Find Civil Court Records in Calhoun County

Civil court records in Calhoun County show lawsuits, contract fights, injury claims, and other civil cases filed in the county's courts. The Circuit Clerk in Anniston keeps these records. Calhoun County is part of the 7th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, which handles civil cases for the county's population of approximately 116,000 residents. Need to look up a judgment? Want to find case filings? There are a few ways to get these records. You can search online or go to the courthouse in person.

Calhoun County Circuit Clerk

Kim McCarson is the Circuit Clerk for Calhoun County. Her office is where you go to get civil court records. Staff can help you find cases, look at files, and ask for certified copies. The office keeps records for circuit court civil cases (over $20,000) and district court civil cases ($6,000 to $20,000). They also have small claims records for cases under $6,000. Most people start their search here because the staff knows the system well and can point you in the right direction if you are not sure what you need.

What Records Does the Circuit Clerk Maintain

The Circuit Clerk keeps all civil case files from when a suit is filed until the case ends. This includes the complaint, answers, motions, court orders, and final judgments. You can also find records of civil appeals to higher courts. When someone wins a money judgment here, it goes into the public record. You can search for it by name.

Records are sorted by case number. The case number has the year and a number in order. If you know the case number, getting records is easy. If you just have names, the clerk can search by name. Give them as much info as you have. Dates help a lot. Even a rough guess of when the case was filed can save time and make the search go faster.

How to Search Civil Records Online

Calhoun County has online access to civil court records through Alacourt. Two main ways exist to search records online. The state runs one portal and the county has its own as well. Both can get you the records you need, though the costs and steps differ a bit between them.

Alacourt Public Access Portal

The Alacourt Public Access portal at pa.alacourt.com lets you search court records from all 67 Alabama counties. Calhoun is on there too. You need to make an account first. Searches cost nothing. But to see case details, you pay $19.99 for district court cases and $29.99 for circuit court cases. The site shows case info, party names, filing dates, and case status.

County-Specific Portal

Calhoun County has its own portal at calhoun.alacourt.gov for local court records. This site might have other features or costs than the state system. Try both and see which works best for what you need.

Tips for Online Searching

When you search online, try different name forms. Robert might show up as Bob or Bobby. Use maiden names if the person might have filed with a different last name. Cannot find a case online? It might be too old and not in the system yet. Or it could be sealed. Call the Circuit Clerk for help. They can check records that are not yet online.

Types of Civil Cases in Calhoun County

Civil court records in Calhoun County cover many types of legal fights. The kind of case sets which court handles it. This also tells you where the records end up. Knowing the right court saves time when you are looking for a case.

Circuit Court Civil Cases

Circuit court handles the big civil cases. Under Alabama law, circuit court takes cases where the amount at stake is more than $20,000. Common cases here are injury lawsuits from car wrecks or slip and fall events. You also see medical malpractice claims, business fights and contract disputes, land disputes over boundaries or who owns what, and construction defect claims. Circuit court also deals with equity matters like injunctions. The dollar amount does not matter for those.

District Court Civil Cases

District court takes civil cases where the amount at stake is $6,000 to $20,000. You find smaller contract fights here, landlord-tenant cases, debt collection suits, and property damage claims. These cases tend to move faster than circuit court. The rules are simpler so things wrap up sooner.

Small Claims Court

Small claims court is part of district court. It handles cases under $6,000. Here you find minor disputes like security deposit claims, small buyer complaints, and minor contract breaks. The process is meant to be simple. People can stand up for themselves without a lawyer. Forms are basic and the rules are loose enough that regular folks can use the court without legal training.

Civil Court Fees in Calhoun County

Filing fees for civil cases in Alabama are set by Alabama Code Section 12-19-71. These fees apply statewide, including in Calhoun County.

Copy and Certification Fees

Getting copies of court records costs extra. Plain copies run $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more. Expect $1.00 to $5.00 per page plus a certification fee on top. Prices can change. Call the clerk to check current rates before you go.

Fee Waivers for Hardship

Cannot pay court fees? You can ask for a fee waiver. File an affidavit saying you have a real hardship. The judge looks at these and may waive fees if you truly cannot pay. Get the forms at the Circuit Clerk's office. Staff can show you how to fill them out. Many people who qualify do not know this option exists, so ask about it if money is tight.

Your Right to Access Court Records

Alabama law says court records are public. Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 gives every citizen the right to see and copy any public record. This covers civil court records kept by the Calhoun County Circuit Clerk. The law leans toward letting people see records, not hiding them.

What Records May Be Restricted

Most civil court records are public. But some info may be sealed or blacked out. Records with minors often have names removed. Cases with privacy deals may have parts sealed by court order. Medical records and bank account numbers get blacked out. Mental health cases are not public. If they tell you a record is off limits, ask why. Ask what law or order blocks access. You have a right to know.

Court Record Privacy Rules

The Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy took effect January 1, 2025. These rules list types of info that may be kept from public view. Rule 104(A) says court records are open unless there is a specific reason to close them. The rules name 91 types of info that might be private. If you run into a closed record, this set of rules is likely the reason.

Related Record Sources in Calhoun County

Civil court records often link to other public records. When you dig into a civil case, you may want to check other sources too. These can give you more background on the parties or the outcome of the case.

Judgment Liens and Property Records

When a plaintiff wins a money judgment, it can become a lien on the defendant's property. In Calhoun County, the Probate Judge keeps property records. This includes judgment liens. A lien sticks to any real estate the debtor owns in the county. Check property records to see if someone has judgments against them.

Federal Court Records

Some civil cases go to federal court, not state court. Calhoun County is in the Northern District of Alabama. Federal cases are at the federal courthouse. Records are on PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). Federal cases include civil rights claims, cases with parties from different states with over $75,000 at stake, and cases about federal law.

Probate Court Records

The Calhoun County Probate Court deals with estates, wills, and guardianship. Sometimes civil suits cross into probate. Will contests and fights over estate assets are good examples. Probate records are kept apart from circuit court records, so you need to check both places if your case touches on both.

Business Entity Records

If a civil case involves a business, look up the company with the Alabama Secretary of State. You can see the registered agent, address, and officers. This helps if you need to serve papers on a company. It also lets you check if a business is real and still active in the state.

How to Request Civil Court Records

In Person at the Courthouse

The fastest way to get records is to go in person. Visit the Circuit Clerk at 25 W 11th Street, Suite 300 in Anniston. Bring an ID. Tell the clerk what you need. Give them the case number or party names. Staff can search while you wait. Look at records on site and ask for copies of what you want. Pay when you pick up.

By Mail

To ask for records by mail, send a written request to the Circuit Clerk at 25 W 11th Street Suite 300, Anniston AL 36201. Put in the names of all parties, rough filing date, case type if you know it, what papers you need, and your return address. Send a check or money order to Calhoun County Circuit Clerk. Not sure of the fees? Call first. Or send a note asking them to bill you for the rest.

By Phone

Call (256) 231-1750 to ask about records. Staff can check if a case is on file and give basic info. They cannot fax or email files. For copies, go in person, send mail, or use the online system.

Legal Assistance in Calhoun County

Need help with a civil court issue in Calhoun County? Several groups offer free or cheap legal help. These range from full service law help for those who qualify to self-help tools you can use on your own.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal help to low-income people in the state. They take housing fights, consumer cases, family law, and benefits cases. Call 1-866-456-4995 to see if you qualify.

Alabama Legal Help

The Alabama Legal Help site has self-help tools. Find court forms, legal guides, and step-by-step help for common civil cases. The site is for people doing their own cases with no lawyer. It walks you through the process in plain terms.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral line. Call 1-800-392-5660 to find a lawyer for your case type. First talks cost $50 for 30 minutes. Open Monday through Friday.

Calhoun County Law Library

The law library at the Calhoun County Courthouse is open to the public. Use it to look up Alabama laws, court rules, and legal forms. Staff cannot give legal advice. But they can point you to the right books and forms. The library is free to use during courthouse hours.

About the 7th Judicial Circuit

Calhoun County is in the 7th Judicial Circuit. This circuit is just Calhoun County. The judges here only handle local cases. This means they know the local legal scene well. They see the same lawyers and deal with local issues day in and day out.

The 7th Circuit has more than one judge. They hear civil, criminal, and family cases. Civil cases go to judges on a rotating basis. Some case types go to set judges. Court is held in Anniston at the county courthouse.

Appeals from Calhoun County civil cases go to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals if under $50,000. Bigger cases go straight to the Supreme Court of Alabama. Find appeal records at the Alabama Appellate Courts Portal.

Search Civil Court Records

Use this search tool to look up civil court records from Calhoun County. You can also search records from all over Alabama.

Nearby Counties

Cannot find records in Calhoun County? The case may be in a nearby county. Civil cases get filed where the defendant lives. Or where the events that led to the suit took place. Check these neighbors if your search comes up empty.