Estate Planning
Wills vs. Revocable Trusts: Which Is Better for Me?
Why the answer often depends on assets, family circumstances, administration goals, and whether a trust will be properly funded.
Practical counsel. Personal attention.
Clear legal guidance, grounded in what matters to you.
At Reid Tolar Law, LLC, we listen first. Then we help Alabama individuals, families, and business owners understand their options, build a practical plan, and move forward with confidence.
Estate PlanningSpecial Needs PlanningProbateGuardianship & ConservatorshipBankruptcyBusiness Law
Practice Areas
Thoughtful guidance for life, family, and business.
Choose an area to learn how we can help, explore common questions, and read practical legal guides.
01
Estate Planning
A thoughtful estate plan can direct how property is managed and distributed, identify trusted decision-makers, and record health-care choices. We prepare plans ranging from straightforward wills and powers of attorney to revocable and irrevocable trusts tailored to each client’s family and assets.
Services include
- Revocable Trusts
- Irrevocable Trusts
- Last Will and Testament
- Powers of Attorney
- Living Will
02
Special Needs Planning
Special needs planning helps families plan ongoing support for a loved one with a disability. We help families consider special needs trusts, beneficiary choices, and trustee succession in light of their loved one’s needs and goals.
Services include
- Special Needs Trust Planning
- Trustee & Successor Planning
03
Probate
After a death, the appropriate probate process depends on whether a valid will exists and whether the estate qualifies for a simplified procedure. We assist with uncontested appointments, required notices and filings, estate administration, distribution, and closing.
Services include
- Letters of Administration
- Letters Testamentary
- Summary Distribution / Small Estates
04
Guardianship & Conservatorship
When a minor or incapacitated adult needs formal support, a guardianship may authorize decisions about personal care, while a conservatorship may authorize management of property and finances. We handle uncontested petitions and guide families through the required court process.
Services include
- Uncontested Guardianship
- Uncontested Conservatorship
05
Bankruptcy
When debt becomes unmanageable, we help individuals evaluate whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 may offer a workable path forward. Chapter 7 generally focuses on the discharge of eligible debts, while Chapter 13 allows qualifying individuals with regular income to propose a repayment plan and pay debts over time.
Services include
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 13
06
Business Law
Starting an Alabama limited liability company involves more than filing formation paperwork. We assist with LLC formation and multi-member operating agreements that address ownership, management, voting, distributions, transfers, and a member’s departure.
Services include
- LLC Formation
- Multi-Member Operating Agreements
Legal Guides
Start with a clearer understanding.
We believe informed clients make more confident decisions. Our articles offer a plain-language starting point for common legal questions and are organized by practice area.
Probate
A Loved One Has Died. What Are the First Probate Steps?
A calm, practical starting point for protecting property, locating documents, and determining whether court authority is needed.
Special Needs Planning
Special Needs Trusts: Planning an Inheritance with Public Benefits in Mind
How thoughtful trust and beneficiary planning can support a loved one without overlooking benefits that use income or resource limits.
A clear path forward
You deserve to understand the plan.
Legal matters are personal. We take the time to listen, explain your options in plain language, and build a plan that fits your life, family, or business.
Contact Our Office- 01
Tell us what matters
We begin with your circumstances, priorities, and questions.
- 02
Understand your options
We explain the available paths clearly and practically.
- 03
Move forward with a plan
We prepare the documents and next steps with care.
Meet the Attorney
Reid G. Tolar
Practical counsel begins with understanding the person, family, or business behind the legal question.
Reid earned his degree in agricultural economics from Auburn University and his law degree from Birmingham School of Law. For more than a decade, he has helped Alabama individuals and families navigate estate planning, probate, bankruptcy, and other decisions that affect their families and financial futures.
Outside the office, Reid and his wife operate Tolar Longhorns near Prattville. His experience as an attorney, husband, father, and small-business owner gives him a practical appreciation for the responsibilities his clients are balancing in their own lives.
The Chris Britton Show
Hear Reid discuss business, family, community, and helping people through some of life’s most important decisions.
Our Team
A team that listens, explains, and follows through.
From the first call through the final document or filing, we work together to keep you informed and make the process feel manageable.
Taylor Lyle
Firm Staff
Emileigh Orozco
Firm Staff
Corbin Scofield
Firm Staff
Client Reviews
Kind words from people we have helped.
Knowledgeable, responsive, and kind.
They made the process so easy!
Dedicated, professional, caring lawyer.
Reid explained everything very well.
Review excerpts reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee a similar result.
Our Offices
Local counsel in two Alabama communities.
Our Montgomery office is staffed during the hours below. Tallassee visits are available by appointment only.
(334) 303-2258Montgomery Office
Staffed office
Montgomery, AL 36117
Office hours
- Monday–Thursday
- 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Friday
- 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Tallassee Office
By appointment only
Tallassee, AL 36078
Appointments
Please call or email in advance to arrange a Tallassee office visit.Begin a Conversation
Let’s talk about what comes next.
Legal questions often feel easier once you have a clear place to start. Send us a message, email us directly, or call during Montgomery office hours to discuss scheduling.