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Jefferson County, AL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Jefferson County Probate Court |
| Birmingham Division | 716 North Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35203 |
| Bessemer Division | 1801 3rd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020 |
| Mailing | Use the division address for the division handling the estate. The court does not publish a separate P.O. box. |
| Phone | Birmingham: (205) 325-5420. Bessemer: (205) 481-4100. |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. |
| Filing fee | Jefferson County schedule effective October 15, 2025: $175.00 to probate a will, $57.00 for administration, and $50.00 for summary distribution. Confirm the total with the division when you file. |
| Local forms | No downloadable petition packet for opening an estate. The court publishes a Notice of Probate packet for notice to the Alabama Medicaid Agency. |
| E-filing | Jefferson County runs Benchmark Web through its Pioneer case management system. The court describes it for attorneys, and it requires a log-in. A self-represented filer should ask the Birmingham or Bessemer division how to deliver the petition. |
| Case and document search | Landmark Web covers real property and marriage records. Estate case access is handled through the division or through Benchmark Web for credentialed users. |
| Remote appearance | The court does not publish a phone or video appearance policy. Ask the division handling the estate when a hearing is set. |
| Website | https://jeffcoprobatecourt.com/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Jefferson County probate path, build a working list of what the person owned and owed. Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and policies families may not know about, which helps match the estate settlement plan to the right filing before fees and notices are triggered.
Debts matter early in Jefferson County. The court's schedule effective October 15, 2025 lists $95.00 for notice to creditors and $14.00 for a claim filed against an estate, and Alabama's claims deadline makes creditor information part of the filing strategy, not an afterthought.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Jefferson County Probate Court serves Jefferson County through two probate divisions: the Birmingham Division at 716 North Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. and the Bessemer Division at 1801 3rd Avenue North. The court does not publish a boundary rule for which division handles a particular estate, so call the division you believe is yours before filing.
Probate venue is generally the probate court of the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a nonresident decedent, a county where the decedent left assets (Ala. Code § 43-8-162). Jefferson County includes communities such as Birmingham, Bessemer, Hoover, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Gardendale, Fultondale, Trussville, Center Point, Irondale, Leeds, Pleasant Grove, Fairfield, Midfield and Hueytown, but a mailing address alone does not answer which county or division should handle the estate.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that the estate belongs in Jefferson County. Use the county of the decedent's domicile at death, or, for a nonresident decedent, a county where assets were left (Ala. Code § 43-8-162).
- Call the division you think should handle the estate before filing. The Birmingham Division is at 716 North Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., (205) 325-5420, and the Bessemer Division is at 1801 3rd Avenue North, (205) 481-4100. Both are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- If there is a will, get the original will. A person holding the will after death has a duty to deliver it to someone able to have it probated (Ala. Code § 43-8-270), and a will must be filed for probate within five years of death (Ala. Code § 43-8-161).
- Decide what filing is being opened. Jefferson County's schedule effective October 15, 2025 lists $175.00 to probate a will, $57.00 for administration, and $50.00 for summary distribution.
- Prepare the petition. Jefferson County does not publish a downloadable petition packet for opening an estate, and the court states that its employees are prohibited from practicing law or giving legal advice.
- Complete the Jefferson County Notice of Probate packet. The packet includes notice to the Alabama Medicaid Agency, certified-mail instructions, and an affidavit of certified mailing to file back into the probate case.
- File with the correct division. Both counters take filings during published hours. Jefferson County also runs Benchmark Web, which the court describes for attorneys filing certain new cases and pleadings through its case management platform. A self-represented filer should ask the division how to deliver the petition.
- Pay the Jefferson County cost for the proceeding. Use the court's schedule effective October 15, 2025 and confirm the total with the division before filing.
- The probate judge acts on the petition. The court states that most self-proved wills are admitted in Jefferson County without a hearing when the proper petitions and waivers are filed. A hearing is held when the will is not self-proved, when minors or incapacitated persons are involved, or when a next of kin cannot be located.
- Receive the authority document. Letters testamentary issue when there is a will, and letters of administration issue when there is no will.
- Publish notice to creditors and give individual notice to known creditors. Jefferson County lists notice to creditors at $95.00 on its schedule effective October 15, 2025. Claims are barred if not presented within six months, and a creditor entitled to actual notice receives 30 days from that notice (Ala. Code § 43-2-350).
- File the inventory and administer the estate. Jefferson County lists inventory filing at $14.00 for the first page on its schedule effective October 15, 2025, plus a charge for each additional page.
- Sell estate property if needed and if approved. Jefferson County lists petitions to sell land and publications such as notice of sale at $175.00 on its schedule effective October 15, 2025.
- Close the estate through settlement. Jefferson County lists final or partial settlements at $125.00 and consent settlements at $16.00, including a certified copy of the final decree, on its schedule effective October 15, 2025.
- If an interested party seeks removal of an already-opened administration, that request is made under Alabama's removal statute (Ala. Code § 12-11-41). Jefferson County is different from many Alabama counties because the probate court states that it has equity jurisdiction and hears will contests, claims against estates, exemptions, and estate property sale issues.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Jefferson County
Jefferson County does not publish a downloadable petition packet for opening an estate. Its page titled Probate Forms carries no estate petition content, so a filer should not expect a local fill-in packet for letters testamentary or letters of administration.
The estate-specific packet Jefferson County does publish is the Notice of Probate packet. It contains instructions, a fillable notice to the Alabama Medicaid Agency, and an affidavit of certified mailing to file back with the court. The court's instruction sheet says the packet applies to every post-death estate.
The probate office can answer routing and filing-delivery questions, but its employees cannot provide legal advice or prepare filings for you.
Fees
Jefferson County publishes a judicial filing fee schedule effective October 15, 2025. Alabama law includes statutory probate fee items, but it does not give families one uniform total for every county, and Jefferson's local schedule is the practical starting point for a Jefferson County estate settlement.
| Filing item | Jefferson County amount |
|---|---|
| Probate of a will | $175.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
| Administration | $57.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
| Successor letters | $56.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
| Notice to creditors | $95.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
| Claim against an estate | $14.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
| Objection to claim | $175.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
| Final or partial settlement | $125.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
| Consent settlement | $16.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
| Insolvency | $150.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
| Sale of land or related publication | $175.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
| Summary distribution | $50.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
| Bond approval and recording | $21.00, schedule effective October 15, 2025 |
Some filings have additional page charges or publication charges. Confirm the total with the Birmingham or Bessemer division before filing.
Local nuance
Jefferson County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for an estate |
|---|---|
| Two probate divisions | Jefferson County operates a Birmingham Division and a Bessemer Division. Both are probate offices of the same court, both are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the court does not publish a rule assigning estates between them. Call before you file. |
| Equity jurisdiction | Jefferson County's elected probate judges are licensed attorneys, and the court states that it has equity jurisdiction. The court says its judges hear will contests, claims against estates, exemptions, and sales of real and personal property. |
| Most self-proved wills do not need a hearing | The court states that most wills are admitted without a hearing when the will is self-proved and the proper petitions and waivers are filed. A hearing is held when the will is not self-proved, when minors or incapacitated persons are involved, or when a next of kin cannot be located. |
| Dated fee schedule | Jefferson County publishes itemized judicial costs effective October 15, 2025, including $175.00 to probate a will and $57.00 for administration. |
| Medicaid notice packet | The court publishes a Notice of Probate packet for notice to the Alabama Medicaid Agency and an affidavit of certified mailing to return to the estate file. |
| Online systems are limited by type | Landmark Web covers real property and marriage records. Benchmark Web is the court's case platform and is described for attorneys with credentials. |
Recent updates
| Change | What it means |
|---|---|
| Jefferson County fee schedule effective October 15, 2025 | The schedule lists $175.00 to probate a will, $57.00 for administration, $95.00 for notice to creditors, $125.00 for final or partial settlements, and $50.00 for summary distribution. |
| Alabama small-estate law changed effective October 1, 2025 | Act 2025-431 changed the statewide summary distribution rules and tied the ceiling to combined statutory allowances (Ala. Code § 43-2-696.02). For the current ceiling, use the Alabama state probate page or ask the probate office. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by calling the Birmingham or Bessemer division because Jefferson County does not publish the division boundary for estates. If there is a will, the original will is filed with the petition, and Jefferson County lists probate of a will at $175.00 on its schedule effective October 15, 2025. If there is no will, administration is listed at $57.00 on the same schedule. How the home passes depends on the deed, and the same probate office maintains the county's real property records. | Sunset helps identify accounts, policies, and debts before the petition is drafted, so the estate settlement path matches the property and the family's goals. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the division first: Birmingham at (205) 325-5420 or Bessemer at (205) 481-4100. Landmark Web can help review Jefferson County property and marriage records before travel. Jefferson County lists summary distribution at $50.00 on its schedule effective October 15, 2025, and the court's Notice of Probate packet requires certified-mail notice to the Alabama Medicaid Agency with an affidavit filed back into the case. | Sunset helps assemble the asset picture remotely, so the route, the division, and the documents can be sorted before anything is sent to Alabama. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | With no will, Jefferson County lists administration at $57.00 on its schedule effective October 15, 2025. A later petition to sell land is listed at $175.00 on the same schedule, and notice to creditors is listed at $95.00. Claims are barred if not presented within six months, with known creditors entitled to individual notice (Ala. Code § 43-2-350). The deed out of the estate is recorded through the probate office, and Landmark Web can help review the property documents. | Sunset helps surface debts and accounts tied to the home early, so the sale is not delayed by a claim or account the family did not know about. |
Self-help resources
| Help option | How to use it | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Services Alabama | Statewide intake is 866-456-4995, with online applications accepted. The Birmingham office is at 1820 7th Ave North, Suite 200, Birmingham, AL 35203, and its direct line is 205-328-3540. | Free civil legal help is subject to eligibility and case-type priorities. The program lists heirs property and estate planning, not estate administration representation. |
| Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham | Call 205.250.5198. Intake hours are 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. | The program lists wills and estate planning among its service categories. Ask whether your issue fits its current priorities. |
| Birmingham Bar Association lawyer referral | Call (205) 251-8006 to ask for a lawyer referral in the Birmingham area. | A referral service helps you find counsel. It does not replace legal advice from the attorney you choose. |
| AlabamaLegalHelp.org | Legal Services Alabama names this as its companion self-help and referral website. | Use it as an information starting point and confirm probate filing questions with the Jefferson County Probate Office. |
| Jefferson County Probate Office | Call Birmingham at (205) 325-5420 or Bessemer at (205) 481-4100 for division routing, counter procedures, fee totals, and hearing logistics. | The court states that its employees are prohibited from practicing law or giving legal advice. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful in Jefferson County when the will is not self-proved, when minors or incapacitated persons are involved, when a next of kin cannot be located, when a house must be sold, when heirs disagree, when a claim dispute appears, or when the estate may be insolvent. Jefferson County publishes no petition packet for opening an estate, and its employees cannot provide legal advice. Sunset connects you to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build a clearer inventory before choosing a Jefferson County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for the petition, notices, asset list, and follow-up filings, which matters in Jefferson County because the court does not publish a fill-in petition packet for opening an estate.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a hearing, a will contest, a home sale, creditor disputes, or questions about the Birmingham and Bessemer divisions, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Jefferson County probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset provides estate settlement guidance, asset discovery, document organization, and attorney connections without charging families for using the platform.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Jefferson County, Alabama?
File in the Jefferson County Probate Court, which has two divisions: Birmingham at 716 North Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35203, (205) 325-5420, and Bessemer at 1801 3rd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020, (205) 481-4100. Both are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The court does not publish a rule for which division handles which estate, so call before filing.
Why does Jefferson County have two probate divisions?
Jefferson County has a Birmingham Division and a Bessemer Division. The court describes both offices as providing services under the probate judge, the deputy probate judge, and the chief clerk, and it describes itself as serving residents in the Bessemer Cut-off and the Birmingham Division.
How much does it cost to file probate in Jefferson County?
Jefferson County's schedule effective October 15, 2025 lists $175.00 to probate a will, $57.00 for administration, $95.00 for notice to creditors, $14.00 to file a claim against an estate, $125.00 for a final or partial settlement, and $50.00 for summary distribution. Confirm the total with the division where you file.
Can I e-file a probate petition in Jefferson County?
Jefferson County runs Benchmark Web through its Pioneer case management system. The court describes Benchmark Web as allowing attorneys to file certain new cases and additional pleadings and to view their own cases, and it requires a log-in. If you are not working with an attorney, ask the Birmingham or Bessemer division how it wants the petition delivered.
Does Jefferson County have probate forms I can download?
Jefferson County does not publish a downloadable petition packet for opening an estate. It does publish a Notice of Probate packet for notice to the Alabama Medicaid Agency, including certified-mail instructions and an affidavit of certified mailing to file with the court.
How do I look up a probate case in Jefferson County?
Landmark Web is Jefferson County's free online search for real property and marriage records, with an account needed to print documents. Estate case files are handled through the division or through Benchmark Web for credentialed users, so contact the division handling the estate for access questions.
Will there be a hearing to admit a will in Jefferson County?
The court states that most self-proved wills are admitted in Jefferson County without a hearing if the proper petitions and waivers are filed. A hearing is held when the will is not self-proved, when minors or incapacitated persons are involved, or when the location of a next of kin is unknown.
Can I attend a Jefferson County probate hearing by phone or video?
The Jefferson County Probate Court sets that practice, and the court does not publish a phone or video appearance policy. Ask the division handling the estate when the matter is set.
Does the Jefferson County Probate Court handle contested estate matters?
Yes. Jefferson County's elected probate judges are licensed attorneys, and the court states that it has equity jurisdiction. The court lists will contests, claims against estates, exemptions, and sales of real and personal property among the matters its judges hear.
Do I have to travel to Birmingham to settle an estate in Jefferson County?
Not for every step. Jefferson County also has a Bessemer Division, both divisions answer by phone, Landmark Web can be used for property and marriage records, and attorneys can use the court's credentialed e-filing platform. Counter filings and hearings are handled by the division assigned to the estate, so ask that division before planning 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.