Find Mobile Divorce Records
Divorce records for Mobile residents are filed and stored at the Mobile County Circuit Court downtown. As Alabama's third largest city with around 187,000 people, Mobile sees plenty of divorce cases each year. The city sits on the Gulf Coast in the 13th Judicial Circuit, and all family law matters go through the county court system. You can't file for divorce at any city office in Mobile since this is strictly a county function. The Mobile County Circuit Court Clerk handles all divorce filings, and that's where you'll need to go for records too. Whether you need a copy of an old divorce decree, want to look up case details, or just need to verify that a divorce happened, the clerk's office at the Mobile Government Plaza is your starting point. They keep records going back decades, though very old cases may take longer to pull from storage.
Mobile Quick Facts
Where Mobile Divorces Are Filed
All divorces for Mobile residents are handled by Mobile County. There's no city divorce court or municipal filing option. Alabama's court system puts family law matters at the county level, so the Mobile County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all divorce cases. This applies whether you live downtown, in Midtown, Spring Hill, or any other part of the city. The Circuit Court Clerk at the Government Plaza is responsible for maintaining all divorce records, accepting new filings, and providing certified copies of old cases.
If you're trying to figure out where a specific divorce was filed, it depends on where the couple lived when they filed. Someone who lived in Mobile at the time would have filed in Mobile County. But if they moved here after their divorce, you'd need to check the county where they actually lived back then. This trips people up sometimes when searching for records.
Mobile County Circuit Court Clerk
This is the main office for divorce filings and records requests in Mobile. The clerk's office sits in the Mobile Government Plaza, a large complex downtown that houses most court functions. You can visit in person to request copies, search for cases, or file new divorce paperwork. They also handle requests by mail if you can't come in.
| Address | 205 Government Street, Room C-913 Mobile, AL 36644 |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | (251) 574-8806 |
| Domestic Relations | (251) 574-8441 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | mobile.alacourt.gov |
The Domestic Relations line is often a better choice if you have questions about an active divorce case or custody matter. Staff in that division focus on family law and can usually give you more detailed answers than the general clerk's line. The main number works fine for basic record requests and general info.
How to Search for Mobile Divorce Records
There are a few ways to find divorce records for Mobile residents. The method you pick depends on how much info you need and whether you want to do it online or in person.
Search Online Through Alacourt
The Alabama court system runs an online database called Alacourt ACCESS at pa.alacourt.com. You can search by name or case number to find divorce cases filed in Mobile County. Basic searches cost $9.99 and show you party names, filing dates, case type, and status. If you want to see actual documents from the case file, that costs extra. You pay $5 for up to 20 pages. This is the fastest way to find out if a divorce case exists without leaving your house.
Visit the Courthouse
Head to the Mobile Government Plaza during business hours. The clerk's office is in Room C-913 on the C level. Bring the names of both spouses and any other details you have like the year of divorce or case number. Staff can search their system and pull up case information. They can print copies while you wait for most recent cases. Older records that got moved to archives might take a day or two to retrieve.
Send a Written Request
Mail your request to the Circuit Court Clerk at 205 Government Street, Room C-913, Mobile, AL 36644. Put the names of both parties in the divorce, the approximate date or year, and what exactly you need (full case file, just the decree, certified copies, etc.). Include a check for the search fee and your return address. The clerk will mail back what they find or contact you if there are additional costs.
Tips for Better Results
Use the exact names people had during the marriage. Women often filed under their married name, not their maiden name. The more details you provide, the easier the search goes. If you know which spouse filed (petitioner vs respondent), that can help narrow things down. Even a rough year range is useful if you don't have the exact date.
What You'll Find in Mobile Divorce Records
Divorce case files contain a lot more than just proof that a marriage ended. Here's what typically gets included in Mobile County divorce records:
Final Decree of Divorce
This is the court's official order that ends the marriage. It includes all the judge's rulings on property division, alimony, child custody, and support. If you need proof that you're divorced (for remarriage, name change, benefits, etc.), this is the document you want. The decree lays out exactly what each spouse gets and what they're responsible for going forward.
Property and Debt Division
The settlement agreement or property division section shows how the couple split their assets and debts. This covers the house, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement funds, credit cards, and everything else. Sometimes it's part of the decree. Other times there's a separate settlement agreement that the court approved and incorporated into the final order.
Custody and Child Support
When children are involved, the file includes the parenting plan, custody arrangement, and child support calculations. You'll see who has physical custody, how visitation works, and how much one parent pays the other. Support orders often reference Alabama's child support guidelines. These orders can be modified later, so old cases might have multiple amended orders over the years.
Original Filing Documents
The complete case file starts with the original complaint for divorce (or petition). It includes the other spouse's response, any counterclaims, motions filed during the case, temporary orders, financial disclosure statements, and everything else submitted to the court. A contested divorce that went to trial will have a much thicker file than a simple uncontested case that both parties agreed on from the start.
Free Legal Help in Mobile
Need help with a divorce? Confused by records you got? There's free legal help in Mobile if you qualify. These groups do family law at no cost.
South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program
This group matches folks who can't pay with lawyers who give their time for free. They do divorce, custody, and child support cases. Since lawyers volunteer, you might wait a while to get matched.
| Phone | (251) 438-1102 |
|---|---|
| Services | Divorce, custody, support, family law |
| Eligibility | Income requirements apply |
Legal Services Alabama - Mobile Office
Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal help to qualifying residents throughout south Alabama. Their Mobile office handles family law cases including divorce paperwork, custody disputes, protective orders, and child support issues. They also do community education and clinics.
| Phone | (251) 433-6560 |
|---|---|
| Services | Divorce, custody, domestic violence, support |
| Website | legalservicesalabama.org |
Mobile County Bar Association
The local bar association runs a lawyer referral service. If you don't qualify for free legal aid but still need help finding an attorney, they can connect you with family law lawyers in the area. Many offer reduced-rate initial consultations through the program.
Mobile Divorce Certificates
A divorce certificate is different from the full court records. It's a simpler document that just verifies a divorce occurred without showing all the private details about property, custody, and support. Certificates show both parties' names, the date of divorce, and the county where it was granted. That's it. If you just need proof for an employer, government agency, or new marriage license, a certificate might be all you need.
Where to Get Divorce Certificates
You can order Alabama divorce certificates from two places. The state vital records office in Montgomery has certificates for divorces from 1950 to present. You can also get them through the Mobile County Health Department. Either one works for Mobile divorces.
Alabama Center for Health Statistics
| Address | 201 Monroe Street, RSA Tower, Suite 1350 Montgomery, AL 36104 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (334) 206-5418 |
| Fee | $15 for certified copy |
Mobile County Health Department
The local health department can issue divorce certificates for any divorce that happened in Alabama, not just Mobile County.
| Address | 251 N. Bayou Street Mobile, AL 36603 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (251) 690-8158 |
Keep in mind that a certificate is not the same as a certified copy of the divorce decree. If you need the actual court order with all the details about custody, support, and property division, you have to get that from the Circuit Court Clerk.
Other Major Alabama Cities
Looking for divorce records in other parts of Alabama? These major cities have their own pages with local courthouse info and resources.
Each city's divorce records are handled by their respective county. Birmingham divorces go through Jefferson County. Huntsville files in Madison County. Montgomery cases are in Montgomery County, and Tuscaloosa uses the Tuscaloosa County court system.
Mobile County Divorce Records
For complete information about divorce records in Mobile County, including all the smaller towns and unincorporated areas, check out the main county page. It has details on the full court system, all filing locations, and additional resources.
Start Your Search
Use the search form below to find divorce records for Mobile and Mobile County residents.