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Alabama County
Chilton County, Alabama
Clanton - the Peach Capital of Alabama - from Chilton County's extraordinary peach production (Chilton County produces more peaches than any other county in Alabama - the combination of well-drained sandy loam soils, adequate rainfall, and the right number of winter chill hours creates ideal conditions for peach cultivation, and the roadside stands along I-65 between Birmingham and Montgomery have become a beloved summer tradition for travelers) to the Peach Water Tower in Clanton (the unmistakable giant peach-shaped water tower visible from I-65 has become one of Alabama's most photographed roadside landmarks and an unofficial symbol of central Alabama's agricultural heritage).
County SeatClanton
Population45,014
Founded1868
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What do you need to do?
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Office: Chilton County Emergency Management Agency
Address: 500 2nd Ave N, Clanton, AL 35045
Phone: (205) 755-0850
Alert System: AL Alert statewide; CodeRed
Shelter Info: Contact EMA for shelter locations
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Central Alabama county on I-65 between Birmingham and Montgomery; tornado corridor; significant I-65 traffic creates accident response demand
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Chilton County Highway Department
Phone: (205) 755-0850
Public Transit: Limited demand-response service; I-65 corridor provides some intercity bus connections through Clanton
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: I-65 runs through Clanton; Chilton County famous for peach production – agricultural road network is significant
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Chilton County Building Department
Address: 500 2nd Ave N, Clanton, AL 35045
Phone: (205) 755-2511
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas
Notes: City of Clanton and municipalities have separate permits; growing area with I-65 commercial development
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Chilton County Veterans Service Office
Address: 500 2nd Ave N, Clanton, AL 35045
Phone: (205) 755-0850
VA Medical: Birmingham VA – (205) 933-8101; Central Alabama VA – Montgomery
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment
Notes: Centrally located between two VA facilities
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Chilton-Clanton Public Library
Address: 1505 7th St N, Clanton, AL 35045
Phone: (205) 755-1768
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library, children’s programs
Notes: Small county library; serves both rural and I-65 corridor population
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Peach Park (landmark roadside peach stand/attraction on I-65 – tourism draw); Lake Mitchell (Coosa River reservoir – boating, fishing); Confederate Memorial Park (county line area)
Notes: Chilton County’s peach identity is central; “Peach County” moniker; Lake Mitchell provides water recreation; I-65 tourism is significant economic driver
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Limited; Alabama state GIS – alabamamaps.ua.edu
Notes: Mid-rural county; basic GIS access through state resources
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Chilton County Animal Shelter
Phone: (205) 755-0850 (County Commission)
Services: Stray intake, basic adoptions, animal control
Notes: Peach Park Animal Rescue and local humane organizations supplement county services
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Chilton County Solid Waste – (205) 755-0850
Recycling: Limited; some drop-off options in Clanton
Notes: Agricultural county with significant peach orchard operations; pesticide and water runoff management important; I-65 corridor creates commercial waste management needs
About Chilton County
Chilton County is central Alabama’s peach capital – the giant peach water tower visible from I-65 and the roadside stands selling Chilton County peaches have made this central Alabama county one of the state’s most recognizable agricultural destinations.
Clanton (the county seat, population ~9,000) sits astride I-65 midway between Birmingham and Montgomery – the interstate exposure and the summer peach season bring travelers to the roadside stands that have operated for generations.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Chilton County Revenue Commissioner at 500 2nd Avenue N., Suite 2, Clanton, AL 35045, phone 205-755-1592. AL residential assessed at 10% of market value.
Search Chilton County public records for Clanton, Jemison, Thorsby, and Chilton County residents.
Courts & Legal
Chilton County Probate Court at 500 2nd Avenue N., Clanton, AL 35045, phone 205-755-4275, handles probate.
Senior Services
Senior Services: — (no county senior department found; may be city-administered)
Transit: Chilton County Transit — https://chiltoncounty.org/chilton-county-transit/
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
500 Second Ave. N., Clanton, AL 35045
(205) 755-1551
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
500 Second Ave. N., Clanton, AL 35045
(205) 755-1596
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Chilton County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Chilton County Historical Society, P.O. Box 644, Clanton, AL 35045
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
Chilton County Probate Office 500 2nd Avenue North, Clanton, AL 35045 Mailing address: P.O. Box 270, Clanton, AL 35046 (205) 755-1555 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 Chilton 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 Chilton 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)
500 Second Ave. N., Clanton, AL 35045
(205) 755-1551
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
500 Second Ave. N., Clanton, AL 35045
(205) 755-4211
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
500 Second Ave. N., Clanton, AL 35045
(205) 755-0155
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
301 Second Ave. N., Clanton, AL 35045
(205) 755-2491
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Chilton County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Chilton County Health Department
Address: 2020 Recreation Dr, Clanton, AL 35045
Phone: (205) 280-7101
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/chilton
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Growing county population due to I-65 corridor growth; health department expanding services
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Clanton
Population: 45,014
Area: 701 sq mi
Established: 1868
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Chilton County residents.
