Our unbundled legal services option can help you save significant Alabama probate fees. Until recently, you only had two choices when it came to Alabama probate:
- Full Representation – You could hire an attorney to fully represent you in the probate process. The attorney would prepare all necessary documents, advise you as to each step you should take, and attend all hearings on your behalf.
- Do-it-Yourself Approach – You could try to create the legal forms yourself, file them with the court, and attend hearings on your own.
The do-it-yourself approach is not a workable option for most people. The terminology and procedures used in the Alabama probate process are confusing. The Alabama probate forms are often prepared incorrectly, and court clerks and judges are prohibited from giving you legal advice about how to complete them properly. People are not aware of important probate deadlines and time-frames. People who start out representing themselves often grow frustrated and hire an attorney to help complete the process.
Alabama probate courts see these problems all the time. Because these issues come up so often, most Alabama probate courts will “strongly recommend” that you hire an attorney to assist you with the probate process. But many people either cannot afford to hire an Alabama probate attorney or don’t feel that they need full legal representation. They feel like they could do it themselves, if only they had the right forms and possibly some guidance along the way.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could save attorneys’ fees by paying for only the services you need and doing the rest yourself?
Well, now you can. We are pleased to offer unbundled Alabama probate services throughout the entire state. This unbundled service model allows you to do most of the work yourself and pay for only the assistance that you need.
What Are Unbundled Legal Services?
Unbundled legal services have been defined by the Alabama bar as follows:
“Unbundled” legal services … involve a lawyer providing a client with specific and limited services rather than the more traditional method of providing the client full representation in a legal matter.
Unbundled legal services allow you to control the cost of the Alabama probate proceeding by choosing what services the Alabama probate attorney will provide. Unbundled probate services are a good fit for:
- Clients who cannot afford to hire a lawyer for the more traditional “full representation” model.
- Clients who feel capable of learning the process themselves and just need limited assistance with form preparation and related issues.
- Attorneys who aren’t familiar with Alabama probate law but want to assist a valued client with a probate proceeding.
Note: Unbundled probate services are not a good choice if you believe that the probate proceeding will involve disputes between family members. You should only choose unbundled probate services if you believe that everyone will cooperate and sign the documents necessary to move the estate through the Alabama probate process.
Pricing for Alabama Probate Services
Our fees for Alabama probate services can very depending on the work involved. Fees for full representation typically start at around $2,500.00 for very simple estates. Fees for unbundled legal services can be less than $500.00. Contact us today for a no-obligation fee quote.
Don’t Know Which Option is Right for You?
Check out our free Guide to Alabama Probate. This 25-page guide (written by our Alabama probate attorney) walks you through all of the steps and questions involved in the Alabama probate process. The guide gives clear, straightforward advice on the following common issues:
- An explanation of probate and the terminology involved in the probate process.
- How to determine if probate is required.
- How to know whether you need to hire an Alabama probate attorney.
- How long the Alabama probate process may take.
- Who can serve as a personal representative under Alabama law.
- Whether the personal representative must be an Alabama resident.
- How to determine whether probate is even necessary (it may not be).
- Alabama’s procedure for dealing with small estates that are worth less than $25,000.00.
- How to handle the estate when a person dies without a will (called dying “intestate”).
- The three stages of the Alabama probate process and the substages involved in each.
- The duties of a personal representative (executor) under Alabama law.
- The Alabama elective share, homestead exemption, and other allowances.
- Four basic steps to get you started with Alabama probate.
If you are still trying to decide which option is right for you, our free guide may help. Get your free copy today using the form below.