Alabama Court Records

Accessing Alabama Court Records

Court records are official documents that are maintained by all courthouses in Alabama. They are often accessed for reference by law students, journalists and lawyers. They may also be accessed by a resident of Alabama for various reasons.

With the increase in the number of frauds and scams, it has become important to carry out a background check on a person before relying on him or her. Do not just carry out a check on whether the person has any criminal history, go for a complete verification of his or her background. This may be necessary. You will often be surprised by how much more you can find out, and this extra information can often help you in arriving at the right decision.

Businesses do this regularly. Often before making the hiring decision, the business would carry out a detailed check to decide whether the recruit can be trusted or not. You can also do this, because you might also have to hire that handyman who will work within your premises, or that nanny who must spend a considerable time with your kid. Do not expose your life to risk.

In Alabama, the court records can help you do this checking.

How to Access Alabama Court Records?

In Alabama, the Circuit courts have general jurisdiction over both criminal and civil cases, while the District courts, Municipal courts and Probate courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of cases only. As different courts handle different types of cases, you must know which court to approach for a particular court record.

There are many ways in which you can access court records. The easiest way to access court records is to search the web. There are several websites that compile court records from the state. These records are maintained well in a database and can be easily retrieved.

To search for records on the Internet, you need to provide the social security number of the person, and the type of record you are searching for. However, if you cannot provide the social security number, it is better you search for the records at the public library.

You may also visit the Clerk of the appropriate courthouse in Alabama to get your copy of the record. You can apply in person, send a mail and even do so over the phone. If you are visiting in person, be prepared to wait in the queue that can often get quite long. Apply to the Clerk's office in the prescribed format and submit all the required information. Try to provide as much information as you can, because this will make the search process faster.

Information Contained in the Court Records

The state is responsible for maintaining the documents pertaining to all cases, as well as the personal records of people in Alabama. Since these records are in the public domain, you can legally ask for it by making an application.

All public records including birth records, marriage records, divorce records and death records are maintained by the state. You can also learn about police and military records, criminal records, access reports about businesses, and much more. But remember, you cannot access all the information. Some of it is withheld because this information is confidential.

Alabama Court Records