Waters Sullivan LLC

10/07/2026

After a loved one passes, reading their will for the first time can raise hard questions. If what's written doesn't match what they told you, or what you know they would have wanted, it's natural to wonder whether something went wrong.

In Alabama, though, a will can't be challenged simply because it feels unfair or a family member expected more. Only an interested party can bring a contest, and it must rest on specific legal grounds, such as undue influence, lack of capacity, fraud, or improper ex*****on. Each of these carries a high burden of proof, and courts take a person's written wishes seriously.

Timing matters too. Alabama sets strict deadlines for will contests once probate begins. When that window closes, it closes for good.

If something about a loved one's will raises real concerns after their passing, the right time to find out whether you have a valid claim is before the estate is distributed.

waterssullivan.com

09/22/2026

Fall in Alabama means football, festivals, and approximately 400 people asking us if they can disinherit their brother-in-law.

(The answer depends entirely on the situation. Call us.)

waterssullivan.com

09/07/2026

Being named a beneficiary in a will or trust comes with rights. Most people don't know what those rights are until they need them.

In Alabama, beneficiaries have the right to a formal accounting of the estate or trust, timely distribution of assets, information about the administration process, and court intervention when an executor or trustee isn't doing their job.

If you're a beneficiary and feel like you're being kept in the dark, that's not something you have to accept.

waterssullivan.com

09/04/2026

kinda chic: having your estate plan done before your friends even know what a trust is

kinda chic: your executor actually knowing where your documents are

kinda chic: your ex not being the beneficiary of your life insurance anymore

kinda chic: a power of attorney so airtight your family never has to go to court

kinda chic: calling a probate litigation attorney before the estate gets distributed

kinda chic: waterssullivan.com

09/03/2026

September feels like a fresh start for a lot of people. New routines. New goals.

If "get my estate plan in order" has been on the list since January, fall is a genuinely good time to check it off.

School is back. The holidays are coming. And nothing motivates estate planning quite like sitting at Thanksgiving with everyone you're trying to protect.

We're scheduling fall consultations now.

waterssullivan.com

09/01/2026

WE'RE HIRING!

Waters Sullivan LLC is hiring for two positions! We're looking for an attorney and a paralegal - both with flexible/hybrid office arrangements, and the attorney position has a part-time/non-traditional hours option. Please share, apply on Linkedin, and/or email [email protected] with any questions or with your resume if interested!

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4460288595/
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4460050626/

Apply for Attorney at Waters Sullivan LLC in Birmingham, AL. Full-time Mid-Senior level role. See responsibilities, qualifications, and similar jobs on LinkedIn.

08/11/2026

Heir property is one of the most complicated estate situations in Alabama, and one of the most common.

It happens when someone dies without a will and multiple family members inherit property together, often without a formal legal process. Over generations, ownership becomes increasingly fractured. Dozens of people may technically own a piece of the same land with no clear title.

Selling heir property, getting a loan against it, or even making repairs can become nearly impossible without court involvement.

If your family has property that's been passed down without a clear title, there are legal paths forward. It takes time, but it's solvable.

waterssullivan.com

08/05/2026

Back to school season is a good reminder that your kids are getting older, and your estate plan might not be keeping up.

When your children were small, you named a guardian. But as they grow, other things shift too. Asset amounts change. Relationships change. The person you trusted to raise your kids ten years ago may not be the person you'd choose today.

A will review doesn't take long. And it matters more than most people realize.

We're scheduling consultations. waterssullivan.com

08/03/2026

Undue influence in a will contest isn't about proving someone was pushy.

It's about proving a pattern.

Isolation from family. Control of finances and daily life. A relationship where one person became completely dependent on another, and then a will change appeared that benefited that person.

Alabama courts look at the full picture. The evidence lives in medical records, financial transactions, caregiver logs, and the accounts of people who watched the relationship up close.

If you believe a family member's will was changed because someone manipulated them, that feeling is worth a conversation.

waterssullivan.com

07/23/2026

Most Alabama business owners have a plan for what happens when the business grows.

Almost none have a plan for what happens if they can't run it anymore.

Incapacity. Death. A forced exit. The business you built becoming the subject of a probate proceeding while your family tries to figure out who's in charge.

We're working on a piece about business succession planning in Alabama that covers exactly this — what the tools are, how they work, and why most owners wait too long.

It'll be on our blog in August. In the meantime, if this is a conversation you've been putting off, our calendar is open.

waterssullivan.com