Search Tuscaloosa County Genealogy Records

Tuscaloosa County genealogy records date back to 1818 when the county was formed from land ceded by the Creek and Chickasaw Nations. The county seat is Tuscaloosa, which also served as the state capital from 1826 to 1846. The University of Alabama, founded in 1831, makes this county a prime spot for family history research. The W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library at the university holds thousands of manuscript collections with Alabama family papers, plantation records, and Civil War materials. The Tuscaloosa County Probate Court maintains marriage licenses, wills, deeds, and estate files. The county health department can pull any Alabama vital record through the statewide ViSION system.

What Records Are Available

Tuscaloosa County has a wide range of genealogy records. Birth and death records from the state start in 1908. Marriage records at the probate court go back to 1818. The county also has land deeds, estate files, and court records. Some early records were lost when the first courthouse burned, but most have been preserved or rebuilt from other sources over time.

Types of genealogy records you can find:

• Birth records from 1908 to present
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1818 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate and estate files
• Land and deed records
• Tax records and voter rolls
• Court case files

Older birth and death records before 1908 are harder to find. The state did not keep these records back then. Church records, cemetery logs, or family bibles may help fill gaps for births and deaths from that era. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery holds some early Tuscaloosa County records on microfilm.

Tuscaloosa County Probate Court

The Tuscaloosa County Probate Court is the main source for genealogy research in this county. The court keeps marriage records, will files, and estate records. They also handle adoptions and mental health matters. The probate judge is the head of county government in Alabama. Tuscaloosa County has one main probate office in the county courthouse.

The probate court offers online access through their records portal. This lets you search court records from home. You can find marriage licenses, probate case numbers, and recording data. The system does not show full document images for all records, but it tells you what records exist. You can then request copies by mail or in person. Staff are helpful and used to working with family history researchers.

Marriage records at the probate court are public. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to prove a family link. This makes marriage records one of the best sources for genealogy work in Tuscaloosa County. The court has marriage indexes from 1818 to the present day. Note that since August 2019, Alabama no longer uses marriage licenses. Couples now file a notarized marriage certificate with the probate court.

County Health Department

The Tuscaloosa 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 visit the county where the event took place. Any county health office in Alabama can pull records from the state system.

There are access rules for 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 limits. After these time periods pass, the records become open to all for genealogy use. Marriage and divorce certificates are public records with no restrictions.

Walk-in service is often same day. Staff search the state database and print your record while you wait. You must 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, which can take one to two weeks to process.

University of Alabama Hoole Special Collections

The W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library at the University of Alabama is a key resource for genealogy research in Tuscaloosa County and across the state. The library holds over 2,750 manuscript collections. Many focus on Alabama families, local history, and the Civil War era. This is one of the best places in the South to dig into family papers and plantation records.

What you can find at Hoole Special Collections:

• Alabama family papers and correspondence
• Plantation records and slave registers
• Confederate letters and Civil War diaries
• Over 8,700 Roland Harper photographs
• University of Alabama archives
• Local business records
• Alabama newspaper collections

The library is in Mary Harmon Bryant Hall on the UA campus. You need an appointment to visit. Give them at least two business days notice. Staff can help you find collections that match your research. Email archives@ua.edu or call ahead. The finding aids are online, so you can browse what they have before your visit.

The Hoole Library is free to use. You do not need to be a student or faculty member. Researchers from all over come here to study Alabama history. If your family had ties to west Alabama, this is a must-visit spot. Some collections are being digitized, so check their online catalog for scans you can view from home.

How to Search Records

You have several ways to search genealogy records in Tuscaloosa County. Online searches work for basic lookups. In-person visits let you see full documents. Mail requests work when you know what you need. Each method has pros and cons, so pick the one that fits your needs.

Start with the Tuscaloosa County Probate Court website for marriage and probate records. You can search by name and date range. The system shows index data for marriages, probate cases, and deeds. It is free to use and open to the public. If you find a record, note the details and request a copy.

For vital records, you have three 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 to place an order. This is a fast way to get records if you cannot visit in person.

The Tuscaloosa Public Library has local history resources. Their Heritage Room holds city directories, old newspapers, and local history books. Staff can help you find sources that might not be online. The library also offers free access to Ancestry and other paid genealogy sites.

Online Access Options

Tuscaloosa County has online records through several platforms. The probate court has a search tool for marriages and estates. Court records are on the statewide Alacourt system. The Alabama Archives has digital collections with old records. Free sites like FamilySearch have indexed Alabama data.

Online resources for Tuscaloosa 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
• UA Hoole Library finding aids at lib.ua.edu/libraries/hoole

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has free digital records. These include old newspapers, photos, and government files. Many Tuscaloosa County records from the 1800s and early 1900s are in their collection. This is a good starting point for older family history research, especially for records that predate the 1908 vital records system.

FamilySearch has free records with no subscription needed. 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 access all their tools. Some Tuscaloosa County probate and marriage records have been microfilmed and are viewable online.

In-Person Access

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

The Tuscaloosa County Probate Court is in the county courthouse on Greensboro Avenue. 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 office is open weekdays from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

The Tuscaloosa Public Library has a Heritage Room for local history. This room holds city directories, old Tuscaloosa News newspapers, and family files. The collection includes some records specific to west Alabama. Staff know the local history and can point you to sources. The library is at 1801 Jack Warner Parkway.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is worth the trip. Their research room has the best collection of old Alabama records. Some Tuscaloosa County probate records from the 1800s are there. Staff can help you find what you need. The drive from Tuscaloosa takes about one hour.

The Hoole Special Collections Library at UA requires an appointment. Call or email at least two days ahead. The reading room has materials you cannot find anywhere else. If your family had roots in Tuscaloosa County or west Alabama, plan a visit here. Staff are expert at helping researchers navigate the collection.

Local Genealogy Tips

Tuscaloosa County has a rich history for family researchers. The county was named after the Choctaw chief Tuskaloosa, who met Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1540. The city of Tuscaloosa served as Alabama's capital from 1826 to 1846. This means many early state records have ties to the area.

The University of Alabama was founded in 1831. If your ancestors worked for or attended the university, check the Hoole Special Collections. They have faculty records, student files, and campus publications going back to the founding. The university was burned by Union troops in 1865, but many records survived or were later restored.

African American genealogy in Tuscaloosa County often involves checking Freedmen's Bureau records. The Alabama Archives has many of these files. Church records from Black congregations are another key source. The Hoole Library has plantation records that list enslaved people by name. These can help trace families back before 1865.

The Tuscaloosa Genealogical Society meets monthly and welcomes visitors. Members share tips and help each other with research. Their website has guides for Tuscaloosa County records. Joining a local group can speed up your search and connect you with people who know the area.

If your family lived in the northern part of the county, check Walker County records too. Boundaries shifted over time, and some communities near the line may have records in both places. The same goes for Bibb, Fayette, Hale, Jefferson, and Pickens counties, which all border Tuscaloosa County.

Cities in Tuscaloosa County

Tuscaloosa County has about a dozen cities and towns. All of them use the Tuscaloosa County Probate Court for marriage records and the county health department for vital records. The main office in Tuscaloosa serves the entire county.

Other cities in Tuscaloosa County include Northport, Cottondale, Brookwood, Coker, Lake View, Moundville, Vance, and Coaling. All of these use the Tuscaloosa County offices for genealogy records. Northport is just across the Black Warrior River from Tuscaloosa and shares many services with the county seat.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Tuscaloosa County. If your family lived near the county line, check records in both places. County borders have changed over time, so an ancestor may appear in a different county than you expect.