Alabama Executor and Estate Kit: the $37,075 Small Estate Route, First Month Checklist and Estate Ledger

Who it is for

Whoever is settling the estate of someone who lived in Alabama. Through a court office. The petition is filed with the probate court; the court orders the distribution.

Not the right fit if

The person didn't live in or own property in Alabama, or a will contest or family dispute means you need an estate attorney. Not a form preparation or legal service.

Why it is different

• Sources, checked November 2026: Mobile County Probate Court: Alabama Small Estates Act; Alabama Department of Finance: Small estate memorandum, February 18, 2025 (PDF); Wills and Estates (Talladega County, Alabama, Probate Office); Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in Alabama (Nolo); Justia (statute text) (secondary source): Ala. Code 43-8-134, Who may witness will (Justia statute text, 2021 Code of Alabama).
• 3 facts aren't stated on those pages, so the kit leaves them out and lists them once to look up, with the official page.

What is inside

• Alabama small estate route. $37,075 of personal property, the figure the State Finance Director set for March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026 The petition covers personal property. A figure for March 2026 onward wasn't published on the pages we read. Sworn; a notary can give the oath. The summary distribution petition is made under oath. Through a court office. The petition is filed with the probate court; the court orders the distribution. Summary distribution under the Revised Alabama Small Estates Act: Distribution of a small amount of personal property to the surviving spouse or distributees without full probate administration. The cap on personal property is adjusted from time to time by a Consumer Price Index formula; the court page doesn't print the current figure. The surviving spouse files the petition, or if there is none, one or more distributees. Summary distribution isn't available if the person who died left a minor child.
• How a Alabama will had to be signed. At least two witnesses, per the county probate office. Allowed. The county probate office says a self-proving will must be notarized and use the language the law requires. Not recognized: handwritten, unwitnessed wills aren't valid, per Nolo's Alabama page. Allowed: a will, or any part of it, isn't invalid because an interested witness signed it (Ala. Code 43-8-134, Justia's 2021 code text). Disinterested witnesses are still the safer choice.
• Alabama estate ledger (Excel). Assets, debts, payments and distributions; it compares the countable assets with $37,075 and marks real estate to ask the court about.
• First 30 days, tracker and letters. The first month in order, a documents and accounts tracker, and plain letters to a bank, a utility and Social Security.
• Look up before you file in Alabama. real estate, waiting period after the death, official form: look up on Mobile County Probate Court: Alabama Small Estates Act.