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Alabama County
Cleburne County, Alabama
Cheaha Mountain - Alabama's highest point - from Cheaha State Park (Cheaha Mountain at 2,413 feet is Alabama's highest point - the rocky summit in the Talladega National Forest's Cleburne County highlands provides panoramic views across the Appalachian ridges, and Cheaha State Park's lodge, cabins, and hiking trails make it one of Alabama's most visited state parks) to Cleburne County's Talladega National Forest position (the Talladega Scenic Drive, the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail, and the Shoal Creek Ranger District's recreation opportunities make Cleburne County one of Alabama's finest outdoor recreation destinations).
County SeatHeflin
Population15,056
Founded1866
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Office: Cleburne County Emergency Management Agency
Address: 120 Vickery St, Heflin, AL 36264
Phone: (256) 463-2193
Alert System: AL Alert statewide; CodeRed
Shelter Info: Contact EMA for shelter locations
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Northeast Alabama mountain county on Georgia border; tornado and severe weather risk; mountain terrain creates flash flood risk; Cheaha Mountain area
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Cleburne County Highway Department
Phone: (256) 463-2193
Public Transit: Very limited; demand-response only; mountain county
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: Mountain terrain; I-20 passes through Heflin – major east-west corridor to Atlanta; otherwise limited transit
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Cleburne County Commission
Address: 120 Vickery St, Heflin, AL 36264
Phone: (256) 463-2193
Services: Basic permits for unincorporated areas
Notes: City of Heflin has separate permitting; rural mountain county with limited development
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Cleburne County Veterans Service Office
Address: 120 Vickery St, Heflin, AL 36264
Phone: (256) 463-2193
VA Medical: Birmingham VA – (205) 933-8101; also Rome, GA VA Clinic
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment
Notes: Georgia border location; some veterans use Georgia VA facilities; I-20 corridor provides access to both Birmingham and Atlanta-area VA
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Cleburne County Public Library
Address: 100 Library Dr, Heflin, AL 36264
Phone: (256) 463-2573
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library
Notes: Small rural library serving mountain community
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Cheaha State Park – Alabama’s highest point (2,407 ft); Talladega National Forest; Pinhoti National Recreation Trail; Lake Wedowee (Randolph County border); Cheaha Wilderness Area
Notes: Cleburne County’s outdoor recreation assets are exceptional – Cheaha is Alabama’s crown jewel state park; hiking, camping, scenic overlooks, rock climbing; major draw for outdoor enthusiasts statewide and regionally
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Limited; Alabama state GIS – alabamamaps.ua.edu
Notes: Rural mountain county; basic GIS through state resources
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Cleburne County Animal Control
Phone: (256) 463-2193 (County Commission)
Services: Basic animal control
Notes: Minimal shelter resources; rural mountain county
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Cleburne County Solid Waste – (256) 463-2193
Recycling: Limited
Environmental: Talladega National Forest watershed; Coosa River headwaters; ADEM – adem.alabama.gov
Notes: National Forest and Cheaha State Park dominate land use; environmental management focused on forest and water quality; limited industrial environmental impact
About Cleburne County
Cleburne County stands at Alabama’s highest point – Cheaha Mountain’s 2,413-foot summit and the surrounding Talladega National Forest make Cleburne County the premier highland outdoor recreation destination in the state.
Cheaha State Park attracts hikers, rock climbers, and summit seekers year-round – the panoramic views from Alabama’s roof and the Pinhoti Trail’s Cleburne County segment provide some of the finest mountain recreation in the Deep South.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Cleburne County Revenue Commissioner at 120 Vickery Street, Suite 102, Heflin, AL 36264, phone 256-463-2873. AL residential assessed at 10% of market value.
Public Records
Note: Home health services through Randolph County Health Dept — not local
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid: 276 Hwy. 239 South, Heflin / Cleburne County area — (256) 463-1700
Recommended
Search Cleburne County public records for Heflin and Cleburne County residents.
Courts & Legal
Cleburne County Probate Court at 120 Vickery Street, Heflin, AL 36264, phone 256-463-5655, handles probate.
Senior Services
Senior Services: — (not found on county site)
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)
406 Vickery St., Heflin, AL 36264
(256) 463-5355
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
406 Vickery St., Heflin, AL 36264
(256) 463-5655
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Cleburne County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Lucile L. Morgan Public Library, 541 Ross Street, Heflin, AL 36264, (256) 463-2259 – Alabama Room holds local history and genealogical records.
Local societies
Cleburne County Historical Society, 120 Vickery Street, Heflin, AL 36264
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
Cleburne County Probate Office 120 Vickery Street, Room 101, Heflin, AL 36264 (256) 463-5655 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 Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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)
406 Vickery St., Heflin, AL 36264
(256) 463-5355
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
120 Vickery St., Heflin, AL 36264
(256) 463-2161
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
406 Vickery St., Heflin, AL 36264
(256) 463-2651
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
251 Ross St., Heflin, AL 36264
(256) 463-2585
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Cleburne County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Cleburne County Health Department
Address: 75 Vickery St, Heflin, AL 36264
Phone: (256) 463-2510
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/cleburne
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Rural mountain county; limited local healthcare; health department is primary access point
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Heflin
Population: 15,056
Area: 561 sq mi
Established: 1866
Tier: 3
Public Records
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