Practical articles on estate planning, probate, wills, trusts, and business law — written for Alabama families and entrepreneurs by Christopher Colvin and Valerie Sawyer.
What to expect from the Alabama probate process — timelines, costs, court procedures, and your options for avoiding or streamlining probate.
Alabama raised the small estate summary distribution threshold in October 2025 — a significant change that allows more families to avoid full probate. Here is exactly what changed, who qualifies, and what to do next.
Which court handles your case, what to expect at each stage, key deadlines, and what probate court simply cannot do for your estate.
A clear, plain-English walkthrough of every stage of Alabama probate — from filing the petition to closing the estate and distributing assets to heirs.
Alabama probate takes a minimum of six months — but complex estates can take years. Here is what drives the timeline and how to keep things moving.
Five proven strategies for keeping your estate out of Alabama probate court — from living trusts to beneficiary designations to joint ownership.
Alabama doesn't legally require one — but most families who skip legal guidance pay for it. An honest look at when you need an attorney and when you might not.
An honest breakdown of what probate actually costs — attorney fees, court costs, personal representative compensation, and how it compares to a living trust.
When someone dies intestate in Alabama, the state decides who inherits — and the results often shock families. Here's what Alabama law actually says.
Alabama's fixed inheritance rules explained — who gets what when there's no will, who is left out entirely, and why an estate plan is the only real fix.
Losing a parent is painful enough. Discovering they left no will adds legal uncertainty on top of grief. Here are the steps Alabama families need to take.
The role most people don't fully understand until they're in it. What a personal representative does, what they're liable for, and how to protect yourself.
Being named executor gives you no legal authority until the court does. Here's exactly how to petition the court and receive your Letters Testamentary.
What to do when you inherit real estate in Alabama — clearing the title, understanding your tax position, your options, and what happens when siblings co-inherit.
How Alabama's summary distribution process works, who qualifies after the 2025 threshold change, what assets it covers, and how to use it correctly.
Practical estate planning guidance for Alabama families — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and strategies to protect what matters most.
A plain-English overview of every major estate planning document available in Alabama — what each does, when you need it, and how they work together.
The real differences between a will and a living trust in Alabama — cost, probate, privacy, incapacity protection — and how to decide which fits your situation.
The short answer is no — but the full picture involves federal estate tax exposure, the 2026 exemption cliff, and beneficiary designation strategy. Here's what Alabama families need to know.
What a durable power of attorney actually does, why you need it before incapacity strikes, and what happens to families who wait too long to get one in place.
One names who makes decisions. The other says what decisions to make. Every Alabama adult needs both — and most people have neither. Attorney Valerie Sawyer explains.
Without the right plan, a minor child's inheritance in Alabama goes to a court conservator — and to the child outright at 19. Here's how a trust protects them properly.
Veterans have unique estate planning needs — VA benefits, survivor benefit elections, and Medicaid planning. Attorney Valerie Sawyer, a former CAP commander, explains what veterans need to know.
The six estate planning moves that matter most at retirement — living trusts, beneficiary updates, incapacity documents, and the 2026 federal estate tax cliff. By Valerie Sawyer.
Legal guidance for Alabama entrepreneurs and small business owners — from choosing the right structure to formation, compliance, and contracts.
The complete legal checklist for starting an Alabama business — structure, formation filings, EIN, licenses, and the ongoing obligations most new owners miss.
A side-by-side comparison of liability protection, taxes, cost, and administrative burden — so you can make the right call for your situation.
Alabama's LLC formation has a unique two-step filing requirement most guides miss. Here's exactly how to form an LLC in Alabama from name search to county probate court.
What goes in your Certificate of Formation, where to file it, Alabama's two-step requirement, and what to do immediately after formation to stay compliant.
Formation requirements, ongoing compliance obligations, the two-step filing process, and the annual Business Privilege Tax — everything an Alabama LLC owner needs to know.
LLC or corporation? The wrong choice costs Alabama business owners in taxes, flexibility, and legal exposure for years. A full side-by-side including the S-Corp election strategy.
Alabama doesn't require one — but almost every Alabama LLC should have one. Without it, state default rules govern your business in ways you probably didn't intend.
Every Alabama LLC and corporation owes this annual tax — even with zero profit. Many new owners discover it late and face penalties. Here's what you need to know.