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Franklin County, AL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Franklin County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | 410 N Jackson Ave, Russellville, AL 35653 |
| Mailing address | Probate Judge, PO Box 70, Russellville, AL 35653 |
| Phone | (256) 332-8801 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | Franklin County does not publish a probate filing-fee schedule. Alabama uses a statutory probate judges' fee schedule under (Ala. Code § 12-19-90) plus local-law charges that can change the total from county to county. Call the probate office for the current total before filing. |
| Local forms | No downloadable estate petition forms are published by Franklin County. |
| E-filing | The office publishes e-recording for recordings and marriage licenses. It does not publish an electronic process for estate petitions. |
| Case lookup | Franklin County online records lookup: https://www.ingprobate.com/Franklin_Probate/ |
| Remote appearance | Ask the probate office when a hearing is set. |
| Website | https://franklincountyal.org/departments/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Russellville, make a working list of the person who died, the assets, debts, heirs, beneficiaries, and any original will. The right Franklin County probate path depends on what exists, who is entitled to receive it, and whether anyone is asking the probate judge to appoint a personal representative.
Estate settlement goes more smoothly when you know what accounts and property are involved. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they prepare a probate packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Franklin County Probate Court at the courthouse in Russellville serves Franklin County. No satellite probate office is published for estate filings.
Alabama venue generally belongs in the probate court of the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. For a decedent who lived outside Alabama, venue may 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, along with a death certificate, asset information, debt information, and names and addresses for heirs and beneficiaries.
- Prepare the petition for the Franklin County Probate Court. Franklin County does not publish a downloadable estate petition packet, so the petition should be prepared carefully before you bring it to the probate office.
- File at the Franklin County Probate Office at 410 N Jackson Ave in Russellville. Call (256) 332-8801 before mailing anything, because the county publishes mail instructions for recordings and marriage licenses, not for estate petitions.
- Pay the filing amount the probate office gives you. Franklin County does not publish a probate filing-fee schedule, and Alabama fees are built from the probate judges' fee schedule and local-law charges (Ala. Code § 12-19-90).
- The probate judge reviews the petition. If the court grants authority, an executor named in a will receives letters testamentary, or an administrator receives letters of administration.
- Publish and give creditor notice as required. Alabama's nonclaim rule generally bars claims not presented within the statutory period, with rules for known or reasonably ascertainable creditors who receive actual notice (Ala. Code § 43-2-350).
- Use Franklin County's online lookup or call the probate office to follow the case. The county portal includes probate case records, but the office should answer questions about what is missing from a particular estate file.
- If a hearing is set, ask the probate office whether the judge will allow any phone or video participation for that hearing.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, paying approved expenses and claims, handling required accountings, and distributing property under the will or Alabama intestacy rules.
- When administration is complete, file the settlement or closing papers the court requires. If a dispute requires circuit court involvement, an interested party may seek removal of an already-opened administration under (Ala. Code § 12-11-41).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Franklin County
Franklin County does not publish downloadable estate or probate petition forms on its county site. The probate office page addresses recordings, marriage licenses, online processes, and copy requests, but it does not provide an estate petition, cover sheet, or checklist.
Alabama also does not provide one public probate packet that works for every county. If you are opening an estate in Franklin County, prepare the petition before filing and call the probate office to ask what local formatting, originals, copies, and payment the office wants.
Local nuance
Franklin County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for Franklin County families |
|---|---|
| County online lookup | The Franklin County Judge of Probate portal offers both land records and probate case records from one online location: https://www.ingprobate.com/Franklin_Probate/. |
| E-recording language | The probate office publishes e-recording for recordings and marriage licenses. That is not the same as an estate-petition e-filing process. |
| Copy requests | The office offers mailed or emailed document copies. Ask the probate office for current copy charges and payment instructions. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Alabama small-estate law | Act 2025-431 changed Alabama summary distribution rules effective October 1, 2025. Franklin County families should use current Alabama rules and confirm local filing instructions with the probate office. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by identifying how the Franklin County home is titled and whether any solely owned assets require probate. If an estate must be opened, file at the Franklin County Probate Office in Russellville. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize property information, and prepare for estate settlement conversations with a local attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Call the Franklin County Probate Office before travel to ask what originals, signatures, and local petition materials are required. Franklin County does not publish an estate petition packet online. | Sunset helps collect asset information remotely and generate a probate packet so the first call to the probate office is more focused. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the child was domiciled in Franklin County, the estate generally starts in the Franklin County Probate Court. A sale of a home can require careful authority and title work before closing. | Sunset helps identify accounts and debts, organize documents for the personal representative, and connect the family with a vetted Alabama probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County Probate Office | Office for Franklin County estate filings and probate questions about local procedure. Staff may explain office procedure. They do not prepare legal documents or give legal advice. | 410 N Jackson Ave, Russellville, AL 35653. PO Box 70, Russellville, AL 35653. (256) 332-8801. |
| Franklin County online records lookup | Online portal for Franklin County land records and probate case records. | https://www.ingprobate.com/Franklin_Probate/ |
| Legal Services Alabama | Statewide civil legal aid for eligible low-income Alabamians. Its listed areas include heirs property and estate planning, but not general estate administration representation. | 866-456-4995. Spanish intake: 888-835-3505. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful when the will is disputed, heirs disagree, real property must be sold, creditors are active, the family is unsure who should serve, or the estate may need action beyond routine probate administration. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search across financial institutions, organize what was found, and build a clearer picture of the estate before filing in Franklin County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns family, asset, debt, and beneficiary information into an organized packet you can review before contacting the probate office or an attorney.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Alabama probate attorney who understands local probate practice.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset supports estate settlement by helping families organize the work, reduce confusion, and move forward without charging families for the core service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Franklin County, Alabama?
File at the Franklin County Probate Office at 410 N Jackson Ave in Russellville. Call (256) 332-8801 before you go so you know what originals, copies, and payment the office wants.
Does Franklin County accept e-filing for estate petitions?
The county publishes e-recording for recordings and marriage licenses, but it does not publish an electronic estate-petition process. For an estate filing, call the probate office before assuming an online process applies.
How do I look up a Franklin County probate case?
Use Franklin County's own online lookup at https://www.ingprobate.com/Franklin_Probate/. The portal offers probate case records and land records. If a specific estate does not appear or the entry is unclear, call the probate office.
Does Franklin County publish local probate forms?
No downloadable estate petition forms are published on the Franklin County site. Prepare the petition before filing and ask the probate office what local submission details it requires.
What is the Franklin County probate filing fee?
Franklin County does not publish a probate filing-fee schedule. Alabama uses the probate judges' fee schedule under (Ala. Code § 12-19-90) together with local-law charges that affect the final amount. Call the probate office for the current total.
Can I attend a Franklin County probate hearing by phone or video?
Franklin County does not publish a standing remote-appearance rule for probate hearings. If the court sets a hearing, ask the probate office whether the judge will allow phone or video participation for that specific hearing.
Do I have to travel to Russellville for a Franklin County estate?
It depends on what the probate judge requires for the filing and any hearing. Out-of-state family members should call the probate office before traveling, especially when an original will or signed petition is involved.
Does Alabama have an estate tax or inheritance tax for a Franklin County estate?
Alabama does not impose a state estate tax or an inheritance tax for current deaths. A federal estate tax return is required only for very large estates.
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.