Search Lowndes County Genealogy Records

Lowndes County genealogy records date back to 1830 when the county was formed from parts of Butler, Dallas, and Montgomery counties. The county seat is Hayneville, a small town in the center of the county. The Lowndes County Probate Court handles marriage and estate records, while the county health department provides birth and death certificates through the statewide ViSION system.

What Records Are Available

Lowndes County holds a good set of genealogy records. Birth and death records in the state system start in 1908. Marriage records at the probate court go back to 1830, the year the county was formed. The county also has land deeds, wills, and estate files. Some early records were lost, but much of the collection remains intact from the 1800s.

Types of genealogy records you can find in Lowndes County:

• Birth records from 1908 to present
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1830 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate and estate files
• Land and deed records
• Tax records and old voter rolls
• Court case files and civil actions

Records from before 1908 are harder to track down. The state did not keep birth and death records at that time. You may need to look at church records, old cemetery logs, or family bibles to find this data. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has some of these older files from Lowndes County.

Lowndes County Probate Court

The Lowndes County Probate Court is the main source for genealogy records in the county. The court keeps marriage licenses, will files, and estate records. They also deal with adoptions and guardianship cases. The probate judge serves as head of county government in Alabama, so this office handles many local matters.

Lowndes County is a small county. The probate office is in the courthouse at Hayneville. Staff can search records by hand since the volume is lower than in bigger counties. This can work in your favor. The clerk may know the local families and have tips about where to look. Just call ahead to make sure someone is free to help you when you visit.

Marriage records at the probate court are public in Alabama. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to show that you are related to the couple. This makes marriage records a key tool for family history work. The court has marriage indexes going back to 1830, which covers the full span of the county's existence.

The office may close for lunch in a small county like this. It is a good idea to call before you drive out. Hayneville is a small town with few services, so plan your trip. Bring any names and dates you have already found. The more facts you can give the clerk, the faster they can search.

Lowndes County Health Department

The Lowndes County Health Department issues certified copies of vital records. Through the ViSION network, they can access 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 Alabama can pull records from the state system.

Access rules apply to vital records. Birth records less than 125 years old have limits on who can get them. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal guardian can request 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 often same day at smaller offices. Staff search the state database and print your record on site. Bring a valid ID and know the full name and date of the event. If you are not listed on the record, you may need to show proof of your right to access it. Mail requests are also an option if you cannot visit.

How to Search Records

You have a few ways to search genealogy records in Lowndes County. Online options are limited compared to bigger counties. In-person visits give you the best results. Mail requests work if you know what you need. Each method has its own trade-offs.

Lowndes County does not have a big online records portal like some larger counties. Most searches need to be done in person or by mail. Call the probate court and ask about the records you need. Staff can do a search for you and tell you what they find. Then you can request copies.

For vital records, you have three main options:

• Visit the Lowndes County Health Department in person
• Mail a request to the health department
• Order online through VitalChek

VitalChek is the state's online ordering service. You can order birth, death, marriage, and divorce records at their site. 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 a quick way to get records if you live far away.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is about 25 miles from Hayneville. Their research room has the best collection of old Alabama records. Some Lowndes County files from the 1800s may be there. It is worth a visit if you are doing deep research.

Online Access Options

Lowndes County has limited online records. Small counties in Alabama often do not have the budget for big digital systems. But there are still ways to search from home. State and national databases cover some Lowndes County data.

Online resources for Lowndes 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. These include old newspapers, photos, and government files. Some Lowndes County records from the 1800s and early 1900s are in their collection. This is a good place to start when looking for older family data.

FamilySearch has free records that do not need a subscription. They have indexed Alabama vital records, census data, and church records. Their collection grows as volunteers add new data. Make a free account to use all their tools and save your finds.

Census records are a good way to track families through Lowndes County. The 1830 census was the first to count residents here. Each decade after shows who lived where. Census images are free on FamilySearch. They show names, ages, birthplaces, and jobs for each household.

In-Person Access

Visiting in person is the best way to see full records in Lowndes County. The county does not have many records online, so a trip gives you more options. Staff can help you search and show you things that are not indexed. Bring a notebook and a valid ID.

The Lowndes County Courthouse is in Hayneville. Go to the probate office and ask for help with genealogy records. Staff can search the index and pull files for you to view. You can take notes or order copies. The office is small, so you may get more personal help than at a big county.

Plan your visit well. Hayneville is a rural town. There are not many places to eat or stay close by. Montgomery is about 25 miles north and has more options. You could stay there and drive down for a day of research. Bring water and snacks since the town has limited services.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is a short drive away. Their research room holds the best collection of old Alabama records. They have some Lowndes County probate records, old newspapers, and maps. Staff can help you find what you need. It is free to use, though copy fees apply.

Fees for Records

Record fees in Lowndes County are set by state law. The health department charges $15 for a search plus one certified copy. Extra copies in the same order cost $6 each. This covers birth, death, marriage, and divorce records through the ViSION system.

Probate court fees vary by record type. Common costs include:

• Copy of marriage license: $5.00
• Certified copy of marriage: $10.00
• Search fee: varies
• 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 cost depends on how fast you want shipping. Standard delivery costs less than rush. Phone orders may have a small extra fee as well.

Payment methods vary by office. The probate court may take cash, check, or money order. The health department may take cards. Call ahead to ask what they accept. Bring exact change or a check to be safe.

Local Genealogy Tips

Lowndes County has a rich past for genealogy research. The county was named after William Jones Lowndes, a U.S. Congressman from South Carolina. The area was cotton country in the 1800s, with large farms worked by enslaved people. After the Civil War, many Black families stayed and built new lives here.

The county played a key role in the civil rights movement. Hayneville was the site of protests and violence in the 1960s. If your family has ties to this era, check records at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute or the Southern Poverty Law Center. Oral histories and local church records can fill in gaps that official files miss.

African American genealogy in Lowndes County often starts with Freedmen's Bureau records. These files list former enslaved people and their families after the war. The Alabama Department of Archives has many of these records. Church records from Black congregations are also key sources. Look for old Baptist and Methodist churches in the area.

Lowndes County was part of the Black Belt, named for its dark rich soil. Many families moved in and out of the county over the years. Check nearby counties like Montgomery, Butler, and Dallas for related records. An ancestor may appear in one county's records but not another, depending on when they lived where.

The county lost some population over the decades. Many people moved to cities like Montgomery or Birmingham for work. If you lose track of a family line in Lowndes County, check those urban areas. City directories and voter rolls can help you find where they went.

Cities and Towns in Lowndes County

Lowndes County has a few small towns but no large cities. Hayneville is the county seat. Other towns include Fort Deposit, Lowndesboro, Mosses, Gordonville, and White Hall. All of these use the Lowndes County Probate Court for marriage records and the county health department for vital records.

None of the cities in Lowndes County have a population over 50,000. For records from any town in the county, contact the main probate office in Hayneville. They handle all local vital and estate records for the entire county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lowndes County. If your family lived near the county line, check records in both places. County lines have changed over time, so an ancestor may show up in a different county than you expect. Lowndes County was formed from parts of Butler, Dallas, and Montgomery counties in 1830.