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Alabama County
Clarke County, Alabama
Clarke County's longleaf pine timber heritage and Tombigbee River - from Clarke County's deep timber industry roots (Clarke County sits in the heart of Alabama's historic longleaf pine belt - the timber and turpentine industries that exploited these forests shaped the county's economy for generations, and the transition to managed pine plantations continues to make forestry a dominant economic force) to the Tombigbee River's Clarke County corridor (the Tombigbee River flowing along Clarke County's western edge connects to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, one of the most significant inland waterway engineering projects in American history, linking the Tennessee River to the Gulf of Mexico).
County SeatGrove Hill
Population23,087
Founded1812
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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.
Notes: Southwest Alabama county; Tombigbee and Alabama Rivers converge near Clarke County; significant flood risk; tornado risk; timber industry creates wildfire considerations
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Clarke County Highway Department
Phone: (251) 275-3363
Public Transit: Very limited; demand-response only; rural county
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: Rural county with significant timber industry road traffic; Tombigbee Waterway passes through county
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Clarke County Commission
Address: 114 Court St, Grove Hill, AL 36451
Phone: (251) 275-3363
Services: Basic permits for unincorporated areas
Notes: Jackson and other municipalities have separate permits; timber/forestry development is primary land use
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Clarke County Veterans Service Office
Address: 114 Court St, Grove Hill, AL 36451
Phone: (251) 275-3363
VA Medical: Gulf Coast VA – Biloxi | (228) 523-5000; Mobile VA Clinic
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment
Notes: Remote rural location; VA access requires significant travel to Mobile or Biloxi
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Clarke County Public Library
Address: 221 S Washington St, Grove Hill, AL 36451
Phone: (251) 275-3680
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library
Notes: Small rural library serving dispersed county population
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Tombigbee River (fishing, boating); Alabama River confluence; Coffeeville Lake (fishing, camping – Corps of Engineers); Clarke County Historical Museum (Grove Hill)
Notes: River recreation is primary outdoor activity; hunting and fishing are major cultural activities; Coffeeville Lock and Dam area provides water access
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Limited; Alabama state GIS – alabamamaps.ua.edu
Notes: Rural county with minimal dedicated GIS resources
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Clarke County Animal Control
Phone: (251) 275-3363 (County Commission)
Services: Basic animal control
Notes: Minimal shelter resources; rural county
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Clarke County Solid Waste – (251) 275-3363
Recycling: Limited
Environmental: Tombigbee/Alabama River watershed; timber industry environmental management; paper mill operations; ADEM – adem.alabama.gov
Notes: Timber and pulpwood industry dominates Clarke County land use; river water quality protection important; historically significant paper/pulp mill operations in the area
About Clarke County
Clarke County is southwest Alabama’s Tombigbee River timber county – one of Alabama’s oldest counties, established 1812, with a timber economy shaped by the longleaf pine forests and the Tombigbee’s connection to the Gulf of Mexico via the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
Grove Hill (the county seat, population ~1,500) is one of Alabama’s smaller county seats, serving a largely rural timber and agricultural community.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Clarke County Revenue Commissioner at 117 Court Street, Suite 1, Grove Hill, AL 36451, phone 251-275-3376. AL residential assessed at 10% of market value.
Environmental Health Office: 22600 Hwy 84 E — (251) 275-4177
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid: — (no Clarke County DHR data confirmed in this pass)
Recommended
Search Clarke County public records for Grove Hill, Jackson, and Clarke County residents.
Courts & Legal
Clarke County Probate Court at 117 Court Street, Grove Hill, AL 36451, phone 251-275-3251, handles probate.
Senior Services
Senior Services: — (not found on county site; may be through state ADSS or city programs)
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)
114 Court St., Grove Hill, AL 36451
(251) 275-3251
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
114 Court St., Grove Hill, AL 36451
(251) 275-3145
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Clarke County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Clarke County Historical Society, 116 Cobb Street, Grove Hill, AL 36451-3012
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
Clarke County Probate Office 114 Court Street, Grove Hill, AL 36451 Mailing address: P.O. Box 369, Grove Hill, AL 36451-0369 (251) 275-4141 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 Clarke 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 Clarke 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)
114 Court St., Grove Hill, AL 36451
(251) 275-3251
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
102 Court St., Grove Hill, AL 36451
(251) 275-3381
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
114 Court St., Grove Hill, AL 36451
(251) 275-3363
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
285 W. Hicks St., Grove Hill, AL 36451
(251) 275-3132
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Clarke County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Clarke County Health Department
Address: 121 Alexander Ave, Grove Hill, AL 36451
Phone: (251) 275-3142
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/clarke
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Rural southwest Alabama; timber worker population; limited local healthcare
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Editorial Trust
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Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Grove Hill
Population: 23,087
Area: 1,253 sq mi
Established: 1812
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Clarke County residents.
