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Alabama · Central Alabama · #746
Elmore County, Alabama
On the Coosa River north of Montgomery, Elmore County's Wetumpka sits inside one of the most precisely preserved ancient meteor impact craters in the eastern United States - a geological distinction the city wears with appropriate pride and the county uses as proof that Alabama's history goes deeper than even the Civil War.
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Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Notes: Central Alabama county northeast of Montgomery; Coosa River and Lake Jordan flood risk; tornado corridor; Elmore County is one of Alabama’s fastest-growing counties due to Montgomery metro expansion; Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex (Montgomery) proximity adds military coordination element
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Elmore County Highway Department
Phone: (334) 567-1122
Public Transit: Limited; some Montgomery metro transit extends into county; demand-response available
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: Rapidly growing bedroom community for Montgomery; US-231 and AL-14 are major corridors; traffic increasing with population growth
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Elmore County Building Department
Address: 100 E Commerce St, Wetumpka, AL 36092
Phone: (334) 567-1156
Services: Building permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy for unincorporated areas
Notes: One of Alabama’s fastest-growing counties; high residential permit volume; Millbrook, Prattville (partly), Wetumpka, Tallassee have separate municipal permits
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Elmore County Veterans Service Office
Address: 100 E Commerce St, Wetumpka, AL 36092
Phone: (334) 567-7811
VA Medical: Central Alabama Veterans HCS – Montgomery | (334) 272-4670
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment, pension/compensation
Notes: Close proximity to Montgomery VA; Maxwell AFB nearby means active duty/veteran population is significant
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Elmore County Public Library
Main: Wetumpka – 219 E Tuskeena St | (334) 567-1186
Branches: Millbrook, Tallassee, Eclectic
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library, children’s programs
Notes: Growing library system reflecting county population growth; suburban readers with urban library expectations
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Lake Jordan (Coosa River reservoir – boating, fishing, water sports); Elmore County Park; Wind Creek State Park (adjacent Tallapoosa County, nearby); Wetumpka Impact Crater (geological landmark – one of few confirmed meteor impact sites in eastern US)
Notes: Lake Jordan is the primary recreation draw; Wetumpka’s meteor impact crater is a unique geological tourism attraction; growing suburban park needs with population expansion
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Elmore County GIS – elmoreco.com
Notes: Fast-growing county with active GIS for development management; parcel data well-maintained
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Elmore County Animal Shelter
Address: Wetumpka area
Phone: (334) 567-1156 (County)
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, owner surrenders, animal control
Notes: Growing county generating increased animal service demand; Elmore County Humane Society active
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Elmore County Solid Waste – (334) 567-7811
Recycling: Growing recycling options as county develops
Environmental: Coosa River/Lake Jordan watershed; suburban development pressure on natural areas; ADEM – adem.alabama.gov
Notes: Rapid suburban growth creating stormwater management challenges; Lake Jordan water quality important for recreation; development in previously rural areas requires environmental oversight
About Elmore County
Elmore County holds a geological distinction that most Americans don’t know: Wetumpka sits within the Wetumpka impact crater, formed approximately 80 million years ago when a meteorite struck what is now central Alabama, leaving a 5-mile-wide circular structure whose rim forms the hills surrounding downtown Wetumpka. The structure is one of the most clearly preserved meteor craters east of the Rockies, and the Wetumpka Impact Crater is a National Natural Landmark. The city’s historic downtown and the crater’s gentle hills give Wetumpka a picturesque quality that has made it a destination for Alabama film production.
The county has absorbed significant Montgomery metropolitan growth – its I-65 access north of Montgomery and the appeal of rural character with urban access have driven residential development in Millbrook and along the Coosa River corridor. The Coosa River itself, impounded in multiple reservoirs upstream, provides boating and fishing recreation.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Alabama assesses residential property at 10% of appraised value. Property owners may appeal to the County Board of Equalization. Alabama offers a homestead exemption of $4,000 off assessed value. Alabama has no estate or inheritance tax.
Elmore County Probate Court: 100 East Commerce Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 | (334) 567-1139. The Probate Court handles estate administration, guardianship, wills, and deeds.
Senior Services
Senior Citizen Services: Central Alabama Aging — https://centralalabamaaging.org/
Senior Contact: Via Central Alabama Aging
Transportation: Via Central Alabama Aging
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 E. Commerce St., Wetumpka, AL 36092
(334) 567-1144
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
100 E. Commerce St., Wetumpka, AL 36092
(334) 567-1143
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Elmore County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Elmore County Historical Society, 1384 Jug Factory Road, Wetumpka, AL 36092
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
Elmore County Probate Office 100 East Commerce Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 Mailing address: P.O. Box 280, Wetumpka, AL 36092 (334) 567-1140 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 Elmore 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 an Elmore 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 E. Commerce St., Wetumpka, AL 36092
(334) 567-1144
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
8955 US-231, Wetumpka, AL 36092
(334) 567-5571
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
100 E. Commerce St., Wetumpka, AL 36092
(334) 567-1173
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
1251 Hwy. 14 E., Wetumpka, AL 36092
(334) 567-1450
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Elmore County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Elmore County Health Department
Address: 1021 Industrial Park Dr, Wetumpka, AL 36092
Phone: (334) 567-1140
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/elmore
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records, restaurant inspections
Notes: Growing population driving increased demand; suburban health profile with commuter community
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Wetumpka
Population: 87,977
Area: 657 sq mi
Established: 1866
Tier: 3
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Elmore County facilities via Amazon.
