

The affiant should confirm with the Local Probate Court that there is no competing application that has already been filed or an application for a personal representative. This will include identifying and valuing all of the decedent’s property to make sure it falls below the state maximum. Step 1: – Verify that the estate is eligible

Maximum Amount – Under a state law passed in 2009, only estates worth less than $25,000 qualified at the time.One heir, usually known as the “affiant,” must file the form with the Judge of Probate in the county where the decedent died. To file the document, all heirs - defined as the decedent’s spouse and surviving family - must be identified and notified.

It is commonly called a “petition for summary distribution,” and is only available for estates with a total value smaller than the state-imposed minimum ($34,611), which is linked to inflation and changes each year. An Alabama small estate affidavit allows heirs of an estate to distribute its assets and bypass the probate process.
