Selma, Alabama Public Records

The Dallas County District Court, also at the courthouse (phone: 334-874-2525), hears misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases under $10,000, small claims up to $6,000, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings. The Dallas County Probate Court, 105 Lauderdale Street, Suite 107, Selma, AL 36701 (phone: 334-874-2511), handles probate of wills and estates, guardianships, conservatorships, marriage licenses, and adoption proceedings. Alabama provides limited online access to court records through Alacourt.com, a paid subscription service that allows searches of circuit and district court case information statewide by party name or case number; public terminals may be available at the courthouse for free searches. Certified copies of court documents typically cost $1.00 per page plus a certification fee, with specific fees varying by court. Case files can be reviewed in person at the Circuit Clerk's office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Property tax records and assessment information can be searched online through the Alabama Department of Revenue's Property Tax website or the county's property records system, allowing searches by owner name, address, or parcel number. These online tools provide property characteristics, recent sales data, and current year tax amounts. The Dallas County Probate Office, 105 Lauderdale Street, Suite 107, Selma, AL 36701 (phone: 334-874-2511), functions as the Register of Deeds and records all land transactions including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, easements, right-of-way agreements, and subdivision plats. To conduct a property title search, individuals can visit the Probate Office in person to examine the grantor/grantee indexes and recorded deed books; many Dallas County land records have been digitized and may be searchable through subscription services or on-site computer terminals. Recording fees vary based on document type and page count, typically starting around $13 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page. Dallas County may offer GIS mapping tools for visualizing property boundaries and parcel information, accessible through the county website or revenue commissioner's office.

Manufacturing remains present through facilities producing automotive components, wood products, and other goods, though the sector has contracted from its mid-20th century peak. The Edmund Pettus Bridge and Selma's central role in the 1965 voting rights marches have made the city an important civil rights tourism destination, with the National Park Service's Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail headquarters bringing visitors and federal investment. Wallace Community College Selma provides workforce training and education. The median household income in Selma is significantly below state and national averages, with census data indicating median household income around $28,000-$32,000. The city faces economic challenges including population decline, with the 2020 census showing approximately 17,000 residents compared to over 28,000 in 1960. Poverty rates remain elevated, and efforts to attract new industry and investment continue through the Selma-Dallas County Economic Development Authority and downtown revitalization initiatives. Agriculture remains important in surrounding Dallas County, with timber, cattle, and row crops contributing to the regional economy.

The Selma Police Department, headquartered at 1303 Selma Avenue, Selma, AL 36703 (phone: 334-874-2125), provides law enforcement services within the city limits. The department responds to calls for service, conducts investigations, and maintains incident reports, accident reports, and offense records. To request police reports, individuals can visit the department in person during business hours or call to inquire about report availability; there is typically a fee for copies of accident and incident reports. The department's records division processes requests under the Alabama Public Records Law. The Dallas County Sheriff's Office, located at 103 Church Street, Selma, AL 36701 (phone: 334-874-2530), has jurisdiction throughout Dallas County including unincorporated areas and provides backup support to municipal agencies. The Sheriff's Office operates the Dallas County Jail and maintains arrest records, warrants, and civil process documents. To search for current jail inmates and recent arrests, the Dallas County Sheriff's Office provides booking information that typically includes mugshots, charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and projected release dates; this information may be available by calling the jail or visiting in person. Alabama's public records law, primarily Alabama Code § 36-12-40, establishes that citizens have the right to inspect and copy public records, with certain exemptions for ongoing investigations, confidential informants, and sensitive law enforcement techniques. Written requests are recommended for voluminous records, and agencies may charge reasonable copying fees, typically $0.50 per page for standard documents.

Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks by mail, or records can be requested in person at the state office or through VitalChek online ordering service at alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords with additional convenience fees. Only immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals with a direct and tangible interest can obtain certified copies; valid government-issued photo ID is required. Marriage licenses in Dallas County are issued by the Dallas County Probate Office, 105 Lauderdale Street, Suite 107, Selma, AL 36701 (phone: 334-874-2511). As of January 1, 2019, Alabama eliminated ceremonial marriage requirements; instead, couples submit a marriage certificate form with both signatures, pay a $74 fee (non-refundable), and the Probate Judge records the marriage after a required waiting period. No blood tests or witnesses are required under the new system. Marriage records are public and date back over a century in Dallas County. Divorce records are maintained as court records through the Dallas County Circuit Court, 105 Lauderdale Street, Suite 103, Selma, AL 36701 (phone: 334-874-2520), where divorce cases are filed and adjudicated. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the Circuit Clerk's office for a fee.

Dallas County may also require county-level business licenses for certain activities. Fictitious business name registration (doing business as or DBA) in Alabama is handled through the probate court; businesses operating under a name other than the owner's legal name must file with the Dallas County Probate Office, 105 Lauderdale Street, Suite 107, Selma, AL 36701 (phone: 334-874-2511), with filing fees typically around $10-30. State-level business entity formation and registration occurs through the Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entities Division. Corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other business entities must register with the state, and the Secretary of State maintains a searchable online database at arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpname.mbr/input allowing free searches of business entity names, status, registered agents, formation dates, and principal addresses. Annual reports and franchise taxes are required for Alabama corporations and LLCs. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements, which create security interests in personal property and business assets, are filed with the Alabama Secretary of State's UCC Division and can be searched online. Commercial property owners can search assessed values and property tax information through the Dallas County Revenue Commissioner's office at 334-874-2501 or online property tax portals.

Selma voters are served by the Dallas County Probate Office, which administers elections as the Board of Registrars and election authority, located at 105 Lauderdale Street, Suite 107, Selma, AL 36701 (phone: 334-874-2511, website: dallascountyal.gov). Alabama residents can register to vote online through the Alabama Secretary of State website at alabamainteractive.org/sos/voter_registration, or by submitting a paper application to the Dallas County Board of Registrars. Voter registration deadlines in Alabama require registration at least 14 days before an election; a valid Alabama driver's license or non-driver ID number is required for online registration. Selma conducts municipal elections for mayor and city council positions, with the Mayor and nine council members serving four-year terms; the most recent municipal elections occurred in August 2024, when Selma elected its mayor and council, meaning the next Selma municipal elections will be in 2028. To find their assigned polling location, Selma voters can use the polling place lookup tool on the Alabama Secretary of State website at myinfo.alabamavotes.gov by entering their name and date of birth, or contact the Dallas County Probate Office. Election records publicly available in Alabama include voter registration lists (with certain personal information redacted), campaign finance reports filed with the Alabama Secretary of State's Fair Campaign Practices Act division, candidate qualifying information, and certified election results by precinct. In the November 2024 presidential election, Dallas County reported voter turnout of approximately 45-50% of registered voters, reflecting typical patterns for the county's approximately 23,000 registered voters. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature critical races including all of Alabama's seven U.S. House seats, Alabama's gubernatorial election (Governor Kay Ivey's seat, though she is term-limited), all 105 Alabama House seats and 35 Alabama Senate seats, Dallas County Commission seats, circuit and district judgeships, the Dallas County Sheriff, Revenue Commissioner, and other constitutional county offices. Absentee voting in Alabama requires voters to request an absentee ballot application from the Dallas County Absentee Election Manager; applications can be submitted by mail, and completed ballots must be returned with two witnesses or a notary signature. Early voting is available at the Probate Office beginning several days before election day.