Alabama Cities

Divorce records in Alabama are kept at the county level. Cities don't handle them. Each city below is served by a county Circuit Court. That's where divorce cases go. Pick a city to find out which courthouse serves that area. You'll also learn how to request records.

Major Alabama Cities

Here are Alabama's biggest cities. Each page tells you which courthouse handles divorces for that city. You'll find contact info, addresses, and tips on getting records.

How City Divorce Records Work in Alabama

Alabama cities don't keep divorce records. None of them do. All divorces go through the Circuit Court system. That runs at the county level. When someone files for divorce, the case goes to the Circuit Court Clerk. It's filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant is out of state, it's filed where the plaintiff lives.

So if you want records for someone who lived in Huntsville, call Madison County. For a Birmingham resident, call Jefferson County. Each city page above tells you which county to contact. It's always the county, not the city.

Divorce certificates are different. These are simple forms that just prove a divorce happened. You can get them from the Alabama Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery. Any county health department can help too.

Other Alabama Cities

Looking for a city not listed above? Alabama has over 460 towns and cities. But all divorce records go through the 67 county Circuit Courts. Find your county on our counties page. You'll get contact info for the right clerk's office.

Some other big areas include Hoover, Dothan, Auburn, and Decatur. Madison, Florence, and Phenix City are in there too. All these folks would contact their county courthouse. Hoover uses Jefferson County. Dothan uses Houston County. And so on.

Which County Handles Your City's Divorces

Here's a quick list. It shows which county handles divorce records for each major city. If your city isn't here, check the counties page to find the right one.

Filing for Divorce in an Alabama City

Want to file for divorce? You need to know which county has your case. Alabama law says divorce cases get filed where the defendant lives. That's in Code Section 30-2-4. If the defendant lives outside Alabama, you file in your own county.

This is why your city matters. It tells you which courthouse handles your case. Say you live in Birmingham. Your spouse lives there too. You'd file at Jefferson County Circuit Court in downtown Birmingham. But if your spouse moved to Montgomery, they might file there instead.

Residency Requirements

Alabama has a residency rule for divorce. If both spouses live in the state, file right away. No wait needed. But if only one spouse lives here, they have to wait. They need six months of residency first. Then they can file. This rule makes sure Alabama courts can handle the case.

Waiting Period

After you file, there's a 30-day wait. A judge can't sign off until then. This gives both sides time to respond. They can negotiate too. In contested cases, it takes way longer. The court has to schedule hearings. Sometimes there's a trial. Simple cases can wrap up in a month or two. Tough cases drag on for a year or more.

Getting Legal Help in Your City

Need a divorce attorney? Free help is out there too. Legal Services Alabama has offices across the state. They help low-income folks for free. Call 1-866-456-4995 to see if you qualify. Staff will ask about your income and your case.

Most bigger cities have volunteer lawyer programs. Local bar associations run them. They match people who can't pay with lawyers who donate time. The Alabama State Bar has a referral service too. Call (800) 392-5660. First meetings cost $50 or less. They'll connect you with family law attorneys nearby.

Going alone? The Alabama Legal Help website has free forms and guides. It walks you through the divorce process. Some courthouses have self-help centers too. Staff there can answer basic questions about how to file. They can't give legal advice. But they can point you in the right direction.