Russell County Court Records
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Russell County sits in eastern Alabama along the Georgia border, with Phenix City as its county seat. The county's court system stays busy, and if you need to track down a court record here — whether it's a criminal case, a divorce decree, or a probate filing — you'll be dealing with more than one office. Each handles different types of cases and keeps its own records. This guide walks you through where to go, what to expect, and how to get what you need.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Russell County?
You have a few practical options for finding court case records in Russell County: you can search online, visit the courthouse in person, or mail in a written request. AlabamaCourts.us connects you to court resources across Alabama, including county clerk websites and statewide forms. For Russell County specifically, the right path depends on the case type and how much detail you need.
Online Searching
The main electronic tool for searching Russell County trial court records is Alacourt Access, a subscription-based system run by the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. It covers civil, domestic relations, criminal, and traffic case data for all Alabama state trial courts. After setting up an account, you can search by party name, case number, or other identifiers. The Russell County docket search page on Alacourt Access comes pre-filtered for cases filed in the county, which saves time.
In-Person Access
If you'd rather search in person, the Russell County Circuit Clerk's office has a public access computer terminal in the Judicial Center lobby. It's free to use during regular business hours. You can view case information and document images on-screen, but if you want physical copies, you'll need to submit a formal request to the clerk.
Russell County Circuit Clerk's Office
Address: 501 14th Street, Phenix City, AL 36867
Phone: (334) 298-0516
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern)
Circuit Clerk: Jody Sellers
Mail Requests
To request documents by mail, download and complete the Request for Court Document Searches and/or Copies form from the Russell County Circuit Court website. Submit a separate form for each request, and include payment with your submission. Only money orders are accepted for mail requests — personal checks will not be processed. Plan on about a week for turnaround, and note that cases filed before 1977 may take additional research time.
Copy and Search Fee Schedule:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Computerized search (cases filed after January 1, 2005) | $10.00 |
| Archived records search (cases filed before January 1, 2005) | $25.00 |
| First 20 pages of copies | $5.00 |
| Each additional page beyond 20 | $0.50 |
| Certification per document | $5.00 |
| Copy of SJIS Case Information (per case) | $5.00 |
| Copy of SJIS Payment History (per case) | $5.00 |
Search fees apply even when no matching records are found. If you're unsure which fee tier applies, submit the higher amount — any overpayment will be refunded. Cash is only accepted for in-person visits. Money orders should be made payable to Jody Sellers.
Are Court Records Public in Russell County?
Alabama law starts from the position that court records are open to the public. Alabama Code 36-12-40 gives every citizen the right to inspect and copy public writings of the state, subject to limited exceptions. The Alabama Supreme Court reinforced this in Holland v. Eads, 614 So. 2d 1012 (Ala. 1993), recognizing a common-law right of public access to judicial records that predates the U.S. Constitution itself.
Starting January 1, 2025, the Alabama Supreme Court put the Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy and Confidentiality into effect. These rules create a unified framework for public access across all Alabama courts — circuit, district, juvenile, municipal, probate, and appellate.
Under these rules, records may be restricted from public view when they:
- Have been sealed by court order after a hearing where clear and convincing evidence warranted non-disclosure
- Contain confidential information designated by federal or state law, such as complete Social Security numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, or financial account numbers
- Pertain to juvenile proceedings, including law enforcement records concerning children under Alabama Code 12-15-134
- Involve adoption records, which are sealed under Alabama Code 26-10E-30 and 26-10F-15
- Contain information about domestic violence victims, including addresses and phone numbers protected under Alabama Code 30-5-5
- Include presentence investigative reports, grand jury deliberations, or abuse and neglect files
The burden of proving that records fall within a recognized exception lies with the party seeking to block disclosure. Any limitations on public access must be strictly construed. It's also worth knowing that identifying and redacting confidential material within filed documents is the responsibility of the filing party — not the clerk's office — under Rule 105 of the new rules.
Russell County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Russell County move through both the Circuit Court and the District Court, both housed at the Russell County Judicial Center. The Circuit Court — part of Alabama's Twenty-Sixth Judicial Circuit — handles felony matters. The District Court takes misdemeanors and certain preliminary proceedings. Circuit Judge David Johnson and Circuit Judge Zachary T. Collins preside over circuit-level criminal cases; District Judges Walter Lee Gray III and James P. Graham III handle the district criminal docket.
Searching Criminal Case Records
You can search criminal case records at the Judicial Center lobby terminal for free, or remotely through the Alacourt Access online portal. When requesting copies, use the clerk's request form and include the defendant's name and any known aliases, date of birth, last four digits of their Social Security number, case type or charges, and the approximate year of filing or case number if you have it.
Criminal History Records
A person's full criminal history — covering arrests, charges, convictions, sentencing, and parole information — is not publicly available in Alabama. Under Alabama Code 41-9-642, criminal history records can only be accessed by authorized parties: the individual named on the record, their attorneys, qualified employers, and law enforcement. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) runs the Alabama Background Check system for fingerprint-based criminal history searches.
Authorized users must complete the Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information. Fees are as follows:
- $25.00 per search (payable by cashier's check or money order)
- $5.00 for each additional copy
- $95.00 annual subscription fee
ALEA processes requests at 301 South Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36104, Phone: (334) 676-7897 Mail requests go to P.O. Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102-1511.
Arrest Records and Law Enforcement
For arrest records and police reports, start with the Russell County Sheriff's Office. Written requests should include the subject's name, date of birth, charge information, and arresting officer details.
Russell County Sheriff's Office
Physical Address: 305 Prentiss Drive, Phenix City, AL 36869
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 640, Phenix City, AL 36868
Phone: (334) 298-6535
Municipal ordinance violations within Phenix City go through the Phenix City Municipal Court, which handles misdemeanor traffic and non-traffic cases as well as parking citations.
Phenix City Municipal Court
Address: 1111 Broad Street, Second Floor, Phenix City, AL 36867
Phone: (334) 448-2780
Fax: (334) 291-4765
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Expungement of criminal records in Alabama is governed by Alabama Code 15-27. Expungement orders are issued by the court, not by ALEA, and qualifying records are sealed from public view once the court approves the petition.
Russell County Civil Court Records
Civil actions exceeding $10,000 are filed in the Russell County Circuit Court. The District Court handles civil matters up to $10,000, including evictions and unlawful detainer actions. If you're dealing with a dispute involving $6,000 or less, the Small Claims Division of the District Court is the right venue.
Civil Filing Fees
The Schedule of Civil Filing Fees published by the Circuit Clerk's office details the costs for initiating cases. Accepted payment methods include money orders, cashier's checks, business checks, and cash. Personal checks are not accepted.
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Circuit Civil ($50,000 or less) | $279.00 |
| Circuit Civil (over $50,000) | $379.00 |
| Workers' Compensation | $227.00 |
| Jury Demand | $100.00 |
| District Civil (including evictions) | $280.00 |
| Small Claims (up to $1,500) | $85.00 |
| Small Claims ($1,500.01–$3,000) | $159.00 |
| Small Claims ($3,000.01–$6,000) | $248.00 |
Additional service fees also apply: $15.00 per additional defendant, $15.00 for sheriff service, $35.00 for garnishments or executions, and $17.00 per subpoena.
Forms and Filing Resources
The Circuit Clerk keeps a library of local forms for civil matters, including the District Civil Filing Packet, Unlawful Detainer Filing Packet, Process of Garnishment, Writ of Execution, and Small Claims Filing Packet. Statewide forms are also available through the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts at eforms.alacourt.gov.
For small claims cases, file a Statement of Claim in the county where the defendant lives or where the transaction occurred. Once served, the defendant has 14 calendar days to file an answer. If no answer comes in, you can pursue a default judgment by submitting the Application for Default form. If you can't afford the filing fees, ask the clerk about a fee waiver — you'll need to complete the Affidavit of Substantial Hardship form.
Accessing Civil Records
Civil records are generally public and available to view at no charge on the courthouse lobby terminal. If you need copies, the fee schedule described in the case lookup section above applies. Mail and in-person copy requests go to the Circuit Clerk at 501 14th Street, Phenix City, AL 36867.
Russell County Family Court Records
Divorces, custody disputes, protection orders, child support matters, and modifications are all handled through the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court. The Domestic Relations section of the Circuit Clerk's website has more detail on procedures specific to family cases.
Divorce Cases
Even if both parties agree on everything, an uncontested divorce requires a 30-day waiting period after filing before a judge can sign the decree — assuming all paperwork is in order. Contested divorces are randomly assigned to a judge, and the defendant has 30 days after service to file a response. Filing a new domestic relations case costs $227.00. Modifications and contempt petitions carry a fee of $330.00, plus $15.00 if the Russell County Sheriff serves process.
A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $20.00. You can request it in person with cash or a money order, or by mail using the Request for Copies form along with a money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Make money orders payable to Jody Sellers. The Alabama Department of Public Health also maintains divorce certificates going back to 1950, available for $15.00 per search and $6.00 for additional copies.
Protection from Abuse Orders
If you need protection from domestic violence, you can petition for a Protection from Abuse order through the Circuit Clerk's office at no initial cost. The Petition for Protection from Abuse form is available at the clerk's office or online. Temporary orders stay in effect until a final hearing can be scheduled. Final protection orders are typically effective for one year. Violating a protection order can result in arrest and is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. Alabama's 24-hour domestic violence crisis line is available at (800) 650-6522.
Marriage Records
Russell County marriage records are kept by the Probate Court. The Alabama Department of Public Health holds copies of marriage certificates issued statewide since 1936, searchable for $15.00 per request. You can submit a request using the department's mail-in form, sending it to Alabama Vital Records, P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625, or by calling (334) 206-5418.
Birth and Death Records
Birth certificates are not public until 125 years after the date of birth, and death certificates become public 25 years after the date of death. Until those thresholds are met, only authorized persons may obtain copies — including the record subject, parents, legal guardians, spouses, adult children, and siblings. The Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15.00 per search, with expedited processing adding another $15.00. Fees should be paid by money order or check made out to the State Board of Health.
Russell County Probate Court Records
The Russell County Probate Court handles estate administration, wills, conservatorships, guardianships, name changes, involuntary commitments, and adoptions. The Probate Judge also serves as the county's chief elections official and oversees the public records and licensing offices.
Russell County Probate Court
Address: 1000 Broad Street, First Floor, Phenix City, AL 36867
Phone: (334) 298-7979
Fax: (334) 384-9866
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Wills and Estate Administration
According to the Probate Court's wills and administration page, you can research and copy wills at the office. Copies cost $1.00 per page, and certification runs an additional $3.00 per document. Under Alabama law, a will must be probated within five years of the decedent's death. When someone dies without a will, an interested party can file a Petition for Letters of Administration — but the petitioner must be an Alabama resident and secure a bond covering the estate's value. An inventory of the estate must then be filed within 60 days of appointment.
Real Estate and Property Records
The Probate Court maintains real estate filings, and many of these are searchable through the Russell County Probate online records portal for documents recorded from June 2002 forward. Property tax and parcel data are available through the Russell County GIS website. The Alabama Secretary of State also offers a land records lookup tool with a name search function covering properties across the state.
Confidential Probate Records
Some probate records are not open to the public — particularly those involving adoptions, guardianships of minors, and involuntary commitments, which are confidential under Alabama law. If you're trying to access a restricted probate file, contact the Probate Clerk's office ahead of your visit to confirm whether you're eligible to review those records.