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Alabama · River Region · State Capital · #182 Most Populous County in the US
Montgomery County, Alabama
Montgomery - Alabama's capital and the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement. Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, and the Equal Justice Initiative's National Memorial for Peace and Justice. A city carrying the weight of American history forward into a new era. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Montgomery County residents.
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.
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Montgomery County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations throughout county; contact EMA or city emergency management
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Alabama’s state capital county; Alabama River flood risk (downtown Montgomery sits on high ground but surrounding areas flood); tornado risk; Maxwell Air Force Base (Air University) and Gunter Annex create federal emergency coordination; sophisticated multi-agency emergency management; historically significant Civil Rights sites require special event security planning
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Montgomery County Highway Department – (334) 832-1250
Public Transit: Montgomery Area Transit System (MATS) – (334) 262-7321 | montgomeryal.gov/mats; fixed-route bus network; Amtrak Crescent (New York-New Orleans) stops at Montgomery
Airport: Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM)
Notes: I-65, I-85, US-231, US-431, US-80 converge in Montgomery; state capital generates significant government and visitor traffic; Maxwell AFB traffic; major commercial hub for central Alabama; Amtrak service connects Montgomery to New Orleans and Atlanta/New York
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Montgomery County Planning & Development – (334) 832-1250
Address: 101 S Lawrence St, Montgomery, AL 36104
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas; zoning; plan review
Notes: City of Montgomery (extensive separate permitting – very active); Pike Road, Prattville (partly), and other municipalities have separate permits; suburban growth in Pike Road area is significant; Maxwell AFB construction through federal channels; major commercial development on Eastern Bypass (US-231) corridor
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Montgomery County Veterans Service Office – (334) 832-1250
Address: 101 S Lawrence St, Montgomery, AL 36104
VA Medical: Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) – 215 Perry Hill Rd, Montgomery | (334) 272-4670 (full-service VA medical center – serves most of central Alabama)
Services: Full range – benefits claims, healthcare enrollment, pension, compensation, disability, mental health, education; Maxwell AFB Transition Assistance Program also available for active duty
Notes: CAVHCS (Central Alabama VA) is a major VA medical center serving central Alabama; Maxwell AFB Air University is one of the Air Force’s premier education and training centers; Montgomery is home to significant veteran and active duty population
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Montgomery City-County Public Library – mccpl.lib.al.us | (334) 240-4300
Main: 245 High St, Montgomery; 6 branches
Services: Books, e-books (Alabama Digital Library), public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy collection (excellent Alabama history holdings), meeting rooms, children’s programs, adult literacy, genealogy research assistance
Notes: Well-developed urban library system; excellent Alabama history and genealogy collection reflecting Montgomery’s role as state capital and Civil Rights hub; Rosa Parks Library (branch named in honor of Civil Rights icon) is particularly significant
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
County/City Parks: City of Montgomery Parks & Recreation – (334) 625-2130; Blount Cultural Park; Montgomery Zoo; Mann Wildlife Learning Museum; Montgomery Biscuits baseball (Riverwalk Stadium)
State Parks: Wind Creek State Park (Tallapoosa River – adjacent Elmore County); Confederate Memorial Park (Marbury)
Civil Rights Heritage: Rosa Parks Museum; National Memorial for Peace and Justice (Equal Justice Initiative – EJI); Legacy Museum; Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church; Civil Rights Memorial; First White House of the Confederacy
Notes: Montgomery is one of America’s most historically significant cities; state capital with rich Civil Rights heritage; National Memorial for Peace and Justice (Bryan Stevenson/EJI) is a nationally significant memorial to racial terror lynchings; Rosa Parks’ arrest location is a pilgrimage site; Civil Rights heritage tourism is growing dramatically
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Montgomery County GIS – montgomerycountyal.gov/gis | (334) 832-1250; Montgomery City GIS also available
Parcel Search: Available through county and city portals
Notes: State capital county with sophisticated GIS; active development; state agency GIS coordination with Alabama GIS resources
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Montgomery Humane Society – (334) 409-0622 | montgomeryhumane.com; Montgomery Animal Control – (334) 625-2160
Notes: Montgomery Humane Society is one of Alabama’s larger and more established humane organizations; city animal control operates separately; active rescue community
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: City of Montgomery Solid Waste – (334) 625-2160; Montgomery County for unincorporated areas – (334) 832-1250
Recycling: Montgomery city curbside and drop-off recycling programs
Environmental: Alabama River water quality and flood management; downtown Montgomery sits on bluffs above the river; Maxwell AFB environmental compliance (federal); ADEM – adem.alabama.gov; state capital’s concentration of government and industry creates complex environmental oversight
Notes: Alabama River is the drinking water source for Montgomery (treated by water works); river water quality protection is critical; Maxwell AFB PFAS contamination (groundwater) is an ongoing federal environmental issue; state capital generates significant environmental regulatory activity through ADEM and EPA coordination
About Montgomery County
Montgomery is one of the most historically weighted cities in the United States – a place where American history’s darkest chapters and most heroic responses converge in a small Southern capital city of fewer than 200,000 people.
Montgomery served as the first capital of the Confederacy – Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as Confederate President on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol on February 18, 1861, and the Confederacy’s government operated from Montgomery until the capital moved to Richmond. That same Capitol, on the same steps, is where Governor George Wallace declared “segregation now, segregation forever” in his 1963 inaugural address – and where Martin Luther King Jr. addressed 25,000 marchers at the conclusion of the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March in March 1965.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott (December 1955–December 1956) – triggered when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a city bus on December 1, 1955 – was the foundational organized campaign of the modern Civil Rights Movement. The 381-day boycott, sustained by the Black community of Montgomery through carpools and walking, ended with the Supreme Court’s ruling that bus segregation was unconstitutional. The Rosa Parks Museum at Troy University, the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church (where King served as pastor and organized the boycott), and the Civil Rights Memorial (designed by Maya Lin) anchor Montgomery’s Civil Rights heritage landscape.
The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) – founded by attorney Bryan Stevenson (author of “Just Mercy”) – is headquartered in Montgomery and has transformed the city into a destination for justice and history tourism with two extraordinary institutions: the National Memorial for Peace and Justice (the nation’s first memorial dedicated to victims of lynching, slavery, and racial terror) and the Legacy Museum (documenting the history from slavery to mass incarceration). These institutions have brought national and international attention to Montgomery in a way that has reshaped how the city presents itself to the world.
Maxwell Air Force Base and its co-located Gunter Annex make Montgomery one of the most significant Air Force education and doctrine centers in the United States – the Air University (the Air Force’s professional military education system) is headquartered at Maxwell, and its numerous schools and colleges make it the intellectual center of Air Force thought and doctrine development.
Alabama State University (HBCU, enrollment ~4,500) and Auburn University at Montgomery provide higher education. The Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant in nearby Lincoln (Talladega County) has drawn automotive supplier investment to the broader Montgomery region.
County government is a five-member Commission with a County Administrator and separately elected offices for the Judge of Probate, Revenue Commissioner, Sheriff, and Tax Collector.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Alabama’s fractional assessment system applies throughout Montgomery County:
– Residential property (Class III): assessed at 10% of fair market value
– Commercial and industrial (Class II): assessed at 20% of fair market value
– Agricultural (Class I): assessed at 10% of current use value
The Montgomery County Revenue Commissioner (100 S. Lawrence Street, Montgomery, 334-832-1220) handles both property appraisal and tax collection functions.
Alabama’s effective residential property tax rates – driven by the 10% assessment ratio and relatively modest millage rates – are consistently among the lowest in the nation.
Senior exemptions:
– Age 65+ with income below $12,000: exempt from all state property taxes
– Additional county and municipal exemptions may apply – contact the Revenue Commissioner for current local thresholds
The appeal process:
Contact the Revenue Commissioner informally if you believe your appraised value is incorrect. If unresolved, appeal to the Montgomery County Board of Equalization (334-832-1220). Further appeal goes to the Montgomery County Circuit Court.
No Alabama estate tax. No Alabama inheritance tax. Federal estate tax applies above approximately $13.9 million (2025).
OWNWELL CTA: Montgomery County’s 10% assessment ratio keeps effective tax rates very low – but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Senior exemption at 65+ with income below $12,000 eliminates all state property taxes. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Montgomery County's 10% assessment ratio keeps effective tax rates very low - but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Senior exemption at 65+ with income below $12,000 eliminates all state property taxes. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Public Records
Health Department (ADPH District Office): 3060 Mobile Highway, Montgomery, AL 36108
(334) 293-6400
Fax: (334) 293-6410
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
WIC, environmental, home care, clinical (STD, family planning, vaccines, breast/cervical cancer screening)
Vital Records: Certified birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued locally at 3060 Mobile Hwy
Community Corrections: Listed as county department — https://www.mc-ala.org/
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
The Montgomery County Circuit Court at 251 S. Lawrence Street, Montgomery (334-832-1290) handles all civil and criminal matters. The Montgomery County Probate Court at 100 S. Lawrence Street (334-832-1244) handles all estate administration, guardianships, trusts, and recording of land documents (Alabama Probate Courts serve the recording function). The Montgomery County Circuit Clerk (334-832-1290) maintains all civil and criminal court records.
Alabama probate: the Probate Court handles all estate administration and deeds/mortgage recording. Alabama’s Small Estate Act for estates below $25,000. Alabama recognizes Transfer on Death deeds.
Maxwell AFB military estate planning: Montgomery County’s large Maxwell AFB Air Force community – including Air University students, faculty, and permanent party personnel – has access to free legal assistance at the Maxwell legal office. SGLI, TSP, and SBP designations are the priority documents for active-duty Air Force personnel and their families.
EJI and Civil Rights philanthropy: The Equal Justice Initiative has become one of the most prominent philanthropic recipients in Alabama – national and international donors support EJI’s legal work, memorial institutions, and community education programs through planned gifts, major gifts, and endowment contributions.
Senior Services: The Montgomery County Council on Aging (334-272-5770) at 600 S. Court Street, Montgomery coordinates senior centers, home-delivered meals, transportation, SHIIP Medicare counseling, caregiver support, Adult Protective Services, and connections to Alabama Medicaid long-term care programs.
Senior Services
Senior Services: —
Parks and Recreation: https://www.mc-ala.org/departments/parks-and-recreation
Transportation: Montgomery Area Transit System (MATS) — city/regional transit
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 S. Lawrence St., Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 832-1220
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
251 S. Lawrence St., Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 832-1260
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Montgomery County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Montgomery County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1829, Montgomery, AL 36102, (334) 264-1837
Montgomery Genealogical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 230194, Montgomery, AL 36123-0194
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
Montgomery County Probate Office 101 South Lawrence Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 Mailing address: P.O. Box 223, Montgomery, AL 36101-0223 (334) 832-1248 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 S. Lawrence St., Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 832-1220
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
320 N. Ripley St., Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 832-4980
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
100 S. Lawrence St., Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 832-1215
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
3060 Mobile Hwy., Montgomery, AL 36108
(334) 293-6400
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Montgomery County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Montgomery County Health Department – (334) 293-6400
Notes: Baptist Medical Center South, Baptist Medical Center East, Jackson Hospital, and Vaughan Regional provide hospital services; Montgomery has a full range of specialty healthcare as a state capital; health department serves large urban and suburban population
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.
Recommended for Alabama
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