Search Alabama Divorce Records

Alabama divorce records are kept by Circuit Court Clerks. Each of the 67 counties has one. The state health office also has divorce certificates going back to 1950. You can search for divorce decrees and case files at county courthouses. The online system called Alacourt ACCESS works too. These records are public. Anyone with basic case info can ask for copies. County clerks charge fees for searches. Certified copies cost extra. The state charges $15 for divorce certificate searches.

Where to Find Alabama Divorce Records

Alabama keeps divorce records in two main spots. The Circuit Court Clerk in each county has the full case file. This has the divorce decree, property deals, custody orders, and all court filings. The Alabama Department of Public Health holds divorce certificates. Those are short forms. They just confirm a divorce happened.

Circuit Court Clerks

Every divorce in Alabama goes through a Circuit Court. The clerk's office keeps all the paperwork. Start to finish, it's all there. This includes the first petition. It has any replies from the other spouse. Financial disclosures are in there too. So are motions filed during the case. And the final decree signed by the judge. If you need to see what the deal said about property or kids, get the decree from the county courthouse.

Most counties let you search cases through Alacourt ACCESS. It costs $9.99 per search. You can look up cases by name or case number. The system shows basic case info like dates and status. If you want to see the actual documents, that costs more. It's $5 for the first 20 pages. After that it's 50 cents a page.

Alabama Center for Health Statistics

The state vital records office is in Montgomery. They have divorce certificates going back to 1950. These certificates are simple. They show both names. They show the date. They show which county granted it. That's about it. No property details. No custody info.

You can get these certificates a few ways. Go to any county health department in person. Most will print one while you wait. Or mail a request to the Center for Health Statistics at P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. You can also order online through VitalChek. They charge extra fees on top of the state's $15 though.

Related Records That May Help

Sometimes you need more than just the divorce file. Alabama keeps other types of records that might help. These can show what happened before, during, or after the split. Marriage records tell you when a couple wed. Property records show if homes changed hands. Court files from other cases might have details too. It depends on what you're trying to find out.

Marriage Records

Marriage certificates are kept by Probate Judges. Each county has one. If you want to know when a couple wed, check with the Probate Court where they got the license. These courts keep marriage licenses going back decades. Some counties have them online now. Others still use paper files. A marriage record can help you figure out where to look for a divorce. Most couples file in the county where they wed or where they live.

Property Records

Divorce deals often move real estate between spouses. A house might change hands as part of the split. The Probate Court records all deeds. Check there if you think property changed owners. The county tax assessor has lists of who owns what now. These records are public. Most counties let you look up any property for free. This helps when you can't find a divorce case file. You can still see what assets changed hands and when.

Child Support Records

The Alabama Department of Human Resources handles child support. If a divorce had child support, DHR may have payment records. This is separate from what the court keeps. DHR tracks who paid and when. They also track missed payments. If you need to prove someone paid or didn't pay child support, DHR is the place to ask. The court file has the original order. But DHR has the ongoing payment history.

Bankruptcy Records

People sometimes file bankruptcy around the same time as divorce. Money problems and marriage problems often go together. Federal bankruptcy courts in Alabama have their own records. The state has three districts: Northern, Middle, and Southern. These are separate from state courts. But they might show financial issues tied to a divorce. Debts, assets, and payment plans are all in there.

Older and Historical Records

For divorces before 1950, the state has nothing. You have to go straight to the county. The vital records office in Montgomery only goes back to 1950. Before that, records stayed at the local level. Some old files have been put on microfilm. Others have been scanned and put online. But many are still just paper sitting in a courthouse basement. Call the county clerk to find out what they have.

Alabama Department of Archives and History

The state archives in Montgomery has old court records from many counties. If you're looking for a divorce from the 1800s or early 1900s, start here. They have genealogy resources too. Staff can help you figure out where to look next. Some records are on microfilm. Some have been digitized. Call ahead to see what they have for the county you need.

FamilySearch

The LDS church put a lot of old Alabama records online. Their site at familysearch.org has some divorce and court records. It's free to use. You can search by name. Records go back to the late 1800s for some counties. Not every county is done yet. It's hit or miss. But worth a look for old cases. Volunteers scan more files all the time. New records get added often.

Alabama Divorce Laws

Knowing the laws helps when you look for records. Alabama has its own rules. These rules shape what ends up in the files. The law sets who can file. It says where you file. It tells what grounds you can use. It sets wait times. All of this shows up in the court file. So if you want to understand a divorce case, it helps to know the basics of Alabama law.

Grounds for Divorce

Under Alabama Code Section 30-2-1, the state lets people divorce for many reasons. The main one is "irretrievable breakdown." That just means the marriage is over. No one has to prove fault. But you can still file on fault grounds if you want. Those include cheating and leaving for a year or more. Jail time counts too. So do drug or alcohol problems. Most people just use no-fault now. It's simpler.

Residency Requirements

Under Alabama Code Section 30-2-5, the rules depend on where your spouse lives. If they live in Alabama, file right away. No wait at all. But if your spouse moved out of state, you need to wait. You have to live in Alabama for six months first. Then you can file. This rule is in the court records too. It shows where each person lived when the case started.

Waiting Period

Alabama Code Section 30-2-8.1 sets a 30-day wait after you file. A judge can't sign off until that time passes. So the final decree date is at least 30 days after the case started. Most take longer.

Public Access to Records

Divorce records in Alabama are public. That's in Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. Anyone can ask for them. You don't need a reason. But there's a catch. Section 12-15-103 lets people ask a judge to seal the file. If the judge says yes, the records are off limits. This is rare. But it does happen in sensitive cases.

How to Get Copies

Divorce Certificates from the State

To get a divorce certificate, you need both names. Use the names they had at the time. If someone changed their name after marriage, use that name. You also need the date. Or at least the year. Knowing the county helps too. Get the form from the Alabama Public Health website.

It costs $15 for a search with one copy. Extra copies are $6 each if ordered at the same time. Want it faster? Add $15 for rush service. Pay with a check or money order. Credit cards work through VitalChek. But they add their own fees on top of the state fee.

Divorce Decrees from County Courts

For the full decree and case file, call the Circuit Court Clerk. Call the county where the divorce was filed. Have the names ready. A case number helps a lot. If you don't have that, a rough date works too. Fees vary by county. Most charge $10-25 for a search. Copies run $1-5 per page. Certified copies cost more.

Most clerk offices take mail and in-person requests. Some do fax. A few take email now. New records come back in a few days. Old files can take a week or two. Staff have to pull them from storage. Be patient with older cases.

Free Legal Help

Need help reading divorce papers? Have questions about your own case? Some groups offer free legal help in Alabama. You have to qualify based on income. But if you do, the help is real. Lawyers can explain what documents mean. They can help you fill out forms. Some will even go to court with you.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help to people who can't afford a lawyer. They have offices in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery. A few other towns have them too. Call 1-866-456-4995 to see if you qualify. Spanish speakers can call 1-888-835-3505. Staff will ask about your income and your legal issue.

Volunteer Lawyers Programs

Most big cities have volunteer lawyer programs. These match folks who can't pay with lawyers who help for free. The lawyers donate their time. In Birmingham, call (205) 250-5198. In Mobile, try (251) 438-1102. Other cities have similar programs. Ask at your local courthouse or bar association.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

The Alabama State Bar has a lawyer referral line. Call (800) 392-5660. Your first half hour with a lawyer costs $50 or less. They can find you someone near where you live. This isn't free. But it's cheap for a first meeting. Good way to get advice on whether you need a lawyer at all.

Start Your Search

Use the search tool below to look up divorce records in Alabama. Enter the name of the person you're searching for and select the state.

Browse by Location

Alabama Counties

Alabama has 67 counties, each with its own Circuit Court Clerk who maintains divorce records. Select a county below to find contact information and learn how to request records.

View All 67 Alabama Counties →

Major Alabama Cities

Looking for divorce records in a specific city? Divorces are filed at the county level, so you'll need to contact the county courthouse. Select a city below to find out which county handles records for that area.

View Major Alabama Cities →