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
Sumter County, Alabama
University of West Alabama and the Black Belt's geological legacy - from the University of West Alabama in Livingston (a regional comprehensive university enrollment ~4,000 - providing higher education and economic stability in one of Alabama's most economically challenged Black Belt counties) to Sumter County's position on the Cretaceous Chalk geological formation (the Alabama Black Belt's distinctive dark, calcareous soils - derived from ancient Cretaceous-era marine sediments - create the rich agricultural soils that once supported the cotton plantation economy and remain the region's defining geological and agricultural characteristic) and the Gainesville Dome meteorite impact crater.
County SeatLivingston
Population12,345
Founded1832
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.
Notes: West Alabama Black Belt county; Tombigbee River western boundary; tornado corridor; one of Alabama’s most economically distressed counties; University of West Alabama (Livingston) is the county’s largest institution; very limited emergency management resources
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Sumter County Highway Department
Phone: (205) 652-9467
Public Transit: Very limited; demand-response only; extremely rural county
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com
Notes: US-11 and US-80 corridors; Livingston is county seat; Meridian, MS is the nearest significant urban center to the west; Tuscaloosa is nearest Alabama urban center
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Sumter County Commission
Address: 115 Washington St, Livingston, AL 35470
Phone: (205) 652-9467
Services: Basic building permits for unincorporated areas
Notes: City of Livingston and other towns have separate permits; University of West Alabama construction drives some local activity; very limited development otherwise
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Sumter County Veterans Service Office
Address: 115 Washington St, Livingston, AL 35470
Phone: (205) 652-9467
VA Medical: Tuscaloosa VA – (205) 554-2000; Birmingham VA – (205) 933-8101
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment
Notes: Rural west Alabama; significant travel required for VA services
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Sumter County Public Library
Address: 208 Madison St, Livingston, AL 35470
Phone: (205) 652-9783
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library; UWA library supplements
Notes: Small library in economically distressed county; University of West Alabama library provides supplemental community access; critical internet access point for residents
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Tombigbee River and waterway access; University of West Alabama athletics (Division II – Gulf South Conference); Sumter County Farmers Market; hunting on private timberlands; Sucarnoochee River access
Notes: University of West Alabama is the primary community institution; UWA Tigers athletics provide community recreation and school spirit; Tombigbee River provides fishing and boating; very limited developed recreation infrastructure otherwise; rural county with outdoor recreation primarily on private timberlands
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Very limited; Alabama state GIS – alabamamaps.ua.edu
Notes: One of Alabama’s most rural and impoverished counties; minimal GIS resources; state resources primary
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Sumter County Animal Control
Phone: (205) 652-9467 (County Commission)
Services: Very basic animal control
Notes: Extremely limited resources
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Sumter County Solid Waste – (205) 652-9467
Notes: Timber industry dominant land use; Tombigbee River water quality important for the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway system; limited industrial environmental concerns; rural poverty creates waste management infrastructure challenges
About Sumter County
Sumter County is west Alabama’s Black Belt university county – the University of West Alabama provides higher education and economic anchoring in one of Alabama’s most historically significant and economically challenged Black Belt communities.
Livingston (the county seat, population ~3,300) is defined by the University of West Alabama – the institution’s enrollment provides economic activity and educational access in a county that has faced significant population decline and economic challenges.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Sumter County Revenue Commissioner at 1 Court Square, Suite 4, Livingston, AL 35470, phone 205-652-2291. AL residential assessed at 10% of market value.
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid: Via dhr.alabama.gov/county-office-contact/
Recommended
Search Sumter County public records for Livingston and Sumter County residents.
Courts & Legal
Sumter County Probate Court at 1 Court Square, Livingston, AL 35470, phone 205-652-7281, 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)
201 Franklin St., Livingston, AL 35470
(205) 652-7281
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
201 Franklin St., Livingston, AL 35470
(205) 652-7281
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Sumter County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Sumter County Historical Society, 207 North Washington Street, Livingston, AL 35470
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
Sumter County Probate Office 115 Marshall Street, Livingston, AL 35470 Mailing address: P.O. Box 1040, Livingston, AL 35470 (205) 652-7281 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 Sumter 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 Sumter 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)
201 Franklin St., Livingston, AL 35470
(205) 652-7281
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
101 Washington St., Livingston, AL 35470
(205) 652-9211
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
201 Franklin St., Livingston, AL 35470
(205) 652-7281
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
1110 Croom Ave., Livingston, AL 35470
(205) 652-9306
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Sumter County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Sumter County Health Department
Address: 407 W Washington St, Livingston, AL 35470
Phone: (205) 652-9391
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/sumter
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Notes: One of Alabama’s most health-disadvantaged counties; Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital in Demopolis (Marengo County) is the nearest hospital; very limited local healthcare; University of West Alabama’s health and physical education programs provide some community wellness resources
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: Livingston
Population: 12,345
Area: 904 sq mi
Established: 1832
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Sumter County residents.
