Wills & Estates

A will is a document that provides the manner in which a person's property will be distributed when he dies. A person who dies after writing a Will is said to have died testate.

In Alabama, the maker of a Will must be: (1) at least 18 years old; (2) of sound mind; and (3) free from improper influences by other people.

A Will must meet certain requirements set by the State to be considered valid. The Will must be written, signed by the maker, and witnessed by two (2) people in the manner required by the law.To qualify as a self-proving will, it must also use required language and be signed by a notary public.

Almost, but not quite. There are some limitations set by law to avoid placing hardships on the people who survive the deceased. For example, a married person cannot completely exclude the other spouse from sharing in the estate. A lawyer can best explain all of the limitations.

A Will should be written while the maker is in good health and free from any emotional distress. A prudent person does not wait for a catastrophe or other compelling reason to make a decision.

There is no requirement that a person consult a lawyer before drafting their own will. However, the proper drafting of a Will can be a delicate operation, and it is best to consult someone who has experience. A lawyer can make sure that your Will is legal, and that your property will be given to the people that you intended. A lawyer can also help construct a Will so that your family saves money in administering the estate, and reduces their taxes.

A lawyer will usually charge for a Will according to the time spent in preparing the Will. If you have a small estate and a simple plan for distributing your property, then your Will should cost less than one for a large, complex estate with a trust and/or with several people receiving property.

A person may change his Will as often as he desires.If there is a change in your estate or your family makeup, you may consider writing a new Will.However, the changes must meet the same requirements listed above for the original Will.No change should be made without first consulting a lawyer.

A properly written and executed Will is "good" until it is changed or revoked.Writing a second Will revokes the first Will.

Once you have written your Will, you should keep it in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box at a bank. Be advised that if you are the only named person to have access into your safety deposit box, it will require a court order for someone to be able to access the box to obtain your will.You should let your family know where the Will is so that they can find it when you die.

Probate of a Will is the administration of an estate to insure that all of the property is disposed of properly. It is the Probate Judge's responsibility to make sure that all of the laws in Alabama regarding the distribution of estates are followed.

Upon the person's death, anyone named in the Will either as personal representative or as a recipient of property, or any other person with a financial interest in the estate, or the person who has possession of the Will may have the Will proved before the proper Probate Court. Any person in possession of the Will must, by Alabama law, deliver the Will to the Probate Court or to a person who is able to have the Will probated. A person in possession of the Will can be required to produce it.

Generally, Wills must be filed for probate in the county where the deceased lived.

To be effective, a Will must be filed for probate within five years of the date of the testator's death.

The complexity of handling estates normally necessitates retaining an attorney since the Probate Judge cannot advise you of the law or provide you with forms.

Yes, the Will must be probated to have legal effect.Before deciding not to probate a Will, one should consult an attorney.

If someone dies without writing a Will, they have died intestate.Each state has specific laws governing the distribution of property when a person dies intestate, and most laws are generally the same. The laws of Alabama are shown below, but you should remember that these laws may not apply if the deceased was not a resident of Alabama, or if the property is located in another state. In this list, "issue" means all of the people who have descended from the decedent. This includes children (both natural and adopted), grandchildren (both natural and adopted), great grandchildren, and so on.

Property going to the surviving spouse:

·        Entire estate if no surviving issue or parents of decedent;

·        First $100,000, plus one-half of balance of estate if there is no surviving issue but there is surviving parent(s);

·        First $50,000, plus one-half of balance of estate if there are surviving issue all of whom are also issue of surviving spouse; or

·        One-half of estate if there are surviving issue who are not issue of the surviving spouse.

Property not going to surviving spouse:
If there is no surviving spouse, or there is property left after the spouse receives his or her share, it passes under the following priority:

·        All of the property passes to the issue, unless there are none.

·        If none, all passes to the parents.

·        If neither parent is living, the estate passes to siblings, and so on under this priority:

1.   Issue

2.   Parents

3.   Brothers and sisters

4.   Grandparents

5.   Aunts and uncles

6.   Cousins