One of the biggest misconceptions driving fear of probate is the belief that families must “avoid probate” to avoid taxes. In Alabama, there is no inheritance tax and no state estate tax at all. Nothing about probate triggers a state‑level tax. Federal estate tax applies only to estates exceeding $13 million per individual. Probate does not create tax liability; in fact, it often preserves tax advantages. Probate Is Not the Monster People Imagine Many families hear the word p