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Alabama County
Henry County, Alabama
Headland's Peanut Festival and the Wiregrass tri-state corner - from Headland's National Peanut Festival connection (Henry County's sandy Wiregrass soils produce significant peanut crops that contribute to the broader southeast Alabama peanut economy - the county's agricultural identity is deeply rooted in the peanut, cotton, and timber farming that has sustained Wiregrass communities for generations) to Henry County's position in the deep southeast Alabama Wiregrass where peanuts, poultry, and timber define the rural economy near the Florida and Georgia borders.
County SeatAbbeville
Population17,146
Founded1819
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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.
Notes: Southeast Alabama rural county near Georgia/Florida borders; tornado and severe weather risk; Chattahoochee River forms eastern border; rural agricultural county
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Henry County Highway Department
Phone: (334) 585-2753
Public Transit: Very limited; demand-response only; rural southeast Alabama
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: Extremely rural county; Abbeville is county seat; Dothan (Houston County) is nearest significant urban center; personal vehicle required
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Henry County Commission
Address: 101 Court Square, Abbeville, AL 36310
Phone: (334) 585-2753
Services: Basic building permits for unincorporated areas
Notes: Small rural county with limited development activity; Chattahoochee River waterfront development generates some permit activity
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Henry County Veterans Service Office
Address: 101 Court Square, Abbeville, AL 36310
Phone: (334) 585-2753
VA Medical: Central Alabama VA – Montgomery | (334) 272-4670; Dothan VA Clinic
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment
Notes: Dothan VA clinic provides closer access for southeast Alabama; rural transportation challenge
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Henry County Public Library
Address: 239 W Washington St, Abbeville, AL 36310
Phone: (334) 585-2818
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library
Notes: Small rural library serving dispersed county population
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Chattahoochee River (boating, fishing, water recreation); Walter F. George Lake (Lake Eufaula) northern reaches; hunting on private agricultural lands; Three Notch Trail (historic trail)
Notes: Chattahoochee River and Lake Eufaula access are primary recreation draws; rural county with excellent fishing and hunting on private lands
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Limited; Alabama state GIS – alabamamaps.ua.edu
Notes: Small rural county; basic GIS through state resources
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Henry County Animal Control
Phone: (334) 585-2753 (County Commission)
Services: Basic animal control
Notes: Very limited shelter resources; rural county
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Henry County Solid Waste – (334) 585-2753
Notes: Chattahoochee River is a tri-state resource with ongoing water rights disputes between Alabama, Georgia, and Florida; water quality management important for downstream communities and Lake Eufaula recreation
About Henry County
Henry County is southeast Alabama’s deep Wiregrass peanut and timber county – the sandy loam soils and warm climate of this tri-state corner community near Florida and Georgia support the agricultural economy that has defined Wiregrass Alabama for generations.
Abbeville (the county seat, population ~2,700) and Headland (population ~4,400) serve Henry County’s agricultural communities near the Florida panhandle border.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Henry County Revenue Commissioner at 101 Court Square, Suite A, Abbeville, AL 36310, phone 334-585-6821. AL residential assessed at 10% of market value.
Search Henry County public records for Abbeville, Headland, and Henry County residents.
Courts & Legal
Henry County Probate Court at 101 Court Square, Abbeville, AL 36310, phone 334-585-3257, handles probate.
Senior Services
Senior Services: —
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)
101 Court Square, Abbeville, AL 36310
(334) 585-3257
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
101 Court Square, Abbeville, AL 36310
(334) 585-3257
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Henry County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Henry County Historical Society, P.O. Box 222, Abbeville, AL 36310
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
Henry County Probate Office 101 Courtsquare, Suite A, Abbeville, AL 36310 (334) 585-3257 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 Henry 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 Henry 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)
101 Court Square, Abbeville, AL 36310
(334) 585-3257
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
100 Court Square, Abbeville, AL 36310
(334) 585-3217
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
101 Court Square, Abbeville, AL 36310
(334) 585-3257
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
408 Washington Ave., Abbeville, AL 36310
(334) 585-2601
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Henry County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Henry County Health Department
Address: 522 US-431 S, Abbeville, AL 36310
Phone: (334) 585-5611
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/henry
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Rural southeast Alabama; limited local healthcare; health department is primary access point for many residents
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