Geneva County Court Records

Geneva County court records are created during judicial proceedings to record details about every legal process involving the county court. Typical documents in Geneva County court records include case filings, transcripts, motions, verdicts, judgments, and orders. These records document various legal issues heard in Geneva County courts, including civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. From the first filing until the final verdict, all court proceedings are documented within these court records. Geneva court records also provide information about how the law is applied, how judges reason, and how the law is followed.

These court documents are essential because they are directly applicable in court proceedings. They offer a thorough history that could influence legal strategy and later proceedings, making them critical to attorneys and parties involved.

Are Court Records Public in Geneva County?

According to Alabama's Public Records Act and common right of access laws, Geneva County court records are public documents. The act states that judicial records generated in any Geneva County court are regarded as public records. Every court in Geneva County must comply with Alabama public access laws by making court records and content accessible to interested citizens. However, some types of court records are exempt from public disclosure when they meet the following criteria:

• The record poses a potential to cause harm to a third party.
• Making the record public will threaten national security and public safety.
• The document contains trade secrets or other private business research data.
• The record is related to a private family matter.

Some examples of records exempted from public access include:

• Court records that reveal information about an ongoing criminal investigation.
• Court records that show tax returns.
• Court records that reveal the names or addresses of victims of a sexual offense.
• Adoption records.

Geneva County Court Records Search

Individuals can perform a Geneva County court record search using the following channels and tools:

• Visiting the Geneva County Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
• Using the self-service terminals at the Geneva County Courthouse.
• Third-party web search tools.
• Online through the Alabama State-wide court access portal.

In-person requests for Geneva County court records can be performed at the circuit clerk's office during work hours. Maintaining court records is the Circuit Clerk's principal duty as an administrative branch of the court. To request a record search, applicants must complete a records request form at the clerk's office. The request form can also be obtained online, completed by a requester, and sent by mail to the records department of the county clerk's office. Any uncertified or certified copy of a public court record can be obtained from the court for a small fee. The number of documents requested determines the cost.

Geneva County court records can be requested online through the on-demand online records search portal. Due to the electronic imaging of court records, information is more easily accessible to judges, clerks, and the general public on the portal. Individuals can search the portal using a name or case number. Each search on this portal costs $9.99, and extra copies of records cost $0.50.

Geneva County Courts

The court system in Geneva County consists of two main types of courts, which are:

• Courts of limited jurisdiction: These are municipal courts, probate courts, small claims courts, district courts, and juvenile courts.
• Courts of general jurisdiction: The Geneva County Circuit Court.

The largest court in Geneva County is the circuit court. Circuit courts in Alabama have authority over all criminal cases involving felony prosecutions and have wide jurisdiction over most other types of cases. Each court of limited jurisdiction handles different types of cases. For example, the Geneva County Small Claims Court has jurisdiction in civil cases where the sum is less than $3,000. Below are the locations of the different courts in Geneva County:

Geneva County Circuit Court
Geneva County Courthouse
200 N Commerce St,
P.O. Box 86,
Geneva, AL 36340
Phone: (334) 684-5620

Geneva County District Court
Geneva County Courthouse
200 N Commerce St,
P.O. Box 86,
Geneva, AL 36340
Phone: (334) 684-5620

Geneva County Probate Court
200 N Commerce St,
P.O. Box 430,
Geneva, AL 36340
Phone: (334) 684-5600

Geneva County Municipal Courts
Geneva Municipal Court
517 S Commerce St,
Geneva, AL 36340
Phone: (334) 684-9216

Hartford Municipal Court
203 W Main St,
Hartford, AL 36344
Phone: (334) 588-2245
Fax: (334) 588-3826

Samson Municipal Court
13 E Main St,
Samson, AL 36477
Phone: (334) 898-7154

Slocomb Municipal Court
263 E Lawrence Harris Hwy,
P.O. Box 1147,
Slocomb, AL 36375
Phone: (334) 886-2334

Geneva County Criminal and Civil Records

Geneva County Criminal Records are comprehensive reports that show an individual's criminal history within law enforcement agencies in Geneva County. Criminal records are public records in Geneva County, which is done to improve public safety and awareness. Interested persons can request criminal records at the Geneva County Sheriff's Office and any police department in the county. Criminal records available in Geneva County include arrest summary reports, criminal history reports, incident reports, and background checks. Individuals can search for criminal records by visiting the Geneva County police department or the county sheriff's office. Requesters must provide the person's full name, subject to the criminal record.

Requests can also be made over the phone by calling the police department and providing the information needed to search for the desired records. Requesters must also pay a fee to obtain copies of Geneva County criminal records.

Geneva County civil court records are documents of non-criminal court proceedings that carry financial penalties such as fees, fines, judgments, and liens as the primary objective rather than jail time. Individuals can request Geneva County civil court records at the Geneva County Circuit Court records department. Individuals can visit the court to submit a request for records, send the request by mail, or search for the records using the public access terminals within the circuit courthouse.

Any request for civil court records usually requires a case number. If someone doesn't have a case number, they can ask the county court clerk to help them locate the record.

Geneva County Marriage Records

Interested persons can obtain Geneva County marriage records from the Geneva County Health Department. The health department maintains records of marriages in Geneva County as early as August 1936. The Geneva County Probate Office is the source of information for marriages registered before August 1936.

Marriage Records available in Geneva County include marriage licenses, marriage indexes, and Geneva County marriage certificates. Marriage records in Alabama are unrestricted by law and available to the general public. Anyone with sufficient information to search for the record and pay the appropriate cost may request it.

Geneva County records can be requested in person, online, or by mail. People who wish to submit a request in person can go to the Geneva Health Department, fill out the form in the department lobby, and turn it in at the office. The address of the Geneva Health Department office is:

Health Department
300 County Road 41
Hartford, Alabama 36344
Office: (334) 684-2256
Fax: (334) 684-3970

Requesters can also download the mail-in records request form, complete it, and mail it along with the appropriate fee to the Center for Health Statistics in Alabama. Online requests for marriage records can be made through a third-party vendor advertised on the Alabama Public Health website.

Geneva County Divorce Records

Geneva County divorce records are vital records that are available to anyone interested in them. The Geneva County Public Health Department can provide divorce records in person, by mail, or by telephone. To request Divorce records, individuals must provide the health department with the date of the divorce and the spouses' names. Searching for a divorce record in Geneva County costs $15 and comes with one certified copy. Additional copies of the same record purchased concurrently cost $6.00 each.

Geneva County Birth Records

Geneva County birth records can be obtained from the Geneva County Public Health Office. Geneva County birth records are confidential records that can only be requested by the subject of the record, members of a person's family, the subject's guardian, or their legal representative. Requesters must provide a valid ID to the public health office to show they are eligible to access birth records. The presented ID must meet the requirements set out by the Alabama Public Health Office.

Geneva County Death Records

Geneva County death records are public records maintained at the Geneva County Public Health Office. Geneva County death certificates under 25 years old are restricted records; to receive a copy, a requester must either be a member of the immediate family or show that they have a legal claim to the record (§ 22-9A-21). The Geneva County Public Health Office allows requests for death records in person or by mail. To make requests, individuals will need to complete the department records request form and provide the following information:

• The legal name of the deceased
• The date of death
• The county where the death occurred

Geneva County Probate Court Records

The Geneva County Probate Court is a court of special jurisdiction that handles matters involving wills, conservatorships, estate administration, guardianship, and involuntary commitments. Probate court records are confidential and can only be obtained by individuals and attorneys directly involved in the probate case. They can be requested in person at the probate court. Requesters must provide a valid ID to request probate court records successfully.

Geneva County Property Records

Anyone can request Geneva County property records at the offices of the Geneva County Revenue Commissioner and the county recorder. Property records that can be requested from these records custodians include deeds, property tax information, property ownership records, and property sales history. Most Geneva County property records are public records and can be requested by anyone. Requests for Geneva County property records can be made online, via mail, fax, or in person at both custodian offices. A copy of a property record can be obtained for a fee.

Geneva County Court Records Online

Third-party websites such as Alabamacourtrecords.us may make it easier to access public Clark County court records; they offer an easy-to-use interface where users can search for specific cases by entering essential details like case numbers, persons' names, or dates. Third-party websites are convenient because they can be used to search for records remotely from anywhere in the world. The records can be delivered by email without visiting the physical building of any record custodian.

Furthermore, information on a third-party website might not be accurate or comprehensive. Therefore, each user should use official sources to confirm records obtained from a third-party provider.