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Alabama County
Dale County, Alabama
Fort Novosel - the Army Aviation Center - and the Wiregrass military economy - from Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker - the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence where virtually every Army helicopter pilot receives training - the installation is the largest employer in the Wiregrass region and the economic anchor for Dale and Coffee counties, housing thousands of soldiers, civilian employees, and military families) to Ozark's position as the commercial and governmental hub for the Fort Novosel gateway community.
County SeatOzark
Population49,000
Founded1853
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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 designated shelter locations
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Southeast Alabama county; Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker) – U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence – is dominant presence; military coordination with EMA; tornado risk; significant military/civilian emergency planning integration
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Dale County Highway Department
Phone: (334) 774-2626
Public Transit: Limited demand-response; Ozark Transit available for some trips
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: Fort Novosel generates significant traffic on US-231 and surrounding roads; Ozark is county seat; Enterprise (Coffee County) nearby provides additional services
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Dale County Building Department
Address: 202 S Highway 123, Ozark, AL 36360
Phone: (334) 774-5721
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas
Notes: City of Ozark and municipalities have separate permits; military-adjacent development active near Fort Novosel
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Dale County Veterans Service Office
Address: 202 S Highway 123, Ozark, AL 36360
Phone: (334) 774-5004
VA Medical: Central Alabama Veterans HCS – Montgomery | (334) 272-4670; also Dothan VA Clinic
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment, pension/compensation, military transition assistance
Notes: Fort Novosel (Army Aviation) means very high active duty and veteran population; VSO is extremely active; Dothan VA outpatient clinic provides closer access
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Ozark-Dale County Public Library
Address: 416 James St, Ozark, AL 36360
Phone: (334) 774-5480
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library, children’s programs, military family resources
Notes: Active military community means library serves many families in transition; strong children’s programming
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: City of Ozark parks; Fort Novosel recreational facilities (for military/DOD); nearby Choctawhatchee River access; Lake Tholocco (Fort Novosel – military lake)
Notes: Fort Novosel’s on-post recreation (golf, lake, fitness centers) serves military community; civilian recreation centered on Ozark city parks and river access
GIS & Maps
GUIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Dale County GIS – dalecountyal.gov or through Alabama state GIS
Notes: Military-adjacent county with active development near Fort Novosel; county GIS active for growth management
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Dale County Animal Shelter / Ozark Animal Shelter
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, animal control; military families often surrender pets during deployments
Notes: Military community creates unique animal service needs – deployment-related surrenders; active humane organizations in Ozark area
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Dale County Solid Waste – (334) 774-2626
Recycling: Limited; some options in Ozark
Environmental: Choctawhatchee River watershed; ADEM – adem.alabama.gov
Notes: Fort Novosel manages environmental compliance on-post independently (Army environmental); county environmental issues primarily agricultural and residential
About Dale County
Dale County is southeast Alabama’s Army Aviation county – Fort Novosel, where every Army helicopter pilot trains, is the largest employer in the Wiregrass and the dominant economic force in Dale County’s communities.
Ozark (the county seat, population ~15,000) and Daleville (population ~5,000) serve the Fort Novosel military community – the installation’s thousands of active duty soldiers, families, and civilian employees support a service economy of restaurants, retail, housing, and support businesses.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Dale Medical Center: 126 Hospital Avenue, Ozark — (334) 774-2601
Mental Health (SpectraCare): 134 Katherine Ave, Ozark — (334) 774-3052
Recommended
Search Dale County public records for Ozark, Daleville, and Dale County residents.
Courts & Legal
Dale County Probate Court at 100 Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360, phone 334-774-5003, handles probate.
Senior Services
Senior Centers: — (not found on county site)
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)
100 Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360
(334) 774-2754
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
100 Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360
(334) 774-5003
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Dale County Probate Court (marriage, probate, and land records from 1884 – see Probate section above; earlier records were lost to courthouse fires in 1869 and 1884, so pre-1884 research usually has to go through the state archives instead)
Ozark-Dale County Library, 416 James Street, Ozark, AL 36360, (334) 774-5480
Local societies
No dedicated Dale County genealogical or historical society was confirmed in available directories.
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
Dale County Probate Office 100 East Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360 Mailing address: P.O. Box 580, Ozark, AL 36361 (334) 774-2754 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 Dale 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 Dale 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)
100 Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360
(334) 774-2754
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
202 S. Andrews Ave., Ozark, AL 36360
(334) 774-2335
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
100 Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360
(334) 774-2754
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
701 Andrews Ave., Ozark, AL 36360
(334) 774-5146
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Dale County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Dale County Health Department
Address: 701 James Rd, Ozark, AL 36360
Phone: (334) 774-5146
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/dale
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records, restaurant inspections
Notes: Military population creates unique public health dynamics; large young family demographic from Fort Novosel
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