Fitzpatrick, Alabama Public Records

The Bullock County District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil cases under $10,000, small claims matters up to $6,000, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. The District Court office phone number is (334) 738-2718. Alabama does not have a centralized statewide online court records database available to the public for comprehensive case searches. Court records in Bullock County must generally be accessed in person at the courthouse, though some limited case information may be available by phone. To obtain certified copies of court documents, including judgments, divorce decrees, or case files, requesters must visit or mail a written request to the appropriate clerk's office. Fees for certified copies are typically $1.00 per page plus a base certification fee of approximately $5.00, though rates may vary depending on the document type. The Probate Court, which handles wills, estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses, is also located at 217 Prairie Street and can be reached at (334) 738-2280. All court offices maintain indices of cases filed, which are public record and can be searched by party name or case number during regular business hours, typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Residents must contact the Revenue Commissioner's office directly or visit in person to obtain detailed property information, including assessed values, property descriptions, ownership history, and tax payment status. The Bullock County Judge of Probate serves as the recorder of deeds and maintains all recorded documents related to real property, including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting title to land. The Probate Office is located at 217 Prairie Street, Union Springs, AL 36089, and can be reached at (334) 738-2280. Recording fees vary by document type, with standard deeds typically costing $11.00 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page, plus additional fees for state and county transfer taxes when applicable. To conduct a property search in Bullock County, individuals can visit the Probate Office during regular business hours and request to search the grantor/grantee indices by owner name or review records by legal description. While Bullock County does not provide free online access to recorded land records, some commercial title search services may have indexed historical records. The county does not currently maintain a public GIS or interactive parcel viewer online.

Forestry and timber harvesting represent significant economic activity, with both private landholders and timber companies managing pine plantations throughout the region. The nearest significant employment centers are in Union Springs, approximately 10 miles north, where the county government, Union Springs Hospital, Bullock County School System, and local retail businesses provide jobs for area residents. Many Fitzpatrick residents also commute to Montgomery, approximately 40 miles northwest, for employment in state government, manufacturing, healthcare, and service industries. The median household income in Bullock County is significantly below both state and national averages, estimated at approximately $32,000 according to recent U.S. Census data, reflecting the rural, agricultural nature of the economy. Poverty rates in the county exceed 25%, and economic challenges include limited industrial development, population decline, and lack of diversified employment opportunities. Recent economic development efforts in Bullock County have focused on agricultural tourism, hunting leases, and preservation of historic resources, though Fitzpatrick itself has seen minimal commercial development. The community retains its character as a quiet rural settlement serving the surrounding agricultural landscape.

Fitzpatrick, as an unincorporated community, does not operate its own police department. Law enforcement services for Fitzpatrick and the surrounding area are provided exclusively by the Bullock County Sheriff's Office, located at 111 Prairie Street, Union Springs, AL 36089. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (334) 738-2590 and maintains jurisdiction over all unincorporated areas of Bullock County, including Fitzpatrick. Residents can request incident reports, accident reports, and other law enforcement records by contacting the Sheriff's Office directly during business hours, typically Monday through Friday. Written requests may be required for certain records, and fees apply for copies. The Bullock County Sheriff's Office also operates the county detention facility, and arrest records and jail bookings are public information. While Bullock County does not currently maintain a comprehensive online inmate search database on its own website, booking information including names, charges, bond amounts, and booking dates can be obtained by calling the jail directly at (334) 738-2590 or visiting the facility in person. Under Alabama's Open Records Act (Code of Alabama § 36-12-40 et seq.), law enforcement agencies are required to provide access to public records within a reasonable time frame, though certain investigative records and records related to ongoing cases may be exempt from disclosure. Requesters should be prepared to provide identification and pay reasonable copying fees, which are typically set at $0.50 per page for standard documents. Some records may require notarization or certification, which incurs additional fees. Alabama law does not require law enforcement agencies to create new records or compile data in response to public records requests, only to provide access to existing documents.

Processing time is typically 2-4 weeks for mail requests and faster for online orders. Only immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals with a tangible interest can obtain certified copies, and valid government-issued photo identification is required. Death certificates cost $15.00 for the first copy and $6.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Birth records are available from 1908 to present, and death records from 1908 to present. Marriage licenses in Alabama are handled differently than in most states. Alabama eliminated traditional marriage licenses in 2019 and replaced them with a recording system. Couples now submit a marriage certificate form to any probate court in Alabama, which is then recorded. For Bullock County residents, marriage certificates are recorded at the Bullock County Probate Court, 217 Prairie Street, Union Springs, AL 36089 (phone: 334-738-2280). The recording fee is $76.00. Certified copies of recorded marriage certificates cost $5.00 for the first copy. Historical marriage records from before August 2019 when the old license system was in effect are also maintained by the Probate Court. Divorce records are not vital records but court records, maintained by the Bullock County Circuit Court at the same address (phone: 334-738-2250). Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the Circuit Clerk for applicable fees.

Business owners should contact the Bullock County Commission at 217 Prairie Street, Union Springs, AL 36089 (phone: 334-738-2730) to determine whether any county-level permits apply to their specific business type. Fictitious business name registration (doing business as or DBA) in Alabama is handled at the county level through the Probate Court. Businesses operating under a name other than their legal name must file a trade name certificate with the Bullock County Probate Court at 217 Prairie Street, Union Springs, AL 36089 (phone: 334-738-2280). The filing fee is approximately $10.00 and must be renewed every five years. Formation and registration of corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), partnerships, and other business entities in Alabama are managed by the Alabama Secretary of State. The Business Entity and UCC Division maintains a free online searchable database at https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpname.mbr where anyone can search for registered business entities by name, verify entity status, view registered agents, and review filing history. New business entity registration can be completed online through the Alabama Business One Stop portal. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements, which create security interests in personal property and business assets, are also filed with and searchable through the Alabama Secretary of State's office. The online UCC search is available at the same website. Property tax records for commercial properties in Fitzpatrick can be obtained from the Bullock County Revenue Commissioner's Office at 334-738-2730.

Fitzpatrick residents are served by the Bullock County Probate Office, which administers elections for the county. The Bullock County Probate Judge and election officials are located at 217 Prairie Street, Union Springs, AL 36089, and can be reached at (334) 738-2280. Voter registration in Alabama can be completed online through the Alabama Secretary of State's website at https://www.alabamainteractive.org/sos/voter_registration/voterRegistration.action, by mail using a printable application form, or in person at the Probate Office. Alabama requires voters to register at least 14 days before an election. Acceptable forms of identification for registration include an Alabama driver's license or non-driver ID, and voters must provide their Social Security number or the last four digits. Since Fitzpatrick is an unincorporated community with no municipal government, there are no city elections for mayor or city council. Fitzpatrick residents vote in Bullock County and state elections, as well as federal elections. Polling place assignments for Fitzpatrick voters can be found using the Alabama Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/voterview, where voters enter their name and date of birth or address to find their assigned precinct and polling location. Election records that are public in Alabama include voter registration lists (available for purchase by qualified requesters), campaign finance reports filed with the Alabama Secretary of State (searchable at https://fcpa.alabamavotes.gov/PublicSite/Homepage.aspx), candidate qualifying information, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 presidential election, Bullock County recorded approximately 4,200 registered voters with turnout of roughly 65-70%, continuing the county's pattern of strong voter participation in presidential elections despite its small population. On November 3, 2026, Fitzpatrick and Bullock County voters will participate in the Alabama gubernatorial election, as Alabama holds gubernatorial elections in midterm years. The 2026 ballot will include races for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, other statewide constitutional offices, Alabama State Senate District 26, Alabama State House of Representatives District 83, and various Bullock County offices including Sheriff, Revenue Commissioner, Probate Judge, County Commission seats, and Board of Education members. Alabama does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026, as both Alabama senators (Katie Britt elected 2022, term expires 2028; Tommy Tuberville elected 2020, term expires 2026 but was elected in special cycle) will not be on the 2026 ballot. Absentee voting in Alabama is available to voters who meet specific criteria including being absent from the county on election day, having a physical illness or infirmity, working a required shift, being a student or military member outside the county, or being a senior citizen or caregiver. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Bullock County Absentee Election Manager at the Probate Office, and applications are available on the Alabama Secretary of State website or by contacting the Probate Office at (334) 738-2280.