Dale County Court Records Search
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Dale County, Alabama sits in the southeastern corner of the state, with Ozark serving as the county seat. The county is part of the 33rd Judicial Circuit, which also encompasses Geneva County, a circuit formally established by Act No. 644 on November 20, 1959. The Dale County Courthouse — the physical and administrative center of the local court system — was built in 1968 and last renovated in 2015. Understanding the layout of that system is the first step for anyone needing to locate a filing, verify a judgment, research a case history, or request a certified copy of a legal document.
Locating publicly available case information in Alabama can begin with AlabamaCourts.us, which can point users toward official court resources, clerk offices, and online tools. In-person access is available through public terminals at the courthouse, and the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts maintains state-level guidance on case search options, electronic filing, and court procedures for all 67 Alabama counties, including Dale.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Dale County?
The Circuit Clerk’s Office is the official custodian of all circuit and district court records in Dale County. Circuit Clerk Delores Woodham and her staff maintain filings across ten case divisions — Civil, Criminal, Domestic, Child Support, Traffic, Juvenile, and Warrants, among others. Records are electronically imaged, making retrieval faster both in-person and through online tools.
Dale County Circuit Clerk’s Office
Address: Dale County Courthouse, P.O. Box 1350, Ozark, AL 36361
Physical Location: 3 E Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360
Phone: (334) 774-5003
Email: delores.woodham@alacourt.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
There are three primary ways to search Dale County court records:
- Online via Alacourt: The Alabama Judicial System’s online portal provides on-demand access to Alabama state trial court records through its “Just One Look” feature. Users can search by name, case number, or date range across Civil, Domestic, Criminal, and Traffic divisions. Fees apply for this service.
- In-person at the courthouse: Public-access terminals in the courthouse lobby allow visitors to search case records without a subscription. The clerk’s office staff can assist with locating specific records, though they are prohibited by law from giving legal advice.
- By mail or phone: Written records requests can be mailed to the clerk’s P.O. Box address listed above. Include the full name of the parties involved, approximate filing date, and case number if known. Payment for copy fees must accompany mailed requests.
For jury duty inquiries specifically, the clerk’s office directs the public to contact Melanie Davis at melanie.davis@alacourt.gov or by calling (334) 774-8011. Electronic filing and e-notice registration for pro se litigants is available through AlaFile; registration must be completed in person at the clerk’s office with a valid state-issued photo ID.
Are Court Records Public in Dale County?
The legal foundation for public access to court records in Alabama is Alabama Code § 36-12-40, which grants every citizen the right to inspect and obtain copies of public writings maintained by governmental agencies, including the courts. This open-records principle is reinforced by Rule 30 of the Alabama Rules for Judicial Administration, which specifically governs access to court records across all Alabama trial courts, requiring clerks to make records available for public inspection.
Despite the default presumption of openness, Alabama law restricts access to specific categories of records:
- Juvenile records are sealed under the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act, Section 12-15-133, to protect the privacy of minors involved in delinquency or dependency proceedings
- Adoption records are confidential under Code of Alabama, Section 26-10A-31 and can only be accessed through a court order
- Mental health and medical records embedded in court files may be restricted under the Alabama Confidentiality of Health Records Act, Section 22-50-62
- Records sealed by a court order are withheld from public disclosure regardless of their original classification
When no statutory exemption or court order applies, Dale County court records — spanning civil, criminal, and domestic proceedings — are open to public inspection and copying. Requestors denied access to records they believe are public may pursue remedies through the court system or by consulting the Alabama State Bar’s public records guidance.
Dale County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Dale County are divided between two courts based on the severity of the offense. Felony prosecutions are handled exclusively by the Dale County Circuit Court, which holds original jurisdiction over all Class A, B, and C felony matters under the Alabama Constitution, Article VI. In a recent reporting year, 51% of the 1,760 new circuit court cases filed in Dale County were criminal in nature. Misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings fall under the District Court, which operates out of the same courthouse building.
Dale County Circuit Court / District Court
Address: Dale County Courthouse, P.O. Box 1350, Ozark, AL 36361
Presiding Circuit Judge: William H. Filmore
Phone: (334) 774-5003
Criminal court records — including charging documents, docket entries, plea records, sentencing orders, and judgments — are maintained by the Circuit Clerk’s Office and can be searched through the Alacourt public portal or at courthouse terminals. Arrest records and custody information are separate from court records and are maintained by the Dale County Sheriff’s Office.
Dale County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: (334) 774-2335
Location: Ozark, AL
The Sheriff’s Office handles inmate information, current arrest data, outstanding warrants, and service of process for court proceedings. Broader criminal history background checks for Alabama residents are available through the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center, which maintains statewide criminal records repositories for authorized requestors. Expungement petitions, where eligible, are filed through the Circuit Court with the applicable filing fee.
Dale County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Dale County are distributed across three court levels depending on the monetary amount in dispute. The Circuit Court handles all civil claims exceeding $10,000, non-monetary actions such as declaratory judgments, and injunctive relief matters. District Court handles civil claims from $6,001 to $10,000. Small claims, which cover disputes up to $6,000, are filed in the Small Claims Division of the District Court.
In 2017, 14% of Dale County’s 1,760 new Circuit Court filings were civil, while the District Court that year logged 4% civil cases out of 7,038 total filings. Small claims represented 18% of all district court activity that year — a significant share reflecting their accessibility to everyday litigants.
Standard civil filing fees for Dale County:
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Small Claims (up to $1,500) | $61.00 |
| Small Claims ($1,501–$3,000) | $135.00 |
| Small Claims ($3,001–$6,000) | $224.00 |
| District Civil ($6,001–$10,000) | $256.00 |
| Circuit Civil (up to $50,000) | $255.00 |
| Circuit Civil (over $50,000) | $355.00 |
| Domestic Relations – Original Filing | approximately $203.00–$205.00 |
Additional fees apply for each additional defendant ($10.00), garnishment or execution ($30.00), civil jury demands ($100.00), and subpoenas ($12.00 each). All court forms, including the Small Claims complaint form and affidavit of substantial hardship, are available on the Alabama eforms portal. Requestors who cannot afford filing fees upfront may submit a hardship affidavit to have costs taxed at the conclusion of the case.
Copy fees for civil records pulled from the clerk’s office are $1.00 per page, with certified copies carrying an additional $5.00 certification fee per document. No out-of-state personal checks are accepted; payment should be made by money order or cash.
Dale County Family Court Records
Family law proceedings in Dale County are managed through the domestic relations division of the Circuit Court, which accounts for approximately 35% of all circuit-level case filings. This division oversees divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, alimony, protective orders, and related domestic matters. District Court handles child support enforcement and juvenile-related proceedings, which together made up 13% of the 7,038 district court filings in a recent reporting year.
Divorce records are publicly accessible under Alabama law unless sealed by court order. To request a copy in person, visit the Circuit Clerk’s Office with the full names of the divorcing parties and the approximate date of the divorce. Mail requests require a completed request form, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment of the applicable copy fee by money order. The divorce filing fee in Dale County is approximately $203.00–$205.00 for an original petition.
Marriage records in Dale County are administered by the Probate Court, not the Circuit Court. Judge of Probate Sharon A. Michalic’s office maintains marriage license records and can issue certified copies to eligible requestors.
Dale County Probate Office (Marriage Records)
Address: 100 E Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360 (P.O. Box 580, Ozark, AL 36361)
Phone: (334) 774-2754
Email: probate.judge@dalecountyal.gov
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Vital records — including birth and death certificates — are not held by the county courts. They are maintained by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). The Dale County Health Department can issue certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates and is located at 532 W Roy Parker Road, Ozark, AL 36360 (Phone: (334) 774-5146). The standard search fee for a birth certificate is $15.00, which includes one certified copy or a certificate of failure to find. Birth records are restricted for 125 years to the individual, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Death records are restricted to eligible parties until 25 years after the date of death. The Alabama Vital Records Act, Section 22-9A-21, governs eligibility and access procedures for all vital records statewide.
Protective order filings, including Protection from Abuse (PFA) petitions, are handled by the Circuit Clerk’s Office. The clerk’s office specifically notes that questions about protection from abuse cases can be directed to the clerk by phone at (334) 774-5003 or by email at delores.woodham@alacourt.gov.
Dale County Probate Court Records
The Dale County Probate Court, presided over by Judge of Probate Sharon A. Michalic, handles estate administration, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, name changes, declarations of legitimation, involuntary commitments, and real property recording. The office also administers business licenses and processes driver’s license renewals and state ID replacements — a broader range of services than most probate offices in the state.
Dale County Probate Office
Address: 100 E Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360
Mailing: P.O. Box 580, Ozark, AL 36361
Phone: (334) 774-2754
Email: probate.judge@dalecountyal.gov
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Probate records — including wills, estate inventories, guardianship appointments, and conservatorship orders — are generally public under the Alabama Probate Code (Title 43, Code of Alabama), though certain matters such as adoptions are sealed from public view. Requestors can search probate case records and land records remotely through the Dale County Probate online records portal, which provides indexed access to wills, administrations, and real property filings without requiring a courthouse visit.
For in-person requests, visit the Probate Office during business hours and provide the name of the deceased or subject, the approximate filing date, and the case number if available. Staff will retrieve records and calculate applicable fees based on the document type.
Probate court filing fees include:
| Matter Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Adoption | $87.00 |
| Condemnation | $47.00 |
| Commitment | $140.00 |
| Will/Administration (final settlement) | Varies |
Real property recording fees follow a separate schedule. The base recording fee is $13.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page. Mortgage tax is calculated at $0.15 per $100 of mortgage value (rounded up to the next $100), and deed tax is $0.50 per $500 of sale price (rounded up to the next $500). Plain copy fees are $1.00 per page; certified copies carry an additional $5.00 certification fee per document. Documents submitted by mail must include a self-addressed stamped envelope large enough to hold the originals, which are returned the day after recording.
As of September 1, 2019, notice must be given to the Alabama Medicaid Agency in every estate case filed in Dale County, per Alabama Act 2019-489. All submitted documents must be legible originals or certified copies, include the preparer’s name and address, reflect the marital status of grantors or mortgagors, and contain a complete legal description of any involved real property. For questions on fee calculations or unusual documents, the Probate Office can be reached directly at (334) 774-2754. The full fee schedule is available through the Dale County Probate Office website.