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Alabama County
Coffee County, Alabama
Enterprise's Boll Weevil Monument - celebrating the pest that saved the economy - from the Boll Weevil Monument in Enterprise (the only monument in the world erected to honor an agricultural pest - in 1919, the citizens of Enterprise erected a monument to the boll weevil that devastated the cotton crop and forced farmers to diversify into peanuts, which proved more profitable than cotton had ever been - the monument's inscription thanks the boll weevil for being "the herald of prosperity") to Fort Rucker (now Fort Novosel) - the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence in Ozark, adjacent to Coffee County, which has made the Wiregrass region the center of U.S. Army aviation training.
County SeatElba
Population53,465
Founded1841
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Shelter Info: Contact EMA for shelter locations; Elba has historic severe flood history
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Southeast Alabama county; Elba is known as the “City of Floods” – Pea River flooding has been catastrophic historically (1929, 1990 floods); flood mitigation is a top emergency priority; tornado risk also significant; Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker) is in Dale County adjacent
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Coffee County Highway Department
Phone: (334) 897-5252
Public Transit: Limited; some demand-response service; military community (Fort Novosel proximity) creates some demand
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: Fort Novosel (Army aviation – “Home of Army Aviation”) in neighboring Dale County influences Coffee County significantly; Enterprise (Coffee County seat of commercial activity) is major regional center
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Coffee County Building Department
Address: 230 N Court Ave, Elba, AL 36323
Phone: (334) 897-5252
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas; flood zone compliance critical near Pea River
Notes: City of Enterprise (largest city in county) has separate permits; Enterprise is one of Alabama’s most economically vibrant small cities; Elba’s flood history means floodplain management is critical for permits
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Coffee County Veterans Service Office
Address: 230 N Court Ave, Elba, AL 36323
Phone: (334) 897-5252
VA Medical: Central Alabama Veterans HCS – Montgomery | (334) 272-4670; also Dothan VA Clinic
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment; military community well-served
Notes: Large active-duty and veteran population due to Fort Novosel proximity; strong VSO support; Dothan VA clinic provides local access
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Coffee County Libraries
Enterprise Public Library: 101 E Grubbs St, Enterprise, AL 36330 | (334) 347-2636
Elba Public Library: 155 Drayton St, Elba, AL 36323 | (334) 897-6635
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library, children’s programs
Notes: Enterprise library is well-resourced for its size; serves significant military family population
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Enterprise City Parks (multiple; Enterprise is a thriving small city); Boll Weevil Monument (famous Enterprise landmark); Pea River (canoeing, fishing – when not flooding); Fort Novosel recreation facilities (military only)
Notes: Enterprise is one of Alabama’s most prosperous small cities largely due to Fort Novosel; good recreation infrastructure; Pea River outdoor recreation when river conditions permit
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Coffee County GIS – available through county or Alabama state resources
Parcel Search: alabamamaps.ua.edu
Notes: Mid-sized county with decent GIS resources given Enterprise’s economic development
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Coffee County Animal Shelter / Enterprise Animal Services
Enterprise Animal Services: (334) 347-0445
County: (334) 897-5252
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, animal control; Enterprise has active shelter
Notes: Enterprise’s size and military community supports more robust animal services than typical rural Alabama county
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Coffee County Solid Waste – (334) 897-5252
Enterprise Sanitation: City of Enterprise – (334) 347-2222
Recycling: Enterprise has municipal recycling options; rural areas limited
Flood Management: Pea River flood control is ongoing environmental/infrastructure priority; USACE involvement
Notes: Pea River flooding history makes water management a defining environmental issue; Enterprise’s growth creates increasing waste management demands
About Coffee County
Coffee County is southeast Alabama’s boll weevil monument county – Enterprise’s remarkable tribute to the agricultural pest that forced crop diversification and ultimately made the Wiregrass more prosperous is one of the most unusual and philosophically interesting monuments in America.
Enterprise (population ~27,000) – the county’s largest city – houses the Boll Weevil Monument on the main street median. The city’s proximity to Fort Novosel (the Army Aviation Center) provides significant military economic activity.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Search Coffee County public records for Elba, Enterprise, and Coffee County residents.
Courts & Legal
Coffee County Probate Court at 230 N. Court Street, Elba, AL 36323, phone 334-897-2211, handles probate.
Senior Services
Senior Centers: Multiple senior centers in county — listed on county website https://coffeecounty.us/
Note: Senior Centers NOT on 4/10 schedule — continue normal hours
Senior Transportation: —
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
230 N. Court Ave., Elba, AL 36323
(334) 897-2211
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
230 N. Court Ave., Elba, AL 36323
(334) 897-2211
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Coffee County Probate Court, both divisions (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds, dating back to 1841 – see Probate section above). Note: fire destroyed the county’s earliest official records in 1851; a legislative re-recording effort followed, but not everything was restored.
Local societies
Pea River Historical and Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 310628, 108 South Main Street, Enterprise, AL 36331, (334) 393-2901
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
Coffee County is one of only a few Alabama counties with two county seats – Elba (the original seat, 1852) and Enterprise (added in 1907/1929 to serve the county’s eastern half). Both courthouses run a full Probate Court, and the records are the same system, so it doesn’t matter which one you visit – pick whichever is closer.
Elba Division – 230 Court Avenue, Elba, AL 36323. (334) 897-2211. Enterprise Division – 101 S. Edwards Street, Enterprise, AL 36331. (334) 347-2519. Probate Judge: Jodee R. Thompson. Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (effective Sept. 30, 2024, the office moved to a 4-day, 4/10 schedule – closed Fridays; call ahead to confirm current days/hours).
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 Coffee 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 Coffee 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)
230 N. Court Ave., Elba, AL 36323
(334) 897-2211
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
191 Industrial Blvd., Elba, AL 36323
(334) 897-2254
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
230 N. Court Ave., Elba, AL 36323
(334) 897-2211
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
1528 S. Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise, AL 36330
(334) 347-9574
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Coffee County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Coffee County Health Department
Address: 104 Industrial Blvd, Enterprise, AL 36330
Phone: (334) 347-9574
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/coffee
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Enterprise office serves the largest population; military family population creates specific health service demands; Elba office also available
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County Facts
County Seat: Elba
Population: 53,465
Area: 680 sq mi
Established: 1841
Tier: 3
Public Records
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