Cullman County Court Records Search
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Cullman County is served by the courts of the 32nd Judicial Circuit of Alabama. All county court operations — Circuit Court, District Court, and Probate Court — are housed within the Cullman County Courthouse at 500 2nd Avenue SW, Cullman, AL 35055. The Circuit Clerk functions as the official record keeper and business manager for proceedings held in both the Circuit and District Courts, while the Probate Judge administers estate, adoption, guardianship, and property-recording matters independently. Court offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closing for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and closed on state and federal holidays.
Individuals looking for court case information in Alabama have several options at their disposal. Records can be searched through official clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online databases maintained by the state judiciary. The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts provides links to statewide court forms, e-filing resources, and related services. For broader access to Alabama court information, AlabamaCourts.us may help users locate publicly available case data and navigate county-specific resources.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Cullman County?
The method for locating a case depends on whether it is a civil, criminal, family, or probate matter and which office serves as custodian.
Online Searches
Most trial court documents filed with the Circuit Clerk are accessible to the public through the statewide Alacourt Access portal, commonly known as “Just One Look”. Users can search by name or case number. The following fees apply per search session:
- Name search: $9.99
- Case number search: $9.99
- Document images: $5.00 for the first 20 pages, then $0.50 per additional page
Probate Court records — including land records, probate case filings, and marriage records — are searchable through the Cullman County Probate Online Services portal operated by Ingenuity, Inc.
In-Person Access
Visitors may go directly to the appropriate office at the courthouse during business hours:
| Office | Room | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Clerk (Lisa McSwain) | Room 303 | (256) 775-4654 |
| Circuit and District Civil | Room 303 | (256) 775-4800 |
| Small Claims | Room 303 | (256) 775-4694 |
| Criminal (Circuit) | Room 303 | (256) 775-4798 |
| Criminal (District Felony) | Room 303 | (256) 775-4693 |
| Misdemeanor | Room 303 | (256) 775-4689 |
| Traffic | Room 303 | (256) 775-4690 |
| Juvenile | Room 303 | (256) 775-4675 |
| Child Support / Domestic | Room 303 | (256) 775-4799 |
| Probate Court | Room 101 | (256) 775-4805 |
| Probate Office (General) | Room 101 | (256) 775-4652 |
The Circuit Clerk can supply paper copies of case files for review, subject to applicable copy fees. Fines and traffic tickets may also be paid online by credit or debit card through the AlaPay system.
Mail Requests
Written requests for court records should be mailed to the appropriate office, identifying the case by docket number or by the full names of the parties. Include payment for any copy fees:
Cullman County Circuit Clerk
Room 303 Courthouse
500 2nd Ave. SW
Cullman, AL 35055
For probate-related records, mail requests to:
Cullman County Probate Court
P.O. Box 970
Cullman, AL 35056-0970
Electronic Filing
Attorneys and self-represented parties may file pleadings electronically through the AlaFile system. Once registered, pro se litigants receive all notices via email. Additional court forms are available for download at eforms.alacourt.gov.
Are Court Records Public in Cullman County?
Alabama law establishes a broad right of public access to government records. Under Section 36-12-40 of the Code of Alabama, every citizen has the right to inspect and copy public writings, which generally includes court records. The 32nd Judicial Circuit’s official court website confirms that most trial court documents filed with the Circuit Clerk are accessible to the public online.
Certain categories of records are restricted by statute or court order. Records that are not available to the general public include:
- Juvenile proceedings — Dependency and delinquency cases involving minors are confidential under Alabama law.
- Adoption records — All adoption files maintained by the Probate Court are sealed and accessible only to authorized individuals.
- Paternity cases — Records involving the establishment of parentage carry access restrictions.
- Sealed records — Any case file or portion of a file sealed by judicial order is removed from public inspection.
Additionally, sensitive personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, victims’ information in abuse cases, state identification numbers, driver’s license numbers, and financial account details are excluded from publicly available records to protect individual privacy and security.
Individuals who need access to a restricted record should consult an attorney or contact the custodial office about applicable procedures for obtaining a court order.
Cullman County Criminal Court Records
Criminal jurisdiction in Cullman County is divided between the Circuit Court and the District Court. The Circuit Court handles felony prosecutions, some misdemeanor cases, and all jury trials. The District Court conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases, accepts guilty pleas in non-capital felonies, and hears misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, and juvenile delinquency matters.
Searching Criminal Case Records
Criminal dockets can be searched through Alacourt Access ($9.99 per search) using the defendant’s name or case number. In-person requests can be directed to the Clerk of Courts:
- Circuit Criminal Division: (256) 775-4798
- District Court Felony Division: (256) 775-4693
- Misdemeanor Division: (256) 775-4689
Statewide Criminal History Checks
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) maintains criminal history records for the state. To request a record:
- Complete the ALEA Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information (CHRI).
- Submit the completed form along with a valid photo ID and fingerprints.
- Pay $25.00 (money order or cashier’s check payable to ALEA). Each additional copy requested simultaneously costs $5.00.
- Mail to: ALEA, P.O. Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102-1511. The physical office is at 301 S. Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36104.
- Contact ALEA at (334) 676-7897 with questions.
The information returned typically includes arrest records, warrants, and convictions. Case dispositions, however, are only available through the courts directly.
Cullman County Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Matt Gentry, is located at:
Cullman County Sheriff’s Office
1910 Beech Ave. SE
Cullman, AL 35055
Phone: (256) 734-0342
Anonymous Tips: (256) 734-0210
The Detention Center is at 1900 Beech Ave. SE, Cullman, AL 35055, Phone: (256) 735-2400 Current inmate information can be viewed through the Sheriff’s Office website.
Criminal documents that can be downloaded from the Clerk’s Office website include the Motion for Continuance (Criminal), the Petition for Expungement (ARD Cases), and the Arraignment Waiver Form, all available through the statewide eForms portal.
Cullman County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Cullman County are heard either in the Circuit Court or the District Court, depending on the amount in controversy. The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over cases exceeding $20,000, boundary line disputes, injunctive or equitable relief, and workers’ compensation claims. The District Court handles civil cases from $6,000.01 to $20,000 and presides over Small Claims Court for amounts up to $6,000.
The Circuit Clerk maintains all civil court records regardless of which court tried the case.
Circuit Court Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Circuit Civil (up to $50,000) | $276.00 |
| Circuit Civil (over $50,000) | $376.00 |
| Additional Plaintiff ($1,000 max) | $100.00 |
| Counterclaim / Cross-Claim / Third-Party Complaint | $297.00 |
| Domestic Relations (Original) | $224.00 |
| Domestic Relations (Modification / Enforcement) | $327.00 |
| Workers’ Compensation | $224.00 |
| Motion for Judgment / Default / Summary Judgment | $50.00 |
| Jury Demand | $100.00 |
| Garnishment | $35.00 |
| Execution | $30.00 |
| Subpoena | $14.00 |
| Additional Defendants | $10.00 |
The full Circuit Court Filing Fees schedule is available for download.
District Court and Small Claims Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Small Claims (up to $1,500) | $82.00 |
| Small Claims ($1,500.01–$3,000) | $156.00 |
| Small Claims ($3,000.01–$6,000) | $245.00 |
| District Civil ($6,000.01–$20,000) | $277.00 |
| Additional Plaintiff ($500 max) | $50.00 |
| Additional Defendant | $10.00 |
| Child Support | $135.00 |
| Juvenile Petition | $154.00 |
The full District Court Filing Fees schedule is also downloadable. Filing fees are non-refundable, and personal checks are not accepted. Individuals who cannot afford to prepay may submit an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship to request deferred payment.
Searching Civil Records
Online access is available through Alacourt Access (search by name or case number, $9.99 per search). The Cullman County Prothonotary civil case search equivalent is integrated into the Alacourt system. In-person inquiries should be directed to the Circuit and District Civil division at (256) 775-4800 or the Small Claims division at (256) 775-4694.
Key civil forms — including the Statement of Claim, Application for Default Judgment, Process of Garnishment, Writ of Execution, and Notice of Appeal — can be accessed through the Alabama eForms website. An appeal from District Court to Circuit Court carries a filing fee of $310.00 for a non-jury trial or $410.00 for a jury trial.
Cullman County Family Court Records
Divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence protection, and related domestic matters fall within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. The District Court handles paternity cases. All family case records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk.
Divorce
Filing for divorce requires an original Domestic Relations complaint, with a filing fee of $224.00. A modification or enforcement action costs $327.00. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the Circuit Clerk’s office. Online access to Cullman County divorce case dockets is provided through Alacourt Access.
Certified divorce certificates — separate from court dockets — are issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health for divorces finalized in the state from 1950 onward. These can be obtained in person at the Cullman County Department of Health (601 Logan Avenue SW, Cullman, AL 35055, Phone: (256) 734-1030), by mail using the Vital Records Mail-In Application, or online through the state’s approved vendor. The fee is $15.00 for the first certified copy and $6.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Mail requests should be sent to:
Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
Divorces prior to 1950 must be obtained directly from the court where the decree was entered.
Marriage
Alabama does not require a ceremony to finalize a marriage. Prospective couples obtain a marriage license from the Probate Court (Room 101, Phone: (256) 775-4805), complete and sign all required documents, and return the license with a $71.00 filing fee within 30 days; failure to do so renders the marriage invalid. Marriage records dating from August 1936 onward are available from the Probate Court or the Department of Health. Records before August 1936 can only be obtained from the county that issued the license. The Probate Court’s online record search portal also provides access to marriage records.
Birth and Death Certificates
Birth and death records in Alabama are maintained by the Department of Public Health, with statewide records beginning in 1908. By law, birth records are confidential for 125 years and death records for 25 years. During those periods, access is limited to the individual named on the record, parents, legal guardians, spouses, children, immediate family members, grandchildren (for death records), attorneys of authorized individuals, and informants listed on a death record.
Certificates cost $15.00 for the first copy and $6.00 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously. An optional keepsake birth certificate is available for $45.00. Requests can be made in person at the Cullman County Department of Health, by mail to Alabama Vital Records, or online through the state’s third-party vendor (an additional processing fee applies for online orders). A valid photo ID is required for all requests.
Cullman County Probate Court Records
The Probate Court, presided over by Judge Tammy Brown, handles the probate of wills, administration of intestate estates, adoptions, commitments, conservatorships, guardianships, legitimations, name changes, condemnations, and summary distributions. The Probate Court also operates the county’s Recording Department for property records.
Probate Court Contact Information
Cullman County Probate Court
Physical: 500 2nd Avenue SW, Room 101, Cullman, AL 35055
Mailing: P.O. Box 970, Cullman, AL 35056-0970
Phone: (256) 775-4805
General Probate Office: (256) 775-4652
Fax: (256) 775-4813
Satellite offices are located at:
- Dodge City Annex: (256) 287-1093
- Holly Pond Annex: (256) 775-4809
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Probate Court Fees
| Case Type | Court Cost |
|---|---|
| Probate of Will | $46.00 + publication fee |
| Administration of Estate | $51.00 + publication fee |
| Adoption | $21.00 + publication fee (4 weeks) |
| Guardianship | $80.00 |
| Conservatorship | $85.00 |
| Guardianship and Conservatorship (combined) | $105.00 |
| Guardianship/Conservatorship Settlement (Partial or Final) | $16.00 |
| Commitment | $79.50 + possible additional charges |
| Name Change (Adult or Minor) | $41.50 + $2.50/page over 8 pages + publication |
| Legitimation | $16.00 |
| Summary Distribution | $4.50 first page, $2.50 each additional + publication |
| Proof of Will (not self-proving) | $3.00 |
| Condemnation (value over $50,000) | $297.00 |
| Condemnation (value under $50,000) | $197.00 + $1.00 local fee |
| Subpoena | $8.00 |
Publication fees vary by newspaper: the Cullman Times charges $30.10 for three weekly publications or $60.20 for four; the Cullman Tribune charges $30.00 for three or $35.00 for four. Guardian ad litem fees, when applicable, are the responsibility of the petitioner.
Accessing Probate Records
Probate case records, land records, and marriage records can be searched through the Cullman County Probate Online Services portal. In-person requests may be directed to the Probate Office during regular business hours. The Probate Court maintains downloadable informational guides for estate administration, wills, adoptions, conservatorships, and commitments on its website. A Personal Representative’s Handbook and a Conservator’s Handbook are also available.
By law, the Probate Judge and Probate Office employees cannot provide legal advice and do not supply court forms. Forms must be prepared by the petitioner or an attorney. The complete Probate Court Actions and Fee Schedule can be downloaded from the court’s website. Property records — including deeds, mortgages, and liens — are recorded through the Probate Court’s Recording Department, and property assessments can be researched on the Cullman County Revenue Commissioner’s Property Search page.