Back to Alabama
Chambers County, AL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Chambers County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Chambers County Probate Court |
| Main courthouse | Chambers County Courthouse, 2 South LaFayette Street, LaFayette, AL 36862 |
| Lanett Annex | Chambers County Courthouse Annex, 610 South Gilmer Avenue, Lanett, AL 36863 |
| Phone | (334) 864-2495 |
| Hours | LaFayette office: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Central time. Lanett Annex: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern time. |
| Filing fee | The Chambers County Probate Court Fees sheet dated May 11, 2020 lists probate of a will at $100.00 as of May 11, 2020, administration with no will at $110.00 as of May 11, 2020, and Small Estate Summary Distribution at $78.00 as of May 11, 2020. Confirm the current total with the probate office before filing. |
| Local forms | Yes. Chambers County posts an Affidavit of Claim Against Estate and a Release of Claim Against Estate. It does not post a full estate-opening petition packet. |
| E-filing | No estate petition upload route is posted for Chambers County. Ask the probate office how to deliver the filing and which office should receive it. |
| Case lookup | The county site does not post a probate case lookup link. Call the probate office or visit the courthouse to check a case. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the probate office when a hearing is set whether the judge will allow phone or video attendance. |
| Website | https://chamberscountyal.gov/departments/probate-office |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Chambers County, make a practical inventory of the estate: the will, bank and investment accounts, vehicles, real property, debts, tax notices, and any benefits or refunds still owed. Estate settlement goes faster when you know what exists and which assets may need letters testamentary or letters of administration.
Sunset's 2,300 institution asset discovery helps families look for accounts and benefits before they choose the filing path. That matters in Chambers County because the probate office posts claim forms and a local fee sheet, but not a full estate-opening petition packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Chambers County Probate Court serves probate matters that belong in Chambers County. The main probate court location is at the Chambers County Courthouse in LaFayette, and the county also maintains the Lanett Annex at 610 South Gilmer Avenue in Lanett.
Alabama venue for a will is generally the probate court of the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. For a nonresident decedent, venue may be a county where the decedent left assets (Ala. Code § 43-8-162). If Lanett is more convenient than LaFayette, call ahead to ask whether that office can accept the estate filing you plan to make.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the original will if there is one, a death certificate, a list of known heirs or beneficiaries, and an initial list of assets and debts.
- Choose the correct Chambers County filing path. If the estate needs a personal representative, the named executor or another eligible person asks the Chambers County Probate Court to open administration.
- Prepare the petition and any supporting documents. Chambers County posts claim-related forms, but it does not post a complete estate-opening petition packet, so ask the probate office or an attorney what the judge requires for your situation.
- File through the Chambers County Probate Office. The main location is the LaFayette courthouse, and the county also has the Lanett Annex. Call before using the Lanett Annex for an estate filing.
- Pay the local filing charge. The county fee sheet dated May 11, 2020 lists probate of a will at $100.00 as of May 11, 2020 and administration with no will at $110.00 as of May 11, 2020, subject to confirmation with the probate office. Alabama fees also operate against the statutory fee structure in Ala. Code § 12-19-90.
- The probate judge reviews the filing, addresses any required hearing, and decides whether to admit the will and appoint an executor, or appoint an administrator when there is no will or no acting executor.
- If authority is granted, the court issues letters testamentary for an executor or letters of administration for an administrator. Those letters let the personal representative collect assets, deal with institutions, and act for the estate.
- Publish and send required creditor notices. Alabama's nonclaim rule generally bars claims not presented within six months, with additional actual-notice rules for known or reasonably ascertainable creditors (Ala. Code § 43-2-350).
- Administer the estate, pay allowed claims and expenses in the required order, handle taxes and property issues, and keep the accounting needed for settlement.
- Close the estate through the probate court when administration is ready for final settlement. If a dispute requires relief the probate court cannot provide, an interested party may seek removal of the administration to the circuit court under Ala. Code § 12-11-41 after the probate administration has opened.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Chambers County
Chambers County posts local forms through its probate office pages, including an Affidavit of Claim Against Estate and a Release of Claim Against Estate. Those are useful when a creditor files a claim or when a claim is being released.
The county does not post a complete estate-opening petition or checklist. For a new probate administration, ask the Chambers County Probate Office what petition materials the judge requires, or have Sunset generate the packet and connect you with a local probate attorney for review.
Fees
Chambers County has a local Probate Court Fees sheet dated May 11, 2020. It lists probate of a will at $100.00 as of May 11, 2020, administration of an estate with no will at $110.00 as of May 11, 2020, ancillary probate at $62.00 as of May 11, 2020 when notice of publication is not required, ancillary probate at $100.00 as of May 11, 2020 when notice of publication is required, Small Estate Summary Distribution at $78.00 as of May 11, 2020, and filing a claim on an estate at $5.00 as of May 11, 2020.
Because Alabama probate fees include a statutory structure and local charges, confirm the current total with the Chambers County Probate Office before filing (Ala. Code § 12-19-90). The county's posted schedule is several years old, so a phone call before you mail or deliver a petition can prevent a rejected filing.
Local nuance
Chambers County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for estate settlement |
|---|---|
| Two offices, two time zones | The LaFayette courthouse keeps Central time hours, and the Lanett Annex keeps Eastern time hours. Check the correct clock before calling or visiting. |
| Lanett filing question | The county posts the Lanett Annex as a probate office location, but it does not say whether every estate filing can be handled there. Call ahead if you want to use Lanett instead of LaFayette. |
| Dated local fee sheet | The county posts a Probate Court Fees sheet dated May 11, 2020 with estate, guardianship, conservatorship, claim, and final settlement charges. |
| Claim forms posted | The county posts an Affidavit of Claim Against Estate and a Release of Claim Against Estate, but not a full estate-opening packet. |
| Broad probate docket | The county's probate court page lists wills and estates, adoptions, guardianships, conservatorships, involuntary mental health matters, eminent domain and land condemnation cases, name changes, marriage licensing, legitimation of children, tags and titles, and election management. |
| Case lookup | The county site does not post a probate case lookup link. Plan to call the probate office or visit a courthouse location for case status. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Alabama summary distribution rules | Act 2025-431 changed Alabama's summary distribution law effective October 1, 2025, under Ala. Code § 43-2-696.02. Chambers County's local fee sheet still lists the local Small Estate Summary Distribution filing charge at $78.00 as of May 11, 2020, so confirm the current local filing total before submitting a petition. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Chambers County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by reviewing title to the home and identifying any assets that still need probate authority. If an estate must be opened, file through the Chambers County Probate Office and confirm whether LaFayette or Lanett is the right delivery point. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize title and debt information, and prepare the estate settlement packet for attorney review or filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Ask whether Alabama summary distribution fits the assets and whether the original will, if any, must be delivered to the probate office. Call ahead about the Lanett Annex before planning travel. | Sunset helps identify assets, flag missing institution information, and connect you with a Chambers County probate attorney if local filing support is needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale generally means full administration may be needed, because Alabama summary distribution is for personal property only. The personal representative will need court authority before signing estate documents for the sale. | Sunset helps assemble asset details, debts, property information, and the probate packet so the attorney can focus on court authority and the sale timeline. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Chambers County Probate Office, LaFayette | 2 South LaFayette Street, LaFayette, AL 36862. Phone: (334) 864-2495. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Central time. |
| Chambers County Probate Office, Lanett Annex | 610 South Gilmer Avenue, Lanett, AL 36863. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern time. Call ahead before bringing an estate filing to this location. |
| Chambers County Probate Court Fees sheet | Use the May 11, 2020 local fee sheet to estimate filing charges, then call the probate office to confirm the current total before filing. |
| Legal Services Alabama | Statewide civil legal aid intake is 866-456-4995, or 888-835-3505 in Spanish, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Help depends on eligibility and case priorities. |
| AlabamaLegalHelp.org | Legal Services Alabama names this as a self-help site. Use it for general Alabama legal information, then confirm Chambers County filing questions with the probate office. |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful when the will may be contested, real property must be sold, heirs disagree, a creditor claim is disputed, or you are trying to handle a Chambers County filing from outside Alabama. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families identify accounts, benefits, and other assets that may affect estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet, including asset details, family information, and filing materials for the Chambers County process.
Find a local probate attorney When the estate needs legal review, real estate authority, or help with a hearing, Sunset connects families with a vetted Alabama probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand next steps, and decide whether attorney help is needed without paying Sunset for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Chambers County?
Probate is filed with the Chambers County Probate Court. The main courthouse is at 2 South LaFayette Street in LaFayette, and the county also lists the Lanett Annex at 610 South Gilmer Avenue in Lanett. Call ahead if you want to use the Lanett Annex for an estate filing.
Is the Chambers County probate office in Valley?
No. The county lists its second probate office as the Lanett Annex, also called the Chambers County Courthouse Annex, at 610 South Gilmer Avenue in Lanett.
What are the Chambers County probate office hours?
The LaFayette office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Central time. The Lanett Annex is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern time.
How much does it cost to open probate in Chambers County?
The Chambers County Probate Court Fees sheet dated May 11, 2020 lists probate of a will at $100.00 as of May 11, 2020 and administration with no will at $110.00 as of May 11, 2020. Confirm the current total with the probate office before filing.
Can I file a Chambers County probate case electronically?
The county does not post an estate petition upload route. Ask the probate office how to deliver the petition, the original will if there is one, and the filing fee.
Can I look up a Chambers County estate case online?
The county site does not post a probate case lookup link. Call the probate office at (334) 864-2495 or visit a courthouse location to ask about case status.
Does Chambers County have probate forms online?
Yes, but only some forms. Chambers County posts an Affidavit of Claim Against Estate and a Release of Claim Against Estate. It does not post a complete estate-opening petition packet.
Can I attend a Chambers County probate hearing by phone or video?
The county does not post a general phone or video hearing rule. Ask the probate office when the hearing is set whether the judge will consider that type of attendance.
Do I have to travel to LaFayette for Chambers County probate?
Not always for every task, but the main probate court location is in LaFayette. Because the county also has a Lanett Annex and does not state which estate filings can be handled there, call before making travel plans.
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.