Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
Alabama County
Blount County, Alabama
Blount County's covered bridge collection and Appalachian foothills - from Blount County's extraordinary covered bridge heritage (Blount County has more historic covered bridges than any other county in Alabama - the Horton Mill Covered Bridge, at 70 feet above the ground, is the highest covered bridge above water in the eastern United States, and the county's collection of 19th-century wooden bridges draws heritage tourists through the scenic Appalachian foothills) to Blount County's rapid growth as a Birmingham northern exurb (the US-231 and Appalachian Highway corridors have brought significant residential development from Birmingham commuters seeking rural character within driving distance of the metro).
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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; tornado shelters a priority in this area
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Blount County is in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains northeast of Birmingham; significant tornado risk; also flash flood risk in mountain terrain; covered bridge heritage tourism area
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Blount County Highway Department
Phone: (205) 625-4166
Public Transit: Limited; some regional demand-response service; many residents commute to Birmingham metro
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: Mountain terrain creates road maintenance challenges; Blount County famous for historic covered bridges; rural county with limited transit
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Blount County Building Department
Address: 220 Second Ave E, Oneonta, AL 35121
Phone: (205) 625-4166
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas; septic through health department
Notes: City of Oneonta and municipalities have separate permitting; growing bedroom community for Birmingham
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Blount County Veterans Service Office
Address: 220 Second Ave E, Oneonta, AL 35121
Phone: (205) 625-4166
VA Medical: Birmingham VA Medical Center – (205) 933-8101
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment, pension/compensation
Notes: Close proximity to Birmingham VA
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Oneonta Public Library / Blount County Library
Address: 221 Second Ave E, Oneonta, AL 35121
Phone: (205) 274-7641
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library e-books, children’s programs
Notes: Serves rural and suburban population; member of regional cooperative
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Blount County Covered Bridge System (4 historic covered bridges – tourism draw); Rickwood Caverns State Park – alapark.com | (205) 647-9692; Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River (kayaking, fishing)
Notes: Blount County’s covered bridges are a signature attraction; “Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama”; significant natural recreation along river corridors
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Blount County GIS – blountco.com or through Alabama state GIS resources
Parcel Search: alabamamaps.ua.edu
Notes: County GIS improving as suburban growth increases demand
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Blount County Animal Shelter
Phone: (205) 625-4166 (County Commission)
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, animal control
Notes: Growing county; animal services expanding with population growth
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Blount County Solid Waste – (205) 625-4166
Recycling: Limited; drop-off locations in Oneonta area
Environmental: Black Warrior River tributary watershed; ADEM – adem.alabama.gov
Notes: Rural/exurban county with improving waste infrastructure as population grows from Birmingham suburban expansion
About Blount County
Blount County is north Alabama’s covered bridge capital – Horton Mill Covered Bridge stands 70 feet above the water, the highest covered bridge above water in the eastern United States, anchoring a collection of historic wooden bridges through scenic Appalachian foothills.
Oneonta (the county seat, population ~6,500) serves the county’s governmental and commercial needs as Blount County balances its heritage tourism identity with growing Birmingham exurban residential development.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Blount County Revenue Commissioner at 220 2nd Avenue E., Suite 105, Oneonta, AL 35121, phone 205-625-6868. AL residential assessed at 10% of market value.
Public Records
Health Department: Contact ADPH — https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/blount/
DHR: Listed as department — https://blountcountyal.gov/departments-services/
Mental Health: Listed as department — https://blountcountyal.gov/departments-services/
WIC: Contact Health Department
Environmental Health / Septic / Well: Contact Health Department
Recommended
Search Blount County public records for Oneonta, Locust Fork, and Blount County residents.
Courts & Legal
Blount County Probate Court at 220 2nd Avenue E., Oneonta, AL 35121, phone 205-625-4160, handles probate.
Senior Services
Senior Services / Council on Aging: —
Blount County Multipurpose Center: (205) 274-2129
Transportation: Blount County Public Transportation — (205) 973-0673
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
220 Second Ave. E., Oneonta, AL 35121
(205) 625-4153
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
220 Second Ave. E., Oneonta, AL 35121
(205) 625-4160
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Blount County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Blount County Historical Society, P.O. Box 45, Oneonta, AL 35121, (205) 625-6905
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
Blount County Probate Office 220 Second Avenue East, Room 101, Oneonta, AL 35121 (205) 973-0584 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 Blount 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 Blount 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)
220 Second Ave. E., Oneonta, AL 35121
(205) 625-4153
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
185 County Services Dr., Oneonta, AL 35121
(205) 625-4127
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
220 Second Ave. E., Oneonta, AL 35121
(205) 625-4166
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
429 Church Ave., Oneonta, AL 35121
(205) 274-2050
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Blount County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Blount County Health Department
Address: 401 4th Ave E, Oneonta, AL 35121
Phone: (205) 274-2930
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/blount
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Growing suburban/exurban population creating increased demand for services
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Oneonta
Population: 59,134
Area: 651 sq mi
Established: 1818
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Blount County residents.
