |
| Local forms | No downloadable estate forms are posted. The county says forms for probating a will are available in Calhoun County, while its FAQ also says the probate judge cannot provide forms or advise on the law. Call before going. |
| Electronic filing | The county does not publish an electronic filing option for estate matters. Ask the probate office what it accepts and whether anything can be mailed. |
| Case lookup | Calhoun County does not publish an online probate case search. Estate records are handled through the probate office record room or by calling the office. |
| Remote appearance | Phone or video participation is set by the Calhoun County Probate Court in the case. Ask the probate office when a hearing is scheduled. |
| Website | https://www.calhouncounty.org/probate/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Calhoun County, build a practical list of what the estate owns, what it owes, and who must receive notice. Calhoun publishes no estate packet for download and no estate filing fee, so the first call to the probate office is much more useful when you can describe the will, heirs, known assets, debts, and any real property.
The inventory is not a distant step in Calhoun County estate settlement. The county states that an inventory is due within 60 days after appointment, and it publishes an Alabama Medicaid Agency notice requirement for every estate case. Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help surface accounts and policies the family may not know about before those deadlines begin to matter.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Calhoun County Probate Court serves the whole county from one probate office in Anniston, including Anniston, Oxford, Jacksonville, Piedmont, Weaver, Hobson City, Ohatchee, and unincorporated communities. Estate filings are opened at 1702 Noble Street, Suite 102, in the Ken Joiner Administration Building.
For Alabama venue, the estate is opened in the probate court of the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a nonresident decedent, in a county where assets were left (Ala. Code § 43-8-162). Calhoun County's own guidance says wills generally must be filed for probate in the county where the deceased lived. It also states that a will must be filed within five years of death (Ala. Code § 43-8-161), and that a person holding the will must deliver it to the probate court or to someone able to have it probated (Ala. Code § 43-8-270).
Do not go to the 25 West 11th Street courthouse building to open an estate. That is a different building. The probate filing office for estate settlement is the Noble Street probate office.
The jurisdiction process
- Locate the original will, if there is one. A person holding the will has a duty to deliver it to the probate court or to someone who can have it probated (Ala. Code § 43-8-270), and a will must be filed within five years of the date of death (Ala. Code § 43-8-161).
- List the estate's assets, debts, heirs, and possible creditors before filing. Calhoun County posts no downloadable estate forms and no estate fee schedule, so the probate office can give practical filing logistics only after you know what kind of estate you are presenting.
- File the petition at the Calhoun County Probate Office, 1702 Noble Street, Suite 102, Anniston. With a will, the petition asks to probate the will. Without a will, Calhoun County says a petition for letters of administration may be filed.
- Ask the probate office for the filing cost and payment instructions. Calhoun County does not publish an estate opening fee, and Alabama does not have one filing-fee total for every county. The total combines a statutory base under (Ala. Code § 12-19-90) with local-act charges.
- Give notice to the heirs. Calhoun County's published probate steps place notice to heirs before letters are granted.
- Address any bond the court requires. Calhoun County publishes that, when there is no will, the petitioner for letters of administration must be a resident of Alabama and must acquire a bond covering the estate plus one year's estimated growth. Treat the bond amount as case-specific and confirm it with the probate office.
- The probate judge acts on the petition. If the petition is granted, the court issues letters testamentary when there is a will, or letters of administration when there is no will.
- File the inventory. Calhoun County states that an inventory is required within 60 days after appointment.
- Give notice to the Alabama Medicaid Agency in every estate case. Calhoun County publishes that the notice requirement has applied since September 1, 2019 under Alabama Act 2019-489. The notice is mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Alabama Medicaid Agency, Attn: Estate Notice Office, P.O. Box 5624, Montgomery, AL 36103-5624, and an affidavit of certified mailing with a copy of the notice is filed with the probate court.
- Publish notice to creditors and give individual notice to known creditors. Calhoun County's guidance says notice to file claims must be published and individual notice given to anyone known to have a claim against the deceased.
- Let the creditor period run and pay valid claims and expenses before distribution. Calhoun County states that claims are generally filed within six months and that the estate generally cannot be divided until claims and expenses are paid, which is at least six months (Ala. Code § 43-2-350).
- Handle real property through the same probate office when a deed must be recorded. Calhoun County's recording schedule lists a first-page recording fee of $15.00 effective November 1, 2025, plus additional page and deed-tax charges in the same county schedule reviewed August 2026.
- Close the estate through the probate court. Calhoun County states that the court must approve administrator fees and that distribution generally waits until claims and expenses are paid. Ask the probate office what the final settlement filing must include.
- If a contested or equitable issue arises after the probate court has acted, an interested party may petition to remove the administration to the circuit court before final settlement (Ala. Code § 12-11-41). That is a conditional branch, not the place where estate administration begins.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Calhoun County
Calhoun County does not post estate forms for download on its probate website. The county states that forms for probating a will are available in Calhoun County, which points readers to the probate office rather than an online packet.
The county's FAQ also says the complexity of handling estates normally requires an attorney because the probate judge cannot advise on the law or provide forms. Those two county statements should be read together: call the probate office at (256) 241-2825 before going, ask what the office will provide, and ask what your petition must contain.
Alabama does not provide a numbered public probate form series for county filings. In Calhoun County, the local starting point is the probate office on Noble Street.
Fees
Calhoun County does not publish a fee for probating a will, requesting letters testamentary, requesting letters of administration, or opening an estate. Alabama fee totals are not one fixed amount for every county. A statutory base under (Ala. Code § 12-19-90) is combined with local-act charges, so the current amount must be confirmed with the Calhoun County Probate Office at (256) 241-2825.
| Local fee item | Calhoun County detail |
|---|---|
| Estate filing fee | Not published. Call the probate office before filing. |
| First page to record a deed or other real-property document | $15.00, effective November 1, 2025. The county says the increase was due to an increase in the mental health fee. |
| Additional recording pages | Three dollars per additional page in the county recording schedule reviewed August 2026. |
| Extra indexes or references | One dollar each after two, in the county recording schedule reviewed August 2026. |
| Recording copies | One dollar per page, in the county recording schedule reviewed August 2026. |
| Recording certification | Three dollars per document, in the county recording schedule reviewed August 2026. |
| Deed tax | Fifty cents per five hundred dollars of value, rounded up to the next five hundred dollars, in the county recording schedule reviewed August 2026. The county requires a note stating the value of the property or its full purchase price. |
Local nuance
Calhoun County-specific considerations
- The probate office is not in the building many people call the courthouse. Estates are opened at 1702 Noble Street, Suite 102, inside the Ken Joiner Administration Building.
- Calhoun County uses a public record room inside the probate office rather than a published online probate case search. The record room has five public computer terminals in the main room, first come first served access with no time limit, and a front-table sign-in.
- The county publishes its own steps in probate of an estate, including an inventory due within 60 days after appointment.
- Calhoun County publishes the Alabama Medicaid Agency notice requirement for every estate case and expects the affidavit of certified mailing to be filed with the probate court.
- If estate real property is sold or transferred, the deed is recorded through the same probate office. The first-page recording fee is $15.00 effective November 1, 2025.
- Because Calhoun County posts no estate filing fee and no downloadable estate forms, call (256) 241-2825 before the first trip to Noble Street.
Recent updates
| Change | Date | What it means in Calhoun County |
|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County first-page recording fee increased | November 1, 2025 | The first page to record a deed or other real-property document is $15.00 effective November 1, 2025. This can matter when estate real property is sold or transferred and the deed is recorded through the probate office. |
| Alabama small estate rules changed statewide | Effective October 1, 2025 | Act 2025-431 rewrote Alabama's small estate rules under (Ala. Code § 43-2-696.02). This is a statewide change, so ask the probate office how it affects any local filing you are considering. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home is titled, because that determines whether it must pass through the estate. If an estate has to be opened, file at the Calhoun County Probate Office on Noble Street, not at the 25 West 11th Street courthouse building. Call (256) 241-2825 first because Calhoun County posts no estate forms for download and no estate filing fee. If the house is later sold or transferred, the deed is recorded through the same probate office. | Sunset helps assemble the full picture of what the couple owned and owed before the first trip to Noble Street. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the parent was domiciled in Calhoun County, the estate opens in the Calhoun County Probate Court (Ala. Code § 43-8-162). Because the county does not publish an electronic filing option for estate matters or an online probate case search, call the probate office to ask what can be handled by mail and how to follow the case from out of state. If there is no will, Calhoun County publishes a residency and bond statement for letters of administration, so ask early whether a local attorney or Alabama resident petitioner is needed. | Sunset helps find accounts and property from a distance so any trip that has to be made is focused. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | File in the Calhoun County Probate Office. After letters testamentary or letters of administration issue, follow the county's published sequence: inventory within 60 days after appointment, notice to the Alabama Medicaid Agency with the affidavit of certified mailing filed in the case, publication and individual notice to creditors, and payment of valid claims and expenses before distribution. Raise the real-property sale with the probate office early, because the sale deed will be recorded through that office. | Sunset helps organize the asset and debt picture that the inventory, creditor work, and home sale all depend on. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Important limits |
|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County Probate Office | 1702 Noble Street, Suite 102, Anniston, AL 36201. Phone: (256) 241-2825. Email: [email protected]. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Probate office staff can give filing logistics and record-room directions. They cannot choose a legal path for you. |
| Calhoun County Probate Office record room | Public record room inside the probate office, with five computer terminals in the main room, first come first served access, and front-table sign-in. Same hours as the Administration Building. | Use it for Calhoun County probate records. The county does not publish an online probate case search. |
| Legal Services Alabama | Statewide intake: 866-456-4995. Spanish line: 888-835-3505. The program lists an Anniston office phone at 256-399-2548 and accepts online applications. | Free civil legal help for low-income Alabamians, subject to eligibility and case-type priorities. Civil cases only. The program lists heirs property and estate planning, but does not advertise estate administration representation. |
| AlabamaLegalHelp.org | Legal Services Alabama names this as its self-help and referral site. | Use it as a general self-help starting point, then confirm Calhoun County filing requirements with the probate office. |
When to hire an attorney
Calhoun County's own probate guidance says handling estates is complex and that the probate judge cannot advise on the law or provide forms. Counsel is especially useful when the estate must sell real property, there is no will and bond must be arranged, heirs disagree, a will contest is possible, or the case may require relief outside the ordinary probate process. Legal Services Alabama may be worth contacting for eligible civil legal help, but it does not advertise estate administration representation. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search for bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance policies, employer benefits, and other assets that can be missed during estate settlement. Its asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's answers into an organized probate packet so the first conversation with the Calhoun County Probate Office or a local attorney starts with the right names, assets, debts, and documents.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real property, disputes, bond questions, or a petition that has to be tailored to Calhoun County practice, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement path, organize information, and decide what help they need without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Calhoun County?
File at the Calhoun County Probate Office, 1702 Noble Street, Suite 102, Anniston, in the Ken Joiner Administration Building. Do not go to the 25 West 11th Street courthouse building to open an estate. Alabama venue puts the estate in the probate court of the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or where a nonresident left assets (Ala. Code § 43-8-162).
What are the Calhoun County Probate Office's hours?
The county says it assists the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The probate office record room keeps the same hours as the Administration Building. County offices close on county holidays.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Calhoun County?
Calhoun County does not publish an estate filing fee. Alabama combines a statutory base under (Ala. Code § 12-19-90) with local-act charges, so the total is not one fixed amount for every county. Call the probate office at (256) 241-2825 to confirm the current cost for your filing.
Does Calhoun County have probate forms I can download?
No estate forms are posted for download. The county says forms for probating a will are available in Calhoun County, but its FAQ also says the probate judge cannot advise on the law or provide forms. Call the probate office to ask what it will provide and what your petition must contain.
Can I look up a Calhoun County probate case online?
Calhoun County does not publish an online probate case search. Estate records are handled through the probate office record room, which has five public computer terminals in the main room, first come first served access, and front-table sign-in. You can also call the probate office.
Can I file estate papers electronically in Calhoun County?
Calhoun County does not publish an electronic filing option for estate matters. Filings are made through the probate office on Noble Street. Ask the office what it accepts and whether anything can be mailed.
Can I attend a Calhoun County probate hearing by phone or video?
That is set by the Calhoun County Probate Court in the case. The county does not publish a remote-appearance policy, and Alabama has no statewide remote-appearance policy for probate courts. Ask the probate office when a hearing is scheduled.
How long do creditors have to make a claim against a Calhoun County estate?
Calhoun County's guidance says claims must generally be filed within six months and that the estate generally cannot be divided until claims and expenses are paid, which is at least six months (Ala. Code § 43-2-350). That creditor period is not a promise that estate settlement will finish in six months.
Do I have to notify Alabama Medicaid when I open an estate in Calhoun County?
Calhoun County publishes that notice must be given to the Alabama Medicaid Agency in every estate case under Alabama Act 2019-489. The notice is mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the agency's Estate Notice Office in Montgomery, and an affidavit of certified mailing with a copy of the notice is filed with the probate court.
Do I have to travel to Anniston to settle a Calhoun County estate?
The estate opens at the probate office in Anniston. Because Calhoun County does not publish an electronic filing option for estates or an online probate case search, an out-of-state executor or administrator should call (256) 241-2825 to ask what can be handled by mail and what needs someone at the counter.
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.