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Washington County, AL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Washington County Probate Court |
| Courthouse address | 45 Court St, Chatom, AL 36518 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 549, Chatom, AL 36518 |
| Phone | (251) 847-2201 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. These are the county government's published hours, so call before making a time-sensitive filing. |
| Filing fee | Washington County does not publish a single estate filing total. Fees follow the probate judges' fee schedule plus local-law charges, so call the probate office for the current total (Ala. Code § 12-19-90). |
| Local forms | No downloadable Washington County estate petition forms are published. |
| E-filing | No electronic filing option for estate petitions is published. Call or email the probate office before sending a packet. |
| Case lookup | Washington County provides an online lookup for land and probate case files at ingprobate.com/washington_probate. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the probate office when a hearing is set. The county does not publish a standing phone or video appearance rule for estate matters. |
| Website | washprobate.com |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Chatom, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, vehicles, accounts, and any will. The probate path depends on what has to be transferred and whether someone needs court-issued authority to act for the estate.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts before choosing an estate settlement path. That preparation makes the first call to the Washington County Probate Office more useful, especially because the office does not publish a fee total or downloadable estate petition packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Washington County Probate Court in Chatom serves estate filings for Washington County. No satellite probate office is published for estate filings.
Venue belongs in the probate court for the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. For a decedent who lived outside Alabama, venue may be in an Alabama county where the decedent left assets (Ala. Code § 43-8-162).
The jurisdiction process
- Find the will, asset list, debt list, and family information before opening the estate. A person holding the will after death has a duty to deliver it to someone able to secure probate (Ala. Code § 43-8-270).
- Prepare the opening petition and supporting documents. If the decedent left a will, the requested authority is usually letters testamentary. If there is no will or no executor able to serve, the requested authority is usually letters of administration.
- File the packet with the Washington County Probate Office at 45 Court St in Chatom. If you plan to use the PO Box, call first to ask what the office will accept by mail and how it wants originals handled.
- Confirm the filing cost with the probate office before filing. Washington County does not publish a single estate filing total, and Alabama probate fees include the statutory schedule plus local-law charges (Ala. Code § 12-19-90).
- The probate judge reviews the petition and addresses any bond, notice, hearing, or additional-document requirements. If the matter becomes contested or requires relief outside ordinary probate administration, an interested party may seek removal of the administration to the circuit court after the probate case has been opened (Ala. Code § 12-11-41).
- Publish notice to creditors and give required actual notice to known or reasonably ascertainable creditors. Alabama's nonclaim rule bars claims after six months, with a 30-day period after actual notice for a creditor entitled to that notice (Ala. Code § 43-2-350).
- Ask the probate office about hearing logistics when a hearing is set. Washington County does not publish a standing phone or video appearance rule for estate hearings.
- After appointment, use the letters testamentary or letters of administration to collect assets, protect property, communicate with creditors, and manage the estate settlement.
- When administration is ready to end, prepare the settlement or closing papers required by the probate court and address any final accounting, distribution, or sale issues before asking the court to close the estate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Washington County
Washington County does not publish downloadable estate petition forms, a local estate cover sheet, or an estate checklist on its probate pages. Call the Washington County Probate Office at (251) 847-2201 or email [email protected] before preparing a filing packet.
Do not rely on a form from another Washington County or another state. Alabama filings go to the Washington County Probate Court in Chatom, and the probate office can tell you its current intake procedure, fee total, and original-document requirements.
Local nuance
Washington County-specific considerations
Washington County uses a separate probate website, washprobate.com, in addition to the county government site. That probate site links to the county's online lookup for land and probate case files.
The online lookup is local to Washington County, Alabama. If the portal does not show the case or file you need, call the probate office at (251) 847-2201 rather than using Alabama's state trial-court search tools.
Recent updates
| Date | Change | What it means in Washington County |
|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2025 | Act 2025-431 revised Alabama summary distribution rules. | If you are considering a small-estate path, ask the Washington County Probate Office which current local filing, publication, and notice steps it requires before relying on an older form. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home is titled and whether any assets require letters testamentary or letters of administration from the Washington County Probate Court. If a probate filing is needed, call the Chatom probate office for current filing instructions and the fee total. | Sunset helps organize assets, debts, title questions, and the filing packet so the spouse can choose the right estate settlement path. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Ask the Washington County Probate Office whether summary distribution fits the assets and what local publication and original-document steps apply. If a hearing is set, ask about phone or video permission when the date is scheduled. | Sunset helps the child identify accounts, prepare questions for the probate office, and connect with Alabama counsel if local representation is needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires full probate administration through the Washington County Probate Court, especially if no deed or title arrangement already transfers the property. The appointed personal representative will use letters to work through sale authority, creditors, and distribution. | Sunset helps gather asset information, prepare the estate settlement packet, and find a local probate attorney for sale or title issues. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Washington County Probate Office | Provides local filing procedures, fee totals, hearing logistics, and access to probate case files. Staff can explain office procedures but cannot prepare documents or give legal advice. | 45 Court St, PO Box 549, Chatom, AL 36518. Phone: (251) 847-2201. Email: [email protected]. |
| Washington County online lookup | Lets users look up land and probate case files through the county's own portal. | ingprobate.com/washington_probate |
| Legal Services Alabama | Statewide free civil legal help for low-income Alabamians, subject to eligibility and case priorities. LSA lists heirs property and estate planning, but it does not advertise estate administration representation. | Statewide intake: 866-456-4995. Spanish intake: 888-835-3505. Intake hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially helpful if the will is contested, heirs disagree, real estate must be sold, creditors are significant, a business is involved, or the family is unsure whether summary distribution or full administration fits the estate. The probate office can explain filing procedures, but it cannot choose a legal strategy for you. When that is the better next step, Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, vehicles, real estate questions, and debts before filing in Washington County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized estate settlement packet that is easier to review with the Washington County Probate Office or an attorney.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a home sale, a dispute, creditor issues, or questions about who should serve, Sunset can connect the family with Alabama probate counsel.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the next steps, organize the work, and move forward without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Washington County, Alabama?
File with the Washington County Probate Office at 45 Court St in Chatom. The mailing address is PO Box 549, Chatom, AL 36518. Call (251) 847-2201 before mailing originals or time-sensitive papers.
Does Washington County publish probate forms online?
No downloadable estate petition forms, estate cover sheet, or estate checklist are published for Washington County. Call or email the probate office before preparing the filing packet.
Can I e-file an estate petition in Washington County?
Washington County has not published an electronic filing option for estate petitions. Ask the probate office what delivery methods it currently accepts.
How much is the probate filing fee in Washington County?
Washington County does not publish a single estate filing total. Alabama probate fees use the probate judges' fee schedule plus local-law charges, so call the probate office for the current amount before filing (Ala. Code § 12-19-90).
Can I look up a Washington County probate case online?
Yes. The Washington County probate website links to an online lookup for land and probate case files at ingprobate.com/washington_probate. If the portal does not show what you need, contact the probate office.
Can I attend a Washington County probate hearing by phone or video?
The county does not publish a standing phone or video appearance rule for estate hearings. Ask the probate office about appearance options when the hearing is scheduled.
Do I have to travel to Chatom for probate?
It depends on what the probate judge requires for your filing or hearing. Start by calling the probate office to ask what can be handled before a visit, what requires originals, and what appearance rules apply to your matter.
What authority does a personal representative receive in Washington County?
If the probate court appoints an executor under a will, the authority document is letters testamentary. If there is no will or no executor able to serve, the authority document is letters of administration.
Can Legal Services Alabama handle my Washington County estate case?
Legal Services Alabama provides free civil legal help for eligible low-income Alabamians and lists heirs property and estate planning among its work. It does not advertise estate administration representation, so call the statewide intake line at 866-456-4995 to ask what help may be available.
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.