Search Greene County Genealogy Records

Greene County genealogy records date back to 1819 when Alabama became a state. The county seat is Eutaw. With a small population of around 8,000 people, this rural county in west-central Alabama has records at the Greene County Probate Court and the county health department. Family history researchers will find marriage records, probate files, and vital records that trace back nearly two centuries.

What Records Are Available

Greene County holds genealogy records that span from the early days of Alabama statehood. Birth and death records through the state system start in 1908. Marriage records at the probate court go back to 1819. The county also keeps land deeds, will files, and court records. Some older records have been lost over time, but many key files still exist.

Types of genealogy records in Greene County:

• Birth records from 1908 to present
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1819 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate and estate files
• Land and deed records
• Tax records and voter rolls
• Court case files

Records before 1908 are harder to find for births and deaths. Alabama did not keep state vital records until then. You may need to check church records, cemetery files, or old family papers. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has some early Greene County records in their collection.

Greene County Probate Court

The Greene County Probate Court is your main source for genealogy research in this county. The court holds marriage records, wills, estate files, and land deeds. They also handle adoptions and guardianship cases. The probate judge serves as the head of county government. All records are kept at the courthouse in Eutaw.

Greene County is a small rural county. Unlike larger counties, it does not have a fancy online records system. You will need to call or visit the office to search most records. Staff can help you look up files if you give them a name and date range. This is how many Alabama counties work, and the staff tend to be helpful since they know the local families.

The probate court has marriage indexes that go back to 1819. Some years have gaps due to lost books, but most records survive. Marriage records are public in Alabama. You do not need to prove a family tie to get a copy. Just ask the clerk and pay the fee.

When you visit, bring some basic details about the person you are looking for. A full name and a date range will help. Staff can search the index books and pull files for you to see. Take notes or ask for copies. The office is small, so wait times are usually short.

County Health Department

The Greene County Health Department issues certified copies of vital records. They are part of the Alabama ViSION network. This means they can pull any birth, death, marriage, or divorce record from the state system. You do not have to go to the county where the event took place.

Vital records have access rules in Alabama. Birth records less than 125 years old have limits. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal rep can get a copy. Death records less than 25 years old also have some rules. After these time frames pass, the records open up for general genealogy use.

Walk-in service is often same day. The staff will search the state database and print your record. Bring a valid ID and know the basic facts about the record you need. If you are not the person on the record, bring proof of your right to get it. Mail requests are also an option if you cannot visit.

How to Search Records

Greene County does not have a big online records system like larger counties do. Most searches happen in person or by phone. This is normal for rural Alabama counties. The good news is that staff at small offices often know the local families and can help you find what you need faster.

For probate records, call the probate court first. Give them a name and date range. They can check the index and tell you what they have. Then you can visit to see the full file or ask them to mail copies. Some offices will fax pages too.

For vital records, you have a few options:

• Visit the county health department in Eutaw
• Mail a request to the health department
• Order online through VitalChek
• Visit any Alabama county health office (they can access state records)

VitalChek is the state's online partner for vital records. You can order birth, death, marriage, and divorce records through their site. They charge a service fee on top of the state fee. Go to vitalchek.com to place an order. This works well if you cannot travel to Eutaw.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is worth a visit. They have old Greene County records in their collection. Some probate files and court records from the 1800s are stored there. The trip from Eutaw to Montgomery takes about an hour and a half.

Online Access Options

Greene County does not have its own online records portal. This is common for small counties in Alabama. But there are still ways to search for Greene County records online through state and national databases.

Online resources for Greene 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 has free digital records. You can find old newspapers, photos, and government files. Some Greene County items from the 1800s are in their online collection. This is a good place to start before you make a trip.

FamilySearch has many free Alabama records. They have census data, church records, and indexed vital records. You can search without paying for a subscription. Create a free account to use all their tools. Volunteers add new records all the time.

AlacourtAccess lets you search Alabama court records. You need to set up an account. There is a small fee to view full case files. This is useful for divorce records, civil cases, and criminal records from the circuit court.

In-Person Access

Going to Eutaw in person is the best way to dig into Greene County records. The courthouse is small and staff can give you more help than at a busy city office. You can look through old index books and see original documents. Bring a notebook and a valid ID.

The Greene County Courthouse sits on Morrow Avenue in downtown Eutaw. It is a historic building that dates back many years. The probate office is inside. When you arrive, ask for the records room. Staff will show you how to use the index books. You can then request to see files that interest you.

The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa is about 30 miles east of Eutaw. Their library has some Greene County materials in the special collections. The Hoole Library holds old maps, letters, and family papers from west Alabama. If you are doing deep research, this is worth a stop.

The Eutaw Public Library may have local history items. Small town libraries often keep clippings, photos, and books that you cannot find elsewhere. Check with them to see what they have for Greene County genealogy.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has the state's best collection of old records. Some Greene County files ended up there over the years. Plan a day trip if you want to see early probate records, old court files, or census records. The drive from Eutaw takes about 90 minutes.

Fees for Records

Record fees in Greene County follow state guidelines. The health department charges $15 for a search plus one certified copy of a vital record. Extra copies in the same order cost $6 each. This covers birth, death, marriage, and divorce records through the state system.

Probate court fees are set by Alabama law. Common costs include:

• Copy of marriage license: $5.00
• Certified copy of marriage: $10.00
• Search fee: varies by request
• Deed copy: based on page count
• Probate file copy: based on page count

VitalChek adds a service fee when you order online. The amount depends on how fast you want the record. Standard mail costs less than rush shipping. Phone orders may have a small extra charge.

Cash and money orders are the safest payment options at the courthouse. Some county offices take checks but not credit cards. Call ahead to ask what forms of payment they accept. This saves you a trip to find an ATM.

Local Genealogy Tips

Greene County was once part of the Alabama Black Belt, known for its dark, rich soil. Cotton farming shaped the region for over a century. Many families in the area trace roots to the plantation era. Both white and Black family histories are tied to this land.

African American genealogy in Greene County often involves Freedmen's Bureau records. After the Civil War, the Bureau kept lists of formerly enslaved people, labor contracts, and family notes. The Alabama Department of Archives has many of these files. Church records from Black congregations are another key source for this research.

The county has many old cemeteries. Some are well kept. Others are in fields or woods and hard to find. FindAGrave has photos of many Greene County headstones. Local historical groups sometimes do cemetery cleanups and record the names they find.

Greene County saw a lot of change during the Civil Rights era. Eutaw was a site of voter registration drives and protests. If your family lived here in the 1960s, check with local museums and libraries for photos and records from that time.

The West Alabama Genealogical Society serves this region. They meet in Tuscaloosa and cover several counties, including Greene. Members share tips and help each other with research. Joining a local group can speed up your work and connect you with people who know the area.

Old newspapers are a goldmine for Greene County research. The Eutaw newspaper printed local news, court notices, and obituaries for many years. Some issues are on microfilm at the Alabama Department of Archives. Others may be at libraries in Tuscaloosa or Montgomery.

Cities in Greene County

Greene County has a few small towns. The county seat is Eutaw. Other communities include Forkland, Boligee, and Union. All of them use the Greene County Probate Court for marriage records and the county health department for vital records. No cities in Greene County have a population over 50,000, so all records requests go through the county offices in Eutaw.

Eutaw is the main town with about 2,500 people. It has the courthouse, health department, and local shops. The other towns are even smaller. When looking for Greene County records, Eutaw is the place to go.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Greene County. If your family lived near the county line, check records in both places. County lines have changed over time in Alabama. An ancestor may show up in a nearby county if they lived close to the border.

Tuscaloosa County is the largest neighbor to the east. It has the University of Alabama and more online records. If you cannot find what you need in Greene County, try checking Tuscaloosa too.