Our office is right here in Mountain Brook at Office Park Circle. When your family needs probate guidance, your attorneys are your neighbors.
Schedule a Consultation Call (205) 202-9801When a loved one passes away, the legal work of settling their estate arrives at the worst possible time. At Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices, we guide Mountain Brook families through Alabama probate with experienced support and genuine compassion, and we do it from an office in your own community. Our firm is located at 4 Office Park Circle in Mountain Brook, minutes from Crestline, English Village, and Mountain Brook Village. Attorney Valerie Sawyer focuses her practice on probate and estate administration, and founding attorney Christopher Colvin handles estates involving business interests and real property.
For a complete overview of our probate practice, visit our main Alabama probate services page.
"Probate doesn't have to be a source of added pain. With the right legal team guiding you, it can be a manageable, orderly process, even in difficult times."
Most law firms marketing to Mountain Brook are located somewhere else. We are not. Our office sits in Office Park, which means meeting your attorney does not require a trip downtown, documents can be signed and notarized close to home, and when an estate matter needs a conversation rather than an email chain, we are five minutes away. For families handling a loss, that proximity matters more than people expect.
Probate filings for Mountain Brook residents go to Jefferson County Probate Court at the county courthouse in downtown Birmingham (Mountain Brook falls in the Birmingham division, not the Bessemer division). We handle those filings and court appearances so you rarely need to go downtown at all.
Mountain Brook estates frequently involve more than a home and a bank account: investment portfolios, business ownership interests, multiple real properties, valuable personal property, and existing trusts are common. Each of those adds inventory, valuation, and coordination work during probate, and each is an opportunity for costly mistakes when handled without counsel. Our firm regularly administers estates of this complexity, and Christopher's background in business law and contract work means business interests in an estate get handled properly rather than becoming a problem for the heirs.
Larger estates also draw more scrutiny: from creditors, from the court, and occasionally from family members who disagree about the will. When a dispute is brewing, early legal guidance usually contains it. When it cannot be contained, we litigate it.
Full-service probate administration from opening the estate through final distribution: all filings, creditor notifications, and court accounting handled for you.
When a loved one dies without a will, we guide families through Alabama's intestate succession process and help establish the right administrator.
What happens without a will?We file the will with Jefferson County Probate Court, obtain letters testamentary, and ensure the executor has full legal authority to manage the estate.
When a will's validity is challenged, or should be, we represent personal representatives defending an estate and heirs raising legitimate contests.
When a loved one can no longer manage their own affairs and no power of attorney exists, we petition the probate court for guardianship or conservatorship.
Serving as personal representative carries real legal responsibility. We advise personal representatives throughout the process to prevent costly mistakes.
Executor duties in AlabamaAlabama law requires a minimum six-month creditor claim period, so no estate closes in less than six months. Simple estates typically close in six to nine months. Estates with multiple properties, investments, or disputes, which are common in Mountain Brook, can take one to two years or longer. For the full breakdown, read: How Long Does Probate Take in Alabama?
Total probate costs, including court fees, publication costs, personal representative compensation, and attorney fees, typically run 2 to 5 percent of the gross estate value. We discuss costs openly at your first consultation so there are no surprises. For a complete breakdown, read: What Probate Costs in Alabama.
Dealing with a loved one's estate in Mountain Brook? Your attorneys are right around the corner.
Call Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices at (205) 202-9801 or send us a message. Our office is at 4 Office Park Circle, Suite 305."Attorneys Chris and Valerie were most helpful and compassionate helping answer probate and will questions. Valerie was upfront and honest about choices, kind but direct with the truth of the situation and potential outcomes. I highly recommend Colvin Law Group for any will, probate, or estate needs."
We represent families throughout the city, including Crestline, English Village, Mountain Brook Village, Overton, Brookwood Forest, and Cherokee Bend, along with neighboring Cahaba Heights. If your loved one lived in a nearby community, we maintain dedicated pages for those areas as well:
Probate for Mountain Brook residents is filed with Jefferson County Probate Court at the county courthouse in downtown Birmingham. Mountain Brook falls in the Birmingham division of Jefferson County, not the Bessemer division. The personal representative petitions that court to open the estate, and all filings and accountings are submitted there.
Total probate costs, including attorney fees, court costs, and personal representative compensation, typically range from 2 to 5 percent of the gross estate value. Contact us at (205) 202-9801 to discuss your specific situation.
Often, yes. Estates that include real property, investment accounts, business interests, or assets in multiple forms require careful inventory, valuation, and coordination during probate. That complexity is manageable with experienced counsel, and it is exactly the kind of estate our firm regularly administers for Mountain Brook families.
Alabama does not legally require an attorney for probate, but the process involves complex filings, strict deadlines, and personal liability for the personal representative. Most families benefit significantly from experienced legal guidance, especially when the estate includes real estate, investments, or multiple heirs. More here: Do I Need a Probate Attorney in Alabama?
Yes. A properly funded revocable living trust, payable-on-death designations, and joint ownership can all help Mountain Brook families pass assets outside of probate entirely. For larger estates, a trust-based plan also keeps the details of your assets out of the public court record. See: How to Avoid Probate in Alabama
Christopher Colvin and Valerie Sawyer serve Mountain Brook from our office at 4 Office Park Circle with experienced, compassionate probate counsel.
Schedule a Consultation Call (205) 202-9801