Search Perry County Genealogy Records

Perry County genealogy records date back to 1820 when the county was formed from land given up by the Creek Nation. The county seat is Marion, a small town with about 3,000 people.

What Records Are Available

Perry County holds a range of genealogy records at the courthouse in Marion. Birth and death records from the state system start in 1908. Marriage records at the probate court go back to 1820. The county also keeps land deeds, estate files, and old court records. Some records from the 1800s are still on the books, though a few early ones have been lost to age or fire.

Types of genealogy records you can find in Perry County:

• Birth records from 1908 to present
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1820 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate and estate files
• Land and deed records
• Tax rolls and property lists
• Court case files and old judgments

Older birth and death records before 1908 can be hard to track down. Alabama did not have a statewide vital records system back then. You may need to look at church records, cemetery logs, or family bibles for births and deaths from that time. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has some early Perry County records in their collection.

Perry County Probate Court

The Perry County Probate Court is the main source for genealogy records in this area. The court holds marriage licenses, wills, estate papers, and land records. In Alabama, the probate judge also serves as the head of county government. The office is in the Perry County Courthouse in downtown Marion.

Perry County is a small, rural county. The probate office does not have online search tools like larger counties do. You will need to call, write, or visit in person to search their records. Staff at the courthouse are used to helping genealogy researchers and can look up records by name or date range. The pace is slower than a big city, but the staff tend to be helpful.

Marriage records at the probate court are open to the public. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not have to prove a family link. This makes marriage records a great starting point for genealogy work. The probate court has marriage indexes that go all the way back to 1820. Staff can search by groom or bride name and pull the file for you.

Land records are another strong suit. Perry County was prime cotton land in the 1800s. Many families owned farms and plantations here. Deed books show who bought and sold land over the years. These records can help you trace family property and find names of relatives.

County Health Department

The Perry County Health Department can issue certified copies of vital records. Through the state ViSION network, they can access birth, death, marriage, and divorce records from anywhere in Alabama. You do not have to go to the county where the event took place. Any county health office in the state can pull records from the system.

There are access rules for vital records that you should know about. Birth records less than 125 years old have limits on who can get them. Only the person named on the record, a parent, or a legal guardian can request a copy. Death records less than 25 years old also have some access rules. After these time periods pass, the records become open to everyone for genealogy use.

Walk-in service is often quick if the office is not busy. 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 the person named on the record, bring proof of your right to access it. The office also takes mail requests with proper payment.

How to Search Records

Perry County is a small rural county, so your options are a bit more limited than in big city areas. There is no local online search portal for probate or court records. You will need to contact the office by phone or mail, or visit in person.

For vital records, you have three main ways to get them:

• 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 through their website. They charge a service fee on top of the state fee. Go to vitalchek.com to place an order. This is a quick way to get records if you cannot visit in person or do not want to wait for mail.

For probate records, call the Perry County Probate Office ahead of time. Give them the name and date range you are looking for. They can tell you if records exist and what it costs to get copies. If you plan to visit, let them know so they can have records ready when you arrive.

The Marion Public Library may have some local history resources. Small town libraries often keep old newspapers, city directories, and local history books. Staff may know about family papers or other sources that are not listed anywhere else. It never hurts to stop by and ask what they have.

Online Access Options

Perry County does not have its own online records portal. This is common for small rural counties in Alabama. But there are still online resources that cover Perry County records.

Statewide online resources for Perry 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 Perry County records from the 1800s and early 1900s are in their collection. This is a good place to start for older family history research. You can search by county name to find what they have.

FamilySearch has free records that do not need a paid subscription. They have indexed Alabama vital records, census data, and church records. Their collection grows as volunteers add new data. Create a free account to use all their tools. Search for Perry County, Alabama to see what is there.

Ancestry has a large collection of Alabama records, but you need a subscription. Many public libraries offer free Ancestry access to patrons. Check with your local library to see if they have it. You can also use the free trial to do a quick search.

In-Person Access

Visiting Perry County in person is the best way to see full records. The courthouse in Marion is a small building where staff know most everyone. They can help you search and explain what is available. You may find records that are not indexed or listed anywhere online.

The Perry County Probate Office is on the first floor of the courthouse. Go in and ask for help at the counter. Staff can search their index books and pull files for you to look at. You can take notes or order copies. The fee for copies varies by page count and type of record.

Marion is a small town with limited services. There are a few places to eat and a couple of motels. Plan your trip for a weekday when the courthouse is open. If you are coming from far away, you might want to stay in Selma or Tuscaloosa and drive in for the day.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is worth the trip if you have time. Their research room has the best collection of old Alabama records. Some Perry County probate records from the 1800s are there on microfilm. Staff can help you find what you need. The drive from Marion takes about an hour and a half.

Fees for Records

Record fees in Perry County follow state guidelines. 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 are set by state 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 on top of state fees. The total depends on shipping speed. Standard delivery costs less than rush orders. If you order by phone, there may be a small extra charge for that service.

Cash and checks are accepted at the courthouse. Some offices now take cards, but call ahead to make sure. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the Perry County Probate Court or the county health department. Do not send cash through the mail.

Local Genealogy Tips

Perry County has a deep history that goes back to the early 1800s. The county was named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, a hero of the War of 1812. Marion was a center of education before the Civil War, with several schools that later moved or closed. Judson College, one of the oldest women's colleges in the South, was in Marion until it closed in 2021.

The cotton economy drew many families to Perry County in the antebellum period. Large plantations lined the Alabama River and its creeks. If your ancestors lived here before 1865, check land records and tax rolls to trace their holdings. Slave schedules from the 1850 and 1860 census are also key sources for African American genealogy.

After the Civil War, many African Americans stayed in Perry County. Freedmen's Bureau records cover this area. The Alabama Department of Archives has these files. Church records from Black congregations are another important source. Many families can be traced through Baptist and Methodist church books from that era.

Perry County was the site of the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, though most of the route went through Dallas County. Some local residents took part in civil rights work. Families from that time may have oral history recordings or papers at local libraries or museums.

Cemetery records are a good resource here. Older graveyards dot the county, some on private land. The Perry County Historical Society has worked to record headstones. Look for burial records at the probate court as well. These can show family plots and next of kin.

Cities in Perry County

Perry County has a few small towns and communities. Marion is the county seat and largest town with about 3,000 people. Uniontown is the second largest with around 1,500 residents. All of them use the Perry County Probate Court for marriage and estate records and the county health department for vital records.

Other communities in Perry County include Heiberger, Hamburg, and Sprott. None of these are large enough to have separate government offices. All genealogy records for Perry County go through the courthouse in Marion or the state systems.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Perry County. If your family lived near the county line, check records in both places. County borders have shifted over time, so an ancestor may show up in a different county than you expect. It is worth searching the neighbors.