Pickens County as formed in 1820 from what used to be Tuscaloosa County, in western Alabama. So you can expect most Pickens County public records to start from that year though not all events were recorded diligently. In 1908, Alabama made it a requirement across the state to keep vital records statistics, so you will get better results in the years after that.

When in need of any Pickens County public records, your first stop should be the health department office in Carrollton. They issue copies of vital records to drop-in customers though there is a fee for each record you have searched. You can pick up the proper form right at the desk though if you need to check on names and dates at home, you may want to print your own copy from the Alabama Department of Public Health website instead.

They serve people on a first come-first served basis at the desk and usually issue your copies of Pickens County public records while you wait as long as you have your forms filled out completely and have proper ID (any photo ID issued by the government will do). If you are not near Carrollton, you can also mail your application as long as you include a clear enlarged photocopy of your personal ID.

Pickens County Birth Records

State law places a 125 year privacy period on all Pickens County birth records leaving them accessible to only immediate family members for that time. So if you are looking to get a copy of a birth certificate, it must be your own or your child's, parent's, sibling's or current legal spouse's. More distant relations or non-family members are not going to be issued to you unless you have a tangible legal need. Once the 125 years are up, the records are considered fully public and you can make any request you wish. Birth record copies will cost you $15 each, even if it your own.

Pickens County Death Records

There is a similar privacy provision for Pickens County death records as well but the time frame is only 25 years in this case. If you are looking to get a recent death certificate, you will be limited to the same family relations as with birth records but after 25 years, the records are fully public. You can still make requests through the health department and pay the $15 fee if you need a certified copy but the State Archives also holds vital records archives where you can see them for free.

Pickens County Marriage Records

When looking for any Pickens County marriage record, you are permitted to make any request you wish. No records are considered confidential. Copies will cost $15 through the health department, and the majority of marriage registrations have been recorded since 1936. The Carrollton Probate courthouse also has its own collection of marriage records that may be more helpful.

Pickens County Criminal Records

Criminal records are never public, no matter what county they are in. For Pickens County criminal records, you can make a request for only your own criminal background files from the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center in Montgomery. They accept mailed-in applications, for a $25 fee.