Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices · Mountain Brook, AL

Alabama Probate Lawyer & Estate Planning Attorney

Serving Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, and surrounding Alabama communities with trusted guidance in probate, wills, trusts, estate planning, and small business law.

Schedule a Consultation (205) 202-9801
  • 5.0 rating on Google
  • You work directly with an attorney
  • Serving Jefferson & Shelby Counties
Practice Areas

Helping Alabama families and businesses protect what matters most

Probate

Probate Matters

Guiding families through Alabama probate, from opening the estate to final distribution.

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Estate Planning

Wills & Estate Planning

Wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives built around your family.

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Estate Planning

Revocable Living Trusts

Keep properly funded assets out of probate and plan for incapacity privately.

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Business Law

Small Business & Corporate Law

LLC formation, operating agreements, and ongoing counsel for Alabama businesses.

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Business Law

Business Succession Planning

Buy-sell agreements and ownership transitions, coordinated with your estate plan.

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Business Law

Contract Drafting & Review

Catch the risky terms before you sign, and draft agreements that protect you.

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Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices in Mountain Brook, Alabama
About the Firm

Your trusted Alabama legal partner for today and tomorrow

Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices is an Alabama estate planning and probate law firm based in Mountain Brook, serving clients in Birmingham, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, and throughout the state. We focus on wills, trusts, probate, estate planning, and small business law, helping Alabama families protect their assets and plan for the future.

We take pride in building lasting relationships and delivering clear, straightforward legal guidance that fits your goals and budget. Whether you need help with probate administration, a will or trust, or a business legal matter, we are here to help every step of the way.

  • Probate and estate administration
  • Wills, trusts, and estate planning
  • Business law and contract guidance
  • Birmingham, Hoover, Montgomery, and beyond
Call to discuss your situation: (205) 202-9801 or email christopher@colvinlawgroup.com
Our Attorneys

The attorneys you will actually work with

Christopher Colvin, founder of Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices

Christopher Colvin

Founder, Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices

Christopher Colvin is the founder of Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices and a trusted advocate for Alabama families and small businesses. A proud honor graduate of the Birmingham School of Law, he combines strong legal knowledge with firsthand experience as a former small business owner, giving clients practical guidance in corporate, contract, and probate law.

He also serves as a pastor in small churches across the region. Clients value his honest advice, steady communication, and eye for detail, whether he is drafting contracts or helping families with wills and probate.

Valerie A. Sawyer, Esq., partner at Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices

Valerie Sawyer

Attorney at Law, Partner

Valerie A. Sawyer focuses her practice on estate planning and probate law. Before law, she worked as a special education teacher, building the empathy, clarity, and problem-solving skills that make her a steady guide for families through wills, end-of-life planning, and probate.

Valerie has served with the Civil Air Patrol as a Squadron Commander and Alabama Wing Director of Recruiting and Retention, and volunteers with veterans through the American Legion, Volunteer Lawyers, and the VA Hospital.

Why Clients Choose Us

Practical guidance from attorneys who treat you like a person, not a file

A Local Alabama Firm

Based in Mountain Brook and serving families across Jefferson, Shelby, and Montgomery counties. We know the local probate courts, including which division of Jefferson County, Birmingham or Bessemer, handles your estate.

Responsive, Approachable Attorneys

You work directly with Christopher Colvin or Valerie Sawyer, not a rotating cast of staff. Questions get answered promptly and in plain language.

A Former Business Owner

Christopher ran a small business before practicing law, so business clients get advice grounded in real-world operations, not just theory.

A Veterans Advocate

Valerie has served as a Civil Air Patrol Squadron Commander and is a dedicated advocate for Alabama veterans and their families in estate and probate matters.

Personalized Planning

No template plans. We build wills, trusts, and business documents around your family, your assets, and how Alabama law actually applies to you.

Clear Costs, No Surprises

We explain the expected scope and cost at your consultation before any work begins, so you can make decisions with full information.

What Clients Say

Reviews

5.0 on Google, from families and business owners across Alabama.

“I had an excellent experience working with Valerie Sawyer. She guided me through the probate and estate planning process with patience, clarity, and genuine care. Every question I had was answered promptly, and I always felt confident that my best interests were being looked after. The attention to detail and professionalism were outstanding, and the compassion shown during a difficult time meant so much to my family. I highly recommend Attorney Valerie Sawyer to anyone in need of expert, trustworthy estate planning or probate services.”

Josh A.

Google Review

“Chris helps me with all things legal with my businesses! He really takes the time to make things easy to understand. Highly recommend!”

Jack S.

Google Review

“Great experience working with this law firm for estate planning. They were knowledgeable, thorough, and took the time to explain everything in a way that was easy to understand. The entire process felt organized and stress-free, which is so important when dealing with something as important as planning for the future. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone needing help with estate planning, trusts, or probate matters.”

Charlotte J.

Google Review

“Valerie was extremely knowledgeable and helpful while helping my family through the probate process. I can not recommend Valerie and this law firm enough.”

Leah F.

Google Review

“Valerie Sawyer was absolutely amazing to work with. She was fast, efficient, and made the entire process so much less stressful. From the beginning, she took a huge weight off my shoulders and handled everything with professionalism and confidence. Thanks to her hard work and dedication, we came out on top. I couldn't be happier with the outcome and the service she provided. I will definitely be using Valerie's services again in the future and highly recommend her to anyone looking for an outstanding attorney.”

Joy G.

Google Review

“These lawyers know what they're doing and actually listen to their clients!”

Holly V.

Google Review

“Attorneys Chris and Valerie were most helpful and compassionate helping answer probate and Will questions. I highly recommend Colvin Law Group for any will, probate, or estate needs. Valerie has experience from Elder Law and the many rules involved. Valerie was upfront and honest about choices, she was kind but direct with the truth of situation and potential outcomes. Thank you so much for helping me!”

Sallie W.

Google Review

“This Firm exemplifies kindness, trust and compassion. I would highly recommend Colvin & Sawyer Law Group should you need their services.”

Lisa C.

Google Review

“Chris and Valerie are awesome attorneys and do a great job fighting for their clients. Highly recommend!”

Alex D.

Google Review

“Great group! Answered all my questions and guided me through the processes I need help with.”

Drew B.

Google Review

Curious about your options? Give us a call and let’s see what we can do.

Call (205) 202-9801 Send a Message
For Alabama Business Owners

Starting or running a business? Start here.

From forming your LLC the right way to reviewing the contracts you sign, we help Alabama business owners build on solid legal ground.

LLC Formation

Form your Alabama LLC correctly, from the required name reservation through the Certificate of Formation, plus an operating agreement built for your business.

How to Form an LLC in Alabama

Contract Review & Drafting

Before you sign a lease, vendor agreement, or client contract, we catch the terms that create real risk, and draft agreements that protect you.

Contract Review Services

Ongoing Business Counsel

Entity selection, operating agreements, and the day-to-day legal questions that come with running an Alabama business, answered by an attorney who has run one.

Explore Business Law
View All Business Law Services
Free Alabama Legal Guides

Popular resources for Alabama families & businesses

Our most-read guides, the questions families and business owners ask us most, answered in plain language.

View all articles
Probate

How to Transfer Property After Death in Alabama

Deeds, heirs, probate, and what Alabama does and does not allow when a loved one leaves real estate behind.

Read the guide Estate Planning

Living Trust vs. Will in Alabama: Which Do You Need?

How each one works, what each means for your family later, and how to decide which fits your situation.

Compare trusts & wills Business Law

How to Form an LLC in Alabama (2026 Guide)

Name reservation, the Certificate of Formation, and the operating agreement most new owners skip.

Learn how to form an LLC
Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Where is Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices located?
Our office is at 4 Office Park Circle, Suite 305, in Mountain Brook, Alabama. We serve families and businesses throughout Jefferson County, Shelby County, and across Alabama. Call (205) 202-9801 to schedule a consultation.
What legal services does Colvin & Sawyer Law Offices provide?
We handle probate and estate administration, wills and estate planning, revocable living trusts, business succession planning, small business and corporate law, and contract drafting and review.
Does every estate in Alabama have to go through probate?
No. Assets with a named beneficiary, accounts owned jointly with a right of survivorship, and assets held in a properly funded revocable living trust generally pass outside of probate. Some smaller estates may also qualify for Alabama's simplified summary distribution process. Whether probate is needed depends on how each asset is titled.
Do you help veterans and their families with estate planning?
Yes. Attorney Valerie Sawyer has served as a Civil Air Patrol Squadron Commander and volunteers with veterans through the American Legion, Volunteer Lawyers, and the VA Hospital. She helps veterans and their families with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and probate. Read more in our guide to estate planning for Alabama veterans.
How do I get started?
Call (205) 202-9801 or send us a message through the website. At your consultation we will talk through your situation and explain the expected scope and cost before any work begins.
Contact Us

Have questions? Reach out now.

Tell us a little about your situation and we will get back to you promptly. Prefer to talk? Call us during business hours.

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General inquiries submitted to the firm do not constitute the formation of a binding legal agreement. Attorney client relationships are not implied by general inquiries. Legal agreements are only created by the execution of a signed engagement contract.