Alabama People Search

Alabama keeps business filings, state prison records, the sex offender registry and vital records at the state level, so a search can start with these four offices. Deeds and marriage records sit with the probate judge of each county, covered below.

• Alabama Secretary of State Business Entity SearchCorporations, LLCs, partnerships and trade names with registered agents
• Alabama Department of Corrections Inmate SearchPeople now held in Alabama state prisons, with AIS numbers
• ALEA Sex Offender RegistryRegistered sex offenders, kept by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
• ADPH Center for Health Statistics, Vital RecordsBirth, death, marriage and divorce certificates and who can order them

Access to government information in the state is governed by the Alabama Open Records Act (Code of Alabama § 36-12-40). This statute provides that every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of the state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute.

While the law is broad, there are notable exemptions. Juvenile court records, ongoing law enforcement investigations, certain tax returns, and specific vital records are shielded from public view. Also, Alabama courts have ruled that public agencies can charge reasonable fees for the time and materials required to fulfill records requests. Unlike some states with centralized open records portals, Alabama researchers must often submit requests directly to the specific agency or county department holding the document.

Two more state offices hold records that come up in a people search: the court system's administrative office and the Attorney General.

• Alabama Administrative Office of CourtsCourt directory, rules and links to each judicial circuit
• Alabama Attorney GeneralConsumer protection complaints and Attorney General opinions

Alabama's courts are the appellate courts, the circuit courts (general jurisdiction trial courts), the district courts (limited jurisdiction), the probate courts and the municipal courts. Alabama does not offer free online access to trial court records.

The state uses a proprietary system called Alacourt, which requires a paid subscription. For the general public conducting free research, you must physically visit the county courthouse where the case was filed to use their public access terminals. Alabama Appellate Courts, however, do provide some docket information online for free.

• AlacourtPaid subscription access to Alabama trial court case records
• Alabama Appellate Courts Public PortalCases appealed to the Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeals

Unlike most states, Alabama records property deeds, mortgages and liens with the probate judge of each county, not a register of deeds or a county clerk. Property tax assessments and values are handled by the county revenue commissioner or tax assessor.

To trace address history or ownership, search the probate or revenue office website of the county. Many of the state's 67 counties have put these records online, though older deeds may require a trip to the probate office.

• Jefferson County Probate Court records searchDeeds, mortgages and other recorded documents for Birmingham and Bessemer
• Mobile County Probate Court records searchRecorded deeds, mortgages and other probate office records
• Madison County Probate Judge, recorded documentsHuntsville area deeds and other recorded documents
• Montgomery County Probate Court records searchDeeds and other probate records for the capital county

To find out who owns a business or if a professional is licensed to operate in Alabama, researchers rely on the Secretary of State and individual state licensing boards. Alabama does not have a single unified licensing portal for all professions, so you must query the specific board (e.g., Medical, Bar, Real Estate).

• Alabama Board of Medical ExaminersPhysician license status and disciplinary actions
• Alabama State BarLicensed Alabama lawyers, their contact details and standing

The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) manages the state prison system. Their online database is updated regularly, though it only covers state inmates. For individuals held in pre-trial detention or serving short misdemeanor sentences, you must check the specific county sheriff's office or local jail roster.

• Alabama Bureau of Pardons and ParolesParole hearing dockets and decisions for state inmates

Vital records in Alabama are managed by the Alabama Center for Health Statistics. Alabama is a "closed record" state for recent vital events to protect privacy and prevent identity theft.

Birth Certificates: Confidential for 125 years. Only the registrant, immediate family, or legal representatives can request them.

Death Certificates: Confidential for 25 years.

Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Generally available to the public for a fee. Marriage records from 1936 onward and divorce records from 1950 onward are held at the state level.

Voter registration files in Alabama are public records, but the state does not provide a free, searchable database of all voters for public browsing. Individuals can verify their own voter registration status online via the Secretary of State's portal. Political campaigns and researchers can purchase the statewide voter file from the state, which contains names, addresses, and voting history (but not who they voted for).

For historical searches and genealogy, the Alabama Department of Archives and History holds census records, military service records and older vital records.

• Alabama Department of Archives and HistoryDigital collections, historical maps and genealogy indexes

Alabama has 67 counties, and most local records, above all those of the probate judges, are kept and searched county by county.

• Tuscaloosa County Probate OfficeDeeds, marriage records and estates for Tuscaloosa County

For a full directory of local resources, visit our Alabama County Public Records page.

Look for the Probate Judge: Remember, if you are looking for property deeds, mortgages, or marriage licenses, do not search for the "County Clerk" as you would in other states. Look for the county's Probate Judge.

Courthouse visits for court records: Alacourt is a paid subscription, so for criminal and civil case lookups be ready to visit or call the circuit court clerk of the county.

Dual Courthouses: Some large counties, like Jefferson, are divided into multiple judicial divisions (e.g., Birmingham and Bessemer). If you don't find a record in one, check the other.

Check Federal Courts: If state court searches turn up empty, check the PACER system for the Northern, Middle, or Southern Federal District Courts of Alabama.

Researcher Tip: When tracing property in Alabama, look for online GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping tools provided by the county Revenue Commissioner. These maps often link directly to the parcel's tax history and current owner, bypassing the need for a complex deed search.

Alabama passed the Alabama Personal Data Protection Act (HB 351), signed on April 17, 2026, which takes effect on May 1, 2027. It sets rules for how businesses handle personal data and does not close public records. The Secretary of State runs an address confidentiality program for victims of domestic violence.

Privacy Note: Alabama offers a mechanism for certain criminal records to be expunged under specific conditions (e.g., non-violent offenses where charges were dismissed or resulted in acquittal). Once expunged, these records are sealed from public view and will not appear in standard background checks.

FCRA Reminder: Any data obtained from public records cannot be used to determine an individual's eligibility for credit, insurance, employment, or housing unless you use a Consumer Reporting Agency compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).