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Coffee County, AL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Local detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Coffee County Probate Court |
| Elba courthouse | 230-P North Court Street, Elba, AL 36323 |
| Elba mailing | PO Box 569, Elba, AL 36323 |
| Elba phone | (334) 897-2211 |
| Enterprise courthouse | 101 South Edwards Street, Enterprise, AL 36330 |
| Enterprise mailing | PO Box 311247, Enterprise, AL 36331 |
| Enterprise phone | (334) 347-2688 |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed Friday through Sunday |
| Filing fee | Coffee County does not publish an estate filing total. Expect a statutory base under the probate judges' fee schedule, plus local charges that can vary under Alabama law (Ala. Code § 12-19-90). Call either probate office before filing. |
| Local forms | Coffee County does not publish downloadable estate petition forms. |
| E-filing status | The probate office does not publish an electronic filing route for estate petitions. Ask the probate office how it wants the petition delivered. |
| Case search | Coffee County Records Online through Ingenuity covers land records and Probate Court records. Viewing is free; printing or downloading costs $2.00 per page as listed by Coffee County in August 2026. |
| Remote appearance | Remote attendance is set by the Coffee County Probate Court for the specific hearing. Ask when the hearing is scheduled. |
| Website | https://www.coffeecoprobate-al.org/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you contact the Coffee County Probate Office, make a working list of the assets, debts, names on accounts, real estate, vehicles, and any original will. The right path depends on what the estate owns, whether assets pass outside probate, and whether the probate judge must issue letters testamentary or letters of administration.
Sunset can help with estate settlement before the filing by searching across 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, organizing the information, and helping you decide what needs to be included in a Coffee County probate packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Coffee County Probate Court serves probate matters venued in Coffee County. The probate office operates from the Elba Courthouse at 230-P North Court Street in Elba and the Enterprise Courthouse at 101 South Edwards Street in Enterprise.
Alabama venue for probating a will is generally 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). If you plan to use the Enterprise office rather than Elba, call ahead because the county does not publish a separate estate-filing rule between the two locations.
The jurisdiction process
- Locate the original will, if there is one, and gather a preliminary list of assets, debts, heirs, beneficiaries, and any property located in Coffee County.
- Prepare the petition for probate or administration. If there is a will, the person named to serve is usually asking for letters testamentary. If there is no will or no willing executor, the petitioner asks for letters of administration.
- Contact the Coffee County Probate Office in Elba or Enterprise before filing. The office publishes both locations as probate office locations but does not publish a rule requiring estate petitions to go to only one of them.
- Submit the petition, the original will if applicable, death information, proposed order or letters if required by the office, and the current filing payment quoted by the probate office.
- The probate judge reviews the petition and determines whether a hearing, additional notice, bond information, or other materials are needed before appointing a personal representative.
- If a hearing is set, ask the probate office whether the Coffee County Probate Court will allow phone or video attendance for that hearing.
- After appointment, the court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration. Those letters are the authority document banks, title offices, and other institutions usually request from the personal representative.
- Publish and give required notices, gather assets, deal with claims, pay proper expenses, keep records, and distribute remaining property only when the estate is ready for settlement under Alabama law.
- When administration is complete, prepare the filings needed to settle and close the estate with the Coffee County Probate Court.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Coffee County
Coffee County does not publish downloadable estate petition forms, cover sheets, or probate checklists. Alabama also does not provide a single statewide public probate form set for county estate filings.
For a Coffee County estate, prepare the petition and supporting documents before you go to the Elba or Enterprise probate office. If you are unsure what the office wants for a particular filing, call the location you plan to use before making the trip.
Local nuance
Coffee County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Two courthouse locations | Coffee County operates probate office locations in both Elba and Enterprise. The county does not publish a rule limiting estate petitions to one location, so call ahead before filing or mailing an estate packet. |
| Four-day public schedule | Both probate office locations list public hours as Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with closure Friday through Sunday. |
| County-run records search | Coffee County Records Online through Ingenuity includes Probate Court records as well as land records. Viewing is free, and printing or downloading costs $2.00 per page as listed by Coffee County in August 2026. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Revised Alabama Small Estates Act | Act 2025-431 took effect October 1, 2025 and changed Alabama summary distribution rules. The current small-estate amount is $47,000 under Ala. Code § 43-2-696.02, effective October 1, 2025. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by separating assets that already pass by title from assets that need Coffee County Probate Court authority. If court authority is needed, call the Elba or Enterprise probate office before preparing the petition. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues, and probate assets so the spouse does not open a broader estate settlement than needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Check whether the estate qualifies for Alabama's summary distribution route before starting full administration. Coffee County does not publish local petition forms, so call the probate office about what it wants before mailing or traveling. | Sunset helps gather asset information, organize family details, and create a probate packet for local attorney review or court filing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires clear authority from the Coffee County Probate Court unless title passes outside probate. The parent should plan for a full administration petition and ask which courthouse location should receive the filing. | Sunset helps find financial accounts, prepare an asset list for the petition, and connect the family with a Coffee County probate attorney when a sale or family dispute adds complexity. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Coffee County Probate Office, Elba | 230-P North Court Street, Elba, AL 36323; PO Box 569, Elba, AL 36323; (334) 897-2211. Public hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed Friday through Sunday. |
| Coffee County Probate Office, Enterprise Courthouse | 101 South Edwards Street, Enterprise, AL 36330; PO Box 311247, Enterprise, AL 36331; (334) 347-2688. Public hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed Friday through Sunday. |
| Coffee County Records Online | Searches land records and Probate Court records. Viewing is free, and printing or downloading costs $2.00 per page as listed by Coffee County in August 2026. |
| Legal Services Alabama | Statewide intake is 866-456-4995, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Legal Services Alabama provides free civil legal help for low-income Alabamians, subject to eligibility and case priorities. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider talking with a probate attorney if the will may be contested, heirs disagree, real estate must be sold, creditor issues are unclear, or you are trying to handle the case from outside Alabama. Coffee County has two probate office locations, but the legal questions are still Alabama estate questions. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, policies, and financial assets that may belong in the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family, asset, debt, and will information into an organized packet you can review before contacting the Coffee County Probate Office or a local attorney.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, disputes, missing heirs, or questions about Alabama procedure, Sunset can connect you with a vetted probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, understand next steps, and get matched with professional help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Coffee County?
Probate is handled by the Coffee County Probate Court. The probate office has locations at 230-P North Court Street in Elba and 101 South Edwards Street in Enterprise. Because the county does not publish a separate rule about which location receives estate petitions, call the location you plan to use before filing or mailing anything.
Does Coffee County have probate forms online?
Coffee County does not publish downloadable estate petition forms or a local probate packet. Prepare the petition before filing and ask the probate office what supporting papers it wants for your situation.
Can I e-file a Coffee County probate case?
The Coffee County Probate Office does not publish an electronic filing route for estate petitions. Call the probate office before filing so you know how the office wants the petition, original will if any, and payment delivered.
How do I look up a Coffee County probate case?
Use Coffee County Records Online through Ingenuity. The county says the system includes Probate Court records and land records. Viewing is free, and printing or downloading costs $2.00 per page as listed by Coffee County in August 2026.
What is the filing fee for probate in Coffee County?
Coffee County does not publish an estate filing total. Alabama has a probate judges' fee schedule under Ala. Code § 12-19-90, and local charges can affect the total. Call the Elba or Enterprise probate office for the current amount before filing.
What are the Coffee County Probate Office hours?
Both the Elba and Enterprise probate office locations list public hours as Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Both are closed Friday through Sunday.
Can I attend a Coffee County probate hearing by phone or video?
The Coffee County Probate Court decides remote attendance for the particular hearing. Ask the probate office about phone or video participation when the hearing is scheduled.
Do I have to travel to Coffee County to handle probate?
Not always, but Coffee County does not publish a remote filing rule for estate petitions. If you live outside Alabama, call the probate office before mailing documents or planning travel, especially if an original will must be presented or a hearing is expected.
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.