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Marion County, AL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Marion County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Marion County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | 132 Military St S, Hamilton, AL 35570 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 1687, Hamilton, AL 35570 |
| Phone | (205) 921-2471 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Filing fee | Marion County does not list a probate filing total on its probate pages. Ask the probate office for the current amount because Alabama probate charges use Ala. Code § 12-19-90 plus local-law charges. |
| Local forms | No downloadable estate petition, cover sheet or checklist is listed. The probate office says it cannot provide forms or legal advice. |
| E-filing | No electronic filing path for estate petitions is listed. Call before relying on an online route. |
| Case search | Marion County's online lookup offers land records, probate case records and marriage records. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the probate office when a hearing is set. |
| Website | https://www.marioncountyal.org/home/departments/probate-office/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Marion County, identify the assets, debts, account holders, real property, vehicles and beneficiary designations. The right estate settlement path depends on what is actually in the estate, not just on whether there is a will.
Sunset's asset discovery searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions so you can find accounts before you prepare a petition for the Marion County Probate Court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Marion County Probate Court in Hamilton serves Marion County from the courthouse at 132 Military St S. No separate Marion County probate satellite office is listed.
Alabama venue for probate of a will is generally 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, death information, a list of known assets and debts, and contact information for heirs and people named in the will.
- Choose the correct petition for the situation. Marion County does not publish estate petition forms, and the probate office says it cannot provide forms or legal advice.
- File the petition with the Marion County Probate Office at the courthouse in Hamilton. If you plan to mail anything, call (205) 921-2471 first to ask what the office wants included.
- Ask the probate office for the current filing total before filing. Marion County does not list a local probate fee schedule online, and Alabama probate charges use Ala. Code § 12-19-90 plus local-law charges.
- The probate judge reviews the filing and decides whether a hearing or additional information is needed. If a hearing is set, ask the probate office whether any phone or video option is allowed for that hearing.
- After the court appoints a personal representative, the court issues letters testamentary for an executor under a will or letters of administration for an administrator when there is no admitted will.
- Publish and send creditor notice as required. Alabama's nonclaim rule generally bars claims not presented within six months, with a 30-day period after actual notice for creditors entitled to that notice (Ala. Code § 43-2-350).
- Use the letters to collect estate assets, pay approved expenses and claims, keep records, and complete any court-required inventory or settlement steps before distribution.
- If a dispute requires a type of relief the Marion County Probate Court cannot decide, an interested party may seek removal of the already-opened administration to the circuit court under Ala. Code § 12-11-41.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Marion County
Marion County does not list downloadable estate administration petitions, probate cover sheets or estate checklists on its probate pages. Its Summary Distributions page states that the Probate Court and its staff are not permitted to give legal advice or provide forms.
Plan to have the petition prepared before you file. If you are unsure which petition fits the estate, speak with a probate attorney before submitting paperwork to the Marion County Probate Office.
Local nuance
Marion County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| County-run lookup | Marion County's probate portal includes land records, probate case records and marriage records in one online lookup. |
| No estate form packet listed | The probate office does not list downloadable estate petition forms and says it cannot provide forms or legal advice. |
| Fee total not listed online | Call (205) 921-2471 before filing to ask for the current total and accepted payment method. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Act 2025-431 | Effective October 1, 2025, Alabama changed the summary distribution valuation rule under Ala. Code § 43-2-696.02. County pages should use current Alabama law rather than older local summaries. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Marion County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home is titled, what debts exist, and whether any probate estate is needed. If a court estate is needed, file in the Marion County Probate Office in Hamilton. | Sunset helps organize asset and debt information for estate settlement before you prepare the petition. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Call the Marion County Probate Office before mailing anything, because the county does not list estate forms or an electronic filing path for estate petitions. | Sunset helps find accounts and can connect you with a Marion County probate attorney so you do not have to guess at the filing packet. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires clear authority from the probate process or other title documents. If probate is needed, open the estate in the Marion County Probate Court and ask counsel about sale authority. | Sunset helps gather financial information, prepare for attorney review, and keep estate settlement tasks organized. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Marion County Probate Office | Explains local filing procedures, receives probate filings and provides access to the court's own online lookup. The office cannot prepare forms or give legal advice. | 132 Military St S, Hamilton, AL 35570. Phone: (205) 921-2471. |
| Marion County online records lookup | Searches land records, probate case records and marriage records through the county's probate portal. | https://altags.com/Marion_Probate/default.aspx |
| Legal Services Alabama | Statewide civil legal aid for eligible low-income Alabamians. Its listed areas include heirs property and estate planning, but not estate administration representation. | 866-456-4995. Spanish line: 888-835-3505. |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Marion County if you need forms drafted, a home must be sold, heirs disagree, creditors are involved, the will may be contested, or you are handling the case from outside Alabama. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help locate accounts, balances and assets that may belong in the estate.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset helps turn estate information into an organized probate packet so you can approach the Marion County Probate Office or an attorney with the key details in one place.
Find a local probate attorney
If the estate needs legal drafting, sale authority, dispute help or removal guidance, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Alabama probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families using its estate settlement tools, including asset discovery, task organization and attorney matching.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Marion County, Alabama?
File with the Marion County Probate Office at the courthouse in Hamilton. The courthouse address is 132 Military St S, Hamilton, AL 35570.
What phone number should I use for the Marion County Probate Office?
Call (205) 921-2471 for probate office questions, including the current filing total and what to include with a petition.
Does Marion County list probate forms online?
No. Marion County does not list downloadable estate petition forms, cover sheets or estate checklists. The probate office says it cannot provide forms or legal advice.
Can I e-file an estate petition in Marion County?
Marion County does not list an electronic filing path for estate petitions. Call the probate office before relying on any online route.
Can I look up a Marion County probate case online?
Yes. Marion County's own online lookup includes probate case records, along with land records and marriage records.
What is the Marion County probate filing fee?
Marion County does not list a probate filing total online. Ask the probate office for the current amount because Alabama probate charges use Ala. Code § 12-19-90 plus local-law charges.
Will Marion County let me attend a probate hearing by phone or video?
The Marion County Probate Court sets hearing arrangements. Ask the probate office about any phone or video option when a hearing is scheduled.
Do I have to travel to Hamilton for Marion County probate?
Not always, but the county does not list an electronic filing path for estate petitions. If you live outside Marion County, call (205) 921-2471 before mailing documents or making travel plans.
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.