How to Qualify as Administrator of a Sibling’s Estate in Alabama
Qualifying as the Administrator of a Sibling’s Estate in Alabama (When There Is No Will) Short answer: Under Alabama law, you can be appointed administrator of a sibling’s estate if the probate court determines you are the proper person to serve — usually because there is no surviving spouse, no higher-priority heir, or higher-priority heirs […]
Read article →Alabama — Recovering Funeral Expenses and Pre‑Settlement Costs
Can I recover funeral expenses and other costs I paid before the estate is settled? Short answer: Yes, in many situations you can seek reimbursement from the decedent’s estate for reasonable funeral expenses and other costs you paid before the estate is settled. How and whether you get paid depends on who paid, whether the […]
Read article →Alabama: Can an Estranged Spouse Still Claim from an Estate If the Divorce Wasn’t Final?
Short answer What happens when a spouse dies before a divorce is final under Alabama law If a person dies before a divorce is legally finalized, Alabama treats that person as still married at the time of death. That legal status matters for estate claims: a surviving spouse who is still married when the decedent […]
Read article →How do I re-record or update a joint survivorship deed after co-owners died? (AL)
Detailed Answer What usually happens to title when a co-owner dies (Alabama) When a co-owner of real property dies, what happens to the property depends on how the deed names the owners. Two common forms are: Joint tenancy with right of survivorship (or a deed that expressly creates a right of survivorship): the deceased owner’s […]
Read article →How do I force my sibling to give me a copy of our parents’ estate plan in Alabama (AL) after he ignored my formal request?
How to get a copy of your parents' estate plan in Alabama when a sibling won’t share it Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This is general information about Alabama law and not legal advice. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed Alabama attorney. Detailed answer: What you can (and can’t) force under Alabama […]
Read article →What can I do if the personal representative sends me a payment without explaining how he calculated my share of the estate? (AL)
What to do if a personal representative sends a payment without explaining how your share was calculated (Alabama) Short answer: In Alabama, a personal representative (executor or administrator) has duties to account for estate assets and to act in the beneficiaries’ best interests. If you receive a payment with no explanation, you should first request […]
Read article →What documentation is required to prove I'm the next of kin and qualify as administrator in a reopened estate in AL?
FAQ: Proving Next of Kin and Qualifying as Administrator to Reopen an Estate in Alabama Short answer To prove you are the next of kin and to be appointed administrator of a reopened estate in Alabama you will typically need: a certified death certificate, documentary proof of your relationship to the decedent (birth certificates, marriage […]
Read article →What steps do I need to take when the original estate administrator has died before completing the probate? (AL)
Detailed Answer — What to do when an estate administrator dies before probate is complete (Alabama) Short answer: Tell the probate court, file a certified copy of the administrator’s death certificate, and ask the court to appoint a successor personal representative (sometimes called an administrator or executor). The successor will get authority from the court […]
Read article →How can I reopen my father's closed estate in Alabama so I can be appointed as administrator? (AL)
Detailed Answer: Reopening a Closed Estate in Alabama so You Can Be Appointed Administrator Short answer: In Alabama you reopen a closed probate estate by filing a petition with the probate court that closed the estate asking the court to reopen administration and either to revoke the discharge of the prior personal representative or to […]
Read article →What happens if the survey shows the property was conveyed out of my mother’s estate decades ago and I have no interest? (AL)
Detailed Answer Short answer: If a recent survey and title search show that the property was conveyed out of your mother’s estate decades ago and the deed is recorded, the recorded owner normally has legal title. That generally means you no longer have a property interest—unless you can show a legal defect (forgery, fraud, lack […]
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