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Lowndes County, AL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Lowndes County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Lowndes County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | 1 South Washington St, Hayneville, AL 36040 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 5, Hayneville, AL 36040 |
| Phone | 334-548-2843 or 334-548-2365 |
| Fax | 334-548-5399 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Filing fee | No dated Lowndes County estate fee schedule is published. Alabama probate charges start with the statutory fee schedule in Ala. Code § 12-19-90 and may include local-law charges, so call the probate office for the current total before filing. |
| Local forms | No downloadable Lowndes County estate petition, cover sheet, or checklist is published on the probate office page. |
| E-filing | No electronic estate-filing route is published. Ask the probate office how it wants estate papers submitted. |
| Case search | Lowndes County uses an Ingenuity portal at https://www.ingprobate.com/Lowndes_Probate/default.aspx for land records and probate case records. Records from February 28, 2002 forward are searchable there, with older materials labeled separately as historical records. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Lowndes County Probate Office when a hearing is set. Phone or video attendance depends on the court's permission in the specific matter. |
| Website | https://lowndes-al.gov/government/departments/probate_office/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Lowndes County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles, and any will. The right estate settlement route depends on what exists, who has authority to act, and whether the estate needs letters testamentary or letters of administration.
Sunset can help organize that first pass by searching across 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then turning the results into a practical estate settlement checklist for filing in Hayneville.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Lowndes County Probate Court serves Lowndes County from the probate office in Hayneville. No separate satellite probate office is published for estate filings.
For an Alabama resident, venue is generally the probate court of the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. For a nonresident decedent, venue may be a county where the decedent left assets, and venue may also be proper in a county designated under Alabama's will-venue rule (Ala. Code § 43-8-162).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, heirs, beneficiaries, and any original will. If someone has the will after death, Alabama law requires delivery to a person able to secure probate (Ala. Code § 43-8-270).
- Prepare the petition for the correct Alabama estate path. Lowndes County does not publish a downloadable estate packet, so call the probate office before filing if you need its current filing preferences.
- File the petition in the Lowndes County Probate Office at 1 South Washington St in Hayneville, or mail papers to PO Box 5, Hayneville, AL 36040 if the office approves that method for your filing.
- Confirm the current filing total before you submit payment. Lowndes County does not publish a dated estate fee schedule, and Alabama probate fees may combine the statutory schedule in Ala. Code § 12-19-90 with local-law charges.
- Follow the court's notice instructions after the probate judge opens the matter. Alabama creditor claims are generally barred after six months, with additional actual-notice rules for known or reasonably ascertainable creditors (Ala. Code § 43-2-350).
- Ask the probate office how hearings are scheduled and whether the judge will allow phone or video attendance for your situation.
- If the petition is granted, the probate judge issues letters testamentary for an executor named in a will or letters of administration for an administrator when there is no will or no qualifying executor.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, paying allowed claims and expenses, handling taxes that apply to the estate, keeping records, and seeking the court's approval to close when administration is ready for final settlement.
- If a dispute requires relief beyond the probate court's authority, an interested party may seek removal of the administration to the circuit court after the probate case has been opened in probate court (Ala. Code § 12-11-41).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lowndes County
Lowndes County does not publish a downloadable local estate petition, cover sheet, or checklist on its probate office page. Call the probate office before you file to ask what papers, copies, payment method, and original documents it expects for your specific estate settlement.
The probate office also states that it cannot give legal advice and directs residents to an attorney of their choosing. That means the office can answer filing logistics, but it should not be expected to choose a probate path or draft your petition.
Local nuance
Lowndes County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Lowndes County |
|---|---|
| County probate record portal | Lowndes County's Ingenuity portal includes both land records and probate case records. The portal labels records from February 28, 2002 forward as searchable online and treats earlier materials as historical records. |
| Single published probate office | The published Lowndes County probate office is in Hayneville. No separate satellite probate office is published for estate filings. |
| No downloadable estate packet | The county probate page does not publish local estate forms, so callers should ask the probate office about current filing logistics before preparing a packet. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Small-estate law effective October 1, 2025 | Act 2025-431 changed Alabama summary distribution by tying the small-estate amount to the combined Article 6 allowances. The current amount is $47,000 under Ala. Code § 43-2-696.02, and the state page explains the statewide rule in detail. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Lowndes County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home was titled and whether there are probate assets beyond the co-owned property. If an estate must be opened, file in the Lowndes County Probate Office in Hayneville and ask whether a hearing may be handled by phone or video permission. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title and debt information, and prepare a filing checklist so the spouse can see what belongs in probate and what may pass outside it. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Confirm whether the estate has only personal property and whether Alabama's summary distribution path fits. If a filing is needed in Lowndes County, call the probate office about submission logistics, payment, publication instructions, and whether the original will must be delivered. | Sunset helps collect account information remotely, sort personal property from real estate, and connect the child with a Lowndes County probate attorney if local filing help is needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of a home usually requires full estate administration rather than a personal-property shortcut. The parent should expect to seek appointment as administrator or executor in the Lowndes County Probate Court before acting for the estate. | Sunset helps build an asset list, flag lender and tax issues to discuss with counsel, and generate an estate settlement packet for attorney review. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it can help | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Lowndes County Probate Office | Answers filing logistics, office-hours, fee-total, record-access, and hearing-scheduling questions for Lowndes County probate matters. The office does not choose a legal strategy or prepare legal advice for you. | 1 South Washington St, Hayneville, AL 36040. Phone 334-548-2843 or 334-548-2365. |
| Legal Services Alabama | Statewide civil legal aid for eligible Alabamians. Its published work includes heirs property and estate planning, but it does not advertise estate administration representation. | Intake and hotline: 866-456-4995. Online applications are accepted through Legal Services Alabama. |
| AlabamaLegalHelp.org | Legal Services Alabama points the public to this companion self-help and referral site. | www.alabamalegalhelp.org |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the will is disputed, heirs do not agree, real estate must be sold, a creditor issue is likely, a business or mineral interest is involved, or you live outside Alabama and need someone to handle local filing and hearing logistics. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other estate information so the family can start with a clearer inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns what you know into an organized estate settlement packet with the details a Lowndes County filing or attorney review usually needs.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, contested-hearing help, or real estate authority, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Alabama probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the work, understand next steps, and decide what support they need without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Lowndes County?
File through the Lowndes County Probate Office at 1 South Washington St in Hayneville. The mailing address is PO Box 5, Hayneville, AL 36040.
What is the phone number for the Lowndes County Probate Office?
The published probate office numbers are 334-548-2843 and 334-548-2365. The published fax number is 334-548-5399.
Does Lowndes County publish probate forms online?
No downloadable Lowndes County estate petition, cover sheet, or checklist is published on the probate office page. Call the office before filing to ask what it currently requires.
Can I e-file an estate case in Lowndes County?
The county does not publish an electronic estate-filing path. Ask the Lowndes County Probate Office how it wants your petition, original will, copies, and payment submitted.
Can I look up a Lowndes County probate case online?
Yes. Lowndes County's Ingenuity portal includes a link for probate case records, along with land records. The portal labels records from February 28, 2002 forward as searchable and treats earlier materials as historical records.
What does it cost to file probate in Lowndes County?
Lowndes County does not publish a dated estate fee schedule. Call the probate office for the current total because Alabama probate charges may include statutory amounts under Ala. Code § 12-19-90 and local-law charges.
Will I have to travel to Hayneville for a probate hearing?
Ask the probate office when the hearing is being scheduled. Whether a phone or video appearance is allowed is decided by the Lowndes County Probate Court for the specific matter.
Who issues letters testamentary or letters of administration in Lowndes County?
The Lowndes County probate judge acts on the petition. If the petition is granted, the court issues letters testamentary for an executor named in a will or letters of administration for an administrator.
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.