Birmingham Divorce Records
Divorce records for Birmingham go through Jefferson County Circuit Court. Birmingham is Alabama's biggest city. It's the county seat of Jefferson County. All divorce and family law cases go through the 10th Judicial Circuit. Doesn't matter what neighborhood you lived in. Five Points South, Southside, Avondale. Same courthouse downtown. The Circuit Court Clerk keeps all divorce files. Petitions, decrees, property deals, custody orders. You can search cases online through Alacourt ACCESS. Or visit the clerk in person. The county has two divisions. Most Birmingham divorces go through the Birmingham Division at the main courthouse.
Birmingham Quick Facts
Which County Handles Birmingham Divorces
All divorces for Birmingham go through Jefferson County. No city in Alabama has its own divorce court. The state handles divorces at the county level. So you work with the Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk. Whether you're filing new or looking up old records. Same place.
Jefferson County is Alabama's biggest county. Over 664,000 people. The 10th Judicial Circuit covers it all. It has more judges than any other circuit in the state. 27 total. Several of them just do domestic cases like divorce.
If you lived in Birmingham when you filed, that's where your records are. Doesn't matter if you moved to Huntsville or Mobile since then. Records stay in the county where the case was filed.
Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk is who you talk to for divorce records. This office files all new cases. They keep the records after. Need a case looked up? They do that. Need copies? They print them. Need a certified copy for court or to remarry? They handle that too.
Birmingham Division (Main Office)
| Address | 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Room 420 Birmingham, AL 35203 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (205) 325-5355 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | jefferson.alacourt.gov |
The courthouse is in downtown Birmingham. Just a few blocks from Railroad Park. Street parking is tricky. There are decks nearby though. The clerk's office is on the fourth floor. Go through security when you enter.
How to Search Birmingham Divorce Records
There are a few ways to find divorce records. Which one works best depends on what you know and what you need.
Online Search Through Alacourt
The fastest way to look up a case is Alacourt ACCESS. This is the statewide system. It covers all Alabama counties. Search by name or case number.
It costs $9.99 per search. You get basic stuff. Who was in the case. When they filed. Which judge. How it ended. Want papers? Add $5 for up to 20 pages. The system works for recent cases. Old ones might not have everything.
In-Person at the Courthouse
Walk into the clerk's office on the fourth floor. Business hours only. Bring what info you have. Both names. A rough date. Case number if you know it. Staff can search and pull up the case. For recent divorces, they print copies while you wait. Old records in storage take longer.
This is best if you're not sure what you need. Staff can help figure out which documents you want.
Mail Request
Send a letter to the Circuit Court Clerk. Include both names. Add any dates you know. Put your phone and address. Include a check or money order for the fee. The clerk mails records back. Or calls if they need more for copies.
Mail works fine but takes longer. A week or two for processing.
What You'll Need
You need the full legal names of both spouses. Maiden names help too. An approximate year narrows things down. A case number makes it faster. But most people don't have that.
What's in Birmingham Divorce Records
A divorce file has everything from start to finish. Here's what you might find.
Divorce Decree
The final order that ends the marriage. A judge signs it. Marriage over. The decree spells out all the terms. Who gets what property. Whether anyone pays alimony. Custody if there are kids. Child support amounts. You need a certified copy for remarriage or name changes.
Original Petition
This started the case. Shows who filed and why. What grounds they used. What they asked for. Alabama allows no-fault divorce. But some folks still file on fault grounds like cheating or leaving.
Property Settlement Agreement
Many divorces have a written deal about splitting things. The house, cars, bank accounts. Retirement funds and debts. Some agreements are very detailed. Others are basic.
Custody and Support Orders
If kids were involved, the file has custody stuff. Who has physical custody. How visitation works. How much support gets paid. These orders can change later. There might be more than one version.
Other Documents
Depending on how messy the divorce was, you might find more. Discovery requests. Financial statements. Motions. Temporary orders. Hearing transcripts. Contested divorces have thick files.
Free Legal Help in Birmingham
Have questions about divorce records? Need help with a divorce? Several groups in Birmingham offer free or cheap legal help.
Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham
The Birmingham Bar runs this program. It helps low-income folks with civil legal stuff. Family law included. They match qualifying people with volunteer attorneys. Free talks. Sometimes full help in court.
| Phone | (205) 250-5198 |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Income-based, call for details |
Legal Services of Metro Birmingham
Part of Legal Services Alabama. This office serves Jefferson County and nearby areas. They do divorce, custody, and family law. Free for people who can't pay for a lawyer.
| Phone | (800) 819-7685 |
|---|
YWCA of Central Alabama
The YWCA helps people dealing with domestic violence. If your divorce involves abuse, they help with protective orders. They connect you with attorneys who know these cases.
| 24-Hour Crisis Line | (205) 322-4878 |
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Self-Help Resources
Trying to understand court papers on your own? Alabama Legal Help has guides and forms. The Jefferson County law library at the courthouse has free resources too.
Birmingham Divorce Certificates
Sometimes you don't need the full file. Just proof a divorce happened. A certificate is simpler. It comes from vital records, not the court. Just shows names, date, and county.
Jefferson County Health Department
The local health department can issue divorce certificates. For any Alabama divorce from 1950 on. Doesn't have to be a Jefferson County divorce.
| Address | 1400 6th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (205) 933-9110 |
| Fee | $15 (includes one certified copy) |
State Vital Records
You can also order from the state office in Montgomery. Mail to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Same $15 fee. VitalChek works online too. But they add their own fees.
Certificate vs. Decree
A certificate just confirms the divorce happened. A decree is the actual court order with all details. For remarriage or Social Security, a certificate works. But if you need to enforce terms or prove specific details, get the decree from the court.
Nearby Alabama Cities
Looking for divorce records from another city? Here are other major Alabama cities with populations over 100,000. Each city has its own page with local courthouse information.
Jefferson County Divorce Records
For more detailed information about divorce records in Jefferson County, including the Bessemer Division and other resources, visit the full county page.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to look up divorce records for Birmingham residents or anywhere in Alabama.