Find Genealogy Records in Montgomery

Montgomery genealogy records are among the most accessible in Alabama thanks to the city's role as state capital. The Alabama Department of Archives and History sits here, founded in 1901 as the first state-funded archives in the nation. The Center for Health Statistics, which manages all state vital records, also calls Montgomery home. This puts millions of birth, death, marriage, and divorce records within reach of anyone who visits. County-level records go through the Montgomery County Probate Court. The city has about 200,600 residents and serves as the hub for genealogy research across the entire state.

Alabama Department of Archives and History

The Alabama Department of Archives and History is the crown jewel of genealogy research in the state. Thomas Owen founded it in 1901, making it the oldest state archives in America. The building sits at 624 Washington Avenue in downtown Montgomery. Admission to the research room is free. Staff can help you find records, and the facility has computers for searching digital collections.

The archives hold an enormous range of records useful for family history. You can find county and state records, military records from every conflict, land grants, census records, maps, photographs, and newspapers. Many Alabama county records that survived courthouse fires ended up here for preservation. The archives also have Confederate pension records and World War I draft cards for Alabama men.

The digital collections at digital.archives.alabama.gov let you search from home. You can browse old newspapers, photographs, government documents, and more. The site has indexes that help you locate records before you visit in person. Some records are fully digitized, so you can view them online for free. Others require an in-person visit to see the original documents in Montgomery.

Center for Health Statistics

The Alabama Center for Health Statistics manages all state vital records. Their office is in the RSA Tower at 201 Monroe Street in Montgomery. This is where the state keeps birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. You can order records by mail, online through VitalChek, or in person at the Montgomery office.

The ViSION network links this central office to all 67 county health departments. This means you can request any Alabama vital record from any county, but going to the source in Montgomery sometimes speeds things up. Walk-in service at the Montgomery office can get you a certified copy the same day if the record is in the system.

Records available here include births from 1908 to present, deaths from 1908 to present, marriages from 1936 to present, and divorces from 1950 to present. For older records, you need to check the county where the event took place. The Center for Health Statistics can search their database and tell you if they have the record you need.

Montgomery County Probate Court

Montgomery County handles local vital records through the Probate Court. The Probate Judge keeps marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and land records. For county-level genealogy research, this is where you go. The court is in the Montgomery County Courthouse at 100 S. Lawrence Street in downtown Montgomery.

Marriage records at the Probate Court go back to 1817. This is one of the older collections in Alabama. Before statehood in 1819, Montgomery was part of the Mississippi Territory. Some early territorial records survived and are kept here or at the state archives. The Probate Court can issue certified copies of marriages on file.

Land records at the Probate Court help trace families who owned property. Deeds show when people bought and sold land. They often list family members, neighbors, and other details that help build a family tree. Will and probate records name heirs and show family connections across generations.

How to Search Montgomery Records

You have several ways to search genealogy records in Montgomery. Online search works best for getting started. In-person visits let you dig deeper into original documents. Mail requests work when you know exactly what you need. Each method has its own steps and costs.

Start online at the state archives digital collection. The website at digital.archives.alabama.gov has searchable indexes and digitized records. You can search old Alabama newspapers, browse photographs, and access government documents. This free tool helps you narrow down what you need before you visit Montgomery in person.

For court records, use AlacourtAccess at pa.alacourt.com. This system covers all Alabama counties, including Montgomery. You can search by name or case number. A name search costs money per case, but it gives you access to case details and documents from home. This works well for finding divorce cases, civil matters, and other court files.

FamilySearch has free Alabama records online. Their collection includes some Montgomery County records like censuses, some vital records indexes, and church records. Go to FamilySearch wiki for links to Montgomery County resources. You can also visit a local FamilySearch Center to access records that require in-person viewing.

In-person research at the state archives gives you the most options. Staff can pull records from the vault that are not online. You can view microfilm, original documents, and materials that have not been digitized. Bring identification and a pencil. Lockers are available for bags and coats. Plan to spend at least a half day if you make the trip to Montgomery.

Online Databases for Montgomery Records

Several online databases cover Montgomery genealogy records. Some are free. Others charge per search or require a subscription. Here are the main options for searching from home.

The Alabama Archives Digital Collections at digital.archives.alabama.gov is free. It has newspapers, photographs, government records, and indexes. This is often the best starting point for any Alabama research. The collection grows as staff digitize more materials.

Ancestry has Alabama birth, death, marriage, and census records. A subscription is required, but many public libraries offer free access. The Birmingham and Montgomery public libraries both provide Ancestry access to cardholders. Check if your local library has this option.

VitalChek at vitalchek.com lets you order Alabama vital records online. This is an official partner of the state. You pay the state fee plus a service charge. Orders ship by mail, or you can pay extra for rush processing. This works when you need a certified copy for legal purposes.

FindAGrave and BillionGraves have cemetery records for Montgomery. These sites show grave locations, photos, and sometimes family connections. Volunteers add records, so coverage varies. Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery has records on both sites.

Record Fees in Montgomery

Fees vary by agency and record type. The state charges set rates for vital records. The county sets its own fees for probate records. Here is what you can expect to pay when searching for genealogy records in Montgomery.

State vital records cost $15 for a search and one certified copy. Additional copies in the same order cost $6 each. Rush service adds $15 for same-day processing at the Montgomery office. VitalChek orders include service fees on top of the state rate, usually around $12 to $15 extra.

Montgomery County Probate Court charges $5 for a marriage license search. Certified copies of probate records cost $1 per page with a $5 minimum. Call ahead at (334) 832-1230 to confirm current fees before you visit.

The state archives charges copy fees but no admission. Basic photocopies cost $0.25 per page. Staff research costs $25 per hour if you request help by mail. Digital scans have their own fee schedule. In-person research is free, and you can take photos of documents with your phone at no charge in most cases.

AlacourtAccess charges $9.99 per name search. Each case detail view costs $9.99. Document images cost $5 for up to 20 pages. This adds up fast if you need to search many names or view many cases. Consider an in-person trip to Montgomery if your research needs are extensive.

Montgomery Genealogy Contacts

Here are the main contacts for genealogy research in Montgomery. Save these numbers and addresses before you start your search.

• Alabama Archives Reference Desk: (334) 242-4435
• Center for Health Statistics: (334) 206-5418
• Montgomery County Probate Court: (334) 832-1230
• Montgomery County Health Department: (334) 293-6400
• Montgomery Genealogical Society: montgomerygensoc.org

The Montgomery Genealogical Society meets monthly and offers help to researchers. They publish a quarterly journal and maintain a library of local resources. Membership is open to anyone interested in family history. Contact them through their website for meeting times and volunteer research help.

Library Resources

The Montgomery City-County Public Library has a local history collection. The main branch is at 245 High Street in downtown Montgomery. The Genealogy Room holds county histories, family files, and cemetery transcripts. Staff can help you locate materials, and the library provides free computer access.

The library system also gives cardholders free access to several genealogy databases. Ancestry Library Edition is available in the building. HeritageQuest is available from home with a library card. These databases have census records, military records, and other documents useful for family research.

Alabama State University and Auburn University at Montgomery both have library collections that include Alabama history materials. Students and visiting researchers can access these collections. Call ahead to check access policies for non-students.

Research Tips for Montgomery

Montgomery offers more genealogy resources than most Alabama cities. Take advantage of the concentration of state offices here. A single trip can cover the state archives, the vital records office, and the county probate court all in one day.

Start at the state archives if you have time for only one stop. Their collections cover the whole state, not just Montgomery County. You might find records from any Alabama county in their holdings. The staff are experienced and can point you to resources you might miss on your own.

Bring all the information you already have. Names, dates, and places help narrow your search. Bring copies of any documents you have, like old letters or family photos. The more details you bring, the more the staff can help you find matching records.

Check the archives catalog online before your visit. The finding aids at archives.alabama.gov/research.html list what is available. You can identify record groups, boxes, and folders ahead of time. This lets you make the most of your research hours in Montgomery.

Plan for parking. The state archives has a small lot that fills up. Street parking is available nearby. The Center for Health Statistics is in a different part of downtown, so you may need to move your car between stops. The county courthouse has limited parking as well.

Montgomery County Genealogy Records

Montgomery is the county seat of Montgomery County. All county-level vital records, court records, and property records go through offices here. The county was created in 1816 from Monroe County. For the full guide to genealogy resources in Montgomery County, including surrounding towns and rural areas, visit our county page.

View Montgomery County Genealogy Records

Nearby Alabama Cities

If your family lived in central Alabama, they may have records in neighboring cities. These major cities have their own genealogy resources and may have records related to your Montgomery ancestors.