This guide builds on the Alabama guide, which covers the advertising rules in force since January 1, 2026 and the State Bar's AI opinion. Here the focus is Jefferson County: one county, two court divisions, and many community names.
One county, two divisions
The Tenth Judicial Circuit describes itself as consisting of the Birmingham and Bessemer Divisions, with circuit judges assigned to civil, criminal, domestic relations, and family court. The Probate Court's history page traces the split to 1915, when the Alabama Legislature created the Bessemer Cut-off of the Tenth Judicial Circuit.
For a firm, that means a Jefferson County page has two courthouses to get right, not one. Confirm which division serves a client's matter with the court before a page names one.
Getting the local court facts right
| Court | Birmingham Division | Bessemer Division |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | Jefferson County Courthouse, 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. | Bessemer Circuit Clerk (separate clerk site) |
| Probate Court | Jefferson County Courthouse, 716 North Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. | Jefferson County Courthouse, 1801 3rd Avenue North, Bessemer |
The Jefferson County Probate Court handles wills and estates, trusts, adoptions, conservatorships and guardianships, and mental health commitments. It says most wills are admitted without a hearing when the proper petitions and waivers are filed, but a hearing is needed when the will is not self-proved, minors or incapacitated persons are involved, or a next of kin cannot be located.
The local search area
Readers search by the community they live in. The Probate Court's own voting precinct list places polling sites in communities across the county, including Hoover, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Trussville, Gardendale, Fairfield, Leeds, and Bessemer. One Jefferson County page that names the communities you serve usually does more than a page per name, unless a community has distinct questions.
What we build for Birmingham firms
- Practice-area pages that name the Jefferson County court and division that hears each matter
- A Jefferson County page set covering the communities you serve, split only where the content differs
- Answer posts for the questions Birmingham clients ask before they call
The estate planning guide shows why probate steps shape these pages, and the family law guide covers what clients ask before a domestic relations case. For the client side of estate work, see what estate planning clients ask ChatGPT.
Common questions
Where is the Jefferson County Probate Court?
It has two offices: the Birmingham Division at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 716 North Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., and the Bessemer Division at 1801 3rd Avenue North, Bessemer. Confirm current details with the court before publishing.
Does every will in Jefferson County need a hearing?
No. The Probate Court says most wills are admitted without a hearing when the proper petitions and waivers are filed. A hearing is needed in listed situations, such as a will that is not self-proved.
Keep reading
Sources
- Alabama Unified Judicial System, Tenth Judicial Circuit (Jefferson County) (linked above)
- Probate Court of Jefferson County, Locations and Hours
- Probate Court of Jefferson County, Wills and Estates (linked above)
- Probate Court of Jefferson County, History of the Court
- Probate Court of Jefferson County, Home (judicial services)
- Probate Court of Jefferson County, Voting Precincts