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Henry County, AL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Local detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Henry County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | Henry County Courthouse, 101 Court Square, Abbeville, AL 36310 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is listed for estate filings. Call before mailing an original will or petition. |
| Phone | (334) 585-3257 |
| Fax | (334) 585-3610 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Filing fee | As published by Henry County in August 2026, Administration is $63.00 plus a separate $105.00 publication check. Probate of Will is $53.00 for five pages or less, with $3.00 per additional page under Ala. Code § 12-19-90, plus listed add-ons when they apply. |
| Local forms | No downloadable estate petition forms are published. The office states that it does not prepare forms or give legal advice. |
| E-filing | Henry County has not published an electronic filing option for estate petitions. Call or email the probate office to ask what it will accept. |
| Case search | Henry County operates its own lookup at https://www.ingprobate.com/henry_probate/ for land records and probate case records. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the probate office when a hearing is being set. |
| Website | https://www.henrycountyal.com/probate |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Henry County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, and whether there is an original will. That information determines whether you are asking for letters testamentary, letters of administration, or another estate settlement path.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can identify accounts before they prepare the probate packet. That is especially useful when the person handling the estate lives outside Henry County or is not sure which accounts are still open.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Henry County Probate Court in Abbeville serves Henry County estate filings. The county also maintains a Headland satellite office at the City of Headland Municipal Complex, 25 Grove Street, Headland, AL 36345, but the county does not state that estate petitions can be filed there, so start with the Abbeville courthouse unless the probate office tells you otherwise.
Alabama venue for probating a will is generally the probate court of the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. For a person who lived outside Alabama, venue can be a county where the person left assets (Ala. Code § 43-8-162).
The jurisdiction process
- Find the original will, if there is one, and gather asset, debt, heir, and beneficiary information before choosing the petition to file.
- Contact the Henry County Probate Office in Abbeville to confirm the correct estate petition, the current fee, whether bond will be addressed, and whether the original will must be delivered with the filing.
- File the petition in the probate office serving Henry County. If the person died with a will, the request is usually for probate of the will and letters testamentary. If there is no will or no willing executor, the request is usually for letters of administration.
- Pay the Henry County filing charges that apply to the case type. The office's August 2026 published list gives separate entries for Administration, Probate of Will, Summary Distribution, claims, closing an estate, and final discharge, and says charges may vary by filing.
- The probate judge reviews the petition and, when the legal requirements are met, issues letters testamentary or letters of administration to the personal representative.
- Give required notices, including creditor publication when required. Alabama's creditor claim period is six months, with additional actual-notice rules for known or reasonably ascertainable creditors (Ala. Code § 43-2-350).
- Use the authority in the letters to collect estate assets, manage claims, pay approved expenses, keep records, and handle distributions only when the court process and creditor rules allow it.
- If an interested person believes the administration needs a circuit court issue after the probate case is open, Alabama law provides a removal procedure before final settlement (Ala. Code § 12-11-41). That is not the starting place for a Henry County estate filing.
- When administration is ready to finish, file the settlement, closing, or discharge documents the Henry County Probate Court requires and pay any remaining per-page or order charges listed by the office.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Henry County
Henry County does not publish downloadable estate petition forms, cover sheets, or estate checklists. Its blank forms list is for vehicle-title and tag matters, not estate filing packets.
The county's Estates and Wills page explains the general estate process but also says the probate judge and staff do not supply legal advice or prepare forms. If you are starting probate in Henry County, call the probate office before you arrive so you know whether to bring an attorney-prepared petition, the original will, death certificate, filing fee, and publication payment.
Fees
Henry County publishes a probate court fee list by case type rather than one total for every estate. As published by the office in August 2026, Administration is $63.00 plus a separate $105.00 check for publication. Probate of Will is $53.00 for five pages or less, with $3.00 per extra page under Ala. Code § 12-19-90, plus $10.00 if bond is needed and a separate $105.00 publication check.
Other listed August 2026 entries include Petition for Summary Distribution at $34.00 plus $3.00 per order and $3.00 per page under Ala. Code § 12-19-90, Claim Against Estate at $11.00 plus $3.00 per page under Ala. Code § 12-19-90, Close an Estate at $8.00 plus $3.00 per page under Ala. Code § 12-19-90, and Final Discharge at $53.00 plus $3.00 per order and $3.00 per page under Ala. Code § 12-19-90. The office's list says charges can vary by filing, documents, or court requirements, so confirm the current amount before filing.
Local nuance
Henry County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Henry County filing |
|---|---|
| No local estate forms are posted | Plan to prepare the petition before visiting the probate office. The office does not prepare forms or choose the probate path for you. |
| Published fee list is case-type based | Administration, Probate of Will, Petition for Summary Distribution, and closing filings have separate line items. Do not assume one all-in filing price. |
| Headland satellite office | The Headland office is open Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for general probate-office services. Confirm with the Abbeville office before taking an estate petition there. |
| County probate lookup | Henry County's own online lookup includes land records and probate case records, which can help families check an opened case before calling the office. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Alabama small-estate law changed effective October 1, 2025 | Act 2025-431 changed the statewide summary distribution ceiling. The current amount is $47,000 under Ala. Code § 43-2-696.02, tied to the combined Article 6 allowances rather than the former annual March calculation. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Henry County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Confirm whether the home passes outside probate and whether any separate assets require a Henry County estate filing. If probate is needed, start with the Abbeville probate office. | Sunset helps identify accounts and documents so the spouse can separate probate assets from assets that may pass another way. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call the Henry County Probate Office before traveling. Ask what petition, original documents, publication payment, and appearance requirements apply, and whether any step can be handled without a visit. | Sunset organizes asset information, generates a probate packet, and helps connect the child with Alabama counsel when local filing help is needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A real-estate sale usually requires careful authority from the probate court and title coordination. Start in Henry County Probate Court if Henry County is the proper venue, then get legal help before signing sale documents. | Sunset helps build the inventory, track accounts and debts, and connect the family with a vetted probate attorney for the sale and estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Henry County Probate Office | Explains local filing procedures, current fees, hours, and how to access the county probate lookup. Staff do not prepare documents or give legal advice. | 101 Court Square, Abbeville, AL 36310. Phone (334) 585-3257. Email [email protected]. |
| Henry County online lookup | Provides access to the county's land records and probate case records search. | https://www.ingprobate.com/henry_probate/ |
| Legal Services Alabama | Statewide civil legal aid for eligible low-income Alabamians. Its listed areas include heirs property and estate planning, but representation depends on eligibility and case priorities. | 866-456-4995, or 888-835-3505 in Spanish. Intake hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build an estate inventory before filing in Henry County. That gives the personal representative a clearer starting point for estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's answers into an organized probate packet so you know what information, documents, and signatures are still missing before you contact the Henry County Probate Office.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal advice, a home sale, a contested issue, or help drafting a petition, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Alabama probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, discover assets, and understand next steps without paying Sunset for the core estate settlement tools.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Henry County, Alabama?
Start with the Henry County Probate Office at the Henry County Courthouse, 101 Court Square, Abbeville, AL 36310. Call (334) 585-3257 before mailing an original will or bringing a petition.
Can I file a Henry County probate case electronically?
Henry County has not published an electronic filing option for estate petitions. Call or email the probate office to ask what filing methods it will accept for your estate.
Does Henry County have local probate forms?
Henry County does not publish downloadable estate petition forms. Its posted blank forms are for vehicle-title and tag matters, and the Estates and Wills page says the office does not prepare forms or give legal advice.
How much does it cost to open probate in Henry County?
As published by Henry County in August 2026, Administration is listed at $63.00 plus a separate $105.00 publication check. Probate of Will is listed at $53.00 for five pages or less, with $3.00 per additional page under Ala. Code § 12-19-90, plus listed add-ons when they apply. Confirm the current total before filing.
Can I look up a Henry County probate case online?
Yes. Henry County operates its own lookup at https://www.ingprobate.com/henry_probate/ for land records and probate case records. If the lookup does not answer your question, call the probate office.
Does the Headland satellite office handle estate filings?
The county lists a Headland satellite office at 25 Grove Street with Tuesday and Thursday hours, but it does not state that estate petitions are accepted there. For a new estate filing, start with the Abbeville office unless the probate office gives you different instructions.
Will I have to attend a Henry County probate hearing by phone, video, or at the courthouse?
Henry County does not publish a standing remote-appearance rule for estate matters. Ask the probate office about phone or video permission when a hearing is scheduled.
Do I have to travel to Abbeville if I live outside Alabama?
Not always for every task, but do not assume. Call the Henry County Probate Office before traveling to ask about original document delivery, signatures, payment, the Headland office, and whether the court expects an appearance.
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.