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Jefferson County Probate Court: Records, Wills, Estates, Guardianship and Filing Help
Jefferson County Probate Court serves the county through Birmingham and Bessemer. The right path depends on whether you need a judicial probate case, an estate filing, a guardianship matter, a marriage certificate, or a recorded land document. This page separates those services so you can start in the correct division and avoid using the wrong record system.
Start by deciding whether you need a court case or a recorded public document
Wills, estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts and other judicial probate matters belong with the Judicial side of Probate Court. Deeds, recorded instruments and many marriage-record searches use the Recording, Land Records or marriage-record services. A land-record result is not the same thing as a judicial estate file.
If you must visit, confirm whether your matter belongs in the Birmingham or Bessemer division before traveling. Both divisions list regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Jefferson County probate task finder
Choose what you need and the division you expect to use. The tool gives you the correct starting office and preparation notes. It does not submit a filing, search a live court database, or determine legal eligibility.
Jefferson County Probate Court is broader than estate administration
Jefferson County’s two elected probate judges have equity jurisdiction and hear a wide range of judicial probate matters. The court’s current Judicial page lists wills and decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, name changes, legitimations, trusts, estate settlements, small-estate summary distribution, condemnations, will contests, claims, property-sale issues and adult mental health matters.
Wills and estates
Probate of wills, intestate administration, estate settlements, claims and related motions belong on the judicial side of Probate Court.
Guardianship and conservatorship
These cases require court review, testimony and supporting documentation before an appointment is made.
Recording and land records
Deeds, plats and other recorded instruments use the Recording and Land Records functions, which are different from judicial estate case files.
The current court leadership listed by Jefferson County is Yashiba Glenn Blanchard, Judge of Probate Place 1 and Presiding Judge, Jameria Johnson Moore, Judge of Probate Place 2, and Jacqueline S. Knox, Deputy Probate Judge for the Bessemer Division.
How to search Jefferson County probate and public records without mixing systems
The phrase “probate records” can describe several different record types in Jefferson County. A person looking for an estate case may need Judicial Probate Court assistance. Someone looking for a deed or recorded instrument should use land-record resources. Marriage records use a separate marriage-search path. Start by identifying the document you actually need.
- Name the record.
Write down the decedent, ward, grantor/grantee or married parties’ names, plus any known case number, instrument number, approximate year and division.
- Decide whether it is judicial or recorded.
Estate orders, letters, guardianship orders and court pleadings are judicial records. Deeds and other instruments recorded in the public records belong to the Recording/Land Records side.
- Use the appropriate search system.
Jefferson County provides Landmark Web for land and marriage-related record searches. Judicial probate cases may require the court’s judicial record system or direct assistance from the correct division.
- Verify the division before ordering or visiting.
Older records and records associated with the Bessemer Cut-off may be handled by the Bessemer office. Do not assume Birmingham holds every original record.
- Ask for the right form of proof.
A screen result can help locate a record, but an institution may require a certified copy, current letters, a signed order or another court-issued document.
Judicial probate file
Use this path for estate proceedings, wills admitted to probate, letters, guardianship or conservatorship orders, claims and other pleadings filed in a probate case.
Useful identifiers: decedent or ward name, case number, year, attorney name and division.
Recorded public document
Use this path for deeds, mortgages, plats and other instruments recorded through the Probate Court’s Recording function.
Useful identifiers: grantor/grantee, recording date, instrument information, property details and document type.
What happens when a will is probated or an estate is opened in Jefferson County
Jefferson County explains that most self-proved wills can be admitted without a hearing when the proper petition and waivers are submitted. A hearing may still be required if the will is not self-proved, minors or incapacitated persons are involved, or the location of one or more next of kin is unknown.
There is a will
The will must be presented through the probate process before it controls estate administration. If admitted, the estate is administered as a testate estate and letters may be issued after the required court steps.
There is no will
An estate can still be opened and administered. Alabama intestacy law determines who inherits, subject to claims, allowances and the court process.
Summary distribution
Jefferson County lists Summary Distribution / Alabama Small Estates Act as a separate filing category. Eligibility depends on Alabama law and the facts of the estate, not merely on whether the estate feels “small.”
The six-month minimum is not a promised closing date
The court states that both testate and intestate estates must remain open for a minimum of six months. That period is a floor, not a guarantee that an estate will close exactly six months after opening. Claims, asset sales, tax work, disputes, missing heirs, accounting issues and other case-specific matters can extend administration.
Six-month minimum date checker
Enter the date an estate was opened to see the calendar date six months later. Use this only as a planning reference; it does not determine when a specific estate can legally close.
Medicaid notice can affect estate and small-estate filings
Jefferson County’s Wills and Estates page says Alabama’s Medicaid Estate Recovery notice law requires specified notice to the Alabama Medicaid Agency at the start of probate estate proceedings and upon filings under the Small Estates Act. The person opening the estate is responsible for the notice, and the court describes restrictions on certain claim payments and summary distributions until proof of notice and Medicaid’s timely response requirements are satisfied.
Jefferson County Probate Court fees effective October 15, 2025
The court’s current Judicial Filing Fees page is labeled effective October 15, 2025. These figures are filing categories, not a quote for every case. Service, certification, copies, publication, hearing costs, bonds and page charges can add to the total.
| Service | Listed charge | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Additional page | $3 | Some filings are page-based or add page charges beyond a stated threshold. |
| Certification | $3 | Use when a certified court document is required rather than an ordinary copy. |
| Copies | $1 each | Applies to court copy services listed on the judicial fee page. |
| Certified / registered mail | $10 each | May be relevant to filings requiring mailed service or notice. |
| Double certification | $6 | A separate certification service. |
| Triple certification | $9 | A separate higher-level certification service. |
Jefferson County uses Benchmark Web for certain judicial probate e-filings
Jefferson County’s e-Filing page says attorneys can request access to Benchmark Web to electronically file certain new judicial cases and later pleadings. The system also allows attorneys to view their own cases and available images.
Initial filing
The court says initial filing court costs are paid by credit card through the Benchmark Web system.
Subsequent filing
The court states that costs on later filings in existing cases are handled at the next hearing or at the conclusion of the case.
Do not assume every filing, every self-represented litigant or every Probate Court service uses the same electronic workflow. Confirm the available method for your filing before preparing or paying for it.
Guardianship and conservatorship usually require a hearing, testimony and documentation
Jefferson County states that guardianship and conservatorship matters generally involve hearings and always require testimony and documentation before the court appoints a person to one or both roles. The court also states that a conservator must post a surety bond to protect the assets of the minor or incapacitated person.
Guardian
A guardian is concerned primarily with the personal welfare and care of a minor or incapacitated person. The court decides whether an appointment is appropriate based on the petition, evidence and applicable Alabama law.
Conservator
A conservator manages protected assets and financial affairs. Because the role controls property, the court requires a surety bond when a conservator is appointed.
County Administrator and County Guardian/Conservator
The court currently lists Jay Greene, Esq. as Jefferson County General County Administrator and provides online request forms for attorney renunciations and requests to open an estate. It also lists Edmond Earle, Esq. as County Guardian/Conservator. Those offices serve specific court-appointed functions and are not substitutes for choosing your own attorney.
Marriage certificates and land records use different services from estate cases
Copies and older records
Jefferson County says marriage certificates from June 1985 forward may be obtained from either probate division. Earlier records may only be available from the office where the license was issued.
Deeds and recorded instruments
The Recording office keeps public recorded documents and provides record-room assistance. Court staff cannot perform a title search or tell you whether a lien exists on a parcel.
Clerks cannot draft deeds
The Recording office states that its employees cannot prepare, revise or alter deeds because doing so would amount to providing legal advice.
For marriage certificates, the court currently lists a $3 copy fee. For documents in the Record Room, the Recording FAQ lists $1 per page for ordinary copies and a separate charge for plats; recording-side certification costs are described separately from the Judicial fee schedule. Verify the charge for the exact record you need.
Involuntary commitment petitions follow a separate process
Jefferson County’s Mental Health Commitments page instructs petitioners to complete all seven pages of the court’s petition, follow the instruction sheet and have the petition notarized. The court says it will not accept an unnotarized petition.
- Complete the full petition.
Use the current Jefferson County petition and instruction sheet rather than a generic commitment form.
- Have the petition notarized.
The official page specifically requires notarization before submission.
- Submit through the stated mental-health route.
The current court page directs completed petitions to the listed JBS Mental Health Authority email route and provides a court contact number for questions.
Birmingham and Bessemer Probate Court contacts
| Division / office | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Probate Court | 716 North Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35203 | 205-325-5420 Judicial Office | 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Bessemer Probate Court | 1801 3rd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020 | 205-481-4100 Probate Court 205-481-4102 Judicial Office | 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Birmingham Record Room | Birmingham Division | 205-325-5512 205-325-5513 | Verify before visit |
| Birmingham Mental Health Social Workers | Birmingham Division | 205-325-5009 | Use mental-health instructions |
Office hours can change for holidays, weather, security closures or administrative reasons. If you are traveling a long distance or facing a deadline, verify the relevant office before leaving.
Jefferson County and Alabama resources to use after you identify your task
These official links are placed here after the task explanations so you can choose the correct service instead of opening a portal without knowing what it handles.
Current Jefferson County Probate Court departments, notices and navigation.
Open the official court websiteWill admission, testate and intestate estates, six-month minimum and Medicaid notice guidance.
Read estate guidanceCurrent filing and service fees labeled effective October 15, 2025.
Check current court costsAppointment overview and current county administrator / guardian information.
Open guardianship informationBenchmark Web access instructions for eligible judicial probate filings.
Review e-filing instructionsRecording process, copy availability and payment information.
Open marriage certificate informationDeed copies, payment methods, title-search limits and record-room information.
Read Recording FAQCurrent petition and submission instructions for involuntary commitment matters.
Open mental-health instructionsJefferson County Alabama Probate Court FAQs
Where is Jefferson County Probate Court in Alabama?
The Birmingham Division is at 716 North Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35203. The Bessemer Division is at 1801 3rd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020. The court lists hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for both divisions.
Who are the current Jefferson County probate judges?
The court lists Yashiba Glenn Blanchard as Judge of Probate Place 1 and Presiding Judge, Jameria Johnson Moore as Judge of Probate Place 2, and Jacqueline S. Knox as Deputy Probate Judge for the Bessemer Division.
How do I find a Jefferson County probate case?
First determine whether you need a judicial estate/guardianship case or a recorded public document. For a judicial matter, gather the person’s name, case number if known, approximate year and division, then use the court’s judicial record route or contact the appropriate division. Landmark Web is more appropriate for land and marriage-related searches than for a full judicial estate file.
How long does an estate have to stay open?
The court states that both testate and intestate estates must remain open for a minimum of six months. A particular estate may remain open longer because of claims, property, taxes, disputes, missing parties or other administration work.
How much does it cost to probate a will?
The Jefferson County judicial fee page currently lists “Will (Probate of)” at $175, effective October 15, 2025. Other charges can apply depending on service, copies, certification, publication, bonds and case-specific filings, so verify the total before paying.
What is the fee for a small-estate summary distribution?
The current judicial fee schedule lists Summary Distribution / Alabama Small Estates Act at $50. Eligibility is a legal question separate from the filing fee.
Does every will require a hearing?
No. The court says most self-proved wills can be admitted without a hearing when proper petitions and waivers are submitted. A hearing may be needed when a will is not self-proved, a minor or incapacitated person is involved, or the location of next of kin is unknown.
Can the Probate Court tell me whether there is a lien on my property?
The Recording FAQ says staff cannot perform a title search. The public records are available for inspection, but determining whether a parcel has liens or other title defects may require a title company or attorney.
Can Probate Court staff prepare a deed for me?
No. The court’s Recording FAQ says employees cannot prepare, revise or alter deeds because they are not permitted to provide legal advice.
Can attorneys e-file probate matters?
Yes, for certain judicial pleadings. Jefferson County uses Benchmark Web for attorney e-filing of certain new cases and later filings. Check the current e-filing page for access and payment instructions.