Probate and Recording Deeds in Tuscaloosa County (Tuscaloosa), Alabama
Where to file a will or open probate, and where to record a deed, in Tuscaloosa County (Tuscaloosa) — with the state rules that apply.
Probate court
Tuscaloosa County Probate Court
Address: 714 Greensboro Avenue, Room 121, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (mail: P.O. Box 20067, Tuscaloosa, AL 35402)
Phone: 205-464-8204
Recording deeds
Tuscaloosa County Probate Court - Records and Recordings
E-recording: yes - Simplifile and CSC listed as e-recording support (https://www.tuscco.com/probate/records-and-recordings/)
Recording fee: $3.00 per page (maximum of two names for Grantor or Grantee) plus $2.00 Probate Judge fee per document; additional names $1.00 per name; deeds add $.50 per $500 of value conveyed (rounded up to next $500) Fee schedule
Alabama rules that apply
| Small estate affidavit | Alabama uses a short court process rather than a simple affidavit. Under the Revised Alabama Small Estates Act, if the decedent owned no real estate (other than property passing automatically, such as by survivorship), was not survived by a minor child who is not the surviving spouse's child, and the personal property is worth no more than the small estate amount, a person entitled to the estate can file a verified petition for summary distribution in the probate court of the county where the decedent lived. No bond is required. Notice is published once in a local newspaper and sent to the Alabama Medicaid Agency, and the judge cannot order distribution until at least 30 days after each notice. Funeral expenses and claims must be paid or arranged. The small estate amount is the total of the homestead allowance ($15,000), exempt property ($7,500) and the family allowance, as adjusted every three years for inflation by the State Treasurer. Check with the probate court for the current dollar figure. The Act was rewritten in 2025 (Act 2025-431). |
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| Probate steps | Probate is handled by the county probate court (judge of probate). A will must be filed for probate within five years after death. The usual steps are: petition to probate the will and for letters testamentary (or letters of administration if there is no will); the personal representative gives notice to creditors by mail to known creditors and by publishing once a week for three weeks; claims are filed with the probate judge; debts are paid; and the estate is distributed and settled. |
| Signing and recording a deed | A deed must be in writing and signed by the grantor (or an agent with written authority). It must be attested by one witness (two if the grantor signs by mark or has someone else sign), but an acknowledgment before a notary or other authorized officer satisfies the witness requirement. Deeds are recorded in the office of the judge of probate in the county where the land is located. A deed tax of 50 cents per $500 of value (after qualifying mortgages) must be paid before recording, with exceptions such as deeds for nominal consideration to perfect title. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Alabama has not adopted a transfer-on-death (beneficiary) deed for real estate; the Code of Alabama contains no such statute. Real estate generally passes by will, intestacy, survivorship ownership or a trust. Check for later legislation before relying on this. |
All Alabama wills, probate and estate rules · Eviction court and tenant help in Tuscaloosa County (Tuscaloosa)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.