Montgomery County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Montgomery County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Montgomery County may access publicly available case information through several official channels. MontgomeryALRecords.us provides a directory of publicly available information related to court records filed within Montgomery County, Alabama. Depending on the case type and applicable access rules, users may find information such as:
- Civil case filings and judgments
- Criminal case dockets and dispositions
- Probate filings and estate records
- Family court orders and decrees
- Traffic citations and small claims matters
- Appellate case references
Court records in Montgomery County may be searched through five primary methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Circuit Clerk's Office for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit maintains official case files for circuit and district court matters. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person, present a case number or party name, and request access to available records. Staff can confirm whether a record exists and whether it is subject to any restriction or sealing order.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Montgomery County Courthouse. These terminals allow members of the public to search case indexes and view docket entries without charge during regular business hours. Terminal access does not extend to sealed, expunged, or restricted filings.
3. Online Court Search The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts operates a statewide on-demand case search system that provides access to Alabama state trial court records. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney of record. Some document images may require a fee to view or download.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit maintains its own web presence through the Montgomery County Circuit Court portal, where users may access case information specific to Montgomery County proceedings.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who cannot appear in person may submit written requests to the Circuit Clerk's Office. Requests should include the full case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a return address. Fees for copies apply, and processing times vary based on request volume.
Are Court Records Public In Montgomery County
Court records in Montgomery County are public records under current Alabama law. Alabama Code § 12-21-9 establishes that court records are open to public inspection, subject to specific statutory exceptions. The Alabama Open Records Law, codified at Alabama Code § 36-12-40, further affirms the public's right to inspect and copy public writings maintained by government agencies, including courts.
Records that are public under current law include:
- Case docket entries and hearing schedules
- Party names and case numbers
- Filed pleadings, motions, and responses
- Court orders, judgments, and decrees
- Sentencing entries and probation orders
- Probate filings and estate inventories
Records that may be confidential, sealed, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency records
- Adoption proceedings and related filings
- Mental health commitment records
- Expunged criminal records
- Sealed filings ordered by the court
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and minor children's full names
As the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts notes, "Just One Look: ON-DEMAND Access To Alabama State Trial Court Records" reflects the state's commitment to accessible judicial information, though access to specific document images may differ from access to index-level data. Courthouse inspection and online access are not equivalent — certain document images available at the clerk's office may not be reproduced in the online portal, and some older records exist only in paper form.
What Are Court Records in Montgomery County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In Montgomery County, court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk's Office for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, which serves as the official custodian of records for circuit and district court matters. The Probate Court maintains its own separate records for probate, estate, guardianship, and related matters.
A court record is distinct from a docket entry. The docket is a chronological index of all actions taken in a case, while the full case file includes every document filed with the court. Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records document the prosecution of offenses under state law. Filed pleadings initiate or respond to litigation, whereas final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter.
Public filings are accessible to any member of the public upon request, while sealed or restricted filings require a court order or statutory authority to access. Trial court records originate in the circuit, district, or municipal courts and are maintained locally. Appellate records, including those reviewed by the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, or the Alabama Supreme Court, are maintained by the respective appellate clerk's offices.
Court records are created at the moment of filing and updated continuously as the case progresses through hearings, motions, orders, and final disposition. Upon appeal, the trial court record is transmitted to the appellate court, where it becomes part of the appellate record.
Montgomery County Circuit Clerk's Office
251 South Lawrence Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: (334) 832-1260
Montgomery County Circuit Court
Montgomery County Probate Court
100 South Lawrence Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: (334) 832-1242
Montgomery County Probate Court
What's Included in a Montgomery County Court Record?
A court record in Montgomery County may contain a range of documents and data entries depending on the case type, the court in which the matter was filed, and applicable public-access rules. The following categories of information are present in court records subject to public inspection:
- Case identification data: case number, court name and division, filing date, and case type
- Party information: names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and attorneys of record
- Docket entries: a chronological log of all filings, hearings, continuances, and court actions
- Pleadings and motions: complaints, petitions, answers, counterclaims, motions, and supporting briefs
- Court orders and judgments: interlocutory orders, final judgments, decrees, and minute entries
- Hearing information: scheduled and completed hearing dates, trial dates, and status conferences
- Outcome data: dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Financial and administrative data: filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly reflected in the record
Certain categories of information are excluded from public access or are subject to redaction under court rules and state statute. These include sealed filings, expunged criminal matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, exhibits containing protected personal data, and any filing restricted by court order. Under Alabama court rules, parties are required to omit or redact Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and the names of minor children from publicly filed documents.
Types of Courts in Montgomery County
Montgomery County is served by a multi-tiered court system under the Alabama Unified Judicial System. The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts oversees the administration of all state courts, including those in Montgomery County.
Circuit Court – Fifteenth Judicial Circuit The Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction for Montgomery County. It hears felony criminal cases, major civil matters, domestic relations cases, and appeals from lower courts. The Circuit Clerk's Office maintains official records for all circuit court proceedings.
District Court The District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims matters (up to $6,000), preliminary hearings in felony cases, and civil cases involving amounts up to $20,000. District court records are also maintained by the Circuit Clerk's Office.
Probate Court The Probate Court has jurisdiction over estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health commitments, and the issuance of certain licenses. The Probate Judge serves as the official custodian of probate records.
Municipal Court The City of Montgomery operates a Municipal Court with jurisdiction over violations of city ordinances and certain traffic offenses occurring within city limits. Municipal court records are maintained by the municipal clerk.
Juvenile Court Juvenile matters, including delinquency and dependency proceedings, are heard within the circuit court system. Juvenile records are subject to heightened confidentiality protections under Alabama law.
What Types of Cases Do Montgomery County Courts Hear
Montgomery County courts collectively hear criminal felony and misdemeanor cases, civil disputes, domestic relations and divorce matters, child custody and support proceedings, probate and estate administration, guardianship and conservatorship petitions, juvenile delinquency and dependency cases, traffic violations, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims, and appeals from lower courts and administrative agencies. The Circuit Court exercises general jurisdiction, while the District Court and Municipal Court exercise limited jurisdiction over matters within their statutory authority.
How to Search Montgomery County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may search Montgomery County court records at no cost through several methods. In-person inspection at the Circuit Clerk's Office is free of charge during regular business hours. Public access terminals located at the courthouse allow users to search case indexes and view docket entries without payment.
The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts provides online access to state trial court records. Basic case index searches are available at no charge, while fees apply to the retrieval of document images.
| Access Method | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-person case index inspection | Free |
| Courthouse public terminal search | Free |
| Online case index search (AOC) | Free |
| Paper copies (per page) | $0.25–$1.00 per page (varies) |
| Certified copies | Fee set by clerk's schedule |
| Electronic document image retrieval | Fee may apply |
Pursuant to Alabama Code § 12-19-70, the Alabama Legislature has established a schedule of court costs and fees applicable to civil and criminal proceedings. Certified copies of court records carry an additional certification fee. Members of the public seeking copies should confirm current fee amounts directly with the Circuit Clerk's Office, as fee schedules are subject to legislative revision.
How Long Does Montgomery County Keep Court Records?
Court records in Montgomery County are retained according to schedules established by the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts and applicable state law. Retention periods vary by case type and record category.
Permanent retention applies to judgment dockets, minute books, and final orders in civil and criminal matters, as these records serve as the official evidence of court action. Felony criminal case files are retained for extended periods given the potential for post-conviction proceedings. Civil case files, depending on the nature of the judgment, may be retained for periods ranging from several years to permanently. Probate records, including wills admitted to probate and estate inventories, are retained permanently as they affect title to real property and family legal status.
Traffic and minor misdemeanor case files may be subject to shorter retention schedules. Docket books and minute records are retained permanently as the official record of court proceedings. The Alabama Department of Archives and History serves as the repository for historical court records transferred from active court custody.
Paper files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the record has been preserved in an approved format. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing or expungement. A sealed record remains in existence but is restricted from public access. An expunged record, authorized under Alabama Code § 15-27-1 et seq., is removed from public access and, in certain circumstances, physically destroyed or rendered inaccessible. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, county archives, or the Alabama Department of Archives and History.
How To Find a Court Docket in Montgomery County
A court docket is the official chronological index of all actions taken in a specific case. It differs from the full case file in that it records what happened and when, rather than containing the actual documents filed. A docket entry may note that a motion was filed, a hearing was held, or an order was entered, but the docket itself does not reproduce the text of those documents.
Dockets for Montgomery County circuit and district court cases are accessible through the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts statewide case search system. To locate a docket, users may search by party name, case number, or attorney of record. The system returns a case summary and docket sheet reflecting all entries recorded in the official case management system.
To find a docket through the online portal:
- Navigate to the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts case search system at alacourt.gov
- Select the search type — by party name, case number, or attorney
- Enter Montgomery County as the jurisdiction
- Review the case list returned and select the relevant matter
- Access the docket sheet to view chronological case entries
A court docket in Montgomery County contains hearing dates and continuances, motion filing entries, minute entries reflecting court action, status updates, and references to orders entered. A docket does not include the full text of sealed entries, exhibits, confidential attachments, or documents restricted by court order. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be separately available through the Circuit Clerk's Office or posted at the courthouse. As the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit's web presence notes, the court serves "the state courts of Montgomery County," and docket information reflects proceedings across all divisions of the circuit.
Alabama Administrative Office of Courts
300 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: (334) 954-5000
Alabama Administrative Office of Courts