Search Monroe County Genealogy Records

Monroe County genealogy records date back to 1815 when the county was formed. The county seat is Monroeville, a small town with deep roots in Alabama history. The Monroe County Probate Court handles marriage records, wills, and estate files. Birth and death records are held at the county health department and through the state ViSION network.

What Records Are Available

Monroe County has a good range of records for family history research. The probate court holds marriage records that go back to the early 1800s. Land deeds, will files, and estate records are also at the courthouse. State vital records for birth and death start in 1908, though some earlier records exist in church files and family bibles.

Types of genealogy records in Monroe County:

• Birth records from 1908 to present
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1833 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate and estate files
• Land and deed records
• Tax rolls and voter lists
• Court case files

Some early Monroe County records were lost or damaged over the years. Fires and poor storage hurt some files. But many old records still exist at the probate court. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery also has copies of some Monroe County records from the 1800s. Check both places when doing deep research.

Monroe County Probate Court

The Monroe County Probate Court is the main source for local genealogy records. You can find marriage licenses, wills, and estate files here. The court also handles land records and other civil matters. Staff at the probate office can help you search for records if you visit in person.

The courthouse sits in downtown Monroeville. It is a historic building that has served the county for many years. The probate office is on the first floor. Walk in during business hours and ask staff for help. They can search their index books and pull files for you to view. Bring as much info as you can about the person you are looking for.

Marriage records at the probate court are public. You do not need to show a family link to get a copy. This makes marriage files one of the best tools for tracing Monroe County families. The index goes back to the 1830s, though some gaps exist. Staff can tell you what years are covered when you ask.

County Health Department

The Monroe County Health Department provides vital records through the Alabama ViSION system. This state network lets any county office pull birth, death, marriage, or divorce records from across Alabama. You can go to the Monroe County office in Monroeville to get these records.

Access rules apply to vital records. Birth records less than 125 years old have some limits. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal rep can get a certified copy. After 125 years, birth records open to all. Death records have a 25-year limit before they become fully public. These rules help protect privacy while still letting family researchers access what they need.

Walk-in service is common at the health department. Staff will search the state system and print your record while you wait. Bring a valid ID and know the details of the record you need, such as names and dates. If requesting for someone else, bring proof of your right to access it. Mail requests also work if you cannot visit.

How to Search Records

Monroe County does not have as many online records as bigger counties. Most searches require a trip to Monroeville or a mail request. But that does not mean it is hard. The staff at both the probate court and health department are helpful. They know the records well and can guide your search.

For probate records, your best bet is an in-person visit. Call ahead to make sure the office is open. Let them know what you are looking for. Staff can search their index books and point you to the right files. You can view records at the office and order copies of what you need.

For vital records, you have three ways to search:

• Visit the Monroe County Health Department in person
• Mail a request to the health department or state vital records office
• Order online through VitalChek at vitalchek.com

VitalChek is the state's online ordering service. You can order birth, death, marriage, and divorce records from their site. They add a service fee on top of the state fee. The total cost is higher than in person, but it saves you a trip. Orders ship in a few days.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is worth a visit for deep research. They hold old Monroe County records that are not at the local courthouse. Census records, military files, and some probate records are in their collection. The drive from Monroeville takes about two hours.

Online Access Options

Monroe County does not have a local online records portal. This is common in smaller Alabama counties. But you can still find some Monroe County records online through state and national sites. These free and paid tools help you search from home.

Online resources for Monroe 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
• Find A Grave for cemetery records at findagrave.com

FamilySearch is free and has many Alabama records. They hold indexed census data, some vital records, and church records. You can search by name and browse their Monroe County collection. Create a free account to save your finds and build a family tree.

The Alabama Archives digital site has old newspapers, maps, and photos. Some Monroe County items are in their collection. These can add context to your family history. A photo of an old town or a news clip from 1910 brings your research to life.

In-Person Access

A trip to Monroeville is the best way to see full records. The courthouse and health department are both in town. You can visit both in one day. Staff can help you search and explain what records they have. Bring a notebook and ID.

The Monroe County Courthouse is in the center of town. The probate office is on the ground floor. Tell staff what records you need. They will search the index and pull files for you to view. You can take notes or order copies. Fees are based on page count.

The Monroe County Heritage Museum sits next to the old courthouse. This museum focuses on local history and the works of Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird. While it is not a records office, it has local history that may help your research. Old photos and artifacts give a sense of what life was like in Monroe County long ago.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has more records. Some Monroe County probate files from the 1800s are there. They also have census records, military files, and land grants. Plan a full day for a research trip. Staff in the reading room can guide you to the right collections.

Fees for Records

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

Probate court fees are based on the type of record:

• 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 extra cost depends on how fast you want the record shipped. Rush service costs more than standard mail. If you order by phone, there may be a small charge for that too.

Cash and checks are common at the courthouse. Some offices take credit cards, but call ahead to check. The health department may have different payment rules. Always bring exact amounts when possible to make things easy.

Local Genealogy Tips

Monroe County was formed in 1815 from parts of the Creek land cession. It was named after President James Monroe. The county was one of the early settled areas of Alabama. Families have deep roots here, some going back over 200 years.

Monroeville is known as the hometown of Harper Lee and Truman Capote. Both writers grew up here in the early 1900s. If your family was in Monroeville during that time, you may find them in the same records as these famous names. School records, church files, and town directories can show these connections.

The area has a mix of Black and white family histories. After the Civil War, many freed people stayed in Monroe County. Freedmen's Bureau records cover this time. The Alabama Archives has these files. Church records from Black congregations are another key source for African American genealogy in the county.

Timber and farming drove the local economy for most of Monroe County history. Check tax rolls to see what land your family owned. Deed records show land sales and transfers. These records help you trace families across generations. Land often passed from parent to child, so deed files can fill in gaps when vital records are missing.

Nearby counties share some history with Monroe. Conecuh County is in the same judicial circuit. Clarke County and Wilcox County border Monroe to the north. Families often moved across these lines, so check neighboring county records if you hit a wall. One ancestor might appear in Monroe one year and Clarke the next.

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe County has several small towns. Monroeville is the county seat and largest town with about 6,000 people. Other towns include Excel, Frisco City, and Beatrice. All of these use the Monroe County Probate Court for marriage records and the county health department for vital records. There are no cities with populations over 50,000 in Monroe County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Monroe County. If your family lived near the county line, check records in both places. Borders shifted over time, so an ancestor may show up in a different county than you expect. Search neighboring counties when local records come up empty.