Lee County Court Records

Alabama court records refer to reports, papers, documents, books, and other tangible things created during a judicial proceeding and maintained by the Lee County Circuit Clerk. These records are part of Lee County Public Records and are accessible online, by mail, and in person during normal business hours. A typical court record contains information like case party full names, case number, filing date, case status, offense, hearing date, time, and location, disposition, and sentence. These court record information plays a critical role in the legal system by ensuring documentation, accountability, and the consistent application of the law.

Are Court Records Public in Lee County?

Yes. The Alabama Open Records Law ( AL Code§ 36-12-40) provides that every resident has a right to inspect and take a copy of any records maintained by a court. Therefore, individuals can request court records at any Lee County court during business hours. However, some court records are not available to the public. Examples of confidential court records are:

• Adoption records
• Mental and psychological records
• Juvenile delinquency proceedings
• Jurors' and witnesses' personal information
• personal information of minors and assault victims
• Financial information such as social security and account numbers

Lee County Court Records Search

The significant ways Lee County residents can find court records are:

• In person at the courthouse
• Through third-party portals
• Online through the Just One Look portal
• Online through the Alabama Appellate Courts Public Portal
• By mail by completing the Request for Copies and/or Searches of Court Records Form

Lee County Court Records Search by Name

Copies of court records may be obtained from the Thirty-Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Clerk's Office by name online, by mail, and in person. Online requests can be made via the Just One Look portal for $9.99. Create an account and log in to the portal by email and password. Enter the desired name in the search field. The portal will return results on all cases carrying the searched name. Mail requesters must send a completed Request for Copies and/or Searches of Court Records Form, a fee of $25 for 1 to 20 pages of records, $0.50 per page for additional pages, and $5 for certified copies, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the courthouse. In-person requests should be made during office hours. Applicants must visit the court with the necessary fee and give the correct name to the record staff to facilitate the search.

Lee County Courts

The Lee County court system has four (4) general jurisdiction trial courts, which include the Circuit Court, Probate Court, District Court, and Municipal Court. Below are the addresses of the courts in Lee County:

Thirty-Seventh Judicial Circuit Court
Lee County Justice Center
2311 Gateway Drive
Opelika, AL 36801

Probate Courts

Lee County Courthouse
215 South 9th Street
Opelika, AL 36801
Phone: (334) 737-3670

Auburn Satellite Office
1266 Mall Parkway
Auburn, AL 36830
Phone: (334) 737-7297

Smiths Station Satellite Office
2336 Lee Road 430
Smiths Station, AL 36877
Phone: (334) 448-3299

Municipal Courts

Opelika Municipal Court
300 Martin Luther King Boulevard
Opelika, AL 36801
Phone: (334) 705-5190
Fax: (334) 705-5109

Auburn Municipal Court
141 N. Ross Street
Auburn, AL 36830
Phone: (334) 501-3180
Email: jmclaughlin@auburnalabama.org

Phenix City Municipal Court
Public Safety Building
1111 Broad St.
Second Floor
Phenix City, AL 36867
Phone: (334) 448-2780
Fax: (334) 291-4765

Lee County Superior Court Case Search

The Alabama Judicial System has four (4) general jurisdiction trial courts operating in Lee County. These trial courts include the Circuit Court, Probate Court, District Court, and Municipal Court, excluding the Superior Court.

Lee County District Court Records

The Lee County District Court is a trial court of limited jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. It specifically has jurisdiction in civil matters where the amount in controversy is between $3,000 and $10,000. All inquiries regarding District Court records should be forwarded to (334) 737-3515. Below are the ways individuals can find copies of District Court records in Lee County:

• Online: The Just One Look portal provides access to all District Court records in Lee County. Users must create an account to log in to the portal. Individuals can find criminal, civil, small claims, traffic, domestic relations, and child support records on this portal. Users can search records by name or case number for a fee of $9.99. Images of District Court records cost $5 for the first 20 pages and $0.50 each for additional pages. Case monitoring for the lifetime of a district case costs $19.99.
• By mail: Requesters can submit a Request for Copies and/or Searches of Court Records Form by mail to request District Court records. A fee of $25 for 1 to 20 pages of records, $0.50 per page for additional pages, and $5 for certified copies, and a self-addressed stamped envelope must accompany the submission. The fee should be paid by money order. The Clerk does not accept credit cards or personal checks. Mail requests are processed for at least seven (7) working days.
• In-person: Individuals can appear at the courthouse during business hours to request District Court records. The applicant must provide a name or case number and pay the necessary fees before the request will processed.

Lee County Criminal Records

Per Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-46-.03(12), criminal records are documents containing any information collected and stored in the Alabama Department of Public Safety’s criminal record repository involving an arrest or conviction by a criminal justice agency. The Sheriff’s Office only issues Lee County arrest records to the public. However, individuals seeking criminal records must check the State Bureau of Investigation ("SBI")’s Criminal Records Identification Unit. Qualifying employers can conduct criminal records searches using the Alabama Background Check System (ABC). An annual subscription fee of $95 per year is required for this service. The checks conducted through this portal cost $15 each. The subscriber will be able to log in to the portal with a username and password after subscription.

Public members can conduct criminal record searches by completing the ALEA Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) Form. The form, alongside the applicant's fingerprint card, a copy of a valid ID, and a fee of $25 payable by money order or Cashier’s check, can be submitted by mail or in person to:

State Bureau of Investigation
301 S. Ripley Street,
P.O. Box 1511
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: (334) 676-7894
Email: sbi.investigations@alea.gov

Lee County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The Thirty-Seventh Judicial Circuit Court is the custodian of all criminal cases in Lee County. The Court performs its duties through two divisions: Circuit Criminal and District Criminal. The most common way to find criminal court records is online through the Just One Look portal. Users must create an account and log in with their email and password. The search can be conducted by name or case number, and it costs $9.99. Images of records cost $5 for the first 20 pages, and additional pages cost $0.50 per page. Case monitoring for a district case costs $19.99, and a circuit case costs $29.99.

Individuals can also request criminal court case records by mailing a Request for Copies and/or Searches of Court Records Form to the office. The mail package must include the necessary fee ($25 for 1 to 20 pages of records, additional pages cost $0.50 per page, and certified copies cost $5) and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The fee can be paid via any means, including credit cards and personal checks. Alternatively, requesters can visit the courthouse in person to request criminal court records. The clerk only attends to requests during business hours and will not release copies of criminal records until the necessary payment is received. Contact the Circuit Criminal at (334) 737-3547 and the District Criminal at (334) 737-4501 for more information about criminal court case lookups.

Get Lee County Civil Court Records

The Thirty-Seventh Judicial Circuit Court handles all civil cases in Lee County. The Court has two Civil Divisions, namely:

• The District Civil Division: It handles all civil cases filed at the district level, including evictions and unlawful detainers.
• The Circuit Civil Division: Has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil cases where the matter in controversy exceeds $10,000. It also has original jurisdiction concurrent with the District Court in all civil cases where the matter in controversy exceeds $3,000.

Individuals can download the Request for Copies and/or Searches of Court Records Form from the Lee County Circuit Clerk’s website and mail it to the office to obtain copies of civil court records. The Clerk charges $25 for 1 to 20 pages of records, additional pages cost $0.50 per page, and certified copies cost $5. Mail requests take seven (7) working days to process. Credit cards and personal checks are unacceptable. Record seekers can also visit the Circuit Court during business hours to request copies of civil court records. A name or case number will be required to process the request. The Clerk will only release records when the appropriate fees have been paid. Contact the Circuit Civil at (334) 737-3513 and the District Civil at (334) 737-3532 for more information about civil court record requests.

Lee County Family Court Records

The Circuit Court Domestic Relations Division handles family court cases, especially divorce cases in Lee County. Individuals can get copies of family court records online, by mail, or in person at the courthouse. Online requests can be made via the Just One Look portal. An account must be created to access the records on the portal. The search criteria are by name or case number for a fee of $9.99. Users who want images of family court records must pay $5 for the first 20 pages and $0.50 each for additional pages. Case monitoring for a district case costs $19.99, and a circuit case costs $29.99.

Mail and in-person services cost $25. Mail applicants must send the Request for Copies and/or Searches of Court Records Form, the required fees payable by money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the courthouse. In-person requesters should visit the office during normal business hours with a money order or cash.

Lee Dissolution of Marriage Records

Inquirers can obtain copies of Lee County dissolution of marriage records from the Health Department and the Thirty-Seventh Judicial Circuit Court. The Health Department only issues these records in person during office hours (Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). The requester would be asked to fill out an Application Form and pay a search fee of $15 and $6 for each additional copy.

Conversely, the Thirty-Seventh Judicial Circuit Court disseminates dissolution of marriage records by mail and in person. Mail requests involve submitting an application form, a $25 free, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the courthouse.

Lee County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage and divorce records are included in Lee County's public records. The Lee County Health Department maintains divorce records starting from 1950 and marriage records from August 1936 to the present. For divorce records before 1950, one should contact the Lee County Circuit Court. Similarly, Lee County marriage records before August 1936 can be accessed through the probate office.

Individuals can obtain marriage and divorce records in person at the Lee County Health Department. Upon arrival, they should give the staff a completed Application Form and the necessary fees. The search fee is $15, and additional copies cost $6 each.

Lee County divorce records are also available at the Thirty-Seventh Judicial Circuit Court’s Domestic Relations Division. Copies of divorce decrees can be obtained by mailing a Request for Copies and/or Searches of Court Records Form along with a $25 fee payable by money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the courthouse. Alternatively, requesters can visit the courthouse during office hours to retrieve the desired record. The required fee payable by cash or money order is required before processing.

Lee Birth and Death Records

According to Alabama law, Lee County birth certificates are confidential and are only open to the public after 125 years from the birth date. Similarly, death certificates are confidential for 25 years. The following persons can obtain Confidential Lee County confidential vital records of death and birth:

• The person named on the certificate (for Lee County birth records)
• Family members like mother, father, spouse, children, grandchildren, sibling
• The legal representative of an authorized person
• Informant listed on the death certificate

Certified copies of birth and death records are available upon request at the Lee County Health Department for a fee. Requesters can print the Application Form (English or Spanish) and take it to the Department during business hours (Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Copies of birth and death records cost $15 each. Additional copies of the same record ordered simultaneously cost $6 each. The Department is located at:

Lee County Health Department
1801 Corporate Drive
Opelika, Alabama 36801
Office: (334) 745-5765
Fax: (334) 745-9830

Lee County Probate Court Records

The Lee County Probate Court hears legal matters such as adoption, wills, estates, changes of name, guardianships and conservatorships, legitimation of children, mental health involuntary commitment cases, and eminent domain/land condemnation cases. The Court has public viewing stations where residents can access probate records. Inquirers can order copies of Probate Court records by submitting a written request and paying the appropriate fees via mail or in person at the courthouse. Mail requesters must provide recording information like book and page number and recording date to facilitate the order. In-person requesters must provide a name to get assistance in finding the desired record. Copies of Probate Court records cost $1 per page, and certified copies cost an extra $3 per document.

Lee County Property Records

Lee County property records are available at the Probate Judge's Office and the Appraisal Department. Both record custodians issue copies of property documents to the public in person at their offices. The Probate Judge’s office has viewing stations where the public can access property documents. Requests must be made during normal business hours. The property owner’s name, book/page number, or property address is required to expedite the order.

The Appraisal Department has a Public GIS where individuals can view property records for free. The search criteria are pin, parcel number, owner’s name, and physical address. Users must enter a search criteria into one or more of the search boxes available on the portal and then click the Search Button to view property records. The Probate Judge’s office also issues real estate records by mail. Recording information such as book and page number and recording date is required to process mail requests.

Lee County Court Records Online

Although most Lee County residents prefer to search court records online through government portals due to their reliability, some still use third-party search portals like alabamacourtrecords.us. Third-party sites provide court information across multiple jurisdictions. Depending on the site, a search can be conducted by name or case number. Users can view basic court records without charges, but a full court record report attracts a small fee.