Probate & Estate Administration
We guide executors and heirs through the full probate process with careful attention to your family's interests and timeline.
Inquire →A legacy of counsel.
A standard of trust.
For nearly nine decades, Whitfield, Crane & Howe has guided families, estates, and businesses through their most consequential legal matters, with the patience of experience and the precision of principle.
Est. 1937
Nearly 9 Decades of Service
Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent™ Rated
Super Lawyers
Recognized 2010 to 2026
State Bar
Admitted AL, GA & TN
1,200+ Estates
Settled & Administered
What We Do
A full-service general practice
A full-service general practice
rooted in principle.
We handle the legal matters that shape lifetimes, with the gravity they deserve and the clarity you need.
Wills & Trusts
From simple wills to complex revocable trusts and charitable instruments, we draft plans that hold up and carry out your wishes.
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Business Law
Entity formation, governance, contracts, acquisitions, and dispute resolution, steady counsel for companies at every stage.
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Real Estate
Residential and commercial closings, title review, easements, and deed transfers handled with thoroughness and precision.
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Civil Litigation & Personal Injury
Principled advocacy in state and federal courts, from breach of contract disputes to claims for the seriously injured.
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Our Heritage
Nearly nine decades of
Nearly nine decades of
principled counsel.
Whitfield, Crane & Howe was founded in 1937 by Raymond Whitfield, a sole practitioner who built his practice on one principle: a client's affairs deserve the same care you would give your own. That conviction has outlasted generations of partners.
"We do not measure success by the volume of matters we handle, but by whether each client felt, truly, that their cause was ours."
Arthur Crane, Sr., Managing Partner 1961 to 1988
Today the firm carries forward the same commitment under the stewardship of partner Eleanor Howe, a third-generation attorney with more than 28 years of probate, trust, and litigation experience across Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.
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Continuous Practice
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Estates Settled
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Generations of Partners
Representative Outcomes
Results that speak for our clients.
$2.4M
Contested Estate
Preservation of estate assets for the rightful heirs following a will contest brought by a third-party claimant.
$1.85M
Personal Injury
Settlement secured for a client who suffered severe injuries in a commercial vehicle accident.
$3.1M
Business Dispute
Judgment entered for a client in a multi-year breach of fiduciary duty action against a former partner.
Trust Preserved
Irrevocable Trust Challenge
Successfully defended the terms of a family irrevocable trust against a challenge by a contingent beneficiary.
$975K
Real Estate Litigation
Recovery for a client defrauded in a commercial property transaction by a seller who concealed material defects.
Full Dismissal
Civil Litigation
All claims dismissed with prejudice in a six-figure breach-of-contract action against our business client.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each matter is unique and must be evaluated on its own facts and circumstances.
In Their Words
Trusted by those we have served.
★★★★★
They handled my mother's estate with a thoroughness and sensitivity I did not expect. Every question was answered patiently. I felt fully informed at every step.
Catherine M.Estate Administration client
★★★★★
Our family has used Whitfield, Crane & Howe for thirty years, wills, a real estate closing, and most recently a business formation. Consistent excellence, every time.
Robert B.Long-term client
★★★★★
When our business dispute became serious, Ms. Howe was precise, calm, and completely in command of the facts. The outcome was far better than I had hoped for.
Thomas W.Business litigation client
Firm Insights
From our desk to yours.
Plain-English guidance on the estate and legal questions our clients ask most often.
Wills & Trusts
Why a will is not enough: the case for a revocable trust
A will goes through probate. A trust does not. Understanding the difference can save your family months of court process and real cost.
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Probate
What executors need to know in the first ninety days
The first three months after a loved one passes carry the highest risk of misstep. Here is what to do, and what to avoid.
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Business Law
Choosing the right entity: LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp?
The entity you choose affects your taxes, liability, and your ability to bring on investors. A one-size answer rarely fits.
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Free Consultation
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