Dad didn't have a will & not married & I'm only child

I hope someone can please give me some information. My Dad died 3 weeks ago and he didn't have a will. he was a farmer and and didn't have much. he always figured everything would go to me with no problem. I'm his only child and he was not married. he lived in a house that is in my name, and on his death certificate I am named as informant if that means anything. but where the problem lies is that my Dad had a checking account with just a few hundred dollars in it. The bank will not let me close his account and get the money without me going through the process of hiring a lawyer and being made administer of his estate which will cost me MORE than what is in the bank. is there anything I can do? btw, I am in the state of Alabama. Thank You, Linda

I had to go through that when my father passed. Unforunetly if he did not designate you as an authorized signer on the account, the bank by law has to freeze everything until it is released by a probate lawyer. My father did not have a will or we couldn't find one if he did and his bank (in North Carolina) did the same thing. We had to go through probate and their fee was about 1/4 of what was in the account. The probate lawyer will be the official administrator of the estate since there was no will naming one. I'm not sure how Alabama is, but in North Carolina, property is not a part of ones estate and automatically goes to the next of kin. I hope this helps. I'm still trying to settle everything also and I know how it always feels like you are having obstacles thrown in your way.