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Top Birmingham, AL Wills Lawyers Near You

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

1275 Center Point Pkwy, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35215

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

420 20th Street North, Suite 2300, Birmingham, AL 35203

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

1232 Blue Ridge Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35226

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

1500 Urban Center Drive, Suite 450, Birmingham, AL 35242

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

2 20th Street N, Suite 1350, Birmingham, AL 35203-4021

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

1901 6th Ave North, Suite 2600, Birmingham, AL 35203

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

4000 Eagle Point Corporate Drive, Birmingham, AL 35242

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

505 20th Street North, Suite 1600, Birmingham, AL 35203

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

1122 22nd St. N, Birmingham, AL 35234

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

3 Office Park Cir, Ste 240, Birmingham, AL 35223-2513

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

3125 Blue Lake Dr, Ste 101, Birmingham, AL 35243

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

1736 Oxmoor Road, Suite 101, Birmingham, AL 35209

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

1130 22nd Street South, Suite 4000, Birmingham, AL 35205

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

2000-A Southbridge Pkwy., Suite 210, Birmingham, AL 35209

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

100 Williamsburg Office Park, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35216

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

1819 5th Avenue North, One Federal Place, Birmingham, AL 35203-2119

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

2100 1st Avenue North, Suite 300, Birmingham, AL 35203

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

100 Vestavia Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35216

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

2700 Highway 280, Suite 110 East, Birmingham, AL 35223

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

505 20th Street North, Suite 1200, Birmingham, AL 35203

Wills Lawyers | Gardendale Office | Serving Birmingham, AL

717 Kerr Drive, PO Box 96, Gardendale, AL 35071-0096

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

3800 Colonnade Pkwy., Suite 330, Birmingham, AL 35243

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

1130 22nd St S, Ste 4000, Birmingham, AL 35205

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

4000 Eagle Point Corporate Dr, Birmingham, AL 35242

Wills Lawyers | Birmingham Office

3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 218, Birmingham, AL 35213

Birmingham Wills Information

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Lead Counsel Verified Attorneys In Birmingham

Lead Counsel independently verifies Wills attorneys in Birmingham and checks their standing with Alabama bar associations.

Our Verification Process and Criteria
  • Ample Experience Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.
  • Good Standing Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.
  • Annual Review Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.
  • Client Commitment Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.

Find a Wills Attorney near Birmingham

Visit our free Wills Resource Center.

What Is a Will?

A will can help ensure your loved ones are provided for after you pass away. A will is a document that provides for how you want to distribute your assets after death. Without a will, the government will have to handle your estate administration according to Alabama law, which may not be the same as how you would provide for those around you. If you have questions about making a will, an experienced Birmingham estate planning lawyer can give you legal advice and help you provide for your family.

What Do I Need for a Will?

The specific requirements for a will depend on the state. In most states, the requirements for a will include:
  • Be of legal age and sound mind
  • Make a will in writing
  • Signed by qualified witnesses
The age requirement for most states is 18, but older or younger in a few states. A will has to be made in writing in most states, but some states will also accept oral wills in limited circumstances. Some states also accept a will that is not witnessed if it is in the testator’s handwriting. It is important to make sure the will is valid or it may not be enforceable. Talk to an Alabama wills attorney to make sure your will is valid and enforceable to provide for your loved ones.

What Happens If I Die Without a Will?

If you die without a will, you are considered to be dying “intestate.” Intestate means that there is no will or estate planning tool to determine how to distribute your assets in death. The probate court will take account of your property and debts and distribute your remaining assets under Alabama intestacy laws. Intestacy will distribute the assets to family relations based on the relationship to the deceased, starting with the spouse and children. If there are no relatives, the property will go to the state.

What Is a Living Will?

A living will is different from a last will and testament. A living will is also known as an advance healthcare directive or medical directive. An advance directive can provide for medical decisions in the event that you are no longer able to communicate your wishes because of incapacity or illness. A living will can let doctors know what kind of care you want or don’t want if you have a terminal illness or are incapacitated. An elder law or estate planning attorney can give you more information about living wills.

Are There Alternatives to a Will in Alabama?

There are alternatives to a will that can provide for distributing your property after death. The most common will alternative is a trust. A living trust is another type of estate planning document where the trustee holds the property and assets for the benefit of the beneficiaries. A trust can allow you to still maintain the use and control of your property while you are living and avoid probate after death.

When Should I Make a Will?

Many people put off making a will because they don’t think they need one. A will can be an important tool for any adult to make sure their wishes are carried out after they pass away. In most states, anyone 18 or older can make a will. Making a will is important if you have children, family, or loved ones you want to provide for in the event of death. Without a will, your assets will be distributed to family members based on Alabama intestacy laws.

How Much Does an Attorney Charge for a Will?

An average will can cost from $500 to $2,000 or more. For most people, an attorney can prepare a basic will for a flat fee. Other lawyers may charge an hourly rate for legal services. The cost for a will depends on the type of estate, the amount of assets, and the individual needs of the client. To get an estimate for how much it will cost to prepare a last will and testament in your case, contact a Birmingham estate planning law firm for a quote.

Top Questions to Ask When Hiring an Attorney

  • How many years have you been practicing law? How long have you practiced law in the local area?
  • How many cases similar to mine have you handled in the past?
  • What is the likely outcome for my case?

In legal practice, experience matters. An experienced attorney will likely have handled issues similar to yours many, many times. Therefore, after listening to your situation, the attorney should have a reasonable idea of the time line for a case like yours and the likely resolution.

Top Questions to Ask a Lawyer

  • What is the usual process to resolve my case? How long will it take to resolve this?
  • What are likely outcomes of a case like mine? What should I expect?

An experienced lawyer should be able to communicate a basic “road map” on how to proceed. The lawyer should be able to walk you through the anticipated process, key considerations, and potential pitfalls to avoid. Once you’ve laid out the facts of your situation to the lawyer, he/she should be able to frame expectations and likely scenarios to help you understand your legal issue.

How will an attorney charge me?

A reputable attorney will be very upfront about how he/she will charge you. The three most common fee structures that attorneys use to charge for their services are:

  • Bill by the hour
  • Contingent fee agreement
  • Flat fee agreement

Depending on your specific legal situation, it’s possible that only one type of fee structure is available. For instance, criminal defense attorneys almost always bill by the hour. In a flat fee arrangement, an attorney accepts a one-time payment to help you resolve your issue. With a contingent fee agreement, the client pays little to nothing upfront and the attorney receives a percentage of the money recovered if you win your case.

Common legal terms explained

Personal jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority over a person, in order to bind that person to the judgment of the court, based on minimum contacts. International Shoe Co v. Washington is a landmark Supreme Court case outlining the scope of a state court’s reach in personal jurisdiction.

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