Find Civil Court Records in DeKalb County

DeKalb County civil court records include lawsuits, judgments, contract disputes, and other civil matters filed in the 9th Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Clerk's office in Fort Payne keeps these records. It sits in the northeast corner of Alabama along Lookout Mountain. You can search for cases online through the state Alacourt system. Or just visit the clerk's office in person. The courthouse handles everything from small claims under six thousand dollars to big business disputes. Civil records here go back decades. Older files may need an in-person visit to access.

Circuit Clerk Office

The DeKalb County Circuit Clerk keeps all civil court records for the county. Todd Greeson serves as Circuit Clerk. He runs the filing, storage, and retrieval of court documents. Staff at this office can help you find cases you need. They also get copies of documents and tell you what records are on file. They handle new case filings every day and keep the court calendar on track.

9th Judicial Circuit

DeKalb County is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit of Alabama. This circuit includes only DeKalb County. The circuit court judges focus just on cases from this area. The circuit handles civil, criminal, and family matters. Judges rotate through case types. The court sets civil trials on a regular docket. If you need to know when a case is set for hearing, call the clerk's office. You can also check the Alacourt system online.

Copy and Search Fees

The Circuit Clerk charges fees for copies of civil court records. They also charge for record searches. State law under Alabama Code Section 12-19-71 sets many of these fees. Some local changes exist too. You can pay by cash, check, or money order at the clerk's office.

Certified copies carry the official seal of the Circuit Clerk. Courts and other agencies usually need certified copies as proof. They want to see that seal to know the document is real. Regular copies work fine if you just need them for your own files. They also work for basic research.

Online Record Access

DeKalb County civil court records are on the Alacourt Public Access portal. This statewide system lets you search by party name, case number, or attorney. You need to create an account to view case documents. The system charges $19.99 for district court case lookups. Circuit court cases cost $29.99.

What You Can Find Online

The Alacourt database shows basic case info for free. You can see party names, case type, and filing date at no cost. To see the real documents, you need to pay the lookup fee. Once you pay, you can view the full docket with every filing in the case. Many documents are scanned. You can view or print them right from your computer. Some older cases may have less info online. This is true for cases filed before the county went digital.

Searching Tips

When looking for someone by name, try different versions. The search looks for exact matches. A middle name or initial can throw things off. Start with just the first and last name. If that pulls up too many results, add more details. This helps narrow it down. Common names like Smith or Jones will return lots of hits in any county.

Types of Civil Cases

DeKalb County courts hear many types of civil disputes. Where your case gets filed depends on how much money is at stake and what kind of case it is.

Circuit Court Civil Cases

Circuit court handles civil cases worth more than $20,000. This is set out in Alabama Code Section 12-11-30. It includes personal injury lawsuits from car wrecks and truck crashes. Slip and fall cases go here too. Contract disputes between businesses, real estate fights, and fraud claims also land in circuit court. The court has sole power over equity matters like injunctions.

District Court Civil Cases

District court handles civil cases worth $20,000 or less. Debt collection lawsuits are common here. So are landlord-tenant disputes and property damage claims. These cases tend to move faster than circuit court. Many get resolved in a few months. The simpler rules make district court easier for people without lawyers. Having one still helps though.

Small Claims Court

Small claims is a part of district court for disputes under $6,000. The whole point is to make it easy and cheap for regular folks. You fill out a form. You pay a small fee. Then you get a hearing date. No lawyers required. People use small claims for security deposit fights, unpaid debts, damaged property, and broken deals.

How to Request Civil Court Records

In-Person Requests

Visit the Circuit Clerk's office in Fort Payne to get records in person. Bring your ID. Also bring any info you have about the case. Party names and the rough year help staff find records faster. You can look through files at the office. Then order copies of what you need. Most copy requests are ready the same day. Larger orders take a day or two.

Mail Requests

Send a written request to the Circuit Clerk at PO Box 681149, Fort Payne, AL 35968. Include the full names of the people in the case. Add when the case was filed if you know. Also note what type of case it was. Put your return address on the letter. Include a check or money order for the fees. Make it payable to DeKalb County Circuit Clerk. Give it a week or two for processing.

Phone Requests

Call the clerk's office at (256) 845-8525 with questions about records. Staff can tell you if a case exists. They can give you basic info too. For copies, they may ask you to come in. They might also want a written request with payment. Phone calls are good for quick questions. They help you find out what to bring when you visit.

Public Records Law

Alabama law says court records should mostly be open to the public. Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 gives Alabama residents the right to look at and copy public records held by state offices. This includes courts. The law is meant to be read broadly. It favors letting people see records. When an office refuses to release a record, they have to show why an exception applies.

Sealed and Confidential Records

Some civil court records are not public. A judge can seal records when there is a good reason. This could be to protect trade secrets. It could also be to keep private info out of public view. Cases with kids often have limits. If you ask for a sealed record, the clerk will tell you access is blocked. You might be able to file a motion asking the judge to unseal it. That does not always work though.

Court Record Privacy Rules

Alabama's Rules of Court-Record Privacy went into effect in January 2025. These rules list 91 types of sensitive info that may be kept private. Some info gets blacked out from public records. Lawyers filing documents must take out things like Social Security numbers. Bank account numbers and similar personal data must go too. This protects people's privacy. It still keeps most court records open to the public.

Time Limits for Filing Civil Cases

Alabama law sets deadlines for filing civil lawsuits. Miss the deadline and you lose your right to sue. It does not matter how good your case is. These time limits are called statutes of limitations. They vary based on the type of case you have.

Two-Year Deadlines

Most personal injury claims must be filed within two years. This is under Alabama Code Section 6-2-38. It covers car wrecks and slip and fall cases. Medical malpractice falls here too. So do most other cases where someone gets hurt. Property damage claims also have a two-year limit. Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years of the date of death.

Six-Year Deadlines

Written contract disputes get six years under Alabama Code Section 6-2-34. The same goes for actions to recover money on a loan or for trespass to property. Six years sounds like a long time, but it can pass quickly. If you think you have a contract case, do not wait until the last minute.

Special Rules

Medical malpractice has extra rules. You have two years from when the harm happened, but there is also a hard four-year cutoff from the date of the act, no exceptions. Claims against cities and counties have shorter notice requirements too. You must send written notice to a municipality within six months of an injury under Alabama Code Section 11-47-23.

Related Record Sources

Civil court records connect to other types of public records. When you research a civil matter in DeKalb County, these other sources might give you useful information.

Judgment Liens and Property Records

When someone wins a money judgment in civil court, they can record it as a lien against the other person's property. These judgment liens are filed with the DeKalb County Probate Office, not the Circuit Clerk. A property records search can show if someone has unpaid judgments. The Probate Office also has deeds, mortgages, and other real estate documents.

Federal Court Records

Some civil cases go to federal court instead of state court. This happens when federal law is involved or when the parties are from different states and the case is worth more than $75,000. DeKalb County falls in the Northern District of Alabama, Northeastern Division. You can find federal civil records through PACER at ten cents per page.

Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy filings affect civil cases. If someone you sued files bankruptcy, the civil case usually stops. Bankruptcy records are federal records available through PACER. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama handles bankruptcy cases from the DeKalb County area.

Appellate Court Records

If someone appeals a civil judgment from DeKalb County, the appeal goes to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals for cases under $50,000 or to the Supreme Court of Alabama for larger cases. You can search appellate records through the Alabama Appellate Courts portal.

Filing a Civil Case

If you need to start a civil lawsuit in DeKalb County, you file it with the Circuit Clerk. Here is a basic rundown of the process.

Filing Fees

Court filing fees depend on the type and size of your case. Under Alabama Code Section 12-19-71, small claims cases cost $35 to $96 to file. District court cases run $219. Circuit court costs $197 for cases under $50,000 and $297 for larger cases. You pay the filing fee when you turn in your paperwork.

Electronic Filing

Alabama courts use the AlaFile system for electronic filing. Lawyers are required to file electronically in most cases. If you are representing yourself, you can still file on paper at the clerk's office. E-filing is available around the clock, which is handy if you are up against a deadline.

After You File

Once you file your complaint, you get a case number. Then you have to serve the other party with the lawsuit papers. The clerk can issue a summons for sheriff service or private process servers. The defendant has a set number of days to respond. From there, the case moves through discovery and eventually to trial or settlement.

Legal Assistance

If you need help with a civil matter in DeKalb County, a few organizations offer free or low-cost legal services to people who qualify.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama provides free civil legal help to low-income families across the state. They have offices throughout Alabama and handle housing issues, family law, consumer problems, and public benefits cases. Call the statewide intake line at 1-866-456-4995 to see if you qualify for help.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

The Alabama State Bar has a lawyer referral service. For up to $50, you get a 30-minute meeting with an attorney who handles your type of case. This gives you a chance to learn about your options and decide if you want to hire a lawyer. The number is 1-800-392-5660.

Alabama Legal Help

The Alabama Legal Help website has free information about many civil law topics. You can find guides on landlord-tenant law, debt collection, family issues, and more. The site also has forms and links to other resources. It is a good starting point if you want to understand your rights before taking action.

Start Your Search

Use our search tool to look up civil court records from DeKalb County and throughout Alabama.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County includes Fort Payne, Rainsville, Sylvania, Fyffe, Ider, Collinsville, and several smaller communities. Fort Payne is the largest city and county seat. None of the cities in DeKalb County have populations over 100,000, so all residents file civil cases through the Circuit Clerk's office in Fort Payne.

No matter where you live in DeKalb County, your civil court matters go through the same courthouse. The clerk's office in Fort Payne handles filings for all cities and unincorporated areas in the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeKalb County. If your civil matter involves people or property in more than one county, you may need to check records in multiple places.