Search Wilcox County Genealogy Records

Wilcox County genealogy records date back to 1819 when the county was formed from Dallas and Monroe counties. The county seat is Camden, a small town on the Alabama River.

What Records Are Available

Wilcox County has a good range of genealogy records. The probate court holds marriage records from 1819. The health department can pull birth and death records from the state system starting in 1908. Land deeds, estate files, and court records are also on file at the courthouse in Camden.

Types of genealogy records you can find:

• Birth records from 1908 to present
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1819 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate and estate files
• Land and deed records
• Tax records and voter rolls
• Court case files

Finding birth and death records from before 1908 can be tricky. Alabama did not keep state vital records until that year. For older records, you will need to check church records, cemetery logs, or family bibles. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has some old Wilcox County records that may help fill gaps in your research.

Wilcox County Probate Court

The Wilcox County Probate Court is the main source for genealogy research in the county. This office keeps marriage records, will files, and estate records. The probate judge also handles adoptions and county business. The office is in the courthouse on Broad Street in Camden.

Wilcox County is a small rural county. Unlike larger counties, they do not have an online records search system. You will need to call or visit in person to search records. Staff are helpful and can look up records if you give them a name and time range. You can also mail a request with a check for the copy fee.

Marriage records at the probate court are public records. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not have to prove you are related to the people named. This makes marriage records one of the best starting points for family history work in Wilcox County. The court has marriage indexes going back to 1819, though some early records may be hard to read due to age.

The probate office also handles land deeds. If your family owned property in Wilcox County, deed records can show when they bought or sold land. These records often list names of family members, neighbors, and witnesses. Deed records can help you trace family ties even when vital records are missing.

County Health Department

The Wilcox County Health Department can issue certified copies of vital records. Through the Alabama ViSION network, they have access to any birth, death, marriage, or divorce record in the state. 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 in Alabama. Birth records less than 125 years old have limits on who can get a copy. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal representative can order one. Death records less than 25 years old have some limits too. After these time periods pass, the records become open to all for genealogy research.

Walk-in service is usually same day for vital records. Staff will search the state database and print your record while you wait. Bring a valid ID and know the details of the record you need, like full names and dates. If you are not the person named on the record, you may need proof of your right to get it. The office also takes mail requests with payment.

How to Search Records

Searching for genealogy records in Wilcox County takes a bit more effort than in larger counties. There is no online records portal. But you still have options to find what you need.

The best way to search is to call or visit the probate court. Give them a name and a date range. Staff can check the index books and let you know what they find. If you are visiting, you can look at the index books yourself. This can be useful if you are not sure of exact names or dates.

For vital records, you have three options:

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

VitalChek is the state's online ordering partner for vital records. 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 to place an order. This is a fast option if you cannot visit in person or do not want to mail a request.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is worth the drive. Their research room has old census records, military records, and some original county records. Some Wilcox County probate files from the 1800s are held there. Staff can help you find what you need. The drive from Camden takes about an hour and a half.

Online Access Options

Wilcox County does not have its own online records database. However, you can still search for Wilcox County records using state and national websites.

Online resources for Wilcox 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

FamilySearch is a great free resource. They have indexed Alabama vital records, census data, and some church records. You can search Wilcox County records at no cost. Create a free account to save your work and access all their tools. Their collection grows as volunteers add new data.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has a free digital collection online. They have old newspapers, photos, maps, and government records. Check their site for Wilcox County records from the 1800s and early 1900s. This is a good place to start for older family history research.

Ancestry has a large collection of Wilcox County records. This is a paid site, but many libraries offer free access. The Selma-Dallas County Public Library, about 30 minutes from Camden, has Ancestry access for patrons. Check your local library for free access before you pay for a subscription.

In-Person Access

Visiting the courthouse in person is the best way to search old records. Staff can help you look through index books and find files. You may turn up records that are not indexed anywhere else. Bring a notebook and a valid ID.

The Wilcox County Courthouse is on Broad Street in Camden. The probate office is on the first floor. Go in and ask for help at the front desk. Tell them what names and dates you are looking for. They can pull index books and show you how to search. If you find a record you want, ask for a copy.

The health department is in a separate building near the courthouse. For vital records, go there instead of the probate court. Bring your ID and know the full name and date of the record you need. Staff will search the state system and print your record.

The Selma-Dallas County Public Library is about 30 miles north. They have a good genealogy section with books on southwest Alabama families. They also have Ancestry access and can help with research tips. If you are in the area, it is worth a stop.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is the best place for deep research. Their research room has census records, military files, and old county records. Some original Wilcox County documents are stored there. Plan to spend a full day if you make the trip.

Fees for Records

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

Probate court fees 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

If you order through VitalChek, they add a service fee on top of the state fee. The exact amount depends on how fast you want the record shipped. Rush orders cost more than standard delivery. Phone orders may have a small extra charge too.

When you visit in person, you can pay by cash or money order. Some offices take cards, but call ahead to check. For mail requests, send a money order or personal check made out to the office you are contacting. Include your return address and phone number in case they have questions.

Local Genealogy Tips

Wilcox County has deep roots in Alabama history. The area was home to Creek Indians before white settlers arrived. By the 1820s, cotton plantations filled the river bottoms. Many enslaved people lived and worked here. After the Civil War, the county had a large African American population. This mix of people means family research can take many paths.

If your ancestors were enslaved, start with the 1870 census. This was the first census to list African Americans by name after the war. Then work backward using plantation records, Freedmen's Bureau files, and church records. The Alabama Department of Archives has many of these sources.

Church records are key in Wilcox County. Many families belonged to local Baptist and Methodist churches. These churches kept their own records of births, marriages, and deaths. Contact local churches to ask about old record books. Some have been copied and donated to archives.

Cemetery records can fill gaps too. Wilcox County has many old cemeteries, both public and family plots. Tombstones give birth and death dates that may not exist in any other record. The Find A Grave website has photos of many Wilcox County tombstones. Check online before you drive out to search in person.

County land records are useful for tracing families. Deed books show who bought and sold land, and often name family members. Tax rolls list heads of household and the value of their property. These records are at the probate court and can help you place your family in place and time.

Cities in Wilcox County

Wilcox County has several small towns, but none have populations over 50,000. All residents use the Wilcox County Probate Court for marriage records and the county health department for vital records. The county seat, Camden, has the main offices for all record requests.

Towns in Wilcox County include Camden, Pine Apple, Pine Hill, Alberta, Yellow Bluff, and Oak Hill. All of these use the county offices in Camden for genealogy records. None of these towns keep their own vital records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Wilcox County. If your family lived near the county line, check records in both places. County borders changed over time in Alabama. An ancestor may show up in a different county than you expect based on where they lived.