Tuscaloosa County Court Records Search

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    Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, is home to a multi-tiered court system that handles thousands of civil, criminal, family, and probate matters each year. The county seat of Tuscaloosa anchors this system, with the Circuit, District, and Probate Courts all operating from the historic courthouse on Greensboro Avenue. Court records generated by these proceedings — including pleadings, judgments, court orders, dockets, motions, subpoenas, and transcripts — document the full scope of legal activity in the county and serve as the foundation for legal precedent, public accountability, and individual rights.

    Finding Tuscaloosa County Court Records:

    Alabama residents and researchers have several avenues for locating court records at the county and state level. The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts maintains a statewide system for accessing trial court records, and the state’s courts website at AlabamaCourts.us can assist users in identifying publicly available case information from courts across the state. Records may also be requested directly from clerk offices, viewed at public access terminals at the courthouse, or located through official online search systems. For documents not available digitally, the relevant clerk’s office is typically the best starting point.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Tuscaloosa County?

    The primary online tool for searching Tuscaloosa County court cases is Alacourt Access V2.0, also referred to as “Just One Look” by the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. This fee-based system provides on-demand access to all state trial court records in Alabama, including civil, domestic, criminal, and traffic matters filed in Tuscaloosa County.

    Alacourt Access pricing:

    • Name search: $9.99
    • Case number search: $9.99
    • Document images: $5.00 for the first 20 pages; $0.50 per page thereafter

    Steps to search Tuscaloosa County cases online:

    1. Visit pa.alacourt.com and create an account
    2. Log in and navigate to the Tuscaloosa County docket search (location code 63 for the Sixth Circuit)
    3. Enter the party’s name or case number as the search criterion
    4. Review results and select the relevant case record
    5. Purchase document images if needed

    For records not accessible online, requesters may contact or visit the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in person:

    Tuscaloosa County – Sixth Circuit Court
    Address: 714 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
    Phone: (205) 464-8260
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Circuit Clerk: Magaria H. Bobo

    The Circuit Clerk’s Office serves as the official record keeper for all proceedings in both the Circuit and District Courts. Court records are electronically imaged and maintained across ten divisions: Civil, Criminal, Domestic, Child Support, Traffic, Juvenile, Warrants, and related subdivisions. For filing fee questions, contact the clerk’s office directly, as current filing fees are available through the court’s official website. Additional legal forms and procedural resources are available at www.alacourt.gov.

    Are Court Records Public in Tuscaloosa County?

    The majority of court records generated in Tuscaloosa County are open to the public under Alabama’s Open Records Act. Alabama Code § 36-12-40 guarantees every Alabama resident the right to inspect and copy public records, and this right extends broadly to court documents maintained by Tuscaloosa County clerks and agencies. The broader framework — found at Title 36, Chapter 12, Sections 1–30 of the Alabama Code — governs public access at the county level.

    Records exempt from public access in Tuscaloosa County include:

    • Adoption records and related proceedings
    • Juvenile and youthful offender records
    • Sealed and expunged records
    • Records involving ongoing or pending investigations
    • Sensitive personal identifiers (Social Security numbers, financial account information)
    • Certain family law records, including termination of parental rights, domestic violence details, divorce financial affidavits, and victim information
    • Custody-related records where confidentiality has been ordered

    When records fall under an exemption, courts may redact specific information rather than withhold entire documents. Requesters who believe a record has been improperly withheld may seek clarification through the clerk’s office or consult legal counsel. The Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court website provides contact information and procedural guidance for public records inquiries.

    Tuscaloosa County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal matters in Tuscaloosa County pass through both the District Court (for misdemeanors and preliminary hearings on felonies) and the Circuit Court (for felony trials and appeals from District Court). Records from these proceedings are maintained by the Circuit Clerk’s Office and are generally searchable through the Alacourt system.

    What Tuscaloosa criminal court records typically include:

    • Criminal charging documents and indictments
    • Arrest records and booking information
    • Mugshots and fingerprint records
    • Bail and bond documentation
    • Court orders and warrants
    • Conviction records and sentencing information
    • Probation and parole records

    Agencies maintaining criminal records in Tuscaloosa County:

    • Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
    • Tuscaloosa County District Court Clerk’s Office
    • Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
    • Tuscaloosa Police Department
    • Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

    For pre-conviction arrest records, the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office maintains its own “Who’s In Jail” roster on its website, which can be searched by last name or arrest date. For a formal criminal history background check statewide, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Criminal Records and Identification Unit processes requests using the ALEA Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information (CHRI).

    How to request a criminal history record through ALEA:

    1. Download the CHRI application form from the ALEA website
    2. Complete the form with the subject’s identifying information
    3. Include a $25.00 administrative fee (money order or cashier’s check payable to ALEA)
    4. Mail to: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Criminal Records and Identification Unit, ATTN: Record Challenge, P.O. Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102-1511

    Expunged and sealed criminal records are not available to the public, regardless of the request method used.

    Tuscaloosa County Civil Court Records

    Civil proceedings in Tuscaloosa County are divided between the Circuit Court (higher-value or more complex civil matters) and the District Court (limited civil jurisdiction, including small claims). The Circuit Clerk’s Office maintains records for both courts, including case filings, judgments, orders, and supporting documentation.

    Types of civil cases handled in Tuscaloosa County:

    • Personal injury and tort claims
    • Breach of contract disputes
    • Property and boundary disputes
    • Debt collection proceedings
    • Employment law matters
    • Administrative agency reviews

    How to access Tuscaloosa County civil court records:

    • Search online through Alacourt Access V2.0 (registration and fees required)
    • Visit the Circuit Clerk’s Office at 714 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 during business hours
    • Contact the clerk at (205) 464-8260 for assistance identifying the correct division

    Fees for civil record copies:

    Record TypeFee
    Circuit Court case file search$5.00 per name
    Copies$1.00 per page
    Certified copies$5.00 per document
    Real property records$3.00 per page (max two names for grantor/grantee)

    When requesting records in person, be prepared to provide valid photo identification, the case number or party names, and the specific documents needed. Some records may require completion of a written request form before access is granted. Redaction of sensitive personal information may apply to certain civil filings.

    Tuscaloosa County Family Court Records

    Family law cases in Tuscaloosa County fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court, which adjudicates all domestic and family-related matters as part of its broad jurisdiction. The Domestic division of the Circuit Clerk’s Office handles these records, which are separated from general civil and criminal filings.

    Family court matters in Tuscaloosa County include:

    • Divorce and dissolution of marriage
    • Child custody and parenting time disputes
    • Child support establishment, enforcement, and modification
    • Domestic violence protection orders
    • Paternity proceedings
    • Adoption
    • Guardianship of minors
    • Name changes

    To search for Tuscaloosa County family court case records, registered users can access the Alacourt Access V2.0 docket search for Tuscaloosa (Sixth Circuit) directly. This system allows searches by party name or case number across domestic, child support, and related categories. In-person access is available through the Circuit Clerk’s Office at 714 Greensboro Ave during business hours (8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Monday–Friday).

    Privacy restrictions apply to a number of family court records. Adoption records are sealed by statute and not accessible to the public. Records involving active domestic violence proceedings, termination of parental rights, and certain custody-related financial disclosures are also restricted. Requesters should confirm with the clerk’s office whether a specific record is subject to a confidentiality order before making a trip in person.

    Marriage and divorce records in Tuscaloosa County are maintained by the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Vital Records Division. Marriage records are generally public; divorce records carry more restrictions. Both can be ordered online or by mail:

    Vital RecordFee
    Marriage or divorce certificate (first certified copy)$15.00
    Additional copies ordered at the same time$6.00 each
    Expedited delivery$15.00
    Processing fee$9.50

    For mail requests, submit a completed application and payment to: Alabama Vital Records, P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL. For in-person access, visit the Center for Health Statistics at 201 Monroe Street, Suite 1150, Montgomery, AL 36104.

    Birth and death records in Alabama are confidential under the Open Records Act. Restrictions on birth records expire 125 years from the date of birth; death records become accessible 25 years after the date of death. Both types of records are maintained by the ADPH Vital Records Division and are available only to authorized individuals outside those time windows.

    Tuscaloosa County Probate Court Records

    The Tuscaloosa County Probate Court operates under Alabama Code § 12-19-90, which governs probate court fees and procedures. The Probate Court has broad jurisdiction over matters involving estates, guardianship, mental health commitments, and a range of civil and administrative functions.

    Matters handled by the Tuscaloosa County Probate Court:

    • Probating wills and administering intestate estates
    • Guardianship and conservatorship proceedings
    • Adoptions and legitimations
    • Minor settlements
    • Mental health commitments
    • Name changes
    • Marriage license corrections
    • Condemnations and cemetery establishment

    Tuscaloosa County Probate Court
    Address: 714 Greensboro Ave, Room 121, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
    Phone: (205) 464-8204
    Email: probatedept@tuscco.com

    Fees for probate records:

    • Probate court records: $2.00 per document
    • Real property records: $3.00 per page

    For a complete and current schedule of probate fees effective December 1, 2021, the Tuscaloosa County Probate Court fee schedule is available on the county website. Fees are subject to change, and the Probate Court should be contacted directly for the most current information before filing.

    How to search Tuscaloosa County probate records online:

    1. Visit the Tuscaloosa County Probate Records portal
    2. Create a free account using your name and email address
    3. Log in to search estate, guardianship, and related probate case records
    4. Pay applicable fees for document downloads

    Records not available through the online portal can be requested by calling the Probate Court directly at (205) 464-8204, emailing probatedept@tuscco.com, or visiting the Probate Court at the courthouse during business hours. Business filings that were previously handled by the Probate Court are now processed through the Alabama Secretary of State’s Business Services office pursuant to Act 2020-73, effective January 1, 2021.