Etowah County Court Records

Court records consist of information documenting court cases and legal documentation generated and maintained by the judiciary in Etowah County. Some examples include court hearings, rulings, and judgments. Such records can generally be obtainable for a fee through their respective custodians.

Are Court Records Public in Etowah County?

Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 guarantees the right of all citizens to view and make copies of public records. Consequently, the public may access Etowah County court records, including paperwork, files, and transcripts related to court proceedings and dockets.

However, the following conditions may restrict or limit access to court records in Etowah County:

• Record custodians may deny access to requesters who cannot clearly articulate their legitimate interest in requested court documents.
• The courts may deny access to court records if their disclosure would harm the general public.
• Businesses are entitled to confidentiality concerning information that could put them at a disadvantage business-wise.
• Municipalities can impose reasonable restrictions on inspection times and locations, particularly during business hours.
• The courts or relevant statutes may filter highly sensitive records, such as personnel records.

Etowah County Court Records Search

Etowah County requesters have several alternatives for doing a broad search for court records. These include:

Online Access: Requesters can access court records via the Alabama Judicial System, which provides statewide online access to documents, including those from Etowah County. This service typically involves a subscription fee.

Etowah County Clerk's Office: Eligible individuals can submit written requests for court records in person by visiting the Etowah County Circuit Clerk's Office during business hours (8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). They can also submit written requests and pay the requisite fees for extra copies of circuit and district court filings in the office subject to copy fees.

Public Access Terminals: The Etowah County Circuit Clerk's Office has an accessible computer terminal for searching public records within the Etowah County Judiciary Building. Inquirers can access the public terminal during regular office hours.

Etowah County Court Records Search by Name

In Etowah County, requesters can do a name-based search for court records using the following options:

Online Access via Alabama Judicial System:

• The Alabama Judicial System provides internet access to court records.
• This service provides access to Etowah County court records in addition to those of other counties and requires a subscription charge.
• Users can search for court records by party name, case number, or other relevant identifiers.
• This option provides record searchers immediate access to court records.

The following fees apply to name-based searches on the Alabama Judiciary System's portal:

• Searches by name and case number cost $9.99 for the first case detail and an extra $9.99 for each case after that.
• Images are available for $5.00 for the first 20 pages and $0.50 afterward.

Etowah County Clerk's Office (in Person):

• Eligible individuals may visit the Etowah County Circuit Clerk's Office during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday).
• Present a written request for court records in person.
• Provide necessary information, such as the requester's name, address, and phone number.
• Indicate the required documents and whether certification is required.
• Pay the required fees (see cost breakdown below).
• To obtain extra copies of circuit or district court filings, the searcher must submit a written request and pay the appropriate fees.
• Processing times may take up to 30 days due to workforce constraints.

Cost Breakdown: Requesters conducting a name-based search of Etowah County court records should expect the following fee schedule:

• Archived/microfilmed records search costs $25.00.
• Copies (up to 20 pages): $5.00 (each extra copy costs $0.50).
• Certificate of Document by Clerk: $5.00
• Requests sent by mail must contain a money order; personal checks are not accepted.

Etowah County Courts

The Alabama trial court system comprises Circuit, District, Probate, and Municipal Courts. The following are the addresses of the various types of courts that make up the Etowah County court system:

Etowah County Circuit Court
Etowah County Courthouse
801 Forrest Ave, #202, Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone: (256) 549-2150

Etowah County District Court
Etowah County Courthouse
801 Forrest Ave, #202, Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone: (256) 549-2150

Etowah County Probate Court
800 Forrest Ave, Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone: (256) 549-5334

Altoona Municipal Court
2844 Main St, P.O. Box 279, Altoona, AL 35952
Phone: (256) 589-2311

Attalla Municipal COurt
420 4th St NW, Attalla, AL 35954
Phone: (256) 538-9986
Fax: (256) 538-9988

Gadsden Municipal Court
90 Broad St, P.O. Box 267, Gadsden, AL 35902
Phone: (256) 549-4595
Fax: (256) 549-4749

Glencoe Municipal Court
201 W Chastain Blvd, Glencoe, AL 35905
Phone: (256) 492-1424 ext. 112

Hokes Bluff Municipal Court
Hokes Bluff City Hall
3301 Alford Bend Rd, Hokes Bluff, AL 35903
Phone: (256) 492-2414 ext. 4

Rainbow City Municipal Court
3700 Rainbow Dr, Rainbow City, AL 35906
Phone: (256) 413-1216

Sardis City Municipal Court
1335 Sardis Dr, Sardis City, AL 35956
Phone: (256) 593-6492

Southside Municipal Court
2255 AL Highway 77, Southside, AL 35907
Phone: (256) 442-9775 ext. 106
Fax: (256) 442-4163

Etowah County District Court Records

The Etowah County District Court hears criminal misdemeanors, holds preliminary hearings for felony prosecutions, and takes guilty pleas in non-capital felony cases. Furthermore, the court has concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in juvenile proceedings. It has exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions when the amount in contention is under $6,000, including small claims cases involving debts, contracts, and property damage.

Since most court records are available to the public to view and inspect, requesters of Etowah County District Court records can access them online or in person at the Etowah County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

Using the Alabama Judicial System portal, searchers can immediately access district court records for Etowah District Court. Searches on this platform require supplying a party’s name, case number, or other relevant information. There is a subscription fee for this service. Searches by name and case cost $9.99 for the first case record and an extra $9.99 for each subsequent court record retrieved on the site.

Alternatively, requesters may visit the Etowah County Circuit Clerk's Office during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday) to submit a record request for district court records.

Applicants must pay the necessary fees to receive such records. Up to 20 pages cost $5.00, with additional copies costing $0.50 each. Court records certified by the Clerk are $5.00. Mail-in requests require a money order; personal checks are not accepted.

The applicants should remember to present a valid form of identification when receiving district court records in person.

Applicants should send all written record requests to:

Etowah County Circuit Clerk
801 Forrest Ave., Suite 202
Gadsden, AL 35901

Etowah County Criminal Records

Requesting parties searching for Etowah County arrest records and criminal records may access the documents held by law enforcement agencies through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)'s Criminal Records Identification Unit.

To obtain a criminal history record, a prospective applicant must go through the following steps:

• Applicants must fill out the "Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information" (CHRI).
• They should also get fingerprinted and supply a copy of their current photo ID.
• The application costs $25.00, with additional copies costing $5.00 each.
• Applicant should make payment with a money order or cashier's check.
• The completed "Application to Review Criminal History Record Information" together with all other required papers to:

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Criminal Records and Identification Unit
ATTN: Background Checks
P.O. Box 1511
Montgomery, Alabama 36102-1511

For further information on the Alabama Background Check program, contact ALEA at (866) 740-4762 or (334) 676-7897.

Etowah County Criminal Court Case Lookup

To look for criminal court cases that went to trial, searchers can visit the Etowah County Circuit Clerk's Office at:

Etowah County Circuit Clerk
801 Forrest Ave., Suite 202
Gadsden, AL 35901
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

While at the Circuit Clerk's Office, searchers can use the building's public access computer terminal to search for a criminal record by party name or case number. Once they've discovered the relevant record, they can request copies at the Clerk's Office counter.

Get Etowah County Civil Court Records

In Etowah County, civil court records encompass extensive legal operations, such as litigation, family law matters, probate records, small claims cases, land transfers, and name changes or adoptions.

Searchers looking for civil court documents can access them on the Alabama Judiciary System's website or at the Circuit Clerk's office.

Online Searches: When searching for civil court records through the Alabama Judiciary System site, you must provide the name of one of the parties involved in the civil suit, the case number, and any other relevant search information.

Online searches through the portal attract a subscription fee of $9.99 for the first case record and an additional $9.99 for each subsequent record.

In-Person Searches: Interested parties who wish to search Etowah County civil court records in person must visit the county's Circuit Court Clerk's Office. Searchers can conveniently access civil court information using the public access terminal in the Etowah County Judicial Building. After they have found the information they are looking for, they can request copies at the Clerk's Office counter.

Requesters must provide a government-issued ID card to apply for civil court records in the county.

Requesters seeking extensive civil court records must pay the applicable fees and submit a written request. Due to the limited workforce, such requests may take up to 30 days to process.

The costs for copies are as follows:

• Archived/microfilmed records search costs $25.00.
• Copies up to 20 pages are $5.00 ($0.50 for each extra copy).
• Clerk-certified documents cost $5.00.

Etowah County Family Court Records

Etowah County's trial court system does not have a standalone family court. Consequently, family-related matters are shared between the Circuit Court and the District Court. While the Circuit Court handles most domestic relations issues, such as child support, domestic violence, and divorce, both courts have jurisdiction over juvenile proceedings.

Inquirers seeking Etowah County family court records should file a record request to the Office of the Circuit Clerk at:

Etowah County Circuit Clerk’s Office
801 Forrest Ave., Suite 202
Gadsden, AL 35901
Circuit Civil/Domestic Relations: (256) 549-5431/(256) 549-5439
Child Support: (256) 549-5350 /(256) 549-5435
Juvenile: (256) 549-5446 /(256) 549-5445

Etowah County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Alabama Center for Health Statistics began handling marriage certificates in August 1936 and divorce records in 1950.

Anyone who provides enough information to search for the record and pays the required fee may request a copy.

The search fee for a marriage or divorce certificate is $15.00. Each extra copy ordered at the same time is $6.00. The applicant must provide a check or money order payable to the "State Board of Health". Cash is not accepted, and costs are non-refundable.

To obtain a current Etowah County marriage or divorce certificate, the applicant must submit a filled-out mail-in request and the associated fee to:

Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, Alabama 36103–562

In Person: To obtain certified copies of the county's marriage or divorce certificates, requestors may visit the Etowah County Health Department at the address below.

Etowah County Health Department is at 709 East Broad Street, Gadsden, Alabama 35903, 3821 Highway 31 South in Decatur, Alabama 35603. Applicants can reach the main office at (256) 547-6311 or fax at (256) 549-1579.

Etowah Birth and Death Records

Persons interested in obtaining birth and death records for Etowah County should contact the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, which has been providing these records since 1908.

To obtain a birth or death certificate, applicants must supply extensive data, which includes the individual's full name at the time of birth or death, date of birth or death, gender, county/city of birth or death, hospital of birth or death, the complete names of the parents before their first marriage, the applicant's name, authorization, relationship to the individual whose certificate is being requested, mailing address, and daytime phone number.

Etowah County birth and death certificates are classified records with restricted access for 125 and 25 years from the date of birth and death, respectively. A birth certificate may be obtained by any individual who is at least 25 years old and can afford the necessary fees.

Birth and death certificates in Etowah County may be requested by the individual named on the certificate, their parents, legal guardians, spouse, siblings, children, or a legal representative.

The cost of searching birth or death records is $15.00. This search comprises either a "Certificate of Failure to Find" or a single certified copy of the document. Each additional copy of the same record that is requested concurrently is priced at $6.00.

Birth and death records are indispensable for legal purposes, such as establishing identity, enrolling in school, applying for passports, and obtaining benefits. These documents are also crucial for genealogical research, estate settlement, and historical and epidemiological investigations.

Etowah County Probate Court Records

The Etowah County Probate Court handles various legal issues, including estate administration, guardianship, conservatorship, adoption proceedings, name changes, and will disputes. Plats or maps, judgments and liens, titles, mortgages, deeds of trust, bills of sale, contracts, and other documents purporting to convey any right or title are some records available through the Probate Judge's Office.

Interested persons looking for any of the records listed above should go to the Etowah Probate Office at the following address:

Etowah County Courthouse
800 Forrest Ave.
Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone: (256) 549-1444
Fax: (256) 549-5400

Etowah County Property Records

Property records in Etowah County are available on the Etowah County Revenue Commissioner's website. The website’s search tool informs visitors about the county's property taxes, appraisals, and other property-related records. Users may refine their search by entering parameters such as the owner's name, company name, property address, parcel number, and subdivision. The search engine's results contain information on property value, subdivision, tax history, and sales, among other records.

Etowah County Court Records Online

Residents and non-residents may be able to obtain records through the Alabama Judicial System portal. It provides a means for requesters to access an extensive database of county court records, including those of Etowah County. However, this service attracts a subscription fee. Alternatively, sites such as alabamacourtrecords.us may offer access to some court records. These online platforms are designed with easy-to-use interfaces, making searching for specific cases or individuals easy. However, it’s important to note that third-party sites operate independently of government agencies, so the availability and accuracy of records on these platforms cannot be guaranteed.