Access Birmingham Court Records

Court records for folks who live in Birmingham are kept by the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk. You can find them at the main courthouse on Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard in the heart of downtown.

Which County Handles Birmingham Court Records

Birmingham is the county seat of Jefferson County. It is the most crowded county in Alabama by far. All court records for folks in Birmingham get filed at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The 10th Judicial Circuit serves this county. For court work, the circuit splits into two parts: the Birmingham Division and the Bessemer Division.

Most folks in Birmingham fall under the Birmingham Division. This division takes cases based on where the event took place or where the person being sued lives. Not sure which one has your case? Just call the clerk's office. They can help you find it fast.

How to Access Court Records in Birmingham

You have a few ways to get court records in Birmingham. The best choice depends on what you need and how soon you need it. Some folks want to search from home on a computer, while others would rather go to the courthouse in person. You can also send a request by mail if that works better for your schedule.

Online Through Alacourt

The state runs Alacourt Public Access at pa.alacourt.com. You can search Jefferson County court records by name, case number, or date range. Basic searches cost nothing. You can see case info like who is in the case, what the charges are, court dates, and how things turned out, all for free.

Want to print papers or get certified copies? That costs money. The site has circuit court and district court records going back to when they started filing things online. Older cases might only be on paper at the courthouse. Also keep in mind that some records are sealed. Those ones you just cannot see.

Jefferson County Circuit Clerk Website

Jefferson County has its own clerk site at jeffersoncircuitclerk.alacourt.gov. It shows info on local court help, fees, and steps you must take. Go there to learn how to file papers or ask for records. The site gives you all the details you need to get started with your request.

In Person at the Courthouse

The Jefferson County Courthouse in downtown Birmingham holds the Circuit Clerk's office. Stop by during work hours to search records, make copies, and file your papers. Bring a good photo ID with you. The place has public computer screens so you can look up the database on your own.

The courthouse gets very busy. Birmingham is a big city after all. Plan extra time for parking and going through security. Staff can help you find cases, but they cannot tell you which records you should ask for. That kind of thing counts as legal advice, which they are not allowed to give.

By Mail

Send your request in writing to the Circuit Clerk's office. Give as much detail as you can. Put in names of all folks in the case, rough dates, case numbers if you know them, and what papers you need. Add payment for search and copy fees. How long it takes to hear back depends on how hard your request is and how busy the office is at the time.

Fees for Court Records

Types of Court Records Available

Criminal Court Records

Criminal records in Jefferson County cover felony cases in circuit court and smaller crimes in district court. These files show what charges got filed, bail info, court dates, plea deals, trial results, and jail time. The district attorney's office handles these cases for the state.

Birmingham has its own cops who look into crimes in the city. Arrest records and booking info come from the Birmingham Police or the Jefferson County Sheriff. The court clerk does not have those. But once charges get filed, the clerk keeps all the case records from that point on.

Civil Court Records

Civil cases are fights between people or groups where no one broke the law. Think things like broken deals, car crash claims, land fights, and business suits. Circuit court takes civil cases with more than $20,000 on the line. District court deals with smaller claims and renter issues.

Civil records have the first complaint, the answer from the other side, motions from both, stuff found in discovery, court orders, and the final ruling. Most of the time, anyone can look at these. A judge can seal them though, and then you cannot see them at all.

Family Court Records

Jefferson County has a Family Court just for cases like divorce, child custody, child support, who the dad is, adoption, and abuse at home. This court sits at a different spot from the main courthouse. Some of these files are hard to see because the law wants to keep kids and abuse victims safe.

Juvenile Court Records

Cases with kids go to juvenile court. This court runs under different rules than adult court does. Juvenile records are mostly sealed to keep young folks safe. Only the people in the case and their lawyers can see these files in most situations.

Traffic and Municipal Records

Traffic tickets and city rule breaks in Birmingham go through the Birmingham Municipal Court. These do not hit the county court at all. Call municipal court for those cases. Worse traffic crimes like drunk driving may end up in district or circuit court instead.

Probate Records

Wills, estates, guardianships, and mental health cases go to Jefferson County Probate Court. That court is not part of the circuit clerk's office. You also get marriage licenses there. To search probate records in Jefferson County, use the LANDMARK WEB system online.

Courthouse Information

Jefferson County Courthouse (Birmingham Division)

The main courthouse for Birmingham sits right downtown. Head here for most court records, to file a case, or to show up for court in the Birmingham Division. Parking can be tight so plan to arrive early and look for spots in the nearby paid lots.

Jefferson County Family Court

Family law stuff like divorce and custody cases go to the Family Court building. This is a separate place from the main courthouse. If you have a family case, make sure you go to the right spot or you might waste a trip.

Birmingham Municipal Court

Traffic tickets and city fines go through municipal court. Do not go to the county courthouse for these. The municipal court has its own building and its own staff who handle just these kinds of cases.

Jefferson County Courts Portal

Jefferson County has a website with court info and services. You can look up court dates, find forms, and learn more about how the courts work. The site helps both lawyers and regular folks who need to use the court system.

Legal Aid Resources in Birmingham

Birmingham has more free legal help than most cities in the state. Why? Because it is big. A bunch of groups offer free or cheap help to people who meet their rules. If you cannot pay for a lawyer, one of these might be able to step in and lend a hand.

Legal Services Alabama - Birmingham Office

This group gives free civil legal help to low-income folks in Jefferson County. They take on cases about family law, housing, public aid, and buyer problems. They do not do criminal cases though. You have to look elsewhere if you got arrested or charged with a crime.

Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham

This setup links people who qualify with lawyers who will work for free. They call it pro bono work. If you meet the income rules, you might get matched with a lawyer who can help with your case at no cost to you.

Birmingham Bar Association

The local bar group can point you to lawyers and tell you about free legal clinics around town. They keep lists of attorneys sorted by what kind of law they practice, so they can match you with someone who knows your type of case.

Jefferson County Law Library

The law library helps people who are going to court on their own. It sits right in the courthouse. You can find research stuff and some guides to help you understand what to do. The staff there can point you in the right direction, though they cannot give you legal advice.

Alabama State Bar Referral Service

Self-Help Resources

Court forms are up at eforms.alacourt.gov. AlabamaLegalHelp.org has guides on common legal issues for folks going to court on their own. Both sites are free to use and can save you a lot of time when you need to fill out papers or learn how the system works.

Nearby Cities

Here are some other big cities in Alabama. We have court records info for each one on this site.

Search Court Records

Use our search tool to look up court records for Birmingham and Jefferson County. Just type in a name and see what comes up.