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Shelby County, Alabama State Court Records

Shelby County court records are official documents on legal trials within the county. These include filings, dockets, judgments, and other documents generated during court proceedings by the Shelby County Circuit, District, Probate, and Municipal Courts.

In Shelby County, the Circuit Court Clerk's Office and the Probate Court Records Department are the primary custodians of court records. While the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk is the official record keeper for Circuit and District Courts, the Probate Court Clerk's Office maintains probate-related documents. Court records in Shelby County interrelate with other public records, including arrest and vital records. Arrest records reflect the underlying events that result in criminal court cases. Likewise, vital records are essential documents for probate adjudications within Shelby County.

Are Shelby County Court Records Public?

Yes, Shelby County court records are public documents. Section 36-12-40 of the Alabama Open Records Act grants citizens the right to inspect and copy public records, including Shelby County court records. In practice, most civil and criminal records are publicly accessible unless a statutory or judicial order restricts public access to certain records. However, to comply with privacy laws and maintain safety, public disclosure of Shelby County court records does not include:

  • Juvenile court files
  • Adoptions
  • Sealed and expunged records
  • Medical reports and psychological evaluations
  • Grand jury records
  • Sensitive personal details, such as Social Security numbers, financial account data, and information about minors.
  • Victim and witness information.

What Information is Available in Shelby County Court Records?

Interested individuals can access Shelby County court records if there are no statutory exemptions. Depending on the case type, a typical Shelby County court record includes:

  • Names of the litigants
  • Case number
  • Filing date
  • Names of attorneys of record
  • Docket entries
  • Pleadings and petitions
  • Trial transcripts
  • Court orders and judgments
  • Sentencing information (criminal trials)
  • Scheduled hearing dates, time, and location
  • Fees, fines, and court costs
  • Criminal charges, civil complaints, and legal actions that were filed in the case.

Shelby County Court Records Search

There are different options available for individuals seeking access to Shelby County court records. Depending on the case type, interested parties can access these records online, in person, or by mail request.

Online access

Online access to Shelby County court records is through the Alacourt Access Portal. Individuals can use this search tool to access Shelby County trial court records by name or case number for a $9.99 service fee. Record seekers should note that while they can access criminal, civil, domestic relations, and small claims records, confidential information is restricted to authorized entities.

In-person access

To access Shelby County court records in person, requesters should visit the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk's Office or the Probate Court Clerk's Office at:

Shelby County Circuit Clerk's Office

Shelby County Courthouse

112 North Main Street,

First Floor, Room 1F,

Columbiana,

AL 35051.

Shelby County Probate Records Division

112 North Main Street,

Room A101,

Columbiana,

AL 35051.

Mail and Phone Requests

For phone inquiries about Shelby County court records, call the Shelby County Circuit Clerk's Office at (205) 669-3760 or the Probate Court Records Division at (205) 670-5210. Alternatively, mail a request to the respective office at:

Shelby County Circuit Clerk's Office

P.O. Box 1810,

Columbiana,

AL 35051.

Shelby County Probate Court Records Division

P.O. Box 825,

Columbiana,

AL 35051.

A mail request for Shelby County court records should include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with a check or money order covering the applicable cost. Additionally, the request should specify the case number, the names of the parties involved, and the document type. Furthermore, the timeline for delivery of documents after payment depends on staff workload.

Fees for Court Records in Shelby County

The Alabama Unified Judicial System regulates the fee structure for accessing Shelby County trial court records. In Shelby County, individuals can view court records for free. However, there are statutory fees for obtaining copies of documents through the Shelby County Clerk of Courts' Office. These costs may vary across the various courts within the county. Consequently, the basic fee schedule for copies of Shelby County's court records includes the following:

  • Copy fee: $5.00 for the first 20 pages
  • Additionally pages: $0.5 per page
  • Certified copy: $3.00 to $5.00
  • Digital record search: $10.00 per name or case
  • Manual paper search: $20.00 per name or search.

Shelby County Courthouse Locations

Shelby County has one main judicial center and several Municipal Courts across the county. The Shelby County Courthouse houses the county's Circuit, District, and Probate Courts. While the Shelby County Circuit Court handles cases beyond the jurisdiction of the District and Probate Courts, the Municipal Court oversees local ordinance violations and city police misdemeanor arrests. Interested individuals can locate the Shelby County Courthouse at:

112 North Main Street,

P.O. Box 1810,

Columbiana,

AL 35051

Phone: (205) 669-3760.

Shelby County Municipal Courts

City

Address

Phone number

Alabaster Municipal Court

1953 Municipal Way,

Alabaster,

AL 35007.

(205) 664-6800

Calera Municipal Court

7901 Highway 31,

Calera,

AL 35040

(205) 668-3500

Chelsea Municipal Court

11611 Chelsea Road,

Chelsea,

AL 35043

(205) 678-8455

Columbiana Municipal Court

107 Mildred Street,

Columbiana,

AL 35051

(205) 669-5806

Helena Municipal Court

10 Jack Gray Way,

Helena,

AL 35080

(205) 663-2161 Ext 111

Harpersville Municipal Court

39321 Highway 25,

Harpersville,

AL 35078

(205) 672-9961 Ext 3

Montevallo Municipal Court

541 Main Street,

Montevallo,

AL 35115

(205) 665-2555 Ext 102

Criminal Records Access in Shelby County

In Shelby County, local criminal records differ from official criminal history reports maintained by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). The ALEA maintains criminal history reports for Shelby County and other jurisdictions in Alabama. Employers can subscribe for $120.00 per year, with a $15.00 fee per check for Comprehensive Criminal Background Checks. ALEA also provides criminal history records to the subjects of the record upon submitting a completed SBI Form 46, fingerprints, a valid photo identification, and a $25.00 processing fee.

At the local level, Alacourt provides public access to Shelby County criminal records. Interested individuals seeking to access Shelby County criminal records should log in to the Alacourt Access Portal or use the public access terminals at the Shelby County Courthouse. Alternatively, call the Shelby County Circuit Clerk's Office at (205) 669-3760 or visit the agency during office hours.

Shelby County Probate Records

In Shelby County, probate records are legal documents generated by the Shelby County Probate Court regarding the administration of estates, property rights, and legal dependencies. These records encompass documents on:

  • Wills and estates
  • Trusts
  • Conservatorships
  • Guardianships
  • Adoptions
  • Mental health commitments
  • Name change.

Public access to Shelby County probate records is guaranteed by the Alabama Open Records Act. Individuals have the legal right to access these records unless statutory exemptions apply. To access Shelby County probate records, call the Probate Court Clerk's Office at (205) 670-5210 or visit the agency at the Shelby County Courthouse.

Shelby County Family Court Records

Shelby County family court records are official documents on family law trials. In Shelby County, the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court handles family law cases relating to:

  • Divorce
  • Child custody and visitation
  • Paternity
  • Child support
  • Property division
  • Domestic violence protection orders.

Alabama mandates public access to court records, including Shelby County family court records. However, due to the sensitive nature of family-related cases, public access is restricted to authorized parties. Hence, individuals can access basic Shelby County family court records through the Alacourt Access Portal. For mail or in-person access to Shelby County family court records, contact the Shelby County Circuit Clerk's Office at:

Shelby County Courthouse

112 North Main Street,

First Floor, Room 1F,

P.O. Box 1810,

Columbiana,

AL 35051.

Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In addition to payments, access to Shelby County family court records requires a government-issued photo identification.

Federal Court Records in Shelby County

Federal court records are official documents generated during civil, criminal, and bankruptcy cases under the United States federal court system. These documents are distinct from state and local case files. Online access to U.S. federal court records is through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). Users are required to register to access dockets, case filings, and documents from the U.S. District Courts, Courts of Appeals, and Bankruptcy Courts.

Information seekers can also access federal case files originating from Shelby County through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (Southern Division) at:

Hugo L. Black United States Courthouse

1729 5th Avenue North,

Birmingham,

AL 35203

Phone: (205) 278-17000.

Shelby County Court