Access Cullman County Genealogy Records

Cullman County genealogy records date back to 1877 when the county was formed from parts of Blount, Morgan, and Winston counties. German settlers founded the area, and many families today trace their roots to those early colonists. The county seat is Cullman. The Cullman County Probate Court holds marriage licenses, wills, and estate files. The Cullman County Health Department issues vital records through the state ViSION system. Local churches and the Cullman County Public Library also have genealogy resources for family history researchers.

What Genealogy Records Are Available

Cullman County has a solid set of records for family history work. Marriage records at the probate court go back to 1877. The county also holds land deeds, estate files, and court records from that time. Birth and death records from the state system start in 1908. Some older vital records exist in church files and local collections.

Types of genealogy records you can find in Cullman County:

• Birth records from 1908 to present
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1877 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate and estate files
• Land and deed records
• Tax records and voter rolls
• Court case files
• Military discharge papers

Birth and death records before 1908 are hard to find in Alabama. The state did not keep these records back then. For Cullman County, church records are often the best source for older births and deaths. Many German settlers kept good parish records. Cemetery logs and family bibles can also help fill gaps in the official record.

Cullman County Probate Court

The Cullman County Probate Court is a key place for genealogy research. The court holds marriage licenses, wills, and estate files. They have records going back to 1877 when the county was formed. The probate judge also handles adoptions, mental health cases, and acts as head of county government in Alabama.

Marriage records at the probate court are public. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to prove a family tie. This makes marriage records one of the best sources for genealogy. The court has marriage indexes from 1877 to the present day. Staff can help you search if you visit in person.

The probate court has some online access through county systems. You can look up basic index data from home. Full document images are not always online, but the index tells you what records exist. Then you can request copies by mail or in person. This saves time if you know the name and date range you need.

Cullman County Health Department

The Cullman County Health Department issues certified copies of vital records. Through the ViSION network, they can pull any Alabama birth, death, marriage, or divorce record. You do not have to visit the county where the event took place. Any county health office in Alabama can access the state system.

There are access rules for vital records. Birth records less than 125 years old have limits. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal guardian can get a copy. Death records less than 25 years old also have some limits. After these time periods, records become open for genealogy use by anyone.

Walk-in service is often same day. Staff search the state database and print your record while you wait. Bring a valid ID and know the details of what you need. If you are not the person named on the record, bring proof of your right to get it. Mail requests are also accepted with proper payment and ID copies.

German Heritage and Genealogy

Cullman County has a unique story. Colonel John Cullman, a German immigrant, founded the colony in 1873. He brought settlers from Germany and northern states to farm the land. By 1877, enough people had come that the state carved out a new county. This German heritage still shows in family names, churches, and local customs.

For genealogy, the German roots mean several things. Many early records are in German language or use German spelling of names. Church records from Lutheran and Catholic parishes are key sources. These churches often kept birth, marriage, and death logs before the state did. Some of these old books are still at local churches. Others went to archives.

The Cullman County Museum has files on early settler families. They can point you to sources for German immigrant research. If your family came during the colony years, check ship records and immigration files at the federal level too. Many Cullman settlers came through ports like New York and New Orleans before heading to Alabama.

Name changes were common among German families. Some changed spellings to sound more American. Others shortened long names. If you hit a dead end, try variant spellings. The letter "C" often replaced "K" in names. Double letters were sometimes dropped. Knowing this can help you find records that do not match the modern family name.

How to Search Records

You have several ways to search genealogy records in Cullman County. Online searches work for basic lookups. In-person visits let you see full documents. Mail requests work when you know what you need. Each method has its place in your research.

Start with online resources to get oriented. The county probate court website has some search tools. You can also check statewide databases like AlacourtAccess for court records. FamilySearch has free indexed records for Alabama. These online tools help you find out what exists before you visit in person.

For vital records, you have three choices:

• Visit the county health department in person
• Mail a request with payment to the health department
• Order online through VitalChek

VitalChek is the state's online ordering partner. You can order birth, death, marriage, and divorce records at their website. They add a service fee on top of the state fee. Go to vitalchek.com or call 1-888-279-9888 to place an order. This is handy if you cannot visit in person.

The Cullman County Public Library has local history files. Staff there know the area and can point you to sources. The library may have old newspapers on microfilm, city directories, and family files. Plan to spend time there if you are doing deep research on Cullman County families.

Online Access Options

Cullman County has some online access for genealogy records. The county website has basic search tools. Full document images are not always online, but you can often find index data that shows what records exist. This helps you plan your research before visiting in person.

Other online resources for Cullman County genealogy:

• AlacourtAccess for court records at pa.alacourt.com
• Alabama Department of Archives digital collection at digital.archives.alabama.gov
• FamilySearch free records at familysearch.org
• Ancestry subscription database at ancestry.com
• FindAGrave for cemetery records at findagrave.com

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has free digital records. They have old newspapers, photos, and government files. Many Cullman County records from the late 1800s and early 1900s are in their collection. This is a good starting point for older family history work.

FamilySearch has free records with no subscription. They have indexed Alabama vital records, census data, and some church records. Their collection grows as volunteers add new data. Create a free account to use all their tools. They have some indexed Cullman County marriage records that can speed up your search.

In-Person Access

Visiting in person is the best way to see full records. Staff can help you search and explain what is there. You may find things that do not show up in online indexes. Bring a notebook and a valid ID with you.

The Cullman County Probate Court is in the courthouse on 2nd Avenue. Go to the records room and ask for help. Staff can search the index and pull files for you to view. You can take notes or order copies. The building has parking lots nearby. Hours are weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

The Cullman County Public Library is another stop for genealogy research. They have local history books, old newspapers, and family files. Staff know the local sources and can guide you. The library has access to Ancestry and other paid sites at no cost to visitors. This saves money if you need to use subscription databases.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is worth the trip for older records. Their research room has the best collection of early Alabama files. Some Cullman County probate records from the 1800s may be there. Staff can help you find what you need. The drive from Cullman takes about two hours south on I-65.

Local Genealogy Tips

Cullman County has a distinct character. The German heritage sets it apart from other Alabama counties. If you are tracing German roots, look for church records first. Many parishes kept good records of births, marriages, and deaths. Some of these go back to the 1870s and 1880s.

The county was formed from parts of Blount, Morgan, and Winston counties. If your family was here before 1877, check those counties too. Records from before the split will be in the parent county. This is a common trap in genealogy work. Always check when counties were formed and where boundaries were.

Cemetery records are strong in Cullman County. Many churches have old graveyards with stones dating to the 1870s. FindAGrave has photos of many of these markers. Local volunteers have also transcribed cemetery records over the years. The public library may have these transcription books.

The Cullman Genealogical Society can help with local research. They meet and share tips on area records. Members often have family files and know where to look. Joining a local society can speed up your work. They may have already solved problems you are facing.

African American genealogy in Cullman County is less common but not absent. Check Freedmen's Bureau records at the Alabama Department of Archives. Some Black families lived in the area after the Civil War. Church records and census data can help trace these lines. The county was mostly white due to the settlement pattern, but families of all backgrounds lived and worked here.

Cities in Cullman County

Cullman County has several towns and communities. All of them use the Cullman County Probate Court for marriage records and the county health department for vital records. The main office in the city of Cullman serves the whole county.

Cities and towns in Cullman County include Cullman, Good Hope, Hanceville, Holly Pond, Fairview, Dodge City, and Colony. All of these use the Cullman County offices for genealogy records. There is no city-level vital records office in Alabama, so all requests go through the county. The city of Cullman is the largest with a population around 17,000.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cullman County. If your family lived near the county line, check records in both places. County borders have shifted over time, so an ancestor may appear in a different county than you expect. Cullman was carved from Blount, Morgan, and Winston, so records before 1877 are in those counties.

Morgan County to the north has Decatur and good archival resources. Blount County to the east is another key county for pre-1877 records. Winston County to the west shares some of the same settlement history. Check multiple counties if your family lived near borders or moved around the region.