Search Shelby County Genealogy Records

Shelby County genealogy records date back to 1818 when the county was formed from Montgomery County. The county seat is Columbiana, a small town south of Birmingham. Shelby County sits in the Birmingham metro area and has grown fast over the past few decades. The Shelby County Probate Court handles marriage licenses, wills, and estate files. The Shelby County Health Department can access all Alabama vital records through the ViSION network. This guide covers where to find birth, death, marriage, and other genealogy records in Shelby County.

What Genealogy Records Are Available

Shelby County has a good set of records for family history research. Birth and death records from the state start in 1908. Marriage records at the probate court go back to 1823. The county also holds land deeds, estate files, and court records from its early days.

The types of genealogy records you can find include:

• Birth records from 1908 to present
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1823 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate and estate files
• Land and deed records
• Tax records and voter rolls
• Civil and criminal court files

Before 1908, birth and death records are harder to find. The state did not keep these records back then. You may need to check church records, cemetery logs, or family bibles. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has some old Shelby County records too. Church records from places like Columbiana and Montevallo can fill in the gaps for early births and deaths.

Shelby County Probate Court

The Shelby County Probate Court is your main stop for genealogy work. The court handles marriage records, wills, and estate files. They also manage adoptions and guardianship matters. The probate judge is an elected official who runs county government in Alabama. All marriage licenses issued in the county are on file here.

The probate court has online access for some records. You can search marriage records and other court documents through their website. The system lets you see index data and basic info. For full copies, you will need to visit in person or mail a request. Staff are helpful and can guide you through the search process.

Marriage records at the probate court are public. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to be related to the people on the record. This makes marriage records a great source for genealogy in Shelby County. The court has marriage indexes from 1823 to the present day. Some years are missing due to early record loss, but most are intact.

Shelby County Health Department

The Shelby County Health Department issues certified copies of vital records. Through the ViSION network, they can pull up any Alabama birth, death, marriage, or divorce record. You do not have to go to the county where the event took place. This makes Shelby County a handy spot if you live in the Birmingham metro area.

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 request these. Death records less than 25 years old also have some restrictions. After these time limits pass, the records become open to all researchers.

Walk-in service is often same day. 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 that you have a right to access it. The office also handles mail requests. Staff can search the state database and print your record while you wait in most cases.

How to Search Records

You have a few ways to search genealogy records in Shelby County. Online searches work for basic lookups. In-person visits let you see full files. Mail requests work when you know what you need. Each method has its own strengths.

Start with the Shelby County government website for probate records. Look for the online records search tool. You can search by name and date range. The system shows index data for marriages, probate cases, and some deeds. It is free to use and open to the public. Keep in mind that not all old records are in the system yet.

For vital records, you have three main options:

• Visit the health department in Alabaster 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 site. They charge a service fee on top of the state fee. This is a fast way to get records if you cannot visit in person. You can also call them at 1-888-279-9888. Orders ship by mail or you can pay extra for rush delivery.

The Birmingham Public Library is worth the drive from Shelby County. Their Southern History Department has old city directories, newspaper archives, and family files. Staff know local history well. The library also has free access to Ancestry and other paid genealogy sites. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to drive from Columbiana to downtown Birmingham.

Online Access Options

Shelby County has some online records, though not as many as larger counties. The county government website has a search tool for probate records. This covers marriages and some estate files. The system is free and does not need an account to use.

Other online resources for Shelby County genealogy include:

• 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
• USGenWeb Shelby County page

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has free digital records online. You can find old newspapers, photos, and government files there. Some Shelby County records from the 1800s are in their collection. This is a good place to start if you need older records.

FamilySearch has free records with no subscription required. They have indexed Alabama vital records, census data, and church records. Their collection grows all the time as volunteers add new data. You can create a free account to save your work and access more tools. Check their wiki page for Shelby County specific tips.

In-Person Research

Visiting in person is the best way to see full records. Staff can help you search and explain what is available. You may find documents that do not show up in online indexes. Bring a notebook, a valid ID, and patience with you.

The Shelby County Probate Court in Columbiana is the main place to visit. Go to the records room and ask for help. Staff can search the index and pull files for you to view. You can take notes or order copies. The courthouse is on Main Street in the small downtown area. Parking is easy to find nearby.

The Harrison Regional Library in Columbiana has a local history room. They hold some genealogy files, old newspapers, and Shelby County history books. The University of Montevallo library also has Alabama history materials. Both are good stops if you are in the area doing research.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is the best place for old records. Their research room has the largest collection of Alabama genealogy materials in the state. Some Shelby County probate records from the 1800s are there. Staff can help you find what you need. The drive from Columbiana takes about an hour and 15 minutes heading south on Highway 25.

Shelby County History and Records

Shelby County was named after Isaac Shelby, a hero of the Revolutionary War who later became governor of Kentucky. The county formed in 1818 from parts of Montgomery County. Columbiana became the county seat in 1826 after the government moved from Shelbyville.

The county grew slowly in its early years. Farming was the main way of life. Cotton and corn were major crops. Iron works opened in the mid 1800s near places like Helena and Calera. The railroad came through in the 1850s, which helped trade and growth. Many early settlers came from Georgia, the Carolinas, and other southern states.

Shelby County did not lose records to a major courthouse fire, which is a big plus for genealogy work. Many Alabama counties lost all or most of their early records to fires. Shelby County kept most of its old files. This means you can find marriage records, deeds, and probate files going back to the 1820s. Some records from the first few years are missing, but the gaps are small.

The Civil War brought hard times to the county. The University of Montevallo area saw some action. Many local men served in Alabama units. After the war, the county rebuilt slowly. The Freedmen's Bureau helped former slaves, and their records can help with African American genealogy in the area.

Growth exploded after 1970. People moved out from Birmingham to new suburbs. Cities like Hoover, Alabaster, and Pelham grew fast. Today, Shelby County is one of the fastest growing counties in Alabama. This growth means more recent records are plentiful, but researchers often focus on the older files for family history.

Local Research Tips

Shelby County borders Jefferson County, which has Birmingham. Many families lived in both counties over time. If you cannot find a record in Shelby, check Jefferson too. The county line has moved slightly over the years, so an ancestor might appear in either place.

The city of Hoover spans both Shelby and Jefferson counties. If your family lived in Hoover, check records in both counties. The same goes for other border areas. Helena is another town that sits close to the county line.

Church records are helpful in Shelby County. Many small Baptist and Methodist churches have old membership lists, baptism records, and cemetery logs. The Columbiana United Methodist Church goes back to the early 1800s. Cemetery records from places like the Old Columbiana Cemetery can fill in gaps when official records are missing.

African American genealogy in Shelby County often involves Freedmen's Bureau records. After the Civil War, this federal agency helped former slaves find work, reunite with family, and get married legally. Their records are at the National Archives and on FamilySearch. Church records from Black congregations are another key source for this research.

The Shelby County Historical Society can be a good resource. They may have files, photos, and documents that are not in the official county records. Local groups like this often know about family collections and private papers that can help with research.

Cities in Shelby County

Shelby County has many cities and towns. All use the Shelby County Probate Court for marriage records. The county health department in Alabaster handles vital records for all residents. The courthouse in Columbiana serves the whole county.

Other cities and towns in Shelby County include Alabaster, Pelham, Helena, Chelsea, Montevallo, Calera, Columbiana, Vincent, Wilsonville, and Westover. Alabaster is the largest city fully in Shelby County. Hoover spans both Shelby and Jefferson counties, with part of the city in each. All these places use the Shelby County offices for genealogy records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Shelby 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.