Winston County Court Records Search

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    Winston County, Alabama falls within the Twenty-Fifth Judicial Circuit, which determines how court records are organized, stored, and made available across the county. These records are legal documents created and preserved in connection with court proceedings. They typically cover case filings, hearing notices, court orders, judgments, financial records, and case action summaries. The Winston County Circuit Clerk is the main custodian for most of these records and manages them across ten case divisions, including Civil, Criminal, Domestic, Child Support, Traffic, Juvenile, and Warrants.

    If you need to find case information in Alabama, there are several ways to go about it. The most reliable options are official court resources — clerk offices, public access terminals at courthouses, and the state's online case system. AlabamaCourts.us can help you identify court contacts, find publicly available case data, and get a better understanding of the state's judicial structure before you submit a formal request.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Winston County?

    The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts runs a statewide online system called "Just One Look" through the Alacourt Public Access portal. This subscription-based service lets you search electronically imaged court records from Winston County — and every other Alabama trial court — by name or case number.

    Alacourt Public Access — Fee Schedule:

    Search Type

    Fee

    Name Search

    $9.99

    Case Number Search

    $9.99

    Document Images (first 20 pages)

    $5.00

    Document Images (each additional page)

    $0.50

    Results from this portal include case status, hearing dates, party details, court actions, financial histories, and full case action summaries. The Winston County Circuit Clerk's Office directs most trial court inquiries to this portal.

    If you'd rather make your request in person, start at the Circuit Clerk's Office. Staff can help you locate non-restricted court records across all case divisions. Bring a valid photo ID and be ready to provide the party name, case number, or relevant filing date.

    Winston County Circuit Clerk's Office
    Address: 10 Blake Dr., P.O. Box 309, Double Springs, AL 35553
    Phone: (205) 489-5533
    Email: john.snoddy@alacourt.gov
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Closed 12:00–1:00 p.m.)

    The Winston County Circuit Clerk's website also publishes current court dockets, so you can check scheduled hearings and case activity without having to call or visit the office.

    Are Court Records Public in Winston County?

    Under Alabama's Public Records Law (Ala. Code § 36-12-40), every citizen has the right to inspect and copy public writings held by government agencies, including courts. Winston County court records are presumed public unless a specific statutory or court-ordered exemption applies.

    That said, certain categories of records are excluded from public access — either permanently or for a set period. Common restricted categories include:

    • Juvenile records — protected under Ala. Code § 12-15-133; details of proceedings involving minors are generally confidential
    • Adoption records — sealed by court order and not available to the general public
    • Grand jury proceedings — protected from disclosure to preserve the integrity of criminal investigations
    • Pending criminal investigation records — restricted until investigations are resolved
    • Mental health commitment records — classified as confidential
    • Records containing personal identifying information — including Social Security numbers, which must be redacted before public release
    • Sensitive medical or psychological records submitted during court proceedings

    Alabama adopted updated court record privacy and confidentiality rules in 2025, effective across all appellate, circuit, district, juvenile, and municipal courts. These rules created a more uniform statewide framework for handling confidential filings and redaction requirements. If you're unsure whether a specific record is restricted, contact the Circuit Clerk's Office before making a formal request.

    Winston County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Winston County — ranging from misdemeanors and traffic offenses to felony prosecutions — are filed and managed through the Circuit and District Courts, both operating under the Twenty-Fifth Judicial Circuit. Records documenting charges, arraignments, pleas, trial proceedings, and sentencing can be accessed through the Alacourt Public Access portal or in person at the Circuit Clerk's Office.

    Arrest records are a separate matter. The Winston County Sheriff's Office maintains booking information, inmate records, and law enforcement reports.

    Winston County Sheriff's Office
    Address: 11 Blake Drive, Double Springs, AL 35553
    Phone: (205) 489-8765

    Walk-in and mail-in requests for arrest records should go to the Sheriff's Office. When making a request, provide the subject's full name and, if you have it, the arrest date — this speeds up the search. Keep in mind that some law enforcement records, particularly those tied to active investigations, may be withheld under applicable exemptions.

    Misdemeanor Criminal Court Costs assessed in Winston County cases include the following components:

    Cost Category

    Amount

    Victim's Assessment Fee

    $25.00

    Criminal History Fee

    $30.00

    State Comptroller

    $64.00

    Fair Trial Tax Fund

    $21.00

    Winston County General Fund

    $10.00

    Winston County Judicial Building Fund

    $30.00

    Crime Victim's Compensation Commission

    $10.00

    Advanced Technology Fund

    $5.00

    Municipal courts in Winston County handle lower-level criminal matters independently from the Circuit Court system. These include the Haleyville Municipal Court (1901 11th Ave, Haleyville, AL 35565; (205) 486-3121), the Double Springs Municipal Court (21 Main St, P.O. Box 279, Double Springs, AL 35553; (205) 489-5447), the Addison Municipal Court (16323 County Rd 41, P.O. Box 98, Addison, AL 35540; (205) 747-2971), and the Arley Municipal Court (6788 County Rd 41, P.O. Box 146, Arley, AL 35541; (205) 387-0103).

    Winston County Civil Court Records

    Civil cases in Winston County are split between the Circuit Court, which handles higher-value claims, and the District Court, which covers smaller claims including small claims matters. Both courts operate from the same courthouse complex, and the Circuit Clerk maintains records for both.

    Civil Filing Fees for Winston County:

    Case Type

    Filing Fee

    Small Claims ($1,500 or less)

    $82.00

    Small Claims ($1,501–$3,000)

    $156.00

    District Civil ($3,001–$10,000)

    $277.00

    Circuit Civil (up to $50,000)

    $276.00

    Circuit Civil (over $50,000)

    $376.00

    Workers' Compensation

    $224.00

    Civil Jury Demand

    $100.00

    Garnishment & Writ of Execution

    $30.00

    Civil Subpoenas

    $12.00

    You can find the complete civil filing fee schedule on the Circuit Clerk's official website, along with additional cost breakdowns for counterclaims, cross-claims, and third-party actions.

    To search for a civil case online, log in to the Alacourt Public Access portal and filter results by case type and county. If you prefer to visit in person, head to the Circuit Clerk's Office with basic case details; staff will give you the appropriate record request form. Copies of civil case documents are released once fees have been collected.

    Property-related civil records — including deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments recorded against real property — are maintained by the Winston County Probate Office's Recording Department, not the Circuit Clerk. The Probate Office's recording annex offers public viewing terminals for on-site searches. You can also run an online property records search through the Winston County Probate online portal. For ownership data, parcel details, and GIS mapping, the Winston County Revenue Commission's property search provides a searchable database by name, PIN, parcel, or address.

    Winston County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Winston County — including divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence proceedings, and paternity actions — are handled by the Circuit Court as Domestic Relations cases. The Winston County Circuit Clerk's Office maintains all related case records and filings.

    Domestic Relations filing fee: $224.00
    DR Modification or Enforcement filing fee: $327.00

    Divorce records filed through the court are accessible through the Alacourt Public Access portal by searching a party's name or case number. You can also access domestic relations files in person at the Circuit Clerk's Office during regular hours. Be aware that some domestic case records involving children — especially in custody and child abuse contexts — may be partially or fully restricted.

    Certified copies of divorce certificates, which are separate from court case filings, are maintained by the Alabama Center for Health Statistics and are available for events occurring from 1950 onward. You can obtain certified copies through:

    Divorce Certificate Fee: $15.00 (non-refundable search fee, includes one certified copy); each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $6.00.

    The same fee structure applies to certified marriage certificates, which are available from 1936 onward. The completed vital records request form published by the Alabama Department of Public Health is used for marriage, divorce, birth, and death certificate requests submitted by mail. Mail requests must include a copy of valid government-issued photo ID and payment by check or money order made payable to the Center for Health Statistics.

    Birth and death certificates are also managed by the Alabama Department of Public Health's Vital Records division. Birth certificates have been available through the Center for Health Statistics since 1908, and death certificates are issued with restricted access for 25 years from the date of death. Both cost $15.00 for the first certified copy and $6.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You can make requests in person at the Winston County Health Department, by mail to the Center for Health Statistics, or online through the state-authorized vendor VitalChek.

    Winston County Probate Court Records

    The Winston County Probate Court is a separate court from the Circuit and District Courts, operating under the jurisdiction of the Honorable Sheila G. Moore, Probate Judge. It handles estate administration, will probation, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, name changes, and involuntary mental health commitments. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Winston County Probate Court
    Address: 25125 Hwy 195, P.O. Box 27, Double Springs, AL 35553
    Phone: (205) 489-5219
    Fax: (205) 489-5135

    The Probate Court's Recording Department — located in the courthouse annex — handles the recording, indexing, and preservation of public documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, corporate filings, and judgments. Public viewing terminals are available in the department for in-person searches of recorded instruments. For remote access, the Winston County Probate online records portal lets you search land records and probate case records without visiting the courthouse.

    Key functions of the Winston County Probate Court include:

    • Estate administration — overseeing the distribution of assets for both testate (with a will) and intestate (without a will) decedents
    • Will probation — interpreting the terms of a will and determining rightful heirs when disputes arise
    • Guardianship and conservatorship — appointing and periodically reviewing court-appointed guardians and conservators for incapacitated adults and minors
    • Mental health proceedings — conducting hearings on involuntary psychiatric hospitalization petitions under the Alabama Mental Health Code
    • Adoptions — processing adoption petitions, though resulting records are sealed from public access

    Probate records connected to specific estates or guardianship matters can be searched on-site using the public terminals in the recording department. Note that the Probate Court does not provide blank forms at the counter — you'll need to obtain any necessary forms independently before appearing. Direct questions about the Records Department to the office at (205) 489-5219. For broader land-related searches, the Winston County Revenue Commission's GIS mapping and parcel search tool can supplement what's available through the Probate recording annex.