Lee County Court Records Search
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Lee County is located in eastern Alabama, with Opelika serving as the county seat and the Auburn-Opelika metropolitan area forming the population center. The county’s judicial system operates through the Thirty-Seventh Judicial Circuit, which administers criminal, civil, and domestic relations cases from the T.K. Davis Justice Center. Probate matters are handled separately through the Lee County Probate Judge’s Office, with locations in Opelika, Auburn, and Smiths Station. Municipal courts in Opelika, Auburn, and Phenix City round out the local judiciary. Whether a resident needs to track the status of a pending lawsuit, obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree, research a criminal case disposition, or retrieve probate estate documents, this guide covers the specific offices, procedures, fees, and tools available for accessing court records throughout Lee County.
Alabama court records can be located through multiple channels, including clerk offices at the courthouse, online portals maintained by the state judiciary, and direct written requests. The Lee County Circuit Clerk’s website provides office contact information, downloadable forms, and fee schedules. For broader statewide court information and resources, AlabamaCourts.us may help users identify court locations, understand filing procedures, and find links to publicly accessible case data across Alabama’s trial and appellate courts.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Lee County?
Lee County’s trial courts are organized into divisions that handle distinct categories of cases. The Circuit Clerk’s office is the primary custodian of criminal, civil, domestic relations, and traffic records at both the circuit and district levels. The Probate Judge’s office maintains probate, guardianship, and adoption files separately.
Court Locations
| Court/Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Thirty-Seventh Judicial Circuit Court (Circuit Clerk) | T.K. Davis Justice Center, 2311 Gateway Drive, Opelika, AL 36801 | (334) 737-3526 |
| Lee County Probate Court | 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, AL 36801 | (334) 737-3670 |
| Probate Court – Auburn Satellite | 1266 Mall Parkway, Auburn, AL 36830 | (334) 737-7297 |
| Probate Court – Smiths Station Satellite | 2336 Lee Road 430, Smiths Station, AL 36877 | (334) 448-3299 |
| Opelika Municipal Court | 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Opelika, AL 36801 | (334) 705-5190 |
| Auburn Municipal Court | 141 N. Ross Street, Auburn, AL 36830 | (334) 501-3180 |
| Phenix City Municipal Court | 1111 Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Phenix City, AL 36867 | (334) 448-2780 |
The Circuit Clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Probate Court operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Passports are processed at the Circuit Clerk’s office Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (walk-ins only).
Online Case Search — Alacourt Access
The primary electronic tool for searching Lee County court records is the Alacourt Access portal (also called “Just One Look”). This statewide system provides access to civil, criminal, domestic relations, child support, traffic, and small claims records across all Alabama trial courts. To use the system:
- Visit the Alacourt Access website and create an account using your email address.
- Log in with your credentials.
- Search by party name or case number.
- Review docket information, case events, and party details in the search results.
Searches cost $9.99. Viewing document images costs $5.00 for the first 20 pages, with additional pages at $0.50 each. Case monitoring — which provides automatic updates on case activity — costs $19.99 for district-level cases and $29.99 for circuit-level cases.
Appellate Court Records
For cases that have been appealed, the Alabama Appellate Courts Public Portal provides free access to appellate docket information, including case searches by party name or case number.
In-Person Searches
Visitors to the T.K. Davis Justice Center can request records directly from the Circuit Clerk’s counter during business hours. Provide the case number or the full name of a party to facilitate the search. Fees must be paid before copies are released.
Mail Requests
The Circuit Clerk accepts mail requests using the Request for Copies and/or Searches of Court Records form. Submit the completed form along with the appropriate fee by money order (the clerk does not accept credit cards or personal checks for mail requests) and a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Circuit Clerk, 2311 Gateway Drive, Opelika, AL 36801. Mail requests require at least seven working days for processing.
Copy Fees (Mail and In-Person)
- 1 to 20 pages: $25.00
- Each additional page beyond 20: $0.50
- Certified copies: $5.00 additional per document
Are Court Records Public in Lee County?
Alabama’s open records framework rests on the Alabama Open Records Law (Code of Alabama § 36-12-40), which grants every citizen the right to inspect and copy public records maintained by government entities, including courts. In Lee County, this means that most case files held by the Circuit Clerk and the Probate Judge are available for public inspection during business hours.
Records That Are Generally Public
- Criminal complaints, indictments, pleas, and sentencing orders
- Civil complaints, answers, motions, and judgments
- Divorce decrees and domestic relations filings (with certain redactions)
- Probate petitions, wills admitted to probate, estate inventories, and court orders
- Traffic citations and dispositions
- Small claims filings and judgments
Records That Are Confidential or Restricted
Alabama law and court rules exclude certain categories from public access:
- Adoption records
- Juvenile delinquency proceedings
- Mental health and psychological evaluation records
- Personal information of minors and assault victims
- Jurors’ and witnesses’ personal identifying details
- Financial information such as Social Security numbers and bank account numbers
- Expunged records (sealed by court order under Alabama Code Title 15, Chapter 27)
The Circuit Clerk’s office will redact protected information before releasing copies. Records that have been expunged are removed from public databases, including the Alacourt Access portal.
Expungement
Effective July 1, 2021, Alabama’s expungement laws were updated under Code of Alabama § 15-27. Eligible individuals may petition the circuit court to seal certain criminal records. The filing fee for an expungement petition in Lee County is $500.00. The Expungement of Records petition form is available on the Circuit Clerk’s website.
Lee County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Lee County are prosecuted through two divisions of the Thirty-Seventh Judicial Circuit, depending on offense severity.
Jurisdictional Structure
The Circuit Criminal Division handles felony prosecutions — offenses carrying potential imprisonment in the state penitentiary. The District Criminal Division handles misdemeanor cases, lesser felonies within its statutory jurisdiction, and preliminary hearings in felony matters. Both divisions operate from the T.K. Davis Justice Center.
Division Contact Numbers
| Division | Phone |
|---|---|
| Circuit Criminal | (334) 737-3547 |
| District Criminal | (334) 737-4501 |
| Criminal Front Counter | (334) 737-3518 |
Searching Criminal Records
Criminal case records can be searched through three methods:
- Online via Alacourt Access: Search by defendant name or case number for $9.99. Document images cost $5.00 for the first 20 pages.
- In person: Visit the Criminal Division counter at the Justice Center during business hours with a name or case number.
- By mail: Submit the Request for Copies form with fees by money order.
Arrest Records and the Sheriff’s Office
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records and booking information. The office is located at:
Lee County Sheriff’s Office
1900 Frederick Road, Opelika, AL 36801
Phone: (334) 749-5651
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Records requests can be submitted to the Sheriff’s Office using its public records request form. Arrest records maintained by the Sheriff are separate from court case files held by the Circuit Clerk.
Statewide Criminal History Checks
For formal criminal background reports, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation operates the Criminal Records Identification Unit. Individuals may request their own Alabama Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) by completing the ALEA Application to Review CHRI form and submitting it with a fingerprint card, a copy of valid identification, and a $25.00 fee (money order or cashier’s check) to: State Bureau of Investigation, 301 S. Ripley Street, P.O. Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36104. Phone: (334) 676-7894
Qualifying employers may subscribe to the Alabama Background Check System for $95.00 per year, with individual checks costing $15.00 each.
Lee County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Lee County is split between Circuit Civil and District Civil divisions based on the dollar amount in controversy.
Jurisdictional Thresholds
The Circuit Civil Division has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil cases exceeding $10,000 and concurrent jurisdiction with the District Court for matters between $3,000 and $10,000. The District Civil Division handles cases at the district level, including evictions and unlawful detainers. Small claims cases — those involving $6,000 or less — are also filed through the District Civil Division.
Division Contact Numbers
| Division | Phone |
|---|---|
| Circuit Civil | (334) 737-3513 |
| District Civil / Evictions | (334) 737-3532 |
| Small Claims / Records Requests | (334) 737-3515 |
Civil Filing Fees
The Circuit Clerk’s civil fee sheet lists the following filing costs:
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Small Claims ($1,500 or less) | $102.00 ($122.00 with Lee County Sheriff service) |
| Small Claims ($1,501–$3,000) | $176.00 ($196.00 with Sheriff service) |
| Small Claims ($3,001–$6,000) | $265.00 ($285.00 with Sheriff service) |
| District Civil ($6,001–$20,000) | $350.00 ($370.00 with Sheriff service) |
| Unlawful Detainers (Evictions) | $350.00 ($370.00 with Sheriff service) |
| Circuit Civil ($20,001–$50,000) | $349.00 ($369.00 with Sheriff service) |
| Circuit Civil ($50,001 and above) | $449.00 ($469.00 with Sheriff service) |
| Circuit Civil Jury Demand | $100.00 |
| Civil Subpoenas | $12.00 |
| Attachment / Garnishment / Execution | $30.00 |
| Motion for Default Judgment | $50.00 |
Service by Sheriff inside Lee County adds $20.00 per person; service by Sheriff outside the county carries no additional fee.
Obtaining Civil Case Records
Civil records follow the same retrieval methods available for all Circuit Clerk records: online through Alacourt Access ($9.99 per search), by mail using the Request for Copies form ($25.00 for up to 20 pages), or in person at the Justice Center during business hours. The Circuit Clerk accepts payment by cash or money order for in-person and mail requests. Credit cards and personal checks are not accepted for mail requests.
Electronic Filing
Attorneys and registered pro se litigants can file civil documents electronically through AlaFile, the state judiciary’s electronic filing system. Pro se parties must complete the registration process online, then bring the printed form and a state-issued photo ID to the Clerk’s office for verification. Once registered, parties receive electronic notices of orders entered in their cases.
Lee County Family Court Records
Family law cases in Lee County are handled through the Domestic Relations Division of the Thirty-Seventh Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Clerk’s office maintains all domestic relations case files.
Case Types
The Domestic Relations Division processes divorce complaints, annulments, custody and visitation disputes, child support establishment and modification, protection from abuse (PFA) orders, and related post-judgment motions.
Division Contact Numbers
| Staff Function | Phone |
|---|---|
| Divorce / Child Support / PFAs | (334) 737-3509 |
| Child Support | (334) 737-3514 |
Filing Fees for Family Matters
- Domestic Relations (initial filing): $297.00 ($317.00 with Lee County Sheriff service)
- Domestic Relations (modification): $400.00 ($420.00 with Sheriff service)
- Child Support: $197.00 ($217.00 with Sheriff service)
- Child Support Subpoenas: $8.00
Obtaining Family Court Records
Family court records can be retrieved through the same channels as other Circuit Clerk records. The Alacourt Access portal includes domestic relations and child support case records searchable by name or