St. Clair County, Alabama Court Records
St. Clair County court records are legal documents created during lawsuits. They include case files, transcripts, witness statements, financial statements, hearing records, and final judgments or sentences. The St. Clair County Circuit Court Clerk is the custodian of court records and issues them online and in person upon request. The database that hosts court records is also accessible to other government agencies, allowing them to access certain court information that may appear in their own records, such as arrest and vital records.
Are St. Clair County Court Records Public?
Yes. St. Clair County records are public under the Alabama Open Records Law. This gives every resident the right to inspect or copy court records from the St. Clair County Circuit Court Clerk. The Clerk must acknowledge a court record request within 10 business days of receiving it and respond to the request within 15 business days of acknowledging receipt. The Clerk will provide copies of records upon payment of a reasonable fee.
However, any court record whose disclosure would be detrimental to the public safety or welfare is exempt from public disclosure. Additionally, juvenile court records, records associated with attorney-client privilege or existing investigations are deemed confidential in St. Clair County.
What Information is Available in St. Clair County Court Records?
Typical St. Clair County court records include the following information:
- Case number and classification
- Filed date and case status
- Hearing date, location/room, type, and status
- Party role, name, status, and representation
- The case document name, type, pages, and size
- Docket entries including filing date, type, subtype, description, and name of the person who submitted the docket
St. Clair County Court Records Search
Anyone may perform a St. Clair County court records search via the following methods:
Online Access
Interested persons may access most St. Clair County court information through the Just One Look portal. They must register an account and sign in with an email and secure password. Search criteria include name or case number. Users should note that this is a fee-based access.
In-Person Access
The St. Clair County Circuit Court Clerk allows members of the public to visit the office to perform court records searches in person. The office opens Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Records staff may provide a request form or require basic information to process the request. After the record is found, a fee will be required before it is released.
Fees for Court Records in St. Clair County
A name- or case number-based search for court records costs $9.99 in St. Clair County. Document images cost $5.00 for the first 20 pages and $0.50 per page thereafter. Case monitoring on the Just One Look portal costs $19.99 for a district case and $29.99 for a circuit case for the lifetime of the case.
St. Clair County Courthouse Locations
St. Clair County judicial structure consists of the District, Circuit (30th Judicial Circuit of Alabama), Probate, and Municipal Courts. Below are the addresses of these courts:
St. Clair County Court - Ashville
100 6th Avenue
Suite 400
Ashville, AL 35953
Phone: (205) 594-2184
St. Clair County Court and Probate Office - Pell City
1815 Cogswell Avenue
Suite 217
Pell City, AL 35125
Ashville Probate Office
165 5th Avenue
Suite 101
Ashville, AL 35953
Phone: (205) 594-2120
Fax: (205) 594-2125
1905 1st Ave N
Pell City, AL 35125
Phone: (205) 338-2244
183 Alabama Street
Odenville, AL 35120
Phone: (205) 629-6366
670 Park Avenue
Moody, AL 35004
Criminal Records Access in St. Clair County
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) handles statewide criminal history records through the Criminal Records Identification Unit. To get a copy, complete the Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information(CHRI) Form and mail it to ALEA with a valid photo ID, a $25 fee (by money order or Cashier's check), and a set of fingerprints. The mailing address is:
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Criminal Records and Identification Unit
ATTN: Background Checks
P.O. Box 1511,
Montgomery, AL 36102-1511
The St. Clair County Circuit Court Clerk issues local copies of criminal records. People can obtain copies online through the Just One Look portal or in person during business hours.
St. Clair County Probate Records
The St Clair County Probate Court has two office locations where record seekers may find probate records. Make in-person requests during business hours, and staff may provide a form to help facilitate the search. Individuals may also access probate information by phone at (205) 594-2120 or (205) 338-9449, or by fax at (205) 594-2125 or (205) 525-0628. A name or number is required for the search. St. Clair County Family Court Records
Family law cases in St. Clair County include divorce, custody, adoption, and support matters. The St. Clair County Circuit Court Clerk maintains records of these cases, makes some available to the public, and deems others confidential. Copies of public family court records are available online through the Just One Look portal. The search criteria include name or case number. Record seekers may also visit the clerk's office to obtain copies of family court records. Both online and in-person requests attract a fee, which must be paid before the records are released.
Federal Court Records in St. Clair County
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama maintains federal court records in St. Clair County. Individuals may easily obtain copies of these records online through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) Locator. They must first register for a free account before searching for the records. Case information via the portal costs $0.10 per page, and the cost for a single document is capped at $3.00. PACER waives fees when users spend $30 or less for the quarter.
Record seekers may also visit the Clerk's Office to obtain copies of federal court records. The office charges $0.50 per page for copies of federal court records and $12 each for certified copies. Record Search for each name or item searched costs $34.
