Castleberry, Alabama Public Records

The District Court (phone: 251-578-1672) has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases up to $10,000, small claims disputes up to $6,000, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Castleberry does have a Municipal Court for violations of town ordinances, traffic tickets issued within town limits, and other minor offenses; inquiries can be directed to Castleberry Town Hall at (251) 985-4444. Alabama's unified court system provides online access to some case information through the Alabama Judicial System's online portal, though functionality varies by county and case type. Conecuh County court records may require in-person requests at the courthouse. Certified copies of court documents typically cost $1.00 per page plus a certification fee (usually around $5.00). Marriage licenses are issued by the Probate Court, also located at 201 Court Square, for a fee of approximately $70 for residents and $77 for non-residents as of recent schedules. Divorce records are maintained as court records in Circuit Court proceedings.

Some basic assessment data may be accessible through the Alabama Department of Revenue's property tax portal or through third-party property record aggregators, but official records require direct contact with the Revenue Commissioner. The Conecuh County Probate Office, 201 Court Square, Evergreen, AL 36401 (phone: 251-578-2766), serves as the recording office for real estate documents including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting title to real property. These records are indexed by grantor, grantee, and legal description, with deed books dating back to the county's formation. Recording fees vary by document type and page count, typically starting around $13 for the first page and $2 for each additional page. While some Alabama counties offer online deed searching, Conecuh County's land records generally require in-person visits or written requests with specific document information. A GIS mapping system for Conecuh County may provide parcel boundaries and basic assessment data, though availability and public access should be confirmed by contacting the Revenue Commissioner's Office.

Major employers for Castleberry residents include Conecuh County Schools, which operates Hillcrest High School and other educational facilities serving the area, and various county government offices in nearby Evergreen. Healthcare employment is centered at Evergreen Medical Center in the county seat. Many Castleberry residents commute to larger employment centers including Evergreen, Brewton (about 25 miles south), or even Monroe County for work. Small businesses including convenience stores, auto repair shops, and service providers operate along Highway 29, the main commercial corridor. The median household income in Castleberry is estimated at approximately $30,000-35,000, below both state and national averages, reflecting the challenges facing many small rural Alabama communities. Economic development efforts focus on attracting light manufacturing and distribution facilities that can take advantage of Highway 29 access and lower land costs. The town's economic future is closely tied to broader Conecuh County trends and the health of Alabama's timber and agricultural sectors. Population has remained relatively stable with slight declines typical of rural areas losing younger residents to urban opportunities.

The Castleberry Police Department serves the incorporated town limits of Castleberry, Alabama, and is located at 120 Church Street, Castleberry, AL 36432. The department can be reached at (251) 985-4224 for non-emergency inquiries. For incidents occurring within town limits, residents can request police reports and incident records directly from the Castleberry Police Department during normal business hours. Written requests may be required for detailed reports, and a nominal fee may apply for copying. The Conecuh County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 201 Court Square, Evergreen, AL 36401 (phone: 251-578-1260), provides law enforcement services to unincorporated areas of Conecuh County and assists municipal departments with investigations and detention services. The Sheriff's Office operates the Conecuh County Jail, which houses arrestees and inmates serving shorter sentences. Arrest and booking records can be searched through the Conecuh County Sheriff's Office directly, though an online inmate roster may not be consistently available—residents should call (251) 578-1260 to inquire about current inmates, charges, bond amounts, and booking dates. Under the Alabama Public Records Law (Code of Alabama § 36-12-40 and related statutes), arrest records, incident reports, and booking logs are generally considered public records. Requests should be made in writing to the custodian of records at the relevant agency, identifying the specific records sought. Some records may be withheld if they pertain to ongoing investigations or confidential informants, but most arrest and booking information is accessible upon request, with reasonable copying fees applicable.

Certified copies are available to the person named on the certificate (if 18 or older), parents, legal guardians, legal representatives, or persons with a court order. Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks for mail requests or 3-5 business days for online orders. Death certificates are issued by the same office with the same fee structure and are available to immediate family members, legal representatives, or persons with a tangible interest. Marriage licenses in Alabama are no longer ceremonial documents; as of August 29, 2019, Alabama switched to a recording system where couples submit a marriage certificate form to the Probate Court. In Conecuh County, these forms are recorded at the Conecuh County Probate Court, 201 Court Square, Evergreen, AL 36401 (phone: 251-578-2766), with a recording fee of $74. Certified copies of recorded marriage certificates cost approximately $15. Divorce records are maintained as court records by the Circuit Court where the divorce was granted, at the Conecuh County Courthouse in Evergreen. Older vital records (pre-1908 for some types) may have limited availability, and requesting records more than 125 years old may require special arrangements with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Businesses operating in unincorporated Conecuh County may need to contact the Conecuh County Revenue Commissioner's Office at 106 Belleville Avenue, Evergreen, AL 36401 (phone: 251-578-2680) regarding county business license requirements. Trade names ("doing business as" or DBA filings) in Alabama are registered with the Probate Court; in Conecuh County, this is handled at 201 Court Square, Evergreen, AL 36401 (phone: 251-578-2766), with fees around $35 and a requirement to publish notice in a local newspaper. For formal business entity formation, the Alabama Secretary of State maintains the official registry of corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and other entities. The Alabama Business Entity Database is searchable free online at https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpname.mbr, where users can search by entity name, officer name, or registration number to view status, registered agent information, formation date, and filing history. Formation fees are $200 for LLCs and $225 for corporations, with annual reports and business privilege tax required. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements, which establish secured interests in business assets, are filed with the Alabama Secretary of State and searchable through the UCC search portal. Commercial property assessments for business owners are available through the Conecuh County Revenue Commissioner's Office using the same process as residential property searches.

Castleberry voters are served by the Conecuh County Probate Office, which administers elections as the county's election authority, located at 201 Court Square, Evergreen, AL 36401 (phone: 251-578-2766). Alabama residents can register to vote online through the Alabama Secretary of State's website at www.alabamainteractive.org/sos/voter_registration, or by completing a paper application available at the Probate Office, public libraries, and various state agencies. The registration deadline is 15 days before any election. Voters must provide identification when registering and when voting; acceptable IDs include Alabama driver's license, photo ID issued by Alabama or U.S. government, valid employee ID with photo, valid student or employee ID from an Alabama college or university, U.S. military ID, or U.S. passport. Castleberry holds municipal elections for mayor and town council positions; as a small incorporated town, Castleberry's municipal elections typically occur in August, with specific timing and candidates announced through the town clerk at Castleberry Town Hall (251-985-4444). Castleberry residents vote in all county, state, and federal elections held in Conecuh County. Polling place assignments are based on residential address and can be looked up using the Alabama Secretary of State's online polling place locator at myinfo.alabamavotes.gov or by calling the Conecuh County Probate Office. Election records that are public in Alabama include voter registration lists (available for purchase for legitimate purposes), campaign finance reports filed by candidates (available through the Alabama Secretary of State's Elections Division or the Alabama Ethics Commission at ethics.alabama.gov), candidate qualifying information, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 presidential election, Conecuh County recorded approximately 5,200 registered voters with turnout around 60-65%, continuing the county's pattern of moderate rural turnout. For the November 3, 2026 election cycle, Castleberry and Conecuh County voters will decide several significant races: Alabama does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026, but voters will elect a Governor (incumbent Kay Ivey's term expires), Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and other statewide constitutional officers; all seven Alabama State House of Representatives seats representing portions of Conecuh County (District 93 is the primary district); potentially Conecuh County Commission seats, Sheriff, Revenue Commissioner, Probate Judge, and other county offices depending on term schedules; and any municipal offices if Castleberry's cycle aligns. Absentee voting in Alabama is available to voters who will be absent from the county on election day, those who are ill or have a physical disability, those working a required shift, those over 65, and appointed poll workers. Absentee ballot applications are available through the Conecuh County Absentee Election Manager at the Probate Office, online at the Secretary of State's website, or by written request. Applications must be received by the Thursday before the election (for most elections), with completed ballots returned by the close of polls on election day.