Lauderdale County Probate Office
200 South Court Street, Florence, AL 35630. Probate Court: (256) 760-5804. Recording Department: (256) 760-5800.
Probate Office information →Florence, AL Inherited property
Selling an Inherited House in Florence, AL
You stop paying for a house and get a fair price.
You can sell in the estate's name once the estate is opened — no need to put the house in your own name first. If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.
Yes. USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama. Call or use the form to talk about the property and ask for a written cash offer.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
Seller reviews
Read homeowner reviews
See what sellers say about working with us
What we do with the house and its contents
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is.
You can tell us what the family wants to keep. We can discuss the house and its contents as they stand, without assuming you want to keep or sell everything.
Utilities, insurance, upkeep, property taxes, and any mortgage can keep adding to the cost of holding a house, where those costs apply.
What happens next
1. Talk through the property
Call or use the form with the Florence address and what you know about condition, access, contents, and the estate papers. We can start with a conversation about the house.
2. Review the written offer
We give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. You can review the written offer and terms before you commit.
3. Confirm estate and title steps
If you want to proceed, the title company reviews the deed and estate papers and confirms who can sign and what documents are needed for this property.
4. Sign and close
The title company coordinates signing and closing after the required review. The actual estate and title file determine the steps and timing.
Signing from another location
Sell from anywhere in the country — we can send a notary to you, and you don't have to attend settlement or even visit the property.
Compare what you keep
Compare a written offer with an estimate of what a traditional sale might leave after likely repairs, cleanout, commissions, carrying costs, and closing costs. The calculator uses editable assumptions; its result is a planning estimate, not an offer for this house.
Alabama estate rules and deed tax
Who can sign for the estate?
Often, yes: an inherited Alabama house can be sold before the estate is finished once the right person has legal power to sign. The probate court appoints a personal representative to handle the estate. If there is a will, this is usually the executor it names; the court’s letters show that person’s authority.
A will generally must be filed for probate within five years after the death. If the will expressly authorizes the personal representative to sell the house, the sale can usually proceed under that power. Otherwise, the personal representative needs the court’s approval before selling estate property. See the Alabama rules on filing a will for probate and a personal representative’s authority to sell.
If no estate is opened, the heirs may be able to sell together, but everyone with an ownership interest must participate. Estate debts and a surviving spouse’s rights can still affect title. See Alabama Code § 43-2-830. The closing attorney or title company can confirm what the actual deed and estate file require.
We help coordinate the sale, but we do not provide legal advice. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for the estate.
Alabama deed tax
Alabama charges deed tax when the deed is recorded with the county probate judge. The rate is 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or any part of $500. The taxable value may be reduced by a mortgage or vendor’s lien on which Alabama mortgage tax has been paid; the closing attorney confirms the amount. The deed must include proof of the actual price or value. Without proof, the probate office uses the latest tax assessment, and penalties can apply. See Alabama Code § 40-22-1 and the Alabama Department of Revenue recordation-tax guidance.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Alabama's deed tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.
Local estate and deed help in Lauderdale County
The Lauderdale County Probate Office handles local probate and recording contacts. Confirm with the office which department handles a specific filing or property record.
Recording costs and document intake
Check the county's recording instructions and confirm current charges with the office; the posted schedule is dated.
Lauderdale County recording costs →Lauderdale County Revenue Commissioner
Property-tax assessment, collection, and record-search route. P.O. Box 794, Florence, AL 35631. Phone: (256) 760-5785. Confirm the parcel and current tax account with the office.
Revenue Commissioner information →If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.
Seller reviews
Testimonials are real, from our transactions, verified and approved by our attorneys. Reviews shown here retain their actual location labels.
What sellers say about USA Home Buyers
Questions and contact
Call 888-274-5006 to talk about the inherited property, or use the form below. You can also visit the Florence seller FAQ, Florence seller resources, Florence market report, and the Florence market page.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
Inherited-house questions in Florence, AL
Can an inherited Alabama house be sold before the estate is finished?
Often, yes, once the right person has legal power to sign. The probate court appoints a personal representative to handle the estate. If there is a will, this is usually the executor it names, and the court’s letters show that person’s authority. If the will expressly authorizes the sale, it can usually proceed under that power; otherwise, the personal representative needs court approval before selling estate property.
Who can sign for an inherited house in Alabama?
The probate court appoints a personal representative to handle the estate. If there is a will, this is usually the executor it names; the court’s letters show that person’s authority. The will, letters, title, and any required court approval determine the signing path for the property.
What if no estate has been opened?
The heirs may be able to sell together, but everyone with an ownership interest must participate. Estate debts and a surviving spouse’s rights can still affect title, so the closing attorney or title company should confirm what is needed for the property.
Do I have to put the inherited house in my own name before selling?
You can sell in the estate's name once the estate is opened — no need to put the house in your own name first. If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one. We help coordinate the sale, but we do not provide legal advice. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for the estate.
How long does Alabama allow to file a will for probate?
A will generally must be filed for probate within five years after the death. That is a filing rule for the will; it does not mean every estate or house sale must finish within five years.
What deed tax applies when a house sells in Alabama?
Alabama charges deed tax when the deed is recorded with the county probate judge. The rate is 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or any part of $500. The taxable value may be reduced by a mortgage or vendor’s lien on which Alabama mortgage tax has been paid; the closing attorney confirms the amount. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Alabama’s deed tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.
What repairs or cleanout are required before selling to you?
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. You can tell us what the family wants to keep and discuss the contents with us.
Can I sign from outside Alabama?
Sell from anywhere in the country — we can send a notary to you, and you don't have to attend settlement or even visit the property.
Does USA Home Buyers provide legal advice about an estate?
We help coordinate the sale, but we do not provide legal advice. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for the estate.
Learn more in the Florence seller guide, compare local seller experiences on the Florence-area reviews page, or read as-is sale options in Florence.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.