Alabama Executor's Oath

By law, the probate of an estate in Alabama will take at least six months. This period gives creditors and others with a claim on the estate time to receive notice that the estate is being probated and to submit a claim.

A last will and testament in Alabama must be in writing and signed by the testator (the person writing the will), or at the testator's direction and in his or her presence. The will also has to be witnessed and signed by at least two people.

In Alabama, the estate executor is known as a "personal representative". Executors for Alabama estates are entitled to reasonable compensation of up to 2.5% of assets received, and 2.5% of disbursements.

Generally, an executor has 12 months from the date of death to distribute the estate. This is known as 'the executor's year'. However, for various reasons the executor may have been delayed and has not distributed the estate within this time frame.

Signature: The will must be signed by the testator or by another person in the testator's name, under his direction and in his presence. Witnesses: At least two witnesses must sign an Alabama Last Will in order for it to be valid. Writing: An Alabama will must be written in order to be valid.

Determine the Type of Alabama Probate Proceeding to Open. Determine the Appropriate Alabama Probate Court (Jurisdiction) File a Petition with the Alabama Probate Court. Provide Notice to Spouse/Next of Kin. Obtain and Submit a Personal Representative's Bond. The Lawyer Attends a Hearing with the Alabama Probate Court.

No, in Alabama, you do not need to notarize your will to make it legal. However, Alabama allows you to make your will "self-proving" and you'll need to go to a notary if you want to do that. A self-proving will speeds up probate because the court can accept the will without contacting the witnesses who signed it.

The length of time an executor has to distribute assets from a will varies by state, but generally falls between one and three years.

If you die in Alabama without a will, your assets will go to your closest relatives. Not all assets are involved only those that would have passed through a will are affected by Alabama's intestate succession laws.If you die with a spouse but no children Spouse inherits everything.