The Harris Firm LLC

06/17/2026

A living will has nothing to do with your property. It's often called a healthcare directive and is the document that tells doctors what you want if you can no longer speak for yourself.

Without one, your family is left guessing. Medical teams may do more, or less, than you would have wanted. Disputes happen and having this document executed can provide clarity at such difficult times for the doctors and your family.

Creating this document is one of the simplest things you can do to lessen the confusion around an unexpected catastrophic event. If you are interested in executing a Living Will, then The Harris Firm can help. https://www.theharrisfirmllc.com/alabama-probate-attorneys/

06/16/2026

Losing a family member is hard enough without facing a legal process you've never encountered before. If your loved one left a will in Alabama, here is a plain-language overview of what probate actually looks like.

The process begins with filing a petition in the probate court of the county where the deceased lived. Once the court accepts the will and opens the estate, it appoints a personal representative -- sometimes called an executor -- to manage the estate. This person is usually named in the will itself.

From there, the personal representative must notify all known heirs and creditors that the estate has been opened. Alabama gives creditors six months to submit claims against the estate. During that time, the personal representative is responsible for gathering the estate's assets, managing any property, and keeping records.

Once the creditor period closes, valid debts are paid, and anything remaining is distributed to the beneficiaries named in the will. The court then closes the estate.

The process sounds straightforward, but disputes over the will, creditor claims, and family disagreements can complicate things quickly. The Harris Firm helps families in Alabama navigate probate from start to finish. Learn more at https://www.theharrisfirmllc.com/alabama-probate-of-estates-lawyer/ or call (205) 201-1789 to discuss your family's situation.

Do you need an estate probated in Alabama? How it is probated depends on whether there is a will or not. Call a probate of estate lawyer now!

06/15/2026

High-asset divorces are more complicated, especially when homes and businesses are involved. Everything may need an additional financial review, but why? Find out in today's edition of the Harris Firm's Family Law Facts quiz!

06/15/2026

Most people walk out of divorce court thinking the paperwork is done. Then they find out their spouse still has their name on the 401(k) -- and there is nothing they can do about it without an additional court order.

That order is called a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, or QDRO. A QDRO is a specific order that tells a retirement plan administrator to divide the account and transfer a portion to the other spouse. Your divorce decree, by itself, cannot touch an ERISA-governed retirement account like a 401(k) or pension. The plan is required by federal law to ignore any instruction that doesn't come through a properly drafted QDRO.

Without this order, one spouse can walk away from a marriage with retirement savings that were supposed to be shared -- and the other spouse has no legal remedy after the fact.

Getting a QDRO right matters. The document has to match the plan's specific requirements, and mistakes can cost thousands of dollars or delay retirement benefits by years.

At The Harris Firm, we handle QDROs as part of a full divorce representation and as standalone matters for people whose prior attorneys never completed this step. Learn more at https://www.theharrisfirmllc.com/qualified-domestic-relations-orders/ or call our office at (205) 201-1789 to schedule a consultation.

06/13/2026

Military divorce in Alabama is not the same as a civilian divorce -- and the differences matter.

Service members and their spouses face unique legal challenges that require an attorney who understands how military life intersects with family law. Here are three areas where military divorce cases diverge from standard divorce cases:

1. Military pensions: A military retirement benefit can be divided in a divorce. Federal law sets specific rules for how this is done, and the process requires precise legal language to be effective.

2. Deployment and jurisdiction: When a service member is deployed, it affects timelines, court appearances, and custody schedules. Alabama courts take these realities into account, but navigating them requires experience.

3. Child custody during deployment: Deployment does not end parental rights. Custody arrangements can be crafted to address temporary deployments, transitions, and relocations specific to military families.

The Harris Firm represents military families across Alabama -- including the Huntsville and Montgomery areas, home to significant military communities.

Call (205) 201-1789 or visit https://www.theharrisfirmllc.com/alabama-military-divorce-attorneys/ to speak with an attorney who understands military divorce.

06/12/2026

One question we hear more than almost any other: "Can I just handle my family law case without an attorney?"

The honest answer is: sometimes yes -- but often at a real cost later.

Family law cases in Alabama -- divorce, custody, support, modifications -- involve enforceable court orders. A mistake in a settlement agreement, a missed detail in a custody arrangement, or an improperly drafted parenting plan can take years and significant legal fees to correct.

Three things that almost always go wrong without legal guidance:
1. Leaving out key provisions in custody orders that create disputes later
2. Agreeing to asset division that seems fair now but is unenforceable as written
3. Misunderstanding what can and cannot be changed after the divorce is final

The Harris Firm handles family law cases across Alabama -- from simple to complex. Whether you have a custody modification, a child support dispute, or need help protecting your parental rights, we are here.

Call (205) 201-1789 or visit https://www.theharrisfirmllc.com/alabama-family-law-attorneys/ to schedule a consultation.

06/12/2026

"Our child is older and doesn't really need child support anymore. Can we simply cancel the Child Support Order?" There are reasons why a child support order would need to be changed or stopped. Incomes can change. The child is now 19, which is the legal age of majority in Alabama. Do changes like this automatically end a child support order? Find out the answer in today's edition of the Harris Firm's Myth vs Facts quiz!

06/11/2026

You can finalize an uncontested divorce in Alabama in as little as 30 to 60 days. Here is what that actually looks like.

An uncontested divorce means both spouses have agreed on everything -- property, debts, and any arrangements for children. Once that agreement is in place, the process is straightforward, affordable, and moves at a pace that lets both people move forward with their lives.

Common questions we hear:
Q: Do I have to appear in court? In most cases, no. Many uncontested divorces in Alabama are finalized without a formal court appearance.
Q: How much does it cost? The Harris Firm offers a flat fee for uncontested divorces -- no hourly billing surprises.
Q: Can you handle my case if I do not live near an office? Yes. We handle uncontested divorces online throughout Alabama.
Q: What if we have kids? Uncontested divorces with children are still possible when both parents agree on custody and support.

If both sides are ready to move forward without a fight, an uncontested divorce is the fastest, least expensive, and least stressful path available.

Call (205) 201-1789 or visit https://www.theharrisfirmllc.com/uncontested-divorce/ to learn more.

06/11/2026

Our team at the Birmingham office is proud to earn reviews like this one.

"The Harris Firm was very thorough and very easy to do business with, any and all of my questions were answered very quickly and they kept me informed throughout the whole process! I would definitely recommend them to anyone. Shoutout to Mrs. Ginna, she was fantastic!"

-- N. Hutto, Birmingham, AL

Managing Paralegal Ginna Beach is a cornerstone of our team. Her dedication to clear communication, quick responses, and genuine care for clients is something we are incredibly proud of. This kind of review reminds us why we do what we do.

If you want a legal team that keeps you informed and treats your case like it matters, call the Harris Firm at (205) 201-1789.

https://www.theharrisfirmllc.com/alabama-divorce-lawyers/

06/10/2026

A will is not a trust -- and that distinction matters more than most people realize.

A will is a legal document that states who receives your property, who manages your estate, and -- critically -- who raises your children if something happens to you. Without a will, Alabama law decides all of those things for your family. That process is called intestate succession, and it rarely lines up with what most people actually want.

Three things a will can do that nothing else can:
1. Name a guardian for your minor children
2. Ensure your assets go to the people you choose -- not just the people the state defaults to
3. Name an executor you trust to carry out your wishes

A will does not eliminate probate on its own, and it is not the same as a trust. But for most Alabama families, a well-drafted will is the single most important step toward protecting your loved ones.

The Harris Firm drafts clear, legally sound wills for individuals and families across Alabama.

Call (205) 201-1789 or visit https://www.theharrisfirmllc.com/alabama-will-attorneys/ to get started.