Houston County Court Records

Court records consist of information documenting court cases and legal documentation generated and maintained by the Houston County trial courts. Some examples include court hearings, rulings, and judgments. Such records can typically be accessed for a fee through their respective custodians.

Are Court Records Public in Houston County?

Yes. According to the Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, the general public can inspect and make copies of government records. Consequently, Houston County court documents, such as papers, files, and transcripts concerning legal proceedings and dockets, are available to the public unless restricted by state laws.

Public access to Houston County court records may be limited or restricted under the following circumstances:

• Records custodians may require those requesting access to establish a direct and legitimate interest in a document to avoid requests for frivolous or illegal purposes.
• Access to records may be prohibited if disclosure would harm the public interest.
• When disclosure of records poses possible security risks or danger to public safety or welfare.
• Businesses have the right to confidentiality for information that may give an unfair business.
• Municipalities can impose reasonable restrictions on inspection times and locations, particularly during business hours.
• Sensitive personnel records with identifying information may be filtered.
• Records of pending criminal investigation

Houston County Court Records Search

Requesters wishing to conduct a general search for court records in Houston County may use the "Just One Look” service portal, which offers on-demand access to Alabama State Trial Court Records. This service allows requesters to access various electronically imaged court records from the Houston County Circuit Clerk's Office.

Alternatively, record seekers may request personal records at the Houston County Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 114 North Oates Street, Dothan, Alabama. The courthouse is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a lunch break from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Houston County Court Records Search by Name

Inquirers who wish to perform a name-based search of Houston County court records can visit the Alabama Judicial System's website, Alacourt.com, and follow the steps below:

• Create an account if they do not already have one.
• Select the option for a name-based search.
• They should enter the full name of the individual they're looking for. Exact and complete names typically produce better results.
• After inputting the search criteria, the user should review the search results to find relevant court documents.
• Electronic name searches cost $10.00 per search.

Houston County Courts

The Alabama trial court system comprises Circuit, District, Probate, and Municipal Courts. The following are the addresses of the many types of courts that comprise the Houston County court system:

Houston County Circuit Court
Houston County Courthouse
114 N Oates St, Dothan, AL 36303
Phone: (334) 677-4805

Houston County District Court
Houston County Courthouse
114 N Oates St, Dothan, AL 36302
Phone: (334) 677-4805

Houston County Probate Court
462 N Oates St, P.O. Box 6404, Dothan, AL 36302
Phone: (334) 677-4728
Fax: (334) 677-4733

Ashford Municipal Court
525 N Broadway St, P.O. Box 428, Ashford, AL 36312
Phone: (334) 899-3366 ext. 114

Cottonwood Municipal Court
1414 Metcalf St, P.O. Box 447, Cottonwood, AL 36320
Phone: (334) 691-2671 ext. 103
Fax: (334) 691-3111

Dothan Municipal Court
115 W Adams St, P.O. Box 2128, Dothan, AL 36302
Phone: (334) 615-4150
Fax: (334) 615-4149

Gordon Municipal Court
692 Tifton Rd, P.O. Box 46, Gordon, AL 36343
Phone: (334) 522-3113

Taylor Municipal Court
1469 S County Rd 59, Taylor, AL 36301
Phone: (334) 677-5079

Houston County District Court Records

In Houston County, the different types of court proceedings handled by the district court are as follows:

• The court handles civil cases related to individual, business, or organization disputes.
• The district court oversees minor offenses such as traffic violations, minor theft, and simple assault.
• Cases related to traffic infractions, speeding tickets, and other motor vehicle offenses.
• Family Law Matters comprise divorce proceedings, child custody, child support, and domestic violence cases.

Requesters looking for district court records in Houston County can access them via the Alabama Judicial System portal. This service provides searchers prompt access to the county's district court records. Searching on this platform requires supplying a party's name, case number, or other relevant information.

This service has a subscription fee. Searches by name and case cost $9.99 for the first case record and an additional $9.99 for each subsequent court record retrieved on the site.

In addition, searchers may sign up for court case monitoring notifications on the platform. This service allows subscribers to monitor future changes in a case record by receiving email notifications anytime a change is entered. The service costs $20 for email notifications that last the case's lifetime.

Houston County Criminal Records

Individuals seeking Houston County criminal records may access documents from 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 complete the "Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information" (CHRI).
• They should also get fingerprinted and provide a copy of their current photo ID.
• The application costs $25.00, with additional copies costing $5.00 each.
• Applicants must pay the necessary fees with a money order or cashier's check.
• Mail 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 as well as Houston county arrest or criminal records, contact ALEA at (866) 740-4762 or (334) 676-7897.

Houston County Criminal Court Case Lookup

To find criminal court cases that went to trial, inquirers may use Alabama's On-demand Access to State Trial Court Records. This service allows searchers to access various electronically imaged court records from the Houston County Circuit Clerk's Office, the county's record custodian. However, it requires a subscription fee.

Alternatively, requesters may call the Houston County Circuit Clerk's Office to inquire about obtaining criminal case records in person or via mail. They can call (334) 677-4858 and (334) 677-4869 for Circuit Criminal and District Criminal, respectively.

Get Houston County Civil Court Records

In Houston County, civil court records include various legal activities, 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.

Interested parties seeking Houston County civil court documents can visit Alabama's On-Demand Public Access to Trial Court documents website. They can search by name or case number. The portal generates case detail reports that include baseline case information, court proceedings, case status, setting dates, party details, financial history, and a comprehensive case action report.

The fees for accessing Houston civil court records on the platform are as follows:

• Name and Case Number Searches: $9.99 for one case detail, plus $9.99 for each additional case.
• Images are available for $5.00 for the first 20 pages and $0.50 afterward.

Individuals looking for civil case records in Houston County may also contact the relevant divisions of the Circuit Clerk's Office for further information on how to access such documents. The numbers to call are as follows:

• Circuit Civil: (334) 677-4859
• Small Claims/District Civil: (334) 677-4868
• Domestic Relations/Child Support: (334) 677-4805

Houston County Family Court Records

Houston County's trial court system does not have a separate family court. Consequently, the circuit court handles the vast majority of domestic relations issues. The Circuit and District courts share jurisdiction over juvenile proceedings.

Houston County's Circuit Court handles domestic relations disputes such as child support, domestic violence, and divorce.

Individuals wishing to acquire a copy of their divorce decree can contact the Circuit Court Office at (334) 677-4805 for an estimated cost. They can also visit the office to request a copy with a money order or cash. Payable money orders should be sent to the Houston County Circuit Clerk. There is an ATM in the courthouse lobby. The office does not accept credit cards.

Houston County Marriage and Divorce Records

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

Interested persons seeking Houston County marriages before 1936 should contact the county's probate court. For divorces before 1950, they can contact Houston County Circuit Court.

Anybody who supplies enough details to search for the record and pay the necessary fee can request one.

The cost of searching for a marriage or divorce certificate is $15.00. Each extra copy ordered simultaneously costs $6.00. The applicant should submit a check or money order payable to the "State Board of Health". Cash is not accepted, and fees are non-refundable.

To receive an existing Houston County marriage or divorce certificate, the applicant must submit a completed mail-in application along with the required fee to:

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

Requestors may also visit Houston County Probate Court and the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at the following addresses to get certified copies of the county's marriage or divorce certificates:

Judge of Probate
P.O. Drawer 6406
Dothan, AL 36302
Phone: (334) 677-4723

Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
114 North Oates Street
Dothan, Alabama 36303
Phone: (334) 677-4800
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m

Houston Birth and Death Records

Individuals interested in obtaining birth and death records for Houston County should contact the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, which has provided these records since 1908.

To obtain a birth or death certificate, requesters must provide extensive details, which include 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.

Houston County birth and death certificates are confidential documents with limited access for 125 and 25 years from the date of birth and death, respectively. Anyone who can pay the proper costs can obtain a birth certificate, but the person must be at least 25 years old.

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

Searching for birth or death records costs $15.00. This search includes one certified copy of the document or a "Certificate of Failure to Find". Extra copies of the same record requested simultaneously cost $6.00 each.

Houston County birth and death certificates can be requested by the person identified on the certificate, their parents, legal guardians, spouse, siblings, children, or a legal representative of an authorized person. Beginning May 1, 2017, record seekers must provide identifications to get a limited birth certificate.

Birth and death certificates are vital for legal purposes such as establishing identity, enrolling in school, applying for passports, and receiving benefits. These documents are also helpful for ancestry research, estate settlement, and historical and epidemiological studies.

Houston County Probate Court Records

The Houston County Probate Court deals with various legal matters, such as estate administration, guardianship, conservatorship, and name changes.

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

Administrative Building
462 N. Oates St.
Dothan, AL 36303
Monday - Thursday
Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Probate Court: (334) 677-4701

Mailing Address
P.O. Drawer 6406
Dothan, AL 36302

In Houston County, probate court records play a crucial role in the official documentation of court decisions. These records are indispensable for enforcing legal agreements such as wills and guardianships. They also serve as vital historical records and, as part of the public record, contribute to openness and accountability in the judicial system.

Houston County Property Records

In Houston County, inquirers can access property records through the county's Online Real Property Records Access. This website allows users to search and view land records for free, with a token fee of $1.00 per page for downloads. The website offers visitors property-related information, including property deeds, owner information, property tax history, assessments, valuations, sales, surveys, property boundaries, and real estate records.

Houston County Court Records Online

The Alabama Judicial System offers users online access to documents from Houston County. Using this service usually involves a subscription or a charge. Alternatively, sites such as alabamacourtrecords.us may provide access to some court records. These online platforms are designed with easy-to-use interfaces, making searching for specific cases or individuals easy.

The primary benefit lies in their accessibility from anywhere with an internet connection, saving time and effort for individuals who cannot visit the courthouse in person. Nevertheless, government agencies are not involved in the operation of third-party websites. Consequently, the integrity and availability of records cannot be guaranteed.