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Escambia County, AL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Escambia County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Escambia County Probate Court |
| Brewton office | 314 Belleville Avenue, Suite 205, Brewton, AL 36426 |
| Mailing address | Post Office Box 557, Brewton, AL 36427 |
| Atmore office | 8600 Highway 31, Atmore, AL 36502. Call ahead before taking an estate filing to this location. |
| Phone | Brewton: (251) 867-0301. Atmore: (251) 368-5371. |
| Hours | Courthouse hours published with the probate office listing are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Call before filing because an estate filing cutoff is not published. |
| Filing fee | No Escambia estate filing total is published. Probate fees use the probate judges' fee schedule plus any local charges, so confirm the current total with the probate office (Ala. Code § 12-19-90). |
| Local forms | No downloadable estate petition, checklist, or cover sheet is published by Escambia County. |
| E-filing | No electronic estate-petition route is published. Ask the probate office how the petition should be delivered. |
| Case search | Escambia County uses its own online lookup for land records, probate case records, and marriage records at https://ingprobate.com/Escambia_Probate/. |
| Remote appearance | Not published. Ask the probate office when a hearing is set. |
| Website | https://www.escambiacountyal.gov/courts___legal/judge_of_probate/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you open an Escambia County estate, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, accounts, and the original will if one exists. The right filing path depends on what is owned, whether there is a will, whether real property must be sold, and whether family members agree.
Sunset's estate settlement process can help you organize that picture before you call the Brewton or Atmore probate office. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then helps turn what is found into a probate-ready packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Escambia County Probate Court serves Escambia County from the main probate office in Brewton and a second probate office location in Atmore. Escambia County communities named by the county include Brewton, Atmore, Flomaton, and East Brewton.
For an Alabama decedent, venue 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). Because Escambia County does not say which location accepts estate petitions, call the probate office before you go.
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the original will, death certificate, asset list, debt list, names and addresses of heirs or beneficiaries, and any documents showing Escambia County ties such as domicile or local assets.
- Call the Escambia County Probate Office before filing. Use the Brewton number for the main office, and ask whether your estate petition should be delivered to Brewton or whether the Atmore office can accept it.
- Prepare the petition for probate of a will or the petition for letters of administration if there is no will. Escambia County does not publish downloadable estate forms, so ask the probate office what packet and copies are required.
- File the petition with the probate office and pay the current total due. No county estate fee total is published online, and Alabama fees include a statutory schedule plus any local charges (Ala. Code § 12-19-90).
- If there is a will, submit the original will. Alabama law requires a will to be filed for probate within five years after death (Ala. Code § 43-8-161).
- The probate judge reviews the petition, addresses any required bond or hearing issue, and, if the petition is granted, issues letters testamentary for an executor or letters of administration for an administrator.
- Publish and give creditor notice as required. Alabama's nonclaim rule bars claims not presented within the required period, with additional actual-notice rules for known or reasonably ascertainable creditors (Ala. Code § 43-2-350).
- Administer the estate. The Escambia County Wills and Estates page states that an inventory is due within 60 days after letters issue.
- Use Escambia County's online probate case records lookup if you need to check the public record, and call the probate office if the lookup does not show what you need.
- Complete the final accounting, distribution, and closing steps required by the probate court. If a dispute requires relief the probate court cannot grant, an interested person may seek removal of an already opened administration to the circuit court under Alabama's removal statute (Ala. Code § 12-11-41).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Escambia County
Escambia County does not publish a downloadable estate petition, checklist, or cover sheet for probate filings. Its Wills and Estates page explains basic will and administration concepts, but it is not a forms library.
Call the probate office before you prepare your packet. Ask what petition, copies, bond information, filing fee, and original documents the office expects for your estate settlement.
Local nuance
Escambia County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Two probate office locations | Escambia County lists a Brewton office at the courthouse and an Atmore office on Highway 31. The county does not say whether both accept estate petitions, so call ahead before filing. |
| County probate case lookup | The county uses its own online portal for probate case records, land records, and marriage records. Use the Escambia portal, not a statewide trial-court search, for local probate case lookup. |
| No downloadable estate packet | The county's Wills and Estates page is informational. Ask the probate office what petition and supporting documents are required. |
| Local office instructions for no-will estates | The county's Wills and Estates page says that a petitioner for letters of administration must be an Alabama resident and must obtain a bond covering the estate. Ask the probate office how that applies to your filing. |
| Inventory timing | The same county page states that an inventory is required within 60 days after letters issue. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| Alabama small-estate law | Act 2025-431 changed Alabama's summary distribution ceiling effective October 1, 2025. The current amount is $47,000 under the revised small-estate statute (Ala. Code § 43-2-696.02). |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Escambia County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Confirm how the home is titled before opening probate. If estate assets still need court authority, call the Brewton probate office and ask which office should receive the petition. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title issues so the spouse can see whether a court filing is needed for the broader estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the estate appears to involve only personal property, ask the probate office whether Alabama's summary distribution process fits. If a full no-will administration is needed, ask about the county's instructions for an Alabama-resident petitioner and bond. | Sunset helps collect account information, organize heirs and addresses, and prepare questions for the probate office or attorney. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires formal authority from the Escambia County Probate Court before an executor or administrator can act for the estate. Start by confirming the correct filing location and required petition. | Sunset helps build the asset inventory, generate a probate packet, and connect the family with a local attorney when a sale or dispute makes legal guidance important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Escambia County Probate Office, Brewton | Main probate office at 314 Belleville Avenue, Suite 205, Brewton, AL 36426. Use this office to ask about estate filing requirements, fees, and hearing logistics. | (251) 867-0301 |
| Escambia County Probate Office, Atmore | Second probate office at 8600 Highway 31, Atmore, AL 36502. Call ahead to confirm whether this office can accept your estate filing. | (251) 368-5371 |
| Escambia County online records lookup | Online lookup for land records, probate case records, and marriage records. | https://ingprobate.com/Escambia_Probate/ |
| Legal Services Alabama | Statewide civil legal help for eligible Alabamians, subject to income rules and case priorities. Published areas include heirs property and estate planning. | 866-456-4995, or 888-835-3505 in Spanish, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday |
| AlabamaLegalHelp.org | Self-help site referenced by Legal Services Alabama. | https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Escambia County if the estate includes real property to sell, a will contest, a creditor dispute, a bond issue, an out-of-state family member trying to serve, or disagreement about who should be executor or administrator. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, benefits, and other assets so families can start estate settlement with a clearer inventory.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet, including the details you need before calling the Escambia County Probate Office about local filing requirements.
Find a local probate attorney
When the estate involves real estate, disputes, bond questions, or a sale, Sunset can connect the family with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families. The platform helps organize estate settlement tasks and gives families a practical next step after a death.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Escambia County, Alabama?
File through the Escambia County Probate Office. The main probate office is in Brewton at 314 Belleville Avenue, Suite 205. The county also lists an Atmore office at 8600 Highway 31, so call ahead to confirm which location should receive an estate petition.
Does Escambia County have probate forms online?
No downloadable estate petition, checklist, or cover sheet is published by Escambia County. Call the probate office and ask what petition, copies, fee, and supporting documents are required.
Can I e-file an estate petition in Escambia County?
Escambia County does not publish an electronic estate-petition route. Ask the probate office how to deliver the filing and whether any preliminary materials can be sent before you travel.
Can I look up an Escambia County probate case online?
Yes. Escambia County's own online lookup includes probate case records, along with land records and marriage records, at https://ingprobate.com/Escambia_Probate/. If the lookup does not show what you need, call the probate office.
What are the Escambia County probate office hours?
The courthouse hours published with the probate office listing are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Call before filing to confirm current hours and whether any filing cutoff applies that day.
How much does probate cost to file in Escambia County?
Escambia County does not publish a single estate filing total online. Alabama probate fees include the probate judges' fee schedule and any local charges, so confirm the current total with the probate office before filing (Ala. Code § 12-19-90).
Can I attend an Escambia County probate hearing by phone or video?
The county does not publish a remote-appearance rule for probate hearings. Ask the probate office about appearance options when the hearing is scheduled.
Do I have to travel to Brewton for an Escambia County probate filing?
Maybe. Brewton is the main probate office, and Escambia County also lists an Atmore probate office. Because the county does not say which estate filings the Atmore office accepts, call before you travel.
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.