Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
Alabama County
Houston County, Alabama
Dothan - the Peanut Capital of the World - from Dothan's peanut heritage (southeast Alabama's Wiregrass region produces approximately one-third of the United States' peanut crop - Dothan's position at the center of this extraordinary peanut-growing region earned it the Peanut Capital designation, celebrated at the National Peanut Festival each fall which draws 200,000+ visitors) to Dothan's role as the regional hub for the tri-state area where Alabama, Florida, and Georgia converge - the city's healthcare, retail, and education services draw from a broad multi-state region.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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.
Office: Houston County Emergency Management Agency
Address: 462 N Oates St, Dothan, AL 36303
Phone: (334) 677-4747
Alert System: AL Alert statewide; CodeRed; Dothan also has city alert systems
Shelter Info: Multiple designated shelters; contact EMA or Dothan city emergency services
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Southeast Alabama’s major urban hub; Dothan is the “Peanut Capital of the World” and regional center for healthcare, retail, and government for tri-state area (AL-GA-FL); tornado risk; hurricane/tropical storm risk from Florida Panhandle proximity; Wiregrass region EMA hub
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Houston County Highway Department
Phone: (334) 677-4700
Public Transit: Dothan Area Transit System (DATS) – (334) 615-5150; fixed-route buses in Dothan metro; demand-response countywide
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: Dothan is one of Alabama’s largest cities; US-231, US-431, US-84, and AL-210 (Ross Clark Circle) are main corridors; airport (Dothan Regional Airport) serves tri-state area; active commercial corridor
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Houston County Building Department
Address: 462 N Oates St, Dothan, AL 36303
Phone: (334) 677-4731
Services: Building permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy for unincorporated Houston County
Notes: City of Dothan (separate permitting – very active); Cottonwood, Gordon, Kinsey, Midland City, Webb have separate municipal permits; major commercial and residential development activity in Dothan metro
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Houston County Veterans Service Office
Address: 462 N Oates St, Dothan, AL 36303
Phone: (334) 677-4773
VA Medical: Southeast Alabama VA Medical Center, Dothan – (334) 793-4174 (full-service VA medical center in Dothan – significant asset)
Services: Full range of benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment, pension/compensation, mental health, specialty care
Notes: Southeast Alabama VA Medical Center in Dothan is a full-service VA hospital – one of the most significant veteran resources in the region; serves veterans from three states (Alabama, Georgia, Florida panhandle)
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Houston Love Memorial Library
Main: 212 W Burdeshaw St, Dothan, AL 36301 | (334) 793-9767
Website: houstonlove.lib.al.us
Branches: Multiple branches including Ashford, Cottonwood, Kinsey, Midland City, Rehobeth, Webb
Services: Books, e-books (Alabama Digital Library), public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy collection, children’s programs, meeting rooms, online resources
Notes: Well-developed library system reflecting Dothan’s urban status; serves tri-state regional population; genealogy collection is notable
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
County/City Parks: Dothan Parks & Recreation – (334) 615-5560; Landmark Park (living history farm museum); Adventureland Theme Park; Westgate Park; multiple athletic facilities
State Parks: Chattahoochee State Park (nearby); Lake Eufaula (Walter F. George) access
Notes: Dothan has strong parks and recreation for its size; Landmark Park is a unique agricultural heritage attraction; National Peanut Festival (annual – major regional event); Dothan Botanical Gardens
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Houston County GIS – houstoncounty.org/gis
Parcel Search: Available through county GIS portal
Notes: Active urban-adjacent county; well-developed GIS system; Dothan metro growth drives mapping demand
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Dothan Area Humane Society / Houston County Animal Control
Recycling: Dothan city recycling program; county drop-off options
Environmental: Choctawhatchee River watershed; Chattahoochee River proximity; peanut farming and poultry operations; ADEM – adem.alabama.gov
Notes: Major regional center with significant commercial and industrial environmental activity; agricultural county (peanuts are dominant crop); ADEM monitoring of peanut processing operations; Dothan’s growth requires active stormwater management
About Houston County
Houston County is southeast Alabama’s peanut capital and Wiregrass regional hub – Dothan’s position at the tri-state Alabama-Florida-Georgia junction and its extraordinary peanut production make it the dominant commercial city in the region.
Dothan (the county seat, population ~72,000) is southeast Alabama’s largest city and the regional center for the Wiregrass area – hospitals, universities, retail, and the annual National Peanut Festival anchor a commercial economy serving three states.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Houston County Revenue Commissioner at 462 N. Oates Street, Suite 100, Dothan, AL 36303, phone 334-677-4713. AL residential assessed at 10% of market value.
Public Records
Note: Health dept address also cited as 1781 East Cottonwood Highway for home health; confirm
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
Houston County Probate Office 462 North Oates Street, Dothan, AL 36303 (334) 677-4742 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 Houston 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 Houston 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)
462 N. Oates St., Dothan, AL 36303
(334) 677-4755
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
901 E. McKinnon St., New Brockton, AL 36351
(334) 712-0761
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
462 N. Oates St., Dothan, AL 36303
(334) 677-4760
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
1110 Healthway Dr., Dothan, AL 36303
(334) 712-6900
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Houston County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Houston County Health Department
Address: 1701 E Cottonwood Rd, Dothan, AL 36301
Phone: (334) 678-4500
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/houston
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records, restaurant inspections; broad service capacity
Notes: Dothan is the healthcare hub for southeast Alabama; Southeast Health (hospital), Flowers Hospital, and Southeast Alabama Medical Center provide hospital services; Houston County HD is well-resourced for a county its size
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Dothan
Population: 107,202
Area: 580 sq mi
Established: 1903
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Houston County residents.
