Blount County Court Records Search
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Blount County, Alabama, located in the north-central part of the state with Oneonta as its county seat, maintains a multi-court judicial system that generates records across criminal, civil, domestic relations, juvenile, and probate matters. These documents — encompassing dockets, case filings, orders, pleadings, and dispositions — are maintained by the clerk of court and serve as the official account of proceedings handled within the county’s jurisdiction. Accessing them correctly requires knowing which court produced a record, which office holds it, and what procedures apply to your specific request.
Searching for Court Records in Alabama
Alabama residents and out-of-state researchers looking for court case information have several options: in-person visits to clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online databases. AlabamaCourts.us may be used as a starting point for locating publicly available case information within the state’s court system. The sections below provide court-specific details for Blount County, including addresses, fees, and the exact steps needed to retrieve records.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Blount County?
The primary online tool for searching Blount County trial court records is the Just One Look portal (AlacourtAccess.com), which provides access to civil, domestic relations, criminal, and traffic records from all Alabama state trial courts. Access costs $9.99 per search and allows users to search by name or case number. For appellate-level matters, the Alabama Appellate Courts Public Portal provides free access to documents filed in appellate courts on or after March 20, 2022.
In-person requests can be made directly at the Circuit and District Court clerk’s office during business hours. The clerk’s staff can locate records using a case party name or case number, though they are prohibited by law from providing legal advice.
Blount County Circuit & District Court
Address: 220 Second Avenue East, Oneonta, AL 35121
Phone: (205) 973-0499
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The court’s internal directory connects callers to specific divisions:
| Division | Staff Contact | Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Criminal / Child Support | Mary Putman | ext. 3311 |
| Domestic Relations / Circuit Civil / Protection From Abuse | Bonnie Hawkins | ext. 3310 |
| Small Claims / District Civil / Evictions | Kari Kritner | ext. 3060 |
| Criminal Misdemeanors and Felonies | Tracey Hopper | ext. 3242 |
| Traffic | Anna Hathcock / Stephanie Smith | ext. 3313 / 3398 |
| Juvenile | Lisa Massey | ext. 3608 |
Blount County Probate Court (Main Office)
Address: 220 2nd Ave E, Suite 101, Oneonta, AL 35121
Phone: (205) 973-0584
Blount County Probate Office – Hayden Annex
Address: 306 2nd Avenue, Hayden, AL 35079
Phone: (205) 590-2851
Municipal courts serving incorporated areas of Blount County include:
- Blountsville Municipal Court — 10017 Lee Street West, Blountsville, AL 35031 — (205) 429-2406
- Oneonta Municipal Court — 202 3rd Avenue East, Oneonta, AL 35121 — (205) 274-2150
- Snead Municipal Court — 87169 Highway 278 East, P.O. Box 505, Snead, AL 35952 — (205) 466-3200
Are Court Records Public in Blount County?
Alabama law establishes a general presumption of public access to government records. Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40 — the state’s Open Records Law — every citizen has the right to inspect and obtain copies of public writings, which includes court records held by Blount County’s Circuit and District Courts. Upon request and payment of applicable fees, the clerk’s office releases records in its custody.
Several categories of records are, however, restricted from public disclosure:
- Juvenile court records — confidential by statute to protect the privacy of minors
- Adoption records — sealed and not subject to public inspection
- Mental health and psychological records — exempt from general disclosure
- Personal information of jurors and witnesses — protected to preserve the integrity of court proceedings
- Personal information of minors and assault victims — withheld to prevent harm
- Financial identifiers — social security numbers, bank account numbers, and similar data are redacted or withheld from public records
All other case materials — criminal filings, civil case pleadings, domestic relations records (excluding sealed portions), traffic matters, and probate filings — are generally available for public inspection through the clerk’s office or online through the Just One Look portal.
Blount County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Blount County are divided between the Circuit Court, which handles felonies and more serious offenses, and the District Court, which handles misdemeanors. The Circuit Criminal Division of the 41st Judicial Circuit maintains records of all felony proceedings filed in Blount County. These records can be searched online through the Just One Look portal for $9.99 or inspected in person at the clerk’s office at 220 Second Avenue East, Oneonta.
Blount County Sheriff’s Office
The Blount County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement records custodian for the county. Individuals seeking arrest records may visit the Sheriff’s Office in person during business hours.
Address: 225 Industrial Park Road, Oneonta, AL 35121
Phone: (205) 625-4127 (24 hours)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
For those wanting to check on individuals currently in custody, the Sheriff’s website provides a free Inmate Roster that allows name-based filtering, displaying current detainees as well as individuals released within the prior 48 hours.
Statewide Criminal History Records (ALEA)
For a comprehensive criminal history background check, individuals must contact the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Criminal Records Identification Unit. Members of the public can request their own criminal history records by submitting a completed Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) form. The package must include:
- Completed CHRI application form
- Copy of fingerprints
- Valid government-issued photo ID
- $25.00 fee as a money order or cashier’s check (each additional copy is $5.00)
Mail or deliver the package to:
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency – Criminal Records Identification Unit
Physical: 301 S. Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36104
Mailing: P.O. Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102-1511
Employers seeking background checks may use the Alabama Background Check System (ABC), which requires a subscription to access.
Blount County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Blount County is split between the Circuit Court and the District Court based on the dollar amount in controversy. The Circuit Civil Division has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $10,000, while it shares concurrent jurisdiction with the District Court for matters between $3,000 and $10,000. The District Civil Division handles smaller civil claims, evictions, and unlawful detainer actions up to $20,000.
District Civil Filing Fees (non-refundable):
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee (One Defendant) |
|---|---|
| Up to $6,000 | Varies by amount |
| $6,000.01 to $20,000 | $312.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 per defendant |
| Additional plaintiff | $50.00 (maximum $500) |
| Garnishment | $30.00 |
| Post-judgment collection actions (each) | $30.00 |
| Appeal to Circuit Court (non-jury) | $286.00 |
| Appeal to Circuit Court (jury) | $386.00 |
Filing a District Civil case requires submitting a Statement of Claim (Complaint) form (SM-01), which is available in the clerk’s office and through the Alabama Courts e-forms portal. Out-of-county checks are not accepted. Parties who cannot afford the filing fee may request a delay by filing an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship with the court.
Once a claim is filed, the defendant has 14 calendar days to respond (7 days for unlawful detainer). If no response is filed, the plaintiff may pursue a default judgment using the Application, Affidavit and Entry of Default Judgment (C-25A) form. Civil records from both divisions can be searched through the Just One Look portal for $9.99, or reviewed in person at the clerk’s office.
Blount County Family Court Records
The Domestic Relations Division of the Blount County Circuit Court handles divorces, child custody determinations, child support matters, paternity cases, modifications of existing orders, and contempt petitions. Records for these matters are maintained by the circuit clerk and may be viewed through the Just One Look portal or in person at the courthouse.
Domestic Relations Filing Fees:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Domestic Relations Docket Fee (new case) | $259.00 |
| Modify / Enforce (contempt) | $362.00 |
| Subpoena Fee | $12.00 |
| Income Withholding Order | $28.00 |
| Termination of Withholding Order | $28.00 |
Uncontested divorces require a 30-day waiting period after filing before a judge can sign the decree, provided all paperwork is in order. Contested divorces allow the defendant 30 days to respond after service. The clerk’s office does not accept email or fax copies — only original documents may be filed.
Requesting a Copy of a Divorce Decree:
Copies of divorce decrees cost $10.00. To request by mail, send a $10.00 money order (payable to Cindy C. Massey) and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Blount County Circuit Clerk, Cindy C. Massey
220 Second Ave. East, Room 208, Oneonta, AL 35121
For older records in the court’s archives, the fee increases to $25.00 per copy, plus $5.00 for certification.
Marriage and Vital Records
Certified copies of marriage certificates are available through the Blount County Probate Court or the Blount County Health Department. Both offices charge $15.00 for the first copy and $6.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. The Health Department is located at 1001 Lincoln Avenue, Oneonta, AL 35121, Phone: (205) 274-2120, Fax: (205) 274-2210, and is open Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Marriage and divorce certificates are also available from the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, either by mail or online through a third-party vendor. Mail requests require a completed application form, a valid ID, and the applicable fee sent to:
Alabama Vital Records, P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
Birth certificates cost $15.00 for the first copy and $6.00 for each additional copy; death certificates carry the same fee structure. Birth records are restricted to the named individual, parents, legal guardians, and certain close relatives; death records are restricted to relatives, the surviving spouse, and the informant listed on the certificate. These records become public after 125 years (birth) and 25 years (death).
Blount County Probate Court Records
The Blount County Probate Court administers estates of deceased persons, probates wills, oversees guardianships and conservatorships, processes adoptions, handles involuntary mental commitments, oversees legitimation filings, manages eminent domain matters, and processes name changes. The probate judge ensures compliance with Alabama inheritance law whether the deceased died testate (with a will) or intestate (without one).
Under Alabama law, a will must be filed for probate within five years of the testator’s death, and an estate inventory must be submitted within two months of appointment. Claims against a decedent’s estate generally must be filed within six months of the notice to creditors.
Searching Probate Court Records Online
The Probate Court offers an Online Records Search tool on its official website. Users may either create an account with an email and password or use the Lookup Probate Case Records function without registration. Search options include:
- Case number
- Case name or party name
- Case type
- Index name
The same portal also allows searches of land records — including deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, and UCC filings — recorded with the Probate Court. This is available to the public at no charge for viewing; copies carry a fee. In-person requests for certified copies can be made at the main courthouse office at 220 2nd Ave E, Suite 101, Oneonta, AL 35121, Phone: (205) 973-0584, or at the Hayden Annex at 306 2nd Avenue, Hayden, AL 35079, Phone: (205) 590-2851
Adoption records filed with the Probate Court are sealed and not accessible to the general public. All court forms for probate filings are available at the clerk’s office; the judge is prohibited by law from advising parties on legal matters or completing forms on their behalf.