How to Dissolve an LLC in Alabama (2026)
To dissolve an LLC in Alabama, you file Articles of Dissolution with the county Judge of Probate in the county where your LLC's Certificate of Formation was originally recorded, not directly with the Secretary of State. You pay two fees: a $100 fee for the Secretary of State plus a county recording fee (which varies by county, generally at least $50). The probate judge records and certifies the filing, then transmits a certified copy and the state fee to the Secretary of State within about 10 days. This county-probate routing is what makes Alabama different from most states.
Here's the full process and the Alabama-specific specifics.
Alabama LLC dissolution at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form | Domestic LLC Articles of Dissolution (original + two copies) |
| Filing fees | $100 (Secretary of State) + county Judge of Probate recording fee (varies, generally $50+) |
| Where to file | County Judge of Probate where the Certificate of Formation was recorded — by mail or in person (not online) |
| Processing time | Probate records it (often quickly); SOS indexes within ~10 days after recording |
| Tax clearance | Not required from the Dept. of Revenue to dissolve |
| Final return | Final Alabama and federal returns; final Business Privilege Tax return if applicable |
| Creditor notice | Claimants typically given a window (commonly ~120 days) to submit claims |
Step 1: Vote to dissolve and document it
Check your operating agreement for the dissolution procedure and hold the required member vote, typically the consent of the members, then record it in writing. The Articles of Dissolution will ask for basic information including the reason for dissolution and the effective date, so having the decision documented keeps the filing clean.
Step 2: Wind up the business and notify creditors
Wind up the LLC's affairs: notify known creditors and claimants, pay or provide for the company's debts, and distribute remaining assets to members, creditors first. Alabama's process contemplates giving claimants a window to submit claims (commonly around 120 days from notice), so notifying creditors early in the process is worthwhile. A dissolved Alabama LLC may only carry on the business needed to wind up and liquidate.
Step 3: Handle final taxes
Alabama does not require a tax-clearance certificate from the Department of Revenue to file your dissolution, which keeps the process simpler than in clearance states. File your final Alabama and federal returns, and if your LLC had Business Privilege Tax obligations, file the final Business Privilege Tax return (Alabama has phased out the minimum Business Privilege Tax for small entities in recent years, so confirm whether any is due). Close any sales-tax or withholding accounts with the Department of Revenue.
Step 4: File Articles of Dissolution with the county Judge of Probate
This is the Alabama-specific step. Prepare the Domestic LLC Articles of Dissolution, an original plus two copies, with original signatures. Then file them with the Office of the Judge of Probate in the county where your LLC's Certificate of Formation was originally recorded, by mail or in person (Alabama doesn't take these online). Include two payments: the $100 Secretary of State fee (a separate check payable to the Secretary of State) and the county recording fee (payable to the probate office, which varies by county). The probate judge reviews the filing for conformity with Alabama law, records it, and certifies two copies, the certified copy you receive back serves as your LLC's Certificate of Dissolution.
Step 5: The probate office forwards to the Secretary of State
You don't file with the Secretary of State yourself. Within about 10 days of recording, the Judge of Probate transmits a certified copy of your Articles of Dissolution, along with the $100 state fee, to the Secretary of State, who then indexes the dissolution in the state business records. This relay is automatic once the probate office records your filing.
Step 6: Close accounts, licenses, and registrations
Finish by canceling local business licenses and permits, closing business bank accounts, canceling the EIN with the IRS if appropriate, and withdrawing any out-of-state registrations.
The Alabama wrinkle: file at the county courthouse, not the state
Alabama's defining feature is the filing venue. In nearly every other state, you file dissolution directly with the Secretary of State. In Alabama, formation and dissolution both run through the county Judge of Probate, you file your Articles of Dissolution with the probate office in the county where your LLC was originally formed, and that office handles recording and forwarding to the state. This is a holdover from Alabama's county-based business filing system, and it surprises people who expect a single state portal.
Two practical consequences follow. First, there are two fees, not one: the $100 Secretary of State fee and a separate county recording fee that varies by county, so you'll want to confirm the exact recording fee with your specific probate office before filing. Second, you can't do it online, it's a mail-or-in-person filing at the courthouse. Knowing to go to the right county probate office, rather than hunting for a state online form that doesn't exist for this, is the thing that makes Alabama dissolution smooth. Leaving it undone, as with the general trap in can you just walk away from an LLC, keeps the LLC active and subject to ongoing obligations.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to dissolve an LLC in Alabama?
Two fees: a $100 fee payable to the Secretary of State, plus a county recording fee payable to the Judge of Probate, which varies by county and is generally at least $50 (some counties charge in the $50–$60 range). Use two separate checks. There's no tax-clearance fee, since Alabama doesn't require clearance to dissolve. Confirm your county's exact recording fee with the local probate office before filing.
Where do I file to dissolve an Alabama LLC?
With the county Judge of Probate in the county where your LLC's Certificate of Formation was originally recorded, not directly with the Secretary of State. You file an original and two copies of the Articles of Dissolution by mail or in person. The probate judge records and certifies the filing and then forwards a certified copy and the $100 state fee to the Secretary of State within about 10 days.
Do I need tax clearance to dissolve an Alabama LLC?
No. Alabama doesn't require a tax-clearance certificate from the Department of Revenue to file your Articles of Dissolution. You should still file your final Alabama and federal returns and, if applicable, a final Business Privilege Tax return, and close any sales-tax or withholding accounts. But there's no clearance certificate to obtain before the probate office will record your dissolution.
This page covers the Alabama specifics; for the general framework, see our complete guide to how to dissolve an LLC, and for neighboring states, Georgia and Tennessee. Alabama's official forms and the probate-office directory are at the Alabama Secretary of State, and tax matters are handled by the Alabama Department of Revenue.