Search Civil Court Records in Crenshaw County

Civil court records in Crenshaw County are kept by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Luverne. The county is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit. This circuit covers Crenshaw, Butler, and Covington counties. Circuit judges rotate among these three courthouses to hear cases. Civil matters from simple debt claims to complex lawsuits are filed through the Circuit Clerk's office on South Glenwood Avenue. The clerk's office handles new filings, document storage, and issuing certified copies. You can request records online through Alacourt, in person, or by mail.

Crenshaw County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk is the official record keeper for all civil court files in Crenshaw County. Rhonda Danford serves as the Circuit Clerk. Her office handles new case filings and keeps the official case files. Staff there can help you with searches. They can also help you find specific records if you are not sure where to look.

The Crenshaw County Courthouse sits in downtown Luverne on South Glenwood Avenue. Street parking is free around the courthouse square. When you visit, bring a valid photo ID. Also bring any details you have about the case you want to find. Party names and rough dates help the staff find records faster. The more info you have, the quicker your search will go.

The 2nd Judicial Circuit

Crenshaw County belongs to the 2nd Judicial Circuit. Butler County and Covington County are also in this circuit. Judges travel between courthouses in Luverne, Greenville, and Andalusia. Many rural areas of Alabama use this shared setup. No single county has enough cases to need a full-time judge on its own.

What this means is that civil cases in Crenshaw County are heard on a rotating basis. Court dates are set based on when a judge is in Luverne. If you have a pending case, the Circuit Clerk's office can tell you the next court date. They can also tell you which judge will hear the case.

Circuit Court Jurisdiction

Under Alabama Code Section 12-11-30, circuit courts have general power over civil matters. The Crenshaw County Circuit Court hears civil cases where the amount in dispute is over $20,000. The court also has sole power over equity cases no matter the dollar amount. Equity matters include injunctions, suits for specific performance, actions to split property, and quiet title cases.

District Court Jurisdiction

Crenshaw County District Court handles civil cases of $20,000 or less. This is set forth in Alabama Code Section 12-12-30. Small claims under $6,000 also go to district court. Typical cases include unpaid bills, landlord-tenant fights, and property damage claims.

Online Access to Civil Court Records

Crenshaw County civil court records are on Alacourt. This is the statewide court records system. You can search for cases and view documents from anywhere with an internet connection. It is a useful tool if you cannot get to the courthouse in person.

Alacourt Public Access

The Crenshaw County Alacourt portal gives you online access to civil case info. You can search by party name or case number. Viewing case documents requires an account and payment. District court lookups cost $19.99. Circuit court lookups run $29.99.

What Records Are Available Online

Alacourt has civil case data including party names, case numbers, dates filed, and case status. It also shows docket entries. Some documents like complaints, motions, and court orders may be viewable. Older cases may not have all documents scanned. For a full case file, you might need to go to the clerk's office in person.

Setting Up an Alacourt Account

Before you can view documents on Alacourt, you need to sign up. Go to pa.alacourt.com and find the registration link. Enter your name, address, and email. Then pick a password. Once signed up, you can search cases and pay for document access with a credit card or debit card.

How to Request Records in Person

Going to the Circuit Clerk's office in Luverne is often the easiest way to get civil court records. This is especially true for older cases or when you need certified copies.

What to Bring

Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license or state ID card. Have whatever case information you can gather, including party names, rough filing dates, and case type. If you know the case number, the search goes much quicker.

Getting Help with Your Search

The clerk's office staff can help you find records if you do not have the case number. They can search by party name. They can also filter by date range or case type. Be ready to wait if the office is busy. They help everyone in the order they arrive, so plan for some extra time during peak hours.

Copy Options

You can get plain copies of most civil case documents. Certified copies come with the clerk's seal and signature. This makes them legally valid. You need certified copies in many cases. For example, you might use them to prove a judgment exists or to file papers in a different court.

Requesting Records by Mail

If you cannot get to Luverne in person, you can ask for civil court records through the mail. Send your request to the Circuit Clerk at the address listed above.

What to Include in Your Request

Write down the full names of all parties in the case. Include the dates when the case was filed if you know them. Note the type of case and which documents you want. Put your return address on the letter. Also include a phone number where staff can reach you if they have questions.

How to Pay

Send payment for copy fees along with your request. Make checks payable to "Crenshaw County Circuit Clerk." Money orders work too. If you are not sure how much it will cost, call the clerk's office first. They can give you an estimate. They can also hold your request if the total is higher than what you sent.

How Long It Takes

Mail requests usually take between 5 and 10 business days to process. The time depends on how many requests they have and how hard it is to find your records. The clerk's office will mail the documents to your return address after they pull and copy everything.

Types of Civil Cases in Crenshaw County

The Circuit Clerk keeps records for many kinds of civil disputes filed in Crenshaw County courts. Knowing the different case types can help you figure out where to look.

Contract Disputes

Contract cases happen when people disagree about the terms of a deal. These range from simple consumer matters to complex business contracts. Court records include the original complaint and any counterclaims. They also include motions from both sides and the final judgment.

Personal Injury Claims

When someone gets hurt because of another person's carelessness, they may file a personal injury lawsuit. These cases often involve car wrecks, slip and fall accidents, or defective products. The records contain medical records, expert opinions, and damage calculations.

Property Disputes

Civil cases about land and property come up fairly often. These include boundary line disputes, arguments about easements, quiet title actions, and partition suits where co-owners want to split up property. Such cases typically involve surveys, deeds, and other property records.

Debt Collection

Creditors regularly file civil suits to collect money owed to them. Cases under $20,000 go to district court. The records show the original debt amount, any payments made, and the judgment against the debtor.

Landlord-Tenant Matters

Disputes between landlords and tenants often wind up in civil court. The usual issues are evictions, security deposit disputes, and lease violations. Most of these cases are heard in district court because the dollar amounts are relatively small.

Legal Framework for Court Records Access

Access to civil court records in Crenshaw County is governed by state law. Several statutes and court rules set out how the public can view court records. The rules try to balance openness with the need to protect private info in some cases.

Alabama Public Records Law

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, Alabama residents can inspect and copy public records. The law says courts should lean toward disclosure when in doubt. If an agency says no to a request, it must prove why an exemption applies. Court records are open to the public unless a judge has sealed them.

Court Record Privacy Rules

The Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy went into effect on January 1, 2025. Rule 104(A) says court records are open for viewing and copying. There are exceptions if a statute, rule, or court order says otherwise. The rules list 91 types of info that can be kept private. This includes Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and info about children.

Sealed Records

Some civil court records are sealed by court order. Parties can ask for sealing to protect trade secrets or private business information. Settlement agreements are sometimes sealed if both sides agree. Getting access to sealed records usually requires a court order.

Statutes of Limitations

Civil lawsuits have to be filed within certain time limits called statutes of limitations. Under Alabama Code Section 6-2-34, claims on written contracts have a six-year limit. Personal injury and property damage claims must be filed within two years per Section 6-2-38. These deadlines affect what cases you will find in the records for any given period.

Civil Court Filing Fees

Filing a civil lawsuit in Crenshaw County requires paying court fees set by Alabama law. Alabama Code Section 12-19-71 establishes the fee amounts for different case types.

Small Claims Fees

For small claims cases involving amounts under $1,500, the filing fee is $35. Cases between $1,500 and $6,000 have a filing fee of $96. These lower fees make small claims court accessible for minor disputes.

District Court Fees

Civil cases in district court where the amount is between $6,000 and $20,000 require a filing fee of $219. This covers the basic cost of opening the case file and processing the initial paperwork.

Circuit Court Fees

Circuit court civil filings cost $197 when the amount in dispute is under $50,000. Cases over $50,000 have a filing fee of $297. Domestic relations cases (which are separate from regular civil matters) cost $145 to file.

Additional Fees

Beyond the basic filing fee, other costs may apply. Serving the defendant with papers costs extra. Witness subpoenas are $12 each under Alabama Code Section 12-19-74. Motion fees, appeal fees, and other costs can add up throughout a case.

Related Record Sources

Civil court records often connect to records kept by other offices in Crenshaw County. These other sources can give you more information for your research.

Judgment Liens and Property Records

When a creditor wins a money judgment, they can record it as a lien on the debtor's real property. The Crenshaw County Probate Judge maintains these lien records. Under Alabama Code Section 6-9-190, a judgment lien attaches to real property in any county where it gets recorded. Checking property records can reveal unpaid judgments.

Probate Court Records

The Probate Court deals with estates, wills, and guardianships. If a civil case involves someone who has died or a person under guardianship, related records might be in Probate Court. The Probate Judge's office is also in the Luverne courthouse.

Federal Court Records

Crenshaw County falls within the Middle District of Alabama, headquartered in Montgomery. Cases involving federal law or parties from different states with more than $75,000 at stake are filed in federal court. You can find federal records through PACER at $0.10 per page.

Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy filings can impact civil judgments and pending lawsuits. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Alabama is in Montgomery. When someone files bankruptcy, it can stop collection on civil judgments. These records are searchable on PACER.

Legal Assistance Resources

If you need help with a civil court matter in Crenshaw County, there are organizations that offer free or low-cost legal help to people who qualify.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal aid to low-income people across all 67 Alabama counties, including Crenshaw. They help with housing problems, family law, consumer protection, and public benefits. Call the statewide intake line at 1-866-456-4995 to find out if you qualify.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service at 1-800-392-5660. You can get a 30-minute consultation for no more than $50. This can help you find a private attorney if you do not qualify for free legal services.

Self-Help Resources

Alabama Legal Help has free self-help guides, court forms, and legal information for people handling civil matters on their own. The site covers small claims, landlord-tenant issues, consumer disputes, and other common civil topics.

Alabama Judicial System Self-Help Center

The Alabama Unified Judicial System website provides access to court forms and basic procedural information. While it cannot give legal advice, it helps people understand the court process and find the right forms for their situation.

Search Civil Court Records

Use the search tool below to find civil court records from Crenshaw County and other Alabama locations.

Cities in Crenshaw County

Crenshaw County has several small municipalities. Civil court records for residents of these towns are kept at the county level by the Circuit Clerk in Luverne.

Luverne is the county seat and largest town with about 2,700 residents. It is where you will find the courthouse and all county offices. Other towns in the county include Brantley, Glenwood, Dozier, Petrey, and Rutledge. All of these are small communities with populations under 1,000.

The nearest large cities are Montgomery to the north and Dothan to the southeast. No cities in Crenshaw County are large enough to have their own page on this site.

Nearby Counties

The following counties border Crenshaw County or are located nearby. Each county has its own Circuit Clerk office that handles civil court records.

Butler and Covington counties are part of the same 2nd Judicial Circuit as Crenshaw County, meaning the circuit judges hear cases in all three locations. Montgomery County to the north is in the 15th Judicial Circuit and is home to the state capital and the Middle District federal courthouse.