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Alabama County
Butler County, Alabama
Greenville - the Camellia City - and I-65 corridor - from Greenville's Camellia City heritage (Greenville's mild south Alabama climate is ideal for camellia cultivation - the city's streets, yards, and public spaces fill with extraordinary camellia blooms each winter, earning it the Camellia City designation and a floral identity celebrated in the annual Camellia Show) to Greenville's strategic I-65 position (the midpoint between Montgomery and Mobile on Alabama's primary north-south interstate makes Greenville a significant commercial stop, and its small downtown has maintained more vitality than many comparable Alabama communities).
County SeatGreenville
Population19,051
Founded1819
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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 current shelter locations
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: South-central Alabama county; tornado corridor; Greenville is county seat on I-65; significant severe weather risk spring/fall
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Butler County Highway Department
Phone: (334) 382-5231
Public Transit: Limited demand-response service; contact county for current provider
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: I-65 corridor is main transportation artery; rural county with limited transit options
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Butler County Building Department
Address: 700 Court Square, Greenville, AL 36037
Phone: (334) 382-5231
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas
Notes: City of Greenville has separate municipal permitting; rural county
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Butler County Veterans Service Office
Address: 700 Court Square, Greenville, AL 36037
Phone: (334) 382-5231
VA Medical: Central Alabama Veterans HCS – Montgomery | (334) 272-4670
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment, pension/compensation
Notes: Moderate distance to Montgomery VA
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Greenville-Butler County Public Library
Address: 619 Greenville Ave, Greenville, AL 36037
Phone: (334) 382-3996
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library, children’s programs
Notes: Serves rural population; internet access critical for area residents
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Greenville city parks; Sherling Lake Park (fishing, camping – Greenville area); rural hunting and fishing on private lands
Notes: Limited developed county recreation; Greenville’s parks serve as primary community recreation spaces; Camellia City nickname reflects city beautification traditions
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Limited; Alabama state GIS – alabamamaps.ua.edu
Notes: Rural county; basic GIS access through state resources
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Butler County Humane Society / Animal Shelter
Phone: (334) 382-5231 (County Commission)
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, animal control
Notes: Greenville area has active humane society; contact for current shelter operations
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Butler County Solid Waste – (334) 382-5231
Notes: Rural agricultural county; waste disposal primarily through county landfill/transfer station; limited recycling infrastructure
About Butler County
Butler County is south-central Alabama’s Camellia City county – Greenville’s extraordinary winter camellia blooms and its I-65 midpoint position between Montgomery and Mobile define a small Alabama community with both horticultural beauty and commercial access.
Greenville (the county seat, population ~7,000) is the Camellia City – the winter blooms transform the community’s residential streets and public spaces into a floral display that has defined the town’s identity for generations.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Butler County Revenue Commissioner at 700 Court Square, Suite 3, Greenville, AL 36037, phone 334-382-3612. AL residential assessed at 10% of market value.
Public Records
Health Dept Status: OPERATING FROM MODULAR UNIT after original building lost to fire June 30, 2024; hours 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM M–F
WIC, environmental, home care, clinical (STD, family planning, vaccines, Well Woman, breast/cervical screening)
Vital Records: Contact Health Dept — confirmed ADPH issues records locally
Search Butler County public records for Greenville and Butler County residents.
Courts & Legal
Butler County Probate Court at 700 Court Square, Greenville, AL 36037, phone 334-382-3612, handles probate.
Senior Services
Greenville Senior Services: City of Greenville dept — serves older citizens with programs, wellness, recreational and educational activities
Greenville-Butler County Public Library: Joint city-county library — contact via City of Greenville
Contact: Via City of Greenville — https://www.greenvilleal.gov/149/Departments
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
700 Court Square, Greenville, AL 36037
(334) 382-3612
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
700 Court Square, Greenville, AL 36037
(334) 382-3512
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Butler County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Butler County Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 561, Greenville, AL 36037, (334) 383-9564
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
Butler County Probate Office 700 Court Square, Greenville, AL 36037 (334) 382-3512 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 Butler 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 Butler 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)
700 Court Square, Greenville, AL 36037
(334) 382-3612
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
318 Fort Dale Rd., Greenville, AL 36037
(334) 382-6522
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
700 Court Square, Greenville, AL 36037
(334) 382-5605
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
621 Conecuh Ave. E., Greenville, AL 36037
(334) 382-5434
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Butler County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Butler County Health Department
Address: 801 Dunson Rd, Greenville, AL 36037
Phone: (334) 382-5404
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/butler
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Rural south Alabama county with limited local healthcare; health department is primary care access for many residents
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Editorial Trust
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Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Greenville
Population: 19,051
Area: 778 sq mi
Established: 1819
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Butler County residents.
