Montgomery Divorce Records Search
Divorce records for Montgomery residents are filed and kept at the Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk's office in downtown Montgomery. As Alabama's state capital with roughly 200,000 residents, Montgomery sees a steady flow of divorce cases through the 15th Judicial Circuit each year. The city has a unique advantage for people looking up divorce records because the Alabama Center for Health Statistics is located right here. This state agency handles divorce certificates for all Alabama divorces going back to 1950. So whether you need the full court file or just a simple certificate to verify a divorce happened, you can get both without leaving the city.
Montgomery Quick Facts
Which County Handles Montgomery Divorces
All divorce cases for Montgomery residents go through Montgomery County. The city of Montgomery is the county seat, so the courthouse is conveniently located right in downtown. You don't have to travel anywhere else to file for divorce or look up existing records. The Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk handles everything from new filings to record requests for old cases.
Montgomery County is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit, which includes only Montgomery County. This means the circuit judges and court staff focus entirely on cases from this area. The circuit has six judges who handle family law matters including divorce, custody disputes, and modifications to existing orders. Cases get assigned randomly to different judges when they're filed.
If you lived somewhere else when you got divorced, your records would be in that county instead. Alabama requires that at least one spouse live in the state for six months before filing. But the actual filing happens in whatever county you were living in at the time. So if you moved to Montgomery after your divorce, you'll need to contact the county where it was filed.
Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk is your main point of contact for divorce records. This office handles all the paperwork for divorce cases from start to finish. They can help you find case numbers, get copies of documents, and tell you the status of pending cases. The clerk's office is in the Phelps-Price Justice Center, which is the main courthouse in downtown Montgomery.
| Physical Address | 251 South Lawrence Street Montgomery, AL 36104 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (334) 832-1260 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | montgomery.alacourt.gov |
Keep in mind the office closes at 4:30 PM, which is a bit earlier than some other government offices. If you're going in person, try to arrive by 3:30 or 4:00 to make sure you have enough time to complete your request before they close. The courthouse is near the state capitol building in downtown Montgomery. Street parking can be tricky but there are a few parking garages nearby.
How to Search Montgomery Divorce Records
There are a few different ways to look up divorce records depending on what you need and how fast you need it.
Online Search
The quickest way to find basic case info is through Alacourt ACCESS at pa.alacourt.com. This is Alabama's statewide court records database. You can search by name or case number. It costs $9.99 per search. The system shows you names of both parties, case type, filing date, and whether the divorce is final or still pending. You can see document images for an extra $5 fee, which gets you the first 20 pages.
The online system works well for quick lookups and finding case numbers. But it has some limits. Some older records might not be fully digitized yet. And sealed cases won't show up at all. For the complete file or certified copies, you'll probably need to go through the clerk's office directly.
In-Person Search
Go to the Phelps-Price Justice Center during regular business hours. You'll go through security at the entrance, then head up to the clerk's office. Bring whatever info you have about the divorce you're looking for. Names of both spouses and an approximate date are helpful. Staff can search their system and pull up case info while you wait. For recent cases, they can usually print copies right there. Older cases in storage might take a day or two to pull.
Mail Request
If you can't make it to Montgomery in person, you can request records by mail. Send a written request with full names of both spouses, approximate divorce date, and what documents you need. Include a check or money order payable to Montgomery County Circuit Clerk. Mail it to PO Box 1667, Montgomery, AL 36102. Allow at least a week or two for processing. They'll contact you if there are any issues finding the case or if the fees are different.
Fees
Copy fees run about $1 per page for regular copies. Certified copies cost more, usually around $5 plus per-page charges. You'll need certified copies for legal purposes like remarriage or changing your name on official documents. The clerk's office can give you exact fee amounts when you call. Cash, check, and money orders are accepted. Some courts now take credit cards too but you should call ahead to confirm.
What's in Montgomery Divorce Records
Divorce files contain all the documents from the case. What's in each file depends on how the divorce went and what issues were involved. Here's what you might find:
Divorce Decree
This is the final judgment that ends the marriage. A judge signs it when the case is complete. The decree has all the final orders on property division, spousal support, and custody if there were kids. You need a certified copy to prove you're divorced for things like remarriage or changing your name on government documents.
Original Petition
The complaint that started the whole case. Shows who filed, when they filed, and on what grounds. Alabama allows no-fault divorce (incompatibility) and also has fault-based grounds. The petition has basic info about the marriage, any kids, and what the filing spouse wanted.
Property Settlement
Documents showing how the couple divided their stuff. Could be part of the decree or a separate agreement. This covers who got what, including the house, cars, bank accounts, and retirement funds. Also shows who took on which debts. These details matter if there's ever a dispute about what was agreed to.
Custody and Support Orders
If kids were involved, the file has custody arrangements. Physical custody, visitation schedules, and decision-making authority are all spelled out. Child support amounts and payment schedules are included too. These orders can be modified later, so the file might have multiple versions.
Other Documents
Contested divorces have much thicker files. You might find motions, responses, discovery requests, temporary orders, and various other filings. Uncontested divorces tend to be thinner with just the basic paperwork.
Alabama Center for Health Statistics
Montgomery has something most Alabama cities don't. The Alabama Center for Health Statistics is located right here in the state capital. This is the state agency that issues divorce certificates for all Alabama divorces from 1950 to today. A divorce certificate is different from court records. It's a simpler document that just confirms the divorce happened. Shows names, date, and county but not all the details about property or custody.
| Agency | Alabama Center for Health Statistics |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 5625 Montgomery, AL 36103 |
| Physical Address | 201 Monroe Street, Suite 1350 Montgomery, AL 36104 |
| Phone | (334) 206-5418 |
| Fee | $15 (includes one certified copy) |
| Records Available | Alabama divorces from 1950 to present |
This is useful if you need to verify a divorce that happened anywhere in Alabama. You can get the certificate without traveling to the county where it was filed. The certificate works for many purposes, but you'll still need the actual court file from the county if you want details about property or custody agreements.
Free Legal Help in Montgomery
Divorce gets messy. It's even harder when kids or property are in the mix. Can't pay for a lawyer? Some groups help for free if you qualify.
Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program
The state bar runs a volunteer program that connects low-income Alabamians with attorneys who donate their time. They handle family law matters including divorce.
| Phone | (334) 269-1515 |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Income-based (typically 125% of federal poverty level) |
Legal Services Alabama
Provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income residents across the state. They handle divorce, custody, and domestic violence situations.
| Phone | (866) 456-4995 |
|---|---|
| Website | legalservicesalabama.org |
Family Sunshine Center
If domestic violence is part of your situation, the Family Sunshine Center can help with protective orders and connect you with legal advocates.
24-Hour Crisis Line: (334) 206-2100
Self-Help Resources
The Alabama State Law Library has forms and instructions for people handling their own divorce. Alabama Legal Help at alabamalegalhelp.org also has guides on the divorce process and what paperwork you need.
Nearby Major Cities
Looking for divorce records in another Alabama city? These are the other major cities in the state with populations over 100,000.
Each city has its own county that handles divorce records. Birmingham is in Jefferson County, Huntsville is in Madison County, Mobile is in Mobile County, and Tuscaloosa is in Tuscaloosa County. If you're not sure which county handled a particular divorce, you can search Alacourt ACCESS which covers all Alabama counties.
Montgomery County Divorce Records
Montgomery is the county seat of Montgomery County. For more detailed information about the county clerk's office, court procedures, fees, and neighboring counties, check out our full Montgomery County page.