Interview by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Ryan McGill
The Walker Leader recently sat down with Walker County Probate Judge A. Lee Tucker to discuss the various roles and responsibilities of the Probate Office.
WL: What services are provided by the Walker County Probate Office?
LT: The Probate Office is an interesting place! Everybody in Walker County will come to the Probate Office at some point. Everyone knows we do tags, vehicle registration, and driver’s licenses, and that’s a big component, but it’s really just a drop in the bucket when it comes to what all takes place here.
We also oversee business license collection and enforcement, conservation licenses and boat decals, name changes, land condemnations, deeds, wills and estates, administrations, adoptions, conservatorships and guardianships, involuntary commitments, and elections. It’s a busy place!
Anything that must be recorded for legal purposes, such as deeds and marriage records, can be accessed here.
WL: What actions have been taken by the Probate Office to ensure that its services are more accessible and efficient for the public?
LT: I believe one of the most important things we’ve done is modernize the technology. We try to be proactive about following and utilizing the technology that makes sense for our work. We upgraded tag and titling software for online registration and implemented a more efficient queuing system in our lobby.
WL: Are there any upcoming projects that will further contribute to enhancing the role of the Probate Office?
LT: The county was able to purchase the old G. May building next door to our office, and we’re going to convert that space to the county archive.
As I mentioned, Probate is the county’s record keeper. Through this project, we’re going to make these records more accessible to the public and better protected from things we can’t predict, like pipes bursting or flooding. Our records contain many fascinating and historically significant things, and I’m looking forward to seeing this project come to fruition.
WL: What is your favorite thing about serving as Probate Judge?
LT: It sounds cliché, but this role allows me to help people, and I love that. All of what we do here at the Probate office is rewarding in some way because it’s all about helping people. I would say that my favorite thing, though, is adoptions. I love seeing the smiles on the faces of the families!
Also, I have a great staff. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do all the things we do. I am glad to have people who care about helping others, too.
Learn more about the Walker County Probate Office: Website | Facebook
