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Alabama County
Dallas County, Alabama
Selma - Bloody Sunday and the bridge that changed America - from the Edmund Pettus Bridge and Bloody Sunday (on March 7, 1965 - Bloody Sunday - 600 civil rights marchers attempting to walk from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights were beaten by state troopers and sheriff's deputies on the Edmund Pettus Bridge - the images broadcast worldwide horrified the nation and directly led to President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, making the bridge and Selma the most important single location in the history of American voting rights) to the National Voting Rights Museum and the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee that brings civil rights leaders and thousands of marchers back to Selma each March.
County SeatSelma
Population38,462
Founded1818
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What do you need to do?
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Shelter Info: Contact EMA for shelter locations; Alabama River flood planning important
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Historic Selma is county seat; Alabama River flood risk significant; tornado corridor; Civil Rights historic site emergency planning (Edmund Pettus Bridge/National Historic Trail)
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Dallas County Highway Department
Phone: (334) 874-2501
Public Transit: Selma Transit – city-operated bus service within Selma; limited county coverage
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: US-80 (historic Selma to Montgomery March route) is major corridor; Alabama River bridges critical infrastructure; rural areas outside Selma very limited transit
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Dallas County Building Department
Address: 105 Lauderdale St, Selma, AL 36701
Phone: (334) 874-2501
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas
Notes: City of Selma has separate permitting; county faces economic challenges limiting development activity
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Dallas County Veterans Service Office
Address: 105 Lauderdale St, Selma, AL 36701
Phone: (334) 874-2501
VA Medical: Central Alabama Veterans HCS – Montgomery | (334) 272-4670
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment, pension/compensation
Notes: Rural county; significant travel to Montgomery VA required
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Selma-Dallas County Public Library
Address: 1103 Selma Ave, Selma, AL 36701
Phone: (334) 874-1725
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library, children’s programs, Civil Rights history collection
Notes: Important community resource in economically distressed area; Civil Rights history materials reflect Selma’s national significance
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Edmund Pettus Bridge National Historic Landmark; Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail; Old Live Oak Cemetery; National Voting Rights Museum; Alabama River access; Paul M. Grist State Park (nearby)
Notes: Selma’s Civil Rights heritage drives significant heritage tourism; the Edmund Pettus Bridge is one of the most historically significant sites in American history; recreation along the Alabama River corridor
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Limited; Alabama state GIS – alabamamaps.ua.edu
Notes: Economically distressed county with limited GIS investment; state resources primary access
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Dallas County Animal Shelter / Selma Animal Control
Services: Stray intake, basic adoptions, animal control
Notes: Limited resources; Selma Humane Society supplements county services
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Dallas County Solid Waste – (334) 874-2501
Recycling: Very limited
Environmental: Alabama River watershed; significant agricultural runoff; ADEM – adem.alabama.gov
Notes: Alabama River water quality important; agricultural county with some legacy industrial sites in Selma; limited waste management infrastructure reflects county’s economic challenges
About Dallas County
Dallas County is the birthplace of American voting rights – the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma is the most historically significant civil rights site in America, where Bloody Sunday’s images shocked the nation and produced the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Selma (the county seat, population ~17,000) carries enormous historical weight – the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the National Voting Rights Museum, and the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee make it one of America’s most important civil rights pilgrimage destinations. The city faces significant economic challenges alongside its historical legacy.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid: 100 Sam O. Moseley Dr., Selma — (334) 874-2550 (shared building; confirm DHR-specific phone)
Recommended
Search Dallas County public records for Selma and Dallas County residents.
Courts & Legal
Dallas County Probate Court at 105 Lauderdale Street, Selma, AL 36701, phone 334-874-2500, handles probate.
Senior Services
Senior Services: — (not found on county site)
EMA Contact: (334) 874-2515 (EMA may coordinate emergency services)
Selma Dallas County Public Library: https://www.dallascounty-al.org/Find-It-Here/Selma-Dallas-County-Public-Library
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
105 Lauderdale St., Selma, AL 36701
(334) 874-2501
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
105 Lauderdale St., Selma, AL 36701
(334) 874-2530
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Dallas County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society, P.O. Box 586, Selma, AL 36702
Central Alabama Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 125, Selma, AL 36702
Black Belt African American Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 971, Selma, AL 36702
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
Dallas County Probate Office 105 Lauderdale Street, Selma, AL 36701 (334) 874-2518 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 Dallas 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 Dallas 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)
105 Lauderdale St., Selma, AL 36701
(334) 874-2501
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
1 Lawrence Ave., Selma, AL 36701
(334) 874-2511
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
105 Lauderdale St., Selma, AL 36701
(334) 874-2517
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
1001 Medical Center Pkwy., Selma, AL 36701
(334) 872-4531
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Dallas County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Dallas County Health Department
Address: 1106 Medical Center Pkwy, Selma, AL 36701
Phone: (334) 872-4545
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/dallas
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Dallas County has among Alabama’s highest rates of poverty and chronic disease; health department is critical safety net; limited hospital capacity since Vaughan Regional Medical Center closure
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Selma
Population: 38,462
Area: 994 sq mi
Established: 1818
Tier: 3
Public Records
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