DeKalb County Court Records

DeKalb County court records contain information about cases, court proceedings, and administrative records. Court records are produced from documents and materials filed or submitted between when a case is filed and its final disposition. Orders, motions, pleadings, subpoenas, petitions, transcripts, court recordings, and exhibits are examples of court records preserved by the judicial branch in DeKalb County.

Court records are created and maintained by the clerks’ offices of the various courts in DeKalb County for several reasons. These records serve as official reports of cases heard by the judicial branch and may be inspected by case parties to track the progress of a case or probe the judgment entered by the court. Judicial officers may also review these records as references for an ongoing proceeding. A search for Alabama court records will typically provide searchers with case details like the party names, case number, attorney name, filed charges/actions, case/docket number, case disposition, and verdicts.

Are Court Records Public in Dekalb County?

Yes. Court records are considered DeKalb County public records under §36-12-40, Code of Alabama1975 (Alabama Open Records Law). Interested persons are by this law, allowed to request, inspect, and copy court records provided those records are not sealed or exempt from public access by law or a court order.

Nonetheless, not all court records maintained in DeKalb County are publicly available. Generally, juvenile court records, sealed/expunged records, records containing sensitive information, and records of sexual abuse victims are restricted from the public. Other examples of court records that may be publicly unavailable include:

• Adoption and domestic violence records
• Criminal records of sexual abuse involving minors
• Court proceedings of mentally ill or substance-dependent persons
• Medical reports and diagnosis
• Subpoenas filed under the Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure
• Case files and records of public welfare applicants and beneficiaries
• Records that may disclose information about a confidential witness
• Active or outstanding warrants issued in criminal proceedings
• Confidential records and reports of investigations carried out by law enforcement agencies
• Case information whose disclosure may impede the administration of justice

DeKalb County Court Records Search

Individuals intending to perform a DeKalb County court records search may utilize the following options:

• In-person requests submitted to the Clerks’ offices of the Circuit and District Courts
• Walk-in visits to the courthouse where such case was filed or decided
• Remote access via the Alabama Trial Courts portal
• Online third-party websites or aggregators.

DeKalb County Courts

The court system in DeKalb County features a Circuit Court, District Court, Probate Court, and Municipal Courts. These courts preside over specific cases and have varying jurisdictions. The Circuit court is the court of general jurisdiction authorized to hear all cases filed in the County including appeals from lower courts. The District Court, on the other hand, is limited in jurisdiction and handles preliminary hearings of felonies, some misdemeanors, violations of ordinances, and civil cases. The Probate Court handles matters of Probate while the Municipal Courts decide matters of ordinances and share jurisdiction with the District Court over some criminal cases. Outlined below are the contact information and locations of DeKalb County courts:

DeKalb County Circuit Court
DeKalb County Courthouse
300 Grand Avenue South
Suite 200
P.O. Box 681149
Fort Payne, AL 35968
Phone: (256) 845-8525
Fax: (256) 845-8535

DeKalb County District Court
DeKalb County Courthouse
300 Grand Avenue South
Suite 200
P.O. Box 681149
Fort Payne, AL 35968
Phone: (256) 845-8525
Fax: (256) 845-8535

DeKalb County Probate Court
DeKalb County Courthouse
300 Grand Avenue Southwest
Suite 100
Fort Payne, AL 35967
Phone: (256) 845-8510
Fax: (256) 845-8514

Collinsville Municipal Court
Collinsville Town Hall
39 Post Office Street
P.O. Box 390
Collinsville, AL 35961
Phone: (256) 524-2135
Fax: (256) 524-2121

Crossville Municipal Court
P.O. Box 100
Crossville, AL 35962
Phone: (256) 528-7121 ext. 3.

Fort Payne Municipal Court
100 Alabama Avenue Northwest
Fort Payne, AL 35967
Phone: (256) 845-6728
Fax: (256) 844-6081

Fyffe Municipal Court
1514 Traylor Street West
P.O. Box 8
Fyffe, AL 35971
Phone: (256) 623-2222

Geraldine Municipal Court
41343 Alabama Highway 75
P.O. Box 183
Geraldine, AL 35974
Phone: (256) 659-2122

Henagar Municipal Court
9252 Alabama Highway 40
P.O. Box 128
Henagar, AL 35978
Phone: (256) 657-7691
Fax: (256) 657-5690

Ider Municipal Court
10793 Alabama Highway 75
P.O. Box 72
Ider, AL 35981
Phone: (256) 657-5717

Mentone Municipal Court
5972 Alabama Highway 117
P.O. Box 295
Mentone, AL 35984
Phone: (256) 634-4541

Powell Municipal Court
110 South Broad Street
Powell, AL 35971
Phone: (256) 638-4283

Rainsville Municipal Court
70 McCurdy Avenue South
P.O. Box 309
Rainsville, AL 35986
Phone: (256) 638-6334

Sylvania Municipal Court
22957 Sylvania Avenue South
P.O. Box 150
Sylvania, AL 35988
Phone: (256) 638-2604
Fax: (256) 638-7670

Valley Head Municipal Court
41 Anderson Street
P.O. Box 329
Valley Head, AL 35989
Phone: (256) 635-6814

DeKalb County Criminal Records

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) maintains DeKalb County arrest and criminal records. Per state laws, criminal records are available for prospective employees/employers and record subjects. Hence, third-party requestors must complete, sign, and notarize the Affidavit for Release Information section available on the application form.

Eligible individuals and prospective employers may submit a filled-out Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) to the ALEA by mail or in person at:

301 South Ripley Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: (866) 740-4762 or (334) 676-7897
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 1511
Montgomery, AL 36102-1511.

The application form is to be submitted alongside a recent photo ID and a fee of $25 payable by cashier's check or money order. Alternatively, concerned persons may obtain criminal history information via the Alabama Background Check (ABC) portal managed by the ALEA. The ABC search portal is subscription-based and requires the creation of an account. Users may need to pay an annual subscription fee of $95 and subsequently pay a search fee of $15 per record.

Get DeKalb County Civil Court Records

DeKalb County Civil court records consist of official files and case information created from litigations involving settling disputes or claims of injury/damages. Civil cases handled by the Circuit and District Courts in DeKalb County include eviction issues, landlord and tenant disputes, personal injury suits, contract and property disputes, small claims, and divorce/annulments. The Circuit Court's Clerk is the official custodian of Civil court records for DeKalb County.

Members of the public may freely request civil court records and case information from the clerk's office by visiting within regular hours or submitting request forms via mail. The clerk's office charges $5 for the initial 20 pages of a civil court record, $.5 for subsequent pages, and $5 for certification. There is also a search fee of $10 per copy for electronic records and $25 per copy for paper, archived, and microfilm formats of court records.

The Alabama Trial Court system also has a statewide repository for accessing court records. Interested persons may search civil court records on this portal by name or case number. There is a fee of $9.99 per search attached to the use of this search portal. Users also have a payment option that enables them to monitor a case and gain access to its filings within the lifespan of the case. Circuit court case monitoring costs $29.99 while District Court records may be monitored for $19.99.

DeKalb County Marriage Records

DeKalb County Marriage records are open to the public and may be requested by anyone with an adequate description of the record and the required fees. The Alabama Center for Health Statistics maintains DeKalb County Marriage certificates issued from 1936 and makes them available to the public on request. Requestors are to provide details of the record such as names of both parties before the marriage, date, and location of the marriage. Marriage certificates cost $15 for the first copy and $6 for additional copies. Payments are to be made by check or money order made payable to the State Board of Health.

Interested persons may fill out the application form and submit the required fees and identification in person to any local health department. Application forms may also be submitted via mail to the state’s Department of Health at:

Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5625.

DeKalb County Divorce Records

DeKalb County divorce records may be obtained from the Circuit clerk's office by submitting in-person or mail requests. Divorce decrees and case information may also be accessed online via the state's Judicial branch search tool (JustOneLook).

Besides, the Center for Health Statistics also provides requestors with copies of divorce certificates issued between 1950 to the present. Concerned persons may obtain copies of DeKalb County divorce certificates at $15 per copy and $6 per extra copy. The requesting party should provide search details such as the names of the divorced persons, the date of the divorce, and the county where the divorce took place. To request a certified copy of a DeKalb County divorce record, one may submit a completed request form to the county health department in person or send a mail request to the Vital Records office of the Alabama Department of Health.

DeKalb County Birth and Death Records

DeKalb County vital records include marriage, divorce, birth, and death records. Birth and death records are confidential in DeKalb County per state laws. However, DeKalb County birth records more than 125 years old and death records above 25 years may be publicly available. Confidential birth or death records may be requested for by the record subject and other authorized entities.

To request a DeKalb County birth certificate or death certificate, eligible applicants may submit a completed application form, required identification, and a fee of $15 per copy to the Vital Records Office or a local health department. Additional copies of a birth or death certificate cost $6 per copy.

DeKalb County Probate Court Records

The DeKalb County probate judge's office is the custodian of probate court records in the County. The probate judge manages records and case information related to probate, trusts, estate administration, and wills. Residents of DeKalb County may visit the probate judge's office to request and inspect copies of publicly available probate court records. Alternatively, remote access to probate records is available on the DeKalb County probate records page for $1 per page. On this search page, interested persons may search for probate records by name, case number, and other search criteria.

DeKalb County Property Records

Property information such as ownership, deeds, tax assessments, mortgages, leases, improvements, and appraisals makeup DeKalb County property records. The DeKalb County Revenue Commissioner maintains property records and tax information. Interested persons may query the commissioner’s office or search for records online via the Search for Property platform. On the platform, one may search for records by name, parcel, tax year, PIN, address, and subdivision.

DeKalb County Court Records Online

DeKalb County Court records are available online and obtainable on third-party resources like AlabamaCourtrecords.us. These third-party resources usually feature easy-to-use search tools that are fast, efficient, and convenient. They also have a friendly user interface that is accessible from any location with an internet connection. Searchers are provided access to a wide range of court and case information sourced across various repositories and jurisdictions.

The basic search requirement for accessing case information on these sites is a case number or party name and no identification is needed. However, third-party resources are not connected to any official or government entity. Hence, the information they provide is not authentic and may not be suitable for official purposes. Furthermore, the information on these sites may vary in accuracy and completeness.