Search Conecuh County Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Conecuh County are kept by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Evergreen. That town serves as the county seat. The 35th Judicial Circuit handles all civil matters filed here. Conecuh County sits in south-central Alabama and shares the circuit with Monroe County. This spreads some court resources between the two. Melanie Steele serves as the current Circuit Clerk. She manages the daily work of filing new cases, keeping records, and helping the public find what they need. You can search records online through the Alacourt system. You can also visit the clerk office in person during regular hours. The courthouse is in downtown Evergreen at 111 Court Street. Staff there deal with a smaller caseload than more urban counties. That often means faster service when you visit in person.

County Information

Circuit Clerk Office

The Conecuh County Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of all civil court records in the county. This office keeps case files, handles new filings, and gives copies to the public. Melanie Steele serves as Circuit Clerk. She oversees a small but hard-working staff. The office handles records for both Circuit Court and District Court. Being a rural county, the number of cases is lower than urban areas. That can work in your favor when you need one-on-one help finding a record. Staff have more time to assist each person who comes in with a request.

Contact Information

Online Access

Conecuh County civil court records are available online through the Conecuh County Alacourt portal. This system lets you search by party name or case number. You will need to create an account and pay a fee to view full case details. District case lookups cost $19.99. Circuit case lookups cost $29.99. The online system includes civil, domestic, and other case types. It runs around the clock. That is nice if you cannot get to the courthouse during the day. You can pull up records at midnight if you need to.

For appellate records, visit the Alabama Appellate Courts Portal. It gives free access to cases appealed from Conecuh County Circuit Court. This can be useful if you need to track a case that went past the trial level. Appeals often take time to resolve, so checking this portal helps you stay up to date.

Civil Cases in Conecuh County

The 35th Judicial Circuit handles all civil matters arising in Conecuh County. The circuit also covers Monroe County. Case jurisdiction depends on how much money is at stake. Each court level has its own rules and steps to follow. All records end up with the Circuit Clerk in the end. Knowing which court hears your type of case helps you file in the right place from the start.

Circuit Court Civil Division

Circuit Court has power over civil cases where the amount in dispute tops $20,000. This includes personal injury lawsuits, breach of contract claims, and business disputes. It also covers real estate fights and class actions. Circuit Court also has sole power over equity matters like injunctions. Civil cases filed here often involve harder legal issues. They take longer to resolve. In Conecuh County, many circuit civil cases involve property disputes and timber contracts. Auto accidents on the rural highways that cross the area are common too.

District Court Civil Division

District Court handles civil cases up to $20,000. Common matters include debt collection and landlord-tenant disputes. Property damage claims and consumer complaints fall here too. The process moves faster than Circuit Court. Most district civil cases wrap up within a few months. Conecuh County sees a fair number of collection cases. Disputes between neighbors or small businesses are common as well. The district court is less formal. That can make it easier if you are handling things on your own without a lawyer.

Small Claims Court

Small claims is a part of District Court that handles disputes under $6,000. The process is meant to be simple and easy to follow. Many people handle their own cases without hiring a lawyer. Typical matters include security deposit disputes and minor contract issues. Small debt collection falls here too. Filing is simpler. Hearings happen fast. If you have a smaller dispute in Conecuh County, small claims is often the easiest way to go.

Domestic Relations Cases

The court also handles family law civil matters. This includes divorces with property disputes. Child custody cases and spousal support fall here too. While these are civil matters, they follow special rules. Domestic cases can get messy when property is involved. They also get tough when the parties cannot agree on custody. Records from these cases are kept by the Circuit Clerk alongside other civil files. These files can be quite detailed due to the nature of family disputes.

Legal Framework

Alabama law governs how civil court records are kept and accessed in Conecuh County. Several key laws apply to public records requests and court filings. Knowing these laws can help you know what to expect when you ask for records. It also helps to understand your rights when seeking court documents.

Public Records Access

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, residents have the right to inspect and copy public records. This law is read broadly in favor of public access. The burden falls on the government to prove why a record should not be released. This applies to civil court records held by the Circuit Clerk in Conecuh County. If you are denied access to a record, you can ask why. You may be able to challenge that denial.

Court Filing Requirements

Alabama Code Section 12-19-71 sets the fee list for filing civil cases. The law applies across the state including Conecuh County. Filing fees help fund court work. They vary based on the type and value of the case. Small claims filings cost less than circuit court filings, as you might expect.

Court Jurisdiction

Circuit court jurisdiction is established under Alabama Code Section 12-11-30. This statute grants circuit courts general jurisdiction over civil cases exceeding $20,000. District court jurisdiction under Alabama Code Section 12-12-30 covers civil matters up to $20,000. Knowing which court handles your case matters because you need to file in the right place.

Court Record Privacy

The Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy and Confidentiality took effect January 1, 2025. Rule 104(A) states that court records are open for inspection unless a statute or court order says otherwise. The rules list 91 categories of information that may be sealed or redacted, such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers. Most civil case documents remain public, but sensitive personal information gets protected.

Statutes of Limitations

Civil lawsuits must be filed within time limits set by Alabama law. Under Alabama Code Section 6-2-34, actions on written contracts have a six-year limitation. Personal injury claims have a two-year limitation per Section 6-2-38. These deadlines are strict. If you wait too long, you lose your right to sue no matter how strong your case might be.

How to Get Civil Court Records

There are several ways to obtain civil court records from Conecuh County. The method you choose depends on what works best for your situation and how quickly you need the information.

In Person

Visit the Circuit Clerk office at 111 Court Street, Suite 14 in Evergreen. Bring valid photo ID. Tell staff what case you are looking for. If you have a case number, that speeds things up a lot. Staff can search by party names if you do not have a case number. You can view the file and ask for copies. Standard copies cost $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more. Most requests are filled the same day if the records are on hand. The office is not huge. Staff can usually give you more one-on-one help than you might get in a bigger county.

Online

Go to conecuh.alacourt.gov and create an account. Search by party name or case number. Pay the fee to view case documents. You can print or save what you find. The online system runs 24 hours a day. That is handy if you cannot visit during office hours. This is likely the fastest way to get records. It works best if you already know what case you need and just want to pull the documents.

By Mail

Send a written request to the Circuit Clerk at 111 Court Street, Suite 14, Evergreen, AL 36401. Include the names of all parties and the case type. Add an approximate date range too. Provide a check or money order for the fees. Make it payable to Conecuh County Circuit Clerk. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for the reply. Response time is usually 5 to 10 business days. It can vary depending on how busy the office is.

What Information You Need

To search effectively, gather as much of this information as you can: full names of parties involved, the approximate date the case was filed, the type of case (small claims, civil, domestic), and the case number if you have it. The more details you provide, the faster staff can locate your records. Even partial information helps narrow things down. Knowing whether the case was in circuit or district court also helps.

Related Record Sources

Civil court records often connect to records held by other agencies. These sources can give you more info about parties or related matters in Conecuh County. Sometimes you need to look in more than one place to get the full picture. Checking multiple sources helps you piece things together.

Property Records and Judgment Liens

When someone wins a civil judgment, they may record it as a lien against the debtor's property. These liens are filed with the Conecuh County Probate Judge. Searching property records can show judgments recorded against real estate. The Probate office is in the Conecuh County Courthouse in Evergreen. This is an important step if you are trying to collect on a judgment. It also helps if you want to check for liens on property before you buy it.

Federal Court Records

Some civil cases fall under federal power. Conecuh County is in the Southern District of Alabama. The federal courthouse handling cases from this area is in Mobile. Federal civil records are on PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov. PACER charges $0.10 per page viewed. Cases with parties from different states get filed in federal court. Federal question matters go there too rather than state court.

Bankruptcy Records

If a party to a civil case files for bankruptcy, it can affect the lawsuit a lot. Bankruptcy records are federal records on PACER. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama handles Conecuh County cases. A bankruptcy filing can stop collection efforts. It can also halt pending lawsuits by triggering an automatic stay. This pause gives the debtor time to work out their debts.

Alabama Secretary of State

For civil cases involving businesses, the Alabama Secretary of State maintains business entity records including registered agent information. This can be useful for service of process or locating parties to a lawsuit. If you are trying to sue a company, you need to know who can legally receive papers on their behalf.

Legal Assistance

Several organizations provide free or low-cost legal help to Conecuh County residents dealing with civil court matters. If you cannot afford an attorney, these resources may be able to help you navigate the legal system.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama provides free civil legal aid across the state. They serve residents who meet income guidelines. Call the statewide intake line at 1-866-456-4995. They handle housing, family, consumer, and benefits cases. This organization has helped low-income Alabamians for decades and covers rural areas like Conecuh County that might not have many private attorneys available.

Alabama State Bar Referral

The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service at 1-800-392-5660. For $50 or less you get a 30-minute consultation. This can help you understand your options if you need to file or respond to a civil case. The service operates Monday through Friday during business hours.

Self-Help Resources

Alabama Legal Help offers free legal information, court forms, and guides for handling civil matters without a lawyer. The site covers common issues like debt, housing, and family law. It is a good starting point if you want to learn about the process before deciding whether to hire an attorney. The forms section can save you time and money.

Pro Bono Programs

Some attorneys in the area volunteer their time through pro bono programs. Contact the Circuit Clerk office or Legal Services Alabama to ask about available pro bono assistance in Conecuh County. Availability varies and depends on volunteer attorney participation. Rural counties sometimes have fewer options, but it is worth asking.

Cities in Conecuh County

Conecuh County includes Evergreen as the county seat along with several smaller communities. Civil court records for residents throughout the county are handled at the Circuit Clerk office in Evergreen.

Evergreen is the largest city in Conecuh County with a population of around 3,500. Other communities include Castleberry, Repton, and Brooklyn. None of the cities in Conecuh County exceed 100,000 population, so there are no major metropolitan areas within the county. For residents who need resources available in larger cities, Mobile is about 70 miles to the south and Montgomery is about 90 miles to the north. Both offer more extensive legal services and federal court facilities.

Nearby Counties

Conecuh County borders several other Alabama counties. If you need records from a case filed in a neighboring county, you will need to contact that county's Circuit Clerk directly. Each county maintains its own records and they do not share systems.