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Alabama County
Bibb County, Alabama
The Cahaba River - Alabama's most biodiverse river - from the Cahaba River's extraordinary biological richness (the Cahaba River flowing through Bibb County is the most biologically diverse river per mile in North America - the river supports 131 native fish species and 43 mussel species, including the Cahaba shiner found nowhere else on Earth, making it one of the most ecologically significant freshwater systems in the world) to the Cahaba lily blooms (the Cahaba lily - a spectacular native spider lily that blooms in the Cahaba's shoals each May and June - puts on one of the most extraordinary wildflower displays in the South at the Harpersville shoals and other Bibb County locations).
County SeatCentreville
Population22,293
Founded1818
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What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Shelter Info: Contact EMA for designated shelter locations
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Central Alabama county; tornado corridor; also flood risk along Cahaba River (one of the most biodiverse rivers in North America); Bibb County is partly within the Birmingham metro area influence zone
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Bibb County Highway Department
Phone: (205) 926-9911
Public Transit: Limited; demand-response transit through regional providers; contact county for current service
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: Rural county adjacent to Jefferson County (Birmingham); many residents commute to Birmingham metro; limited local transit
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Bibb County Building Department
Address: 8 Court Square W, Centreville, AL 35042
Phone: (205) 926-3114
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas; coordinate with health dept for septic
Notes: Town of Centreville and other municipalities have separate permitting; rural county with limited commercial development
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Bibb County Veterans Service Office
Address: 8 Court Square W, Centreville, AL 35042
Phone: (205) 926-3114
VA Medical: Birmingham VA Medical Center – (205) 933-8101
Services: Benefits claims, VA enrollment, pension/compensation
Notes: Close proximity to Birmingham VA makes access better than more remote rural counties
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Bibb County Public Library
Address: 137 Walnut St, Centreville, AL 35042
Phone: (205) 926-4774
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library e-books, children’s programs
Notes: Small rural library serving a dispersed population; member of regional library cooperative
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (near Bibb County) – significant ecological area; Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park – alapark.com | (205) 665-1856 (historic ironworks site); Cahaba River water trails
Notes: Bibb County has significant natural heritage along the Cahaba River; limited developed recreation facilities but outstanding natural landscapes
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Bibb County GIS – available through state resources; alabamamaps.ua.edu
Notes: Small rural county; basic GIS data available through Alabama state GIS resources
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Bibb County Animal Control
Phone: (205) 926-3114 (County Commission)
Services: Basic animal control; stray intake
Notes: Limited shelter resources typical of small rural Alabama county
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Bibb County Solid Waste – (205) 926-3114
Environmental: Cahaba River protection is a significant local environmental issue; ADEM – adem.alabama.gov | (334) 271-7700
Notes: Bibb County sits within the Cahaba River watershed – one of the most biologically diverse river systems in North America; environmental protection efforts ongoing
About Bibb County
Bibb County is home to the most biologically diverse river per mile in North America – the Cahaba River’s 131 native fish species, 43 mussels, and the annual Cahaba lily bloom make Bibb County a destination for naturalists and wildflower enthusiasts.
Centreville (the county seat, population ~2,800) is a quiet Alabama courthouse town. The Cahaba River’s biological treasures and the annual lily blooms at Harpersville attract visitors from across the region each spring.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Bibb County Revenue Commissioner at 8 Court Square W., Suite 102, Centreville, AL 35042, phone 205-926-3105. AL residential assessed at 10% of market value.
Public Records
Vital Records: Certified birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates issued locally
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid: Contact Health Dept for Medicaid enrollment; DHR office — —
Environmental Health / Septic / Well: Contact Health Department
Recommended
Search Bibb County public records for Centreville, Brent, and Bibb County residents.
Courts & Legal
Bibb County Probate Court at 8 Court Square W., Centreville, AL 35042, phone 205-926-3105, handles probate.
Senior Services
Senior Services: —
Senior Center: —
Senior Transportation: —
Meal Programs: —
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
8 Court Square N., Centreville, AL 35042
(205) 926-3103
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
8 Court Square N., Centreville, AL 35042
(205) 926-3108
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Bibb County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Bibb County Heritage Association, Route 1, Box 147, Brierfield, AL 35035
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Bibb County Probate Office 8 Court Square, Suite A, Centreville, AL 35042 (205) 926-3104 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (call ahead to confirm, especially around lunch)
Step 1: figure out which path applies
This is the fork in the road that determines everything else – how long it takes, what it costs, and whether you need an attorney.
Small/Summary Distribution – for estates made up of personal property only (no real estate) worth up to roughly $47,000 (the threshold is CPI-adjusted annually; it rose from about $36,000 to ~$47,000 under the Revised Alabama Small Estates Act, effective October 1, 2025). No personal representative is appointed, and there’s no months-long court oversight – just a single verified petition.
Formal Probate – required if the estate includes real property, exceeds the small-estate threshold, or there’s a dispute among heirs. This appoints a personal representative (an executor if there’s a will, an administrator if there isn’t) with legal authority to act for the estate.
If the estate qualifies for summary distribution
Wait at least 30 days after the death before filing – filings submitted earlier will be rejected.
The surviving spouse (if there is one) is the only person who can file; if there’s no surviving spouse, any rightful heir can.
File a verified petition with the Bibb County Probate Court listing the decedent’s assets, debts, and heirs, plus the will if one exists.
Notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county; no distribution can happen until 30 days after publication.
The petitioner must separately notify the Alabama Medicaid Agency by certified mail (Medicaid has 30 days to respond with any claim against the estate – this step is required in every case, not just where Medicaid was involved).
Once both 30-day windows close and the judge approves, the court issues an order you can present to banks or other institutions to claim and distribute the property.
Simple, uncontested cases can wrap up in weeks to a few months. Anything with disputed debts or unclear heirs takes longer.
If formal probate is required
Gather what you’ll need before your first visit: the original will (if any), several certified copies of the death certificate, a list of assets and debts, and names/addresses of all heirs and beneficiaries.
File a Petition for Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Petition for Letters of Administration (without one). Filing fee is a flat $45, plus $3/page for wills over 5 pages, and covers three certified copies of the letters.
Creditor notice must be published once a week for three successive weeks in a Bibb County newspaper of general circulation.
If uncontested with waivers filed, a hearing may not be required; otherwise the judge holds one and, if approved, issues the Letters.
The personal representative then has 2 months to file a full inventory of estate assets, and creditors have 6 months from the grant of letters (or 5 months from first publication, whichever is later) to submit claims.
After debts and taxes are settled, the representative files a final accounting; once approved, assets are distributed and the estate is formally closed.
Alabama requires an estate to stay open a minimum of 6 months, whether or not there’s a will.
A will must be filed for probate within 5 years of the date of death, or it loses effect.
What it costs
Court filing: $45 flat (plus the per-page will fee noted above).
Personal representative compensation: capped by law at 2.5% of the estate’s value received plus 2.5% of disbursements (extra allowed for genuinely extraordinary work).
Attorney fees: not fixed by statute – negotiated between the family and the attorney. Alabama doesn’t require an attorney for probate, but most formal (non-small-estate) cases benefit from one, especially if there’s a dispute or the estate includes real property.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
8 Court Square N., Centreville, AL 35042
(205) 926-3103
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
44 Walnut St., Centreville, AL 35042
(205) 926-3116
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
8 Court Square N., Centreville, AL 35042
(205) 926-3114
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
217 Walnut St., Centreville, AL 35042
(205) 926-4444
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Bibb County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Bibb County Health Department
Address: 170 Walnut St, Centreville, AL 35042
Phone: (205) 926-4531
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/bibb
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Cahaba River watershed environmental health is a county-specific consideration; limited specialty services locally
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