Comprehensive estate planning for Alabaster families — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and strategies to protect your assets and your loved ones. Serving Alabaster, Shelby County, and across Alabama.
Schedule a Consultation Call (205) 202-9801Estate planning is one of the most important things you can do for your family — and one of the most commonly postponed. At Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices, we help families across Alabaster and Shelby County build estate plans that protect their assets, honor their wishes, and spare their loved ones unnecessary legal complications.
Alabaster has grown rapidly over the past two decades into one of Shelby County's most prominent communities. Its residents have access to Shelby County Probate Court for estate administration and probate matters. We serve Alabaster clients from our Mountain Brook office, just minutes away, and provide personalized estate planning guidance tailored to each family's unique situation.
"Estate planning is not about planning for death. It is about protecting the people you love — making sure that if something happens to you, they are taken care of exactly the way you intend."
Ensures your assets go to the right people, names guardians for your minor children, and designates a trusted executor to carry out your wishes under Alabama law.
Avoids Alabama probate entirely, keeps your Alabaster estate private, and ensures seamless asset management if you become incapacitated.
Learn about living trustsNames a trusted person to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated — avoiding the costly court-supervised guardianship process.
Designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf when you cannot — ensuring your wishes are honored by the right person.
If you die without a will in Alabama, the state's intestate succession laws determine who inherits your Alabaster estate — which may not match your wishes at all. Your assets must go through public, costly probate at Shelby County Probate Court. The court names a guardian for your minor children. Unmarried partners receive nothing under Alabama law. All of this is entirely avoidable with a proper estate plan. Read: What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Alabama?
Ready to protect your Alabaster family with a proper estate plan?
Call Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices at (205) 202-9801 or send us a message. We serve Alabaster and all of Shelby County.While Alabama does not require an attorney to draft a will, working with an experienced estate planning attorney in Alabaster ensures your documents are legally sound, properly executed, and coordinated with your beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, and other assets. DIY estate plans often contain errors that cost families far more than the attorney's fee.
Estate planning costs in Alabaster vary by complexity. A basic will package is far less expensive than the cost of probate — which typically runs 2–5% of the estate value. Contact us at (205) 202-9801 for a consultation.
No — Alabama has no state estate tax or inheritance tax. Alabaster families owe no Alabama state tax on inherited assets. However, federal estate tax may apply to larger estates, and the exemption may decrease in 2026. See: Alabama Estate & Inheritance Tax.
Most Alabaster families benefit from both — a revocable living trust to avoid Shelby County Probate Court probate, plus a pour-over will as a safety net. The right choice depends on your specific assets and family situation. See: Living Trust vs. Will in Alabama.
Christopher Colvin and Valerie Sawyer serve clients throughout Alabaster, Shelby County, and across Alabama with experienced, compassionate legal guidance.
Schedule a Consultation Call (205) 202-9801