Expertise.com
2024

Last updated:

Best Probate Lawyers in Tuscaloosa

Our Recommended Top 10

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls

Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Tuscaloosa Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

30

Reviewed

22

Curated

10

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Website
1490 Northbank Parkway, Suite 267, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Ford & Spree is a Tuscaloosa-based law firm that caters to local clients with estate planning concerns. Its options, which include durable powers of attorney and advance healthcare directives, help reduce the legal and financial burdens of probate proceedings for families. The firm's team also provides educative guidance for clients by tailoring their options based on related laws and their specific domestic situations. Steve W. Ford, who co-founded the firm with Kee Spree, serves on the editorial board of the Alabama Association for Justice Journal.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Steve Ford - Partner46 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (23)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
2123 9th Street, Suite 110, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Krebs Law aims to help Tuscaloosa clients protect their assets for their family members and avoid anxiety through estate planning. Its services include establishing wills, placing durable powers of attorney, declaring living wills, and administering probate. In addition, JR Krebs and his team handle personal injury and business litigation. With the understanding that all cases are different, Krebs provides individualized representation to each client. Past clients praised him for keeping them informed about the progress of their injury cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
John Krebs - Principal7 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (22)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (10)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
2728 8th Street P.O. Box 2786, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Serving the community of Tuscaloosa, Espy, Scogin and Cain, P.C., is a law firm that handles probate matters. Its attorneys focus their practice on the fields of estate planning and probate, construction, commercial and residential real estate, and employment law. They also handle general civil practice and legal issues involving gas, oil, mining, charitable organizations, and closely held businesses. Espy, Scogin and Cain has been helping individuals and businesses with their legal needs since 1972.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Isaac Espy - Partner52 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (7)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (2)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
2617 8th Street, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Wayne L Williams & Associates LLC handles the estate planning needs of individuals and families in and around Tuscaloosa. It assists in preparing legally binding documents such as wills and living trusts, durable powers of attorney, and health care directives to avoid the probate process in the event of the client's death or incapacity. The firm's attorney, Wayne L. Williams, has been practicing law for more than half a century. He also handles criminal defense, personal injury, real estate, and family law cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Wayne Williams - Principal55 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
601 Greensboro Avenue, Suite 290, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Dogwood Estate Planning is a Tuscaloosa-based law firm that caters to local individuals and families whose deceased loved ones have estate problems. It offers probate administration services that involve resolving creditor claims and distributing the assets to the beneficiaries and heirs. The practice also helps clients preserve their assets and keep their families out of court and conflicts through estate planning and trust administration. One client commended the owner, Luke Barry, for helping him through a process he was unsure about and responding promptly to his questions.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (10)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Website
811 21st Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

John F. Brasfield Attorney at Law operates in Tuscaloosa and handles probate matters for beneficiaries and executors. It guides clients in the probate proceedings for wills and intestate cases. The office can petition for a court-appointed representative to compile, appraise, and distribute assets. It can also represent beneficiaries and executors in court to defend against claims of irresponsibility or will tampering. The office's namesake started practicing in 1996 and offers both e-mail and phone call consultations. His other areas of practice include criminal defense and divorce law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
John Brasfield - Principal28 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.2
Google
4.1 / 5 (13)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1800 McFarland Blvd N Suite 230, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Traditions Law Group serves clients in Tuscaloosa and the surrounding areas. This law office helps beneficiaries, heirs, and petitioners navigate the probate process. Its legal practitioners assist with matters such as the administration of estates, uncontested adoptions, and estate planning. One of its attorneys, Hunter C. Hodges, focuses his practice on probate law and serves as a certified guardian ad litem. Readers of The Tuscaloosa News voted Traditions Law Group as one of The Best Law Firms in Tuscaloosa County in 2019.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Christopher Jones - Partner34 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (30)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (23)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1409 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Cockrell, Cockrell, Ritchey & Ritchey is a law firm that assists families in Tuscaloosa with legal services such as probate and estate administration, estate planning, and wills and trusts drafting. It also helps businesses handle legal issues involving workers' compensation, bankruptcy, and business fraud. Other practice areas include criminal law and social security. One of its attorneys, Ginger Cockrell, was previously an assistant district attorney in the Child Support Division of the District Attorney’s Office of Tuscaloosa.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Bobby Cockrell - Partner38 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1490 Northbank Pkwy, Suite 258, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Knapp Law Firm helps resolve legal issues for clients based in Tuscaloosa. The firm extends assistance for individuals dealing with probate proceedings. Its service involves conducting an inventory and an evaluation of a person’s property. The firm also helps pay off a deceased’s liabilities to distribute the remainder of the property according to the will. Knapp Law Firm’s practice areas also include real estate, estate planning, and bankruptcy. Founder Donald Knapp is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Donald Knapp - Principal8 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.4 / 5 (7)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
1800 McFarland Boulevard North Suite 180, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Estate Taxes
  • Trust Administration

Why choose this provider?

Dorroh & Mills, P.C. is a law firm located in Tuscaloosa. Its team of probate attorneys is led by Joel F. Dorroh, who has been offering legal advice in areas such as estate planning and probate for over 20 years now. The firm can assist clients in planning charitable giving, administering estates, preparing prenuptial agreements, and establishing guardianships. Dorroh & Mills, P.C. also offers counseling on business litigation and corporate law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Joel Dorroh - Founder and Partner32 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Tuscaloosa, Alabama?

    Contact Tuscaloosa's non-emergency call center by dialing 311.

  • Do Tuscaloosa-based executors get compensated for their services?

    Yes, executors in Tuscaloosa are entitled to collect payments for their services. According to Alabama's probate statutes, personal representatives can receive two and a half percent of the decedent's estate value. However, there are cases wherein the testator already included instructions regarding executor payments and provided a fixed amount in the estate planning document.

  • Is a small estate affidavit accepted in Tuscaloosa?

    A small estate affidavit is not accepted in Tuscaloosa. Although this may be the case, the state accommodates those who want to undergo the summary distribution process. Personal representatives who need to administer a small estate should confirm that the decedent's assets only include personal property amounting to $25,000 and below.

  • Can you assign a family member as your executor in Tuscaloosa?

    Yes. You can assign a family member to act as your executor in Tuscaloosa. However, it is advisable to designate a personal representative unrelated to your family. This is because a person or institution with no personal agenda can be more reliable when making practical decisions throughout the probate process.

  • Should you designate a digital fiduciary to manage your online accounts and documents in Tuscaloosa?

    Yes. It's better to designate a digital fiduciary when drafting your estate plan in Tuscaloosa, especially if your agent is unfamiliar with modern technology. A digital fiduciary can help you handle various tasks, from deleting unused accounts to organizing computer files. Some assets that they can manage include bank accounts, personal photographs, and cloud service data.

  • Can you submit a photocopied will to initiate the probate process in Tuscaloosa?

    No. You cannot submit a photocopied will to initiate the probate process in Tuscaloosa. The court often assumes that the original document is destroyed since the executor cannot locate it. When this happens, the decedent's assets will pass through intestate succession even if the photocopy has a signature. This is why testators should keep the original will in a safe place that can be easily located.

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