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Alabama County
Escambia County, Alabama
Atmore's Poarch Band of Creek Indians and the longleaf pine timber heritage - from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (the only federally recognized Native American tribe in Alabama - the Poarch Creek maintain their traditional homeland near Atmore in Escambia County, operating Wind Creek Casino and Hotel, one of the largest gaming facilities in the Southeast, which provides substantial tribal economic development and employment) to Escambia County's deep longleaf pine timber heritage (the vast longleaf pine forests of south Alabama supported a timber and turpentine industry that shaped the county's economy for generations, and restoration efforts in the Conecuh National Forest are recovering this ecologically vital ecosystem).
County SeatBrewton
Population36,757
Founded1868
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Office: Escambia County Emergency Management Agency
Address: 314 Belleville Ave, Brewton, AL 36426
Phone: (251) 867-0300
Alert System: AL Alert statewide; CodeRed
Shelter Info: Contact EMA for shelter locations; hurricane planning due to south Alabama location
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: South Alabama county near Florida Panhandle; hurricane and tropical storm risk in addition to tornado; Escambia River flood risk; timber industry dominant
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Escambia County Highway Department
Phone: (251) 867-0300
Public Transit: Very limited; demand-response only; rural south Alabama
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: Rural timber county; Brewton is county seat; US-31 is main corridor; limited transit
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Escambia County Building Department
Address: 314 Belleville Ave, Brewton, AL 36426
Phone: (251) 867-0300
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas
Notes: City of Brewton and Atmore have separate municipal permits; timber/industrial permits for mill operations
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Escambia County Veterans Service Office
Address: 314 Belleville Ave, Brewton, AL 36426
Phone: (251) 867-0300
VA Medical: Gulf Coast VA – Biloxi, MS | (228) 523-5000; also Mobile VA Clinic
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment
Notes: South Alabama location means Gulf Coast VA in Mississippi is the nearest major VA facility
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library, children’s programs
Notes: Two-branch system; Atmore serves the Poarch Creek community
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Conecuh National Forest (significant portion in Escambia County – premier outdoor recreation area); Open Pond Recreation Area (Conecuh NF); Escambia River water trails; hunting on national forest and private timberlands
Notes: Conecuh National Forest is the signature outdoor asset; Open Pond campground and recreation area; excellent hunting, fishing, hiking; Perdido River forms part of Florida border near county
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Limited; Alabama state GIS – alabamamaps.ua.edu
Notes: Rural timber county; basic GIS through state resources; National Forest boundary mapping important
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Escambia County Animal Shelter
Phone: (251) 867-0300 (County Commission)
Services: Stray intake, basic adoptions, animal control
Notes: Limited resources; Brewton and Atmore each have some city animal control capability; Poarch Creek Tribe has separate animal services
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Escambia County Solid Waste – (251) 867-0300
Recycling: Limited
Environmental: Conecuh National Forest watershed; Escambia River; timber industry operations; ADEM – adem.alabama.gov
Notes: Timber/paper industry (Brewton is historically a mill town) creates industrial environmental monitoring needs; Conecuh River system water quality important; Florida border proximity means multi-state environmental considerations
About Escambia County
Escambia County is south Alabama’s Poarch Creek Nation county – the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama maintains their homeland near Atmore, and Wind Creek Casino’s economic development has brought significant prosperity to the tribal community.
Atmore (population ~10,000) is the Poarch Creek Nation’s gateway community – Wind Creek Casino and Hotel is one of the largest gaming facilities in the Southeast and the economic anchor for both the tribal nation and the broader Atmore area.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Search Escambia County public records for Brewton, Atmore, and Escambia County residents.
Courts & Legal
Escambia County Probate Court at 314 Belleville Avenue, Brewton, AL 36426, phone 251-867-0233, handles probate.
Senior Services
Senior Centers: —
Transportation: ECATS (Escambia County Alabama Transit System) — dial-a-ride bus service countywide
ECATS Contact: Via county website or Brewton city
Senior Contact: Via county website
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
314 Belleville Ave., Brewton, AL 36426
(251) 867-0225
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
314 Belleville Ave., Brewton, AL 36426
(251) 867-0215
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Escambia County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Escambia County Historical Society, P.O. Box 276, Brewton, AL 36427
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
Escambia County Probate Office 314 Belleville Avenue, Brewton, AL 36426 Mailing address: P.O. Box 557, Brewton, AL 36427 (251) 867-0297 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 Escambia 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 Escambia 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)
314 Belleville Ave., Brewton, AL 36426
(251) 867-0225
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
125 Purchis St., Brewton, AL 36426
(251) 867-0454
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
314 Belleville Ave., Brewton, AL 36426
(251) 867-0231
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
909 Belleville Ave., Brewton, AL 36426
(251) 867-5561
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Escambia County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Escambia County Health Department
Address: 501 Belleville Ave, Brewton, AL 36426
Phone: (251) 867-5481
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/escambia
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Branch: Atmore area served
Notes: Rural south Alabama; health department critical access point; Poarch Band of Creek Indians tribal health services also serve county (Atmore area)
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Brewton
Population: 36,757
Area: 953 sq mi
Established: 1868
Tier: 3
Public Records
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