State guide
Alabama
In Alabama, adult guardianship and conservatorship matters are handled through county probate courts under the Alabama Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act. Alabama’s court and probate resources are split between statewide form pages and county probate court pages, and published filing fees can vary by county.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult guardianship and conservatorship petitions are filed in probate court, typically in the county where the respondent resides, under Ala. Code Title 26, Chapter 2A.
- What it's called
- guardian (person) and conservator (estate/property)
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- Alabama WINGS describes supported decision-making, medical and financial powers of attorney, living wills, trusts, and Social Security representative payees as less-restrictive or advance-planning options; I did not find a current codified Alabama supported decision-making statute on the official state code pages searched.
- Law
- Ala. Code Title 26, Chapter 2A (Alabama Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act)
Official resources in Alabama
Alabama Administrative Office of Courts Probate Forms
State court probate forms page for Alabama, including probate-related forms used by courts and filers.
Alabama WINGS Video Series
Official Alabama Supreme Court commission resource explaining adult guardianship, conservatorship, alternatives, and probate court process.
Probate Court of Jefferson County - forms
Official forms page for Alabama’s largest county probate court.
Mobile County Probate Court - Judicial
Official Mobile County probate page with guardianship and conservatorship information, handbooks, and court forms.
Key facts for Alabama
- Alabama probate judges oversee adult guardianships and conservatorships.
- Alabama distinguishes a guardian of the person from a conservator of the estate/property.
- Alabama WINGS lists powers of attorney, living wills, trusts, and Social Security representative payees as advance-planning alternatives.
- Jefferson County Probate Court publishes an Appointment of Guardian/Conservator filing fee of $175.00.
- Madison County publishes a Probate Court cost of $64.00 for Conservatorship/Guardianship.
County court guardianship pages in Alabama
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probate Court of Jefferson County, Alabama - Birmingham Division Jefferson | Birmingham | Not published* | Largest county probate court; official court site publishes locations, hours, forms, and judicial filing fees including guardian/conservator appointments. |
| Probate Court of Jefferson County, Alabama - Court Costs Jefferson | Birmingham | Not published* | Publishes judicial filing fees, including 'Appointment of Guardian/Conservator | $175.00'. |
| Mobile County Probate Court Mobile | Mobile | Not published* | Official probate court site with judicial division pages for guardianships, conservatorships, handbooks, and local forms. |
| Mobile County Probate Court - Protective Proceedings Mobile | Mobile | 251-574-6010 | Judicial division contact for protective proceedings and emergency guardianship or conservatorship questions; court notes staff cannot provide legal advice. |
| Madison County Probate Judge Madison | Huntsville | Not published* | Official probate judge page for another large county; county pages publish probate contact information and probate court costs. |
| Madison County Probate Court Costs Madison | Huntsville | Not published* | Publishes 'Conservatorship/Guardianship | $64.00' on the county probate court costs page. |
| Alabama WINGS | Not published* | Not published* | Official Alabama Supreme Court commission project with public education on adult guardianships, conservatorships, and decision-making supports. |
| Alabama Administrative Office of Courts - Probate Forms | Not published* | Not published* | Statewide court forms portal for probate forms. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Start with the probate court in the county where the adult lives and review that court’s local forms and fee page.
- Watch Alabama WINGS materials on alternatives before filing, especially powers of attorney and other decision-making supports.
- If the county probate court says it cannot give legal advice, ask that court’s official page for its forms, handbooks, or lawyer-referral links.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Alabama's population center, for comparison only):
- Fulton County Probate Court – Adult Guardianship Division, Georgia · about 144 miles
- Fulton County Probate Court, Georgia · about 144 miles
- Fulton County Probate Court – Georgia Probate Court Standard Forms and General Instructions, Georgia · about 144 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Alabama Administrative Office of Courts Probate Forms
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Alabama local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Alabama page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.