Search Hale County Genealogy Records

Hale County genealogy records date back to 1867 when the county was formed from parts of Greene, Marengo, Perry, and Tuscaloosa counties. The Hale County Probate Court in Greensboro holds marriage, probate, and land records. Birth and death records are at the county health department or through the state ViSION system.

What Records Are Available

Hale County has genealogy records from 1867 to present. The county was named after Stephen F. Hale, a Confederate officer. Since Hale County formed from four other counties, you may need to check those older counties for records before 1867. This is a common issue for researchers tracing family lines in the Black Belt region of Alabama.

Types of genealogy records you can find in Hale County:

• Birth records from 1908 to present
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1867 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate and estate files
• Land and deed records
• Tax records and voter rolls
• Court case files

Birth and death records before 1908 are hard to find. The state did not keep vital records until then. For older family records, check church files, cemetery logs, and family bibles. Some plantation records from the pre-Civil War era may help trace African American family lines. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has many of these old records.

Hale County Probate Court

The Hale County Probate Court is the main office for genealogy records. The court holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and land deeds. The office is in the Hale County Courthouse in Greensboro. Staff can help you search indexes and find the records you need. The probate judge also serves as the head of county government in Alabama.

Marriage records at the probate court are public. Anyone can ask for a copy without proving a family link. This makes marriage records one of the easiest genealogy sources to access. The court has marriage indexes from 1867 forward. These records show names, dates, and often ages and places of birth for the bride and groom.

Probate records include wills, estate inventories, and guardianship files. These can give you a lot of family details. Wills often list children by name. Estate inventories may name heirs and show what property the family had. Guardianship files tell you about minor children and who took care of them after a parent died.

County Health Department

The Hale 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 go to the county where the event took place. Any county health office in the state can access the same system.

There are rules about who can get 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 rules. After these time limits pass, the records open up for genealogy use by anyone.

Walk-in service is usually same day. Staff search the state database and print your record while you wait. Bring a valid ID and know the details of the record you need. If you are not named on the record, bring proof of your right to access it. The office also takes mail requests with payment by check or money order.

How to Search Records

You have several ways to search genealogy records in Hale County. In-person visits give you the most access. Mail requests work when you know what you need. Online options are more limited than larger counties, but state databases can help.

For vital records, you have three main options:

• Visit the county health department in person
• Mail a request 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. This is a fast way to get records if you cannot visit in person.

For probate records, call or visit the courthouse. The probate office does not have a public online search tool like some larger counties do. Staff can search their indexes for you over the phone and tell you what records exist. Then you can request copies by mail or pick them up in person.

Online Access Options

Hale County is a small rural county without its own online records portal. But you can still find many records through state and national websites. These free and paid sites have indexed Alabama records that include Hale County data.

Online resources for Hale 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

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has free digital records. Their site includes old newspapers, photos, and government files. Many Hale County records from the late 1800s and early 1900s are in their collection. This is a good place to start for older family research.

FamilySearch has free records with no subscription. They have indexed Alabama vital records, census data, and church records. Their collection grows all the time as volunteers add new data. Create a free account to use all their tools. You may find Hale County marriages, births, and deaths in their indexes.

In-Person Access

Visiting in person is the best way to see full records in Hale County. The courthouse staff know the local records well. They can help you search and point you to things that may not show up in any index. Bring a notebook, a camera or phone for photos, and a valid ID.

The Hale County Courthouse is in downtown Greensboro. Go to the probate office and ask for help. Staff can search the index and pull files for you to view. You can take notes or order copies. The deed office is in the same building for land records.

For older records and deeper research, visit the Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery. Their research room has the best collection of old Alabama records. They hold census records, military records, and county records that have been microfilmed. Staff can help you find sources for Hale County families. The drive from Greensboro takes about an hour.

The Greensboro Public Library may have local history materials. Small town libraries often hold family files, old photos, and local newspapers. Call ahead to ask what they have. A library visit can turn up leads you would not find elsewhere.

Fees for Records

Record fees in Hale County are set by state law. 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 ViSION system.

Probate court fees are also based on state rules. Main 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 on top of state fees. The exact amount depends on how fast you want the record. Standard mail costs less than rush orders. Phone orders may have a small extra charge. Check their site for current prices.

If you visit in person, bring cash or a check. Some offices may take cards, but do not count on it in smaller counties. Ask about payment options when you call ahead.

Local Genealogy Tips

Hale County sits in the Black Belt region of Alabama. The area got its name from the dark, rich soil. Before the Civil War, this was plantation country with large cotton farms. Many families in Hale County, both white and Black, trace roots to this era. Understanding the local history helps you know where to look for records.

Since Hale County formed in 1867 from four other counties, check those parent counties for earlier records. Greene County to the west, Marengo County to the south, Perry County to the east, and Tuscaloosa County to the north all gave land to form Hale. If your family was here before 1867, their records are in one of those counties.

African American genealogy in Hale County often requires looking at plantation records and Freedmen's Bureau files. The Alabama Department of Archives has many of these. Church records from Black congregations are another key source. Some families appear in the 1870 census for the first time with surnames, so that census is a key starting point.

Cemetery records are important in rural counties. Old family cemeteries dot the countryside. Some are well kept, others are overgrown. The Hale County Historical Society may have cemetery surveys. Findagrave.com has photos and data for many Hale County graves.

Tax records can fill gaps when vital records do not exist. The county kept tax rolls that list landowners and sometimes their families. These records show who lived where and when. The Alabama Department of Archives has microfilmed tax records for many counties.

Cities in Hale County

Hale County has several small towns. The county seat is Greensboro, with a population around 2,400. Other towns include Moundville, Akron, and Newbern. All of these use the Hale County Probate Court for marriage and probate records. The county health department serves all towns for vital records.

None of the cities in Hale County have populations over 50,000. All genealogy record requests go through the county offices in Greensboro. The probate court and health department handle records for the entire county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Hale County. If your family lived near a county line, check records in both places. County borders changed over time, and some Hale County land came from these neighbors in 1867.