Alabama's most requested public records relate to an individual's criminal history, real estate transactions of property, vital certificates, and court files. State and county governments are the original recorders and providers of…
Alabama's most requested public records relate to an individual's criminal history, real estate transactions of property, vital certificates, and court files. State and county governments are the original recorders and providers of information. The Alabama Criminal Justice Information repository and the Alabama Background Check System (ABC) for current and prospective employees are two methods through which the public can obtain information from a central statewide repository.
Circuit clerks, registrars, coroners, correctional facilities, probate judges, funeral homes, and hospitals are among the private and government entities in Alabama that provide certificates of death, birth, marriage, and divorce. Alabama's 41 circuit courts have general jurisdiction over trials and maintain case files of felonies, judgments, liens, dissolutions of marriage, juvenile matters, appeals from district courts, and other court actions and motions.
Located in the southeastern region of the United States, Alabama became the 22nd state on December 14, 1819. The capital city of Montgomery served as the first capital of the Confederate government. Alabama's modern economy is built on automotive manufacturing, agriculture, aerospace, and energy production, supported by a strong public sector.
Alabama has a population of roughly 4.7 million across 52,423 square miles, ranking 30th in size nationwide. The state is divided into 67 counties and 460 incorporated cities and towns. Government operates under three branches: an executive led by the governor, a 105 member House of Representatives and 35 member Senate, and a judicial branch headed by the Supreme Court of Alabama.
The state's statutes guarantee public access to government records under the Alabama Open Records Law, modeled after the federal Freedom of Information Act. This framework allows residents and the general public to obtain, copy, and inspect government records, attend open meetings, and review state and local financial activity.
Alabama court records are maintained by individual county clerks and the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. The Alacourt system provides electronic case search for criminal, civil, domestic relations, small claims, traffic, and child support filings. Searches return setting dates, court actions, party information, case action summaries, and financial data.
District courts handle misdemeanors, traffic, juvenile cases, and civil matters between $3,000 and $10,000. Circuit courts handle felonies and civil cases with no maximum limit. The Supreme Court of Alabama holds final appellate authority on civil matters above $50,000 and on capital criminal cases.
Alabama criminal records are maintained by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), which operates the Criminal Records and Identification Unit within the State Bureau of Investigation. ALEA processes fingerprint based background checks statewide and maintains the Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) database.
Court records are accessible through Alacourt for civil, domestic, criminal, and traffic cases. The Alabama Department of Corrections operates an online inmate search for currently incarcerated offenders, and the Alabama Sex Offender Community Notification system provides public access to registered sex offender information.
Certified copies of Alabama births, deaths, marriages, and divorces are issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics. Birth records are restricted for 125 years and death records for 25 years. County health departments and probate offices may also issue certified copies for events recorded locally.
The Alabama Secretary of State maintains business filings, elections data, and public official registries. The Department of Revenue handles tax records, business licensing, and property assessment data. County revenue commissioners record real estate ownership, parcel data, and tax history.
Alabama driver records, vehicle registrations, and title histories are maintained by the Alabama Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division and the Driver License Division of ALEA. Certified driving history reports are available to the record holder, employers with consent, and authorized parties under the Driver's Privacy Protection Act.
Alabama allows expungement of certain felonies, misdemeanors, and DUI convictions under the Record Expungement Act. Eligible petitioners file in the circuit court of the county where the charge was brought. Approved expungements seal the record from public view, though law enforcement and court agencies retain limited access.
The Alabama Department of Archives and History houses census records, military rosters, land grants, probate files, and newspaper archives dating to the territorial period. Many collections are digitized and searchable through the official archives portal, with on site research available in Montgomery.
The Alabama Missing Children Bureau, operated by ALEA, maintains an active registry of missing minors and coordinates AMBER Alerts statewide. Reports may be filed at any local law enforcement agency. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children supplements state efforts with nationwide search and reunification resources.