Centreville, Alabama Public Records

The Bibb County Circuit Court, located at the Bibb County Courthouse, 8 Court Square West, Centreville, AL 35042 (phone: 205-926-3103), has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil cases exceeding $10,000, domestic relations matters including divorce and child custody, and appeals from lower courts. The Bibb County District Court, also at the courthouse complex (phone: 205-926-3104), handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases under $10,000, small claims disputes up to $6,000, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings. The Bibb County Probate Court, located at 35 Court Square West, Centreville, AL 35042 (phone: 205-926-3106), administers estates, issues marriage licenses, handles guardianships and conservatorships, and maintains vital statistics. Alabama court records can be searched through the Alabama Judicial System's online portal, Alacourt.com, which provides case information for a fee (typically $25 for a case detail report). Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the Circuit Clerk's office at fees ranging from $1 per page for regular copies to $5 for certified copies, plus a $10 search fee for locating older files.

The Bibb County Probate Court at 35 Court Square West, Centreville, AL 35042 (phone: 205-926-3106) serves as the recording office for land records, maintaining deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plat maps, and other real property documents. Alabama law requires these documents to be recorded to establish priority and public notice. Property searches can be conducted by address, owner name, or parcel number by visiting the Revenue Commissioner or Probate Court offices during regular business hours (typically Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM). While some Alabama counties offer online GIS mapping systems and full deed indexes, Bibb County's online access may be limited, and many searches require direct contact with county offices. Recording fees vary by document type but typically range from $13 for the first page and $3 for each additional page, plus additional fees for multiple parcels or lengthy documents.

The timber industry remains significant in the surrounding county, with forestry and lumber operations providing employment. Agriculture, particularly cattle ranching and timber farming, continues as an economic base for the rural areas around Centreville. Many residents commute to Birmingham, approximately 50 miles north, for employment in healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services. The median household income in Bibb County is approximately $45,000, below the Alabama state median, reflecting the rural character of the area. Recent economic development efforts have focused on maintaining the historic downtown, improving infrastructure along the Highway 5 corridor, and promoting outdoor recreation related to the nearby Cahaba River. Centreville's economy reflects typical challenges of rural Alabama county seats: maintaining services and infrastructure while working with a limited tax base and population decline in recent decades.

The Centreville Police Department, located at 112 Court Square, Centreville, AL 35042 (phone: 205-926-4711), provides law enforcement services within the city limits. Citizens can request police reports and incident records by visiting the department in person or calling during business hours; Alabama's public records law requires agencies to provide copies of non-confidential police records upon request, though some investigative records may be exempt. The Bibb County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 52 Walnut Street, Centreville, AL 35042 (phone: 205-926-3131), provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas of Bibb County and operates the county jail. The Sheriff's Office website (bibbcountysheriff.com) provides information on services and may offer incident reporting. To search for arrests and jail bookings, the Bibb County Detention Center maintains an inmate roster that can be accessed by contacting the jail directly at 205-926-3131; this information typically includes inmate names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and sometimes mugshots. Alabama public records requests are governed by the Alabama Public Records Law (Code of Alabama § 36-12-40 et seq.), which requires government agencies to make public records available for inspection and copying during regular business hours, with certain exemptions for confidential law enforcement records, ongoing investigations, and personnel files. Requesters may be charged reasonable copying fees, and agencies have a reasonable time to fulfill requests.

Certified copies are only available to family members, legal representatives, or individuals with a tangible interest as defined by Alabama law; valid government-issued photo ID is required. Birth records in Alabama are available from 1908 forward, and death records from 1908 forward. Marriage licenses are issued by the Bibb County Probate Court, 35 Court Square West, Centreville, AL 35042 (phone: 205-926-3106). As of January 2019, Alabama eliminated traditional marriage licenses and officiants; couples now file a marriage certificate directly with Probate Court along with an $82 fee, and no ceremony or witnesses are required. Marriage records at Bibb County Probate Court date back to the county's founding in 1818. Divorce records are maintained through the Bibb County Circuit Court (phone: 205-926-3103) as part of civil case files. Certified copies of marriage and divorce records are available from the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk respectively for approximately $5 per document.

Businesses operating in unincorporated Bibb County may need to comply with county-level regulations through the Bibb County Commission. Fictitious business name registrations (DBAs) in Alabama are filed with the Bibb County Probate Court at 35 Court Square West, Centreville, AL 35042 (phone: 205-926-3106), with fees around $50; these filings establish public record of trade names and must be renewed periodically. State-level business entity searches for corporations, LLCs, and partnerships are conducted through the Alabama Secretary of State's Business Entity Database, available free online at arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpname.mbr. This database provides information on entity status, formation date, registered agent, principal address, and officers. UCC lien searches (Uniform Commercial Code financing statements) are also maintained by the Alabama Secretary of State's office and searchable online. Commercial property assessments and business personal property taxes are handled through the Bibb County Revenue Commissioner's Office at 35 Court Square West, Centreville, AL 35042 (phone: 205-926-3109), where business owners can look up tax assessments and payment records.

Centreville voters are served by the Bibb County Board of Registrars, located at the Bibb County Courthouse, 35 Court Square West, Centreville, AL 35042 (phone: 205-926-3109 or contact the Probate Judge's office at 205-926-3106). Alabama voters can register online through the Alabama Secretary of State's website at AlabamaInteractive.org/sos/voter_registration, or by completing a mail-in registration form available from the Registrars office; the voter registration deadline is 15 days before any election. Voters must provide their Alabama driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering. Centreville holds municipal elections for mayor and city council positions; the next municipal election is scheduled for August 2024, with city offices serving four-year terms. Mayoral and council races are officially nonpartisan. Centreville residents vote at assigned polling places based on their precinct; voters can look up their specific polling location through the Alabama Secretary of State's My Voter Information Page at myinfo.alabamavotes.gov or by contacting the Bibb County Registrars. Under Alabama law, voter registration lists are public records available for inspection, though use is restricted to election-related purposes. Campaign finance reports for local candidates are filed with the city clerk and are public records. Precinct-level election results are published by the Bibb County Elections office after certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Bibb County reported approximately 63% voter turnout with around 7,200 ballots cast from approximately 11,400 registered voters; the county voted heavily Republican, consistent with rural Alabama patterns. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Centreville and Bibb County voters will decide several major races: Alabama will elect a Governor (current term expires 2027), Lieutenant Governor, other statewide constitutional offices, one U.S. Senate seat (Class II, currently held by Tommy Tuberville is not up until 2026), all seven U.S. House seats including Alabama's 6th District which includes parts of Bibb County, all 35 Alabama Senate seats including District 24 which represents Bibb County, all 105 Alabama House seats including District 61 covering Bibb County, and various county offices including Bibb County Commission seats, Sheriff, Revenue Commissioner, and Probate Judge depending on term schedules. Alabama offers absentee voting for voters who will be absent from the county on election day, who are ill or disabled, work required shifts during polling hours, or are over 65; applications are available from the Bibb County Absentee Election Manager (contact through Probate Court 205-926-3106) and must be submitted by the Thursday before the election for regular absentee ballots, with earlier deadlines for mail-in ballots.