Public records in Alabama include property deeds, court cases, business filings, criminal records, and vital certificates. These records are maintained by county courts and state agencies. Most are accessible to Alabama residents under the Alabama Open Records Act. This guide explains where each type of record is held, who can request it, and how to search for it.
How to Access Public Records in Alabama
- Identify the county where the record was created.
- Choose the record type — property, court, vital, criminal, or business.
- Visit the appropriate government portal: probate court, court system, ADPH, ALEA, or Secretary of State.
- Search by name, address, case number, or parcel ID.
- Download or request copies, noting that fees may apply.
- If the record is not available online, contact the agency directly to submit a written request.
- For a directory of Alabama county property and court portals, see PublicRecordHub.com.
Alabama’s Open Records Law
Alabama’s public records system is governed by the Alabama Open Records Act, codified under Ala. Code § 36-12-40 et seq. The law requires state agencies to provide public access to records in electronic, audio, video, and written formats. A 2024 amendment expanded the definition of “records” to cover a broader range of government-held information.
Key provisions:
- Requests are limited to Alabama residents, though agencies may voluntarily respond to nonresidents.
- Agencies must acknowledge receipt within a set timeframe and estimate costs before producing records.
- Reasonable fees can be charged; agencies may require prepayment for large requests.
- Denials must cite a specific legal reason, and requesters can seek judicial review if a denial is improper.
- Common exemptions include investigatory files, personal privacy protections, tax records, and security-related information.
Who Can Request Public Records in Alabama?
Most public records in Alabama are available to state residents. Some agencies require proof of residency, while others process requests from anyone without verifying residency. Certain records — including juvenile files, sealed court cases, ongoing investigation files, and sensitive personal information — remain restricted regardless of who is requesting them.
Common Reasons Records Are Denied in Alabama
Even valid requests can be denied if they fall under a recognized exemption. Common reasons include:
- Ongoing criminal investigations
- Sealed court orders or expunged records
- Personal privacy protections (medical, mental health, certain personnel records)
- Security-sensitive government information
- Records subject to attorney-client privilege
- Tax records and financial data protected by statute
If your request is denied, the agency must provide the specific legal basis for the denial. You have the right to appeal administratively and, if necessary, through the courts.
Property Records in Alabama
Property records in Alabama are maintained at the county level by probate courts, which serve as the primary repositories for deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting real estate. There is no single statewide land records database — searches must target the specific county where the property is located.
What property records in Alabama contain:
- Deeds (warranty, quitclaim, special warranty)
- Mortgages and deeds of trust
- Liens (mechanic’s, tax, judgment)
- Parcel descriptions and easements
- Property tax assessment data
How to search property records in Alabama:
- Identify the county where the property is located.
- Visit that county’s probate court website or tax assessor portal.
- Search by parcel ID, owner name, or property address.
- For older records not yet digitized, contact the probate court directly.
Most counties have digitized recent records and provide online search portals. Older records may be on microfilm and require an in-person visit. For a directory of official Alabama county property record portals, organized by county, visit PublicRecordHub.
Court Records in Alabama
Court records in Alabama are accessible through several portals depending on the court type and jurisdiction.
Where to search:
- Alabama Appellate Courts Public Portal — docket searches for filings after March 20, 2022.
- Alabama Court Records site — centralized access to criminal, civil, family, and traffic records from multiple counties.
- County-specific portals — many counties maintain their own case lookup systems with varying coverage.
How to access court records in Alabama:
- Determine which court handled the case — circuit, district, probate, or appellate.
- Visit the appropriate online portal or county courthouse clerk’s office.
- Search by party name, case number, or filing date.
- Request document copies through the clerk’s office; fees are typically charged per page.
Restrictions:
- Full document downloads are mostly limited to registered attorneys.
- Juvenile records and sealed cases are not accessible online.
- Coverage and policies vary significantly by county.
Vital Records in Alabama (Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce)
Vital records in Alabama are managed centrally by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) through its ViSION system.
What’s available:
- Birth certificates (dating back to the early 1900s for some counties)
- Death certificates (statewide records dating back to 1908)
- Marriage and divorce records
How to obtain vital records in Alabama:
- Visit adph.org or go in person to a county health department.
- Complete the records request form and provide valid photo ID.
- Show proof of relationship if requesting someone else’s record.
- Pay the applicable fee, which varies by processing speed and delivery method.
- Alternatively, order through VitalChek for online or phone requests.
Access restrictions:
- Recent birth records have restricted access — eligibility depends on your relationship to the person named.
- Death records become fully public after 25 years.
- Amendments to vital records require a separate legal process.
Criminal Records in Alabama
Criminal records in Alabama are managed primarily by two agencies:
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) — Criminal Records Identification Unit
- Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC)
What criminal records contain:
- Arrest records and fingerprint data
- Charges and dispositions
- Conviction history
How to request criminal records in Alabama:
- Obtain and complete the ALEA criminal history request form.
- Submit the form along with a set of fingerprints.
- Pay the applicable processing fee.
- Allow 5–10 business days for results.
- Third-party background checks require written authorization from the subject.
Restrictions:
- Juvenile records are confidential.
- Sealed and expunged records are not accessible to the public.
- Full criminal histories are not freely available — access is limited by state law.
- Some arrest logs and summaries may be available through local law enforcement depending on agency policy.
Business Records in Alabama
Business entity records in Alabama are managed by the Secretary of State’s Business Services Division and are searchable online at sos.alabama.gov.
What’s included:
- Domestic and foreign corporations
- Limited liability companies (LLCs)
- Limited partnerships
- Cooperatives and some nonprofits
- Filing histories including amendments, annual reports, and mergers
How to search business records in Alabama:
- Go to sos.alabama.gov and navigate to Business Entity Search.
- Search by business name, entity ID, officer name, or filing date.
- View entity type, status, formation date, and registered agent information.
- Request certified copies or scanned documents for a fee if needed.
Note: Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are typically not registered with the Secretary of State and will not appear in this database.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Alabama public records free?
Many records are free to search online, but copies typically cost a small fee. Some agencies charge for staff time spent locating records, and complex or voluminous requests may require prepayment before processing begins.
Can non-residents request Alabama public records?
Alabama’s open records law technically limits requests to residents, but many agencies will voluntarily respond to nonresidents. This is one of the less settled areas of Alabama public records law compared to other states.
How far back do Alabama records go?
It depends on the record type. Death records are available statewide from 1908. Property records vary by county and can date back to the 1800s. Court records online are generally more recent; older records require in-person research at the courthouse.
Are criminal records public in Alabama?
Limited information is publicly available, but full criminal histories require a formal request with fingerprints submitted to ALEA. Juvenile records, sealed cases, and expunged records are not accessible to the public.
How long are vital records restricted in Alabama?
Death records become fully public after 25 years. Birth records may remain restricted longer depending on the relationship of the requester to the person named on the certificate.
What is Alabama’s open records law called?
The Alabama Open Records Act, codified at Ala. Code § 36-12-40 et seq. A 2024 amendment expanded the scope of records covered under the law.
Find Alabama County Record Portals
Alabama has 67 counties, each with its own probate court, tax assessor, and court system. Finding the right portal for a specific county can be time-consuming.
A directory of official Alabama county record portals, organized by county, is available free through PublicRecordHub — so you can go directly to the official government source without hunting for individual county websites.