Category Archives: <span class="page-description">Wills & Probate</span>

Posted by Steven A. Harris | Wills & Probate

When most people think about estate planning, they think about wills, trusts, and physical property. But in 2026, a growing portion of what we own exists entirely online — bank accounts, investment portfolios, cryptocurrency, social media profiles, email archives, cloud storage, and digital subscriptions. Without a plan for these digital assets, your family could face …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Wills & Probate

When someone names you the executor of their estate, they are handing you one of the most trusted jobs in Alabama law. You are the person who steps into their financial shoes after they are gone, settles what they owed, protects what they built, and hands the rest to the people they loved. It is …

Continue reading "Executor’s Checklist: Step-by-Step Guide to Probate in Alabama"

Posted by Steven A. Harris | Wills & Probate

When a loved one dies, somebody has to step in and actually handle the estate. In Alabama, that person is the Personal Representative, and the job is bigger than most families expect. It is part accountant, part referee, part errand runner, and part fiduciary with real legal exposure. If you have been named in a …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Wills & Probate

A will is “executed” the moment it is properly signed. When you write a will in Alabama, assuming you are at least 18 years old, of sound mind, and you follow the signing formalities the law requires, the will is considered executed at the time you and your witnesses sign it, and it remains good …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Wills & Probate

One question I get all the time is: do you have to go through Probate Court when a loved one dies in Alabama? The short answer is no, not always. Plenty of assets pass to the people who are supposed to receive them without a judge ever getting involved. But there are also situations where …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Wills & Probate

If you’ve been named executor of a loved one’s estate in Alabama, here’s what the job actually involves: file the will with the probate court in the county where the person lived, get appointed and receive your Letters Testamentary, inventory the assets, open an estate bank account, notify creditors and wait out Alabama’s six-month claim …

Continue reading "What Does an Executor do When Someone Dies?"

Posted by Steven A. Harris | Wills & Probate

When a loved one passes away, the family is left with both the emotional weight of grief and the practical responsibility of settling the estate. For many Alabamians, that process involves probate, the court-supervised procedure through which a decedent’s will is validated, debts are paid, and assets are distributed to beneficiaries. One of the first …

Continue reading "How Much Does Probate Cost in Alabama?"

Posted by Steven A. Harris | Wills & Probate

Estate planning is one of the most meaningful steps a person can take to protect their family. A properly executed will ensures that your assets go to the people or organizations you choose, rather than being distributed according to a formula set by the state. But not all wills are created equal, and in Alabama, …

Continue reading "Is a Handwritten Will Legal in Alabama?"