Search Crenshaw County Genealogy Records

Crenshaw County genealogy records are kept at the Probate Court in Luverne. The county was formed in 1866 from parts of Butler, Coffee, Covington, and Pike counties. Family history researchers will find birth, death, marriage, and probate records here, with many documents dating back to the county's founding.

What Records Are Available

Crenshaw County has genealogy records going back to 1866. The probate court holds marriage licenses from that year forward. Birth and death records through the state system start in 1908. Before that date, you will need to look at other sources like church books, family bibles, and cemetery records.

Types of records you can find in Crenshaw County:

• Birth records from 1908 to present
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1866 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate files and wills
• Land and deed records
• Old tax rolls
• Court case files

Some early records have gaps. This is normal for small rural counties. The main collection at the probate court is in good shape. Staff have worked over the years to keep the old books safe. A few early marriage records were lost, but most are still there for researchers to use.

The county was named after Anderson Crenshaw, an Alabama judge. Its formation came right after the Civil War ended. Many families who settled here came from nearby counties. If you cannot find a record in Crenshaw, check Butler, Pike, or Covington counties since your family may have lived there before 1866.

Crenshaw County Probate Court

The probate court in Luverne is your main stop for genealogy research. This office keeps marriage records, will files, estate records, and land deeds. The probate judge runs county affairs in Alabama, so this office handles a lot of different tasks. For family history work, the marriage and probate files are what you want.

Crenshaw County does not have online record access like larger counties do. You will need to visit in person, call, or send a mail request. The staff are helpful and used to genealogy questions. They can search the index books and pull files for you to view. Just tell them what you are looking for and the time period.

Marriage records are public in Alabama. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to show that you are related to the people on the record. This makes marriage licenses one of the best tools for tracing your family line. The probate court has marriage indexes from 1866 to now.

When you call or write, have as much info as you can ready. Names, dates, and any other details help the staff find your record faster. If you are not sure of exact dates, give them a range of years to search. Most requests take a few days to a week by mail.

Vital Records Access

The Crenshaw County Health Department can issue certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. They use the state ViSION system. This means you can get any Alabama vital record at this office, not just Crenshaw County events. The system links all 67 county health departments together.

Access rules apply to vital records. Birth records less than 125 years old are not open to everyone. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal guardian can get a copy. After 125 years, birth records become open for genealogy use. Death records have a 25 year limit for most people. After that, anyone can request them.

Walk-in service is often same day if staff are not too busy. Bring a valid ID and know the details of the record you need. For birth records, bring the full name at birth, date of birth, and parents' names. For death records, the full name, date of death, and place of death help speed things up.

You can also order vital records through VitalChek online. They add a service fee on top of the state fee. But it is a fast way to get records if you live far away or cannot visit in person. Go to vitalchek.com to place an order.

How to Search Records

Searching Crenshaw County records takes some planning. The county does not have online indexes like bigger places do. You have three main ways to look for records: visit in person, call the office, or send a letter. Each method works, but in-person visits give you the best results for deep research.

If you plan to visit the courthouse in Luverne, call ahead first. Let staff know what you are looking for. They can tell you if the records exist and what hours are best for research. The courthouse is small, and staff wear many hats. A heads up helps them prepare.

For mail requests, write a clear letter with all the details you know. Include:

• Full names of people on the record
• Dates or date ranges
• Type of record you need
• Your contact info and mailing address
• A check for the fee (call first to confirm the amount)

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has some Crenshaw County records too. Their collection includes old probate files, tax lists, and census data. The archive is worth a trip if you are doing serious research. Staff there can help you find records that never made it online.

FamilySearch has free indexed records for Alabama. You can search census data, some vital records, and church records at no cost. Create a free account at familysearch.org to access their tools. Their collection grows as volunteers add new data.

Other Record Sources

Beyond the probate court and health department, Crenshaw County has other places to find family history. The Circuit Clerk keeps divorce records and civil court cases. Land records at the probate court show property transfers. Old tax rolls list who owned land and where they lived.

The 12th Judicial Circuit covers Crenshaw, Coffee, and Pike counties. Court records from this circuit may hold info about your family. Divorce files, lawsuits, and criminal cases are kept by the Circuit Clerk. These records are public unless a judge has sealed them.

Church records fill gaps in the official files. Many families in Crenshaw County belonged to Baptist or Methodist churches. These churches kept their own records of births, deaths, and marriages. Some have been microfilmed and are at the Alabama archives. Others are still held by local congregations.

Cemeteries in Crenshaw County hold clues too. Headstone info can give you birth and death dates when no official record exists. The Luverne City Cemetery, Petrey Cemetery, and Brantley City Cemetery are some of the larger ones. Find A Grave online has photos of many Crenshaw County stones.

Newspapers from Luverne ran obituaries and marriage announcements. Old issues are hard to find, but the Alabama archives has some on microfilm. Local history rooms may have clippings files too. These can give you details that official records leave out.

Fees for Records

Record fees in Crenshaw County follow state rules. The health department charges $15 for a search and one certified copy of a vital record. Extra copies in the same order cost $6 each. This price covers birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates from the ViSION system.

Probate court fees include:

• Marriage license copy: $5.00
• Certified marriage copy: $10.00
• Deed copies: based on page count
• Probate file copies: based on page count
• Search fees: may apply for complex requests

Call ahead to confirm fees before sending a check. Prices can change. The staff will tell you the exact cost for your request. Most offices take cash, check, or money order. Some now accept cards too, but ask first.

VitalChek adds a service fee when you order online. The base fee is the state rate, plus their processing charge. Rush shipping costs more. Standard delivery is cheaper but takes longer. Phone orders may have a small extra fee.

Research Tips for Crenshaw County

Crenshaw County is a small rural county. Records are less complete than in big cities like Birmingham or Mobile. But patient research can still turn up good finds. Here are some tips that help.

Check the parent counties first. Before 1866, your family likely lived in Butler, Coffee, Covington, or Pike County. Records from that time are in those counties, not Crenshaw. The split happened after the Civil War, so pre-war records will be elsewhere.

Census records are a great starting point. Federal census rolls from 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 list who lived in each household. They show names, ages, birthplaces, and sometimes jobs. Use census data to find out when your family was in Crenshaw County.

Military records can help too. Men from Crenshaw County served in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and later conflicts. Draft cards, service records, and pension files may have family info. The National Archives holds most military records.

African American genealogy in Crenshaw County often requires extra sources. Freedmen's Bureau records from after the Civil War list former slaves by name. Some plantation records survived too. The Alabama archives has many of these files. Church records from Black congregations are another key source.

Local historians and genealogy societies can point you to sources that are not indexed online. The Crenshaw County Historical Society and nearby groups may have materials. Connecting with people who know the area saves time and uncovers leads you would miss on your own.

Cities in Crenshaw County

Crenshaw County has several small towns. None have populations over 50,000, so all residents use the county probate court in Luverne and the county health department for vital records. The main towns are Luverne, Brantley, Dozier, Glenwood, and Rutledge.

Luverne is the county seat and largest town. It has about 2,700 people. The courthouse is in the center of town. Brantley is the second largest town with about 900 people. These towns do not have their own record offices, so all genealogy requests go through the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Crenshaw County. If your family lived near a county line, check records in both places. County borders have shifted over time, and families often moved back and forth. An ancestor may appear in a different county than you expect.

Butler and Covington counties are where most Crenshaw families came from. Check those counties for records before 1866. Pike County to the east and Montgomery County to the north are also worth searching if your family moved around the region.