Access Fayette County Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Fayette County document lawsuits, small claims, contract disputes, and other civil matters. All cases go through the 24th Judicial Circuit. The county seat is Fayette, where the Circuit Clerk office handles all filings and keeps case records on file. Ashley Williams serves as Circuit Clerk. She runs the day-to-day court work. Fayette County sits in northwest Alabama and shares a rural judicial circuit with Lamar and Pickens counties. The courthouse in downtown Fayette is your main stop for civil record searches. Go there if you need to pull old case files or check on active cases. You can search basic case info online through the Alacourt portal. But the clerk office is still the best place for detailed records and certified copies.

Fayette County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk office is where you go for civil court records in Fayette County. This office keeps all case files from the moment someone files a lawsuit until the case closes out. That means they have the full history of each case right there. Ashley Williams and her staff can help you find cases, pull papers from the files, and get certified copies when you need them. The office sits inside the Fayette County Courthouse on Temple Avenue in downtown Fayette.

When you visit the clerk office, bring some form of ID with a photo on it. Having the case number helps a lot. So do the names of people in the lawsuit. Staff can find records much faster with that info. The office may close for lunch, so call first if you plan to show up around noon. Staff are nice and want to help. But this is a small county office, so you might wait if they are busy with other folks or court work.

Online Access to Civil Court Records

Fayette County civil court records are online through the statewide Alacourt system. All 67 Alabama counties use this same database. If you have searched records in other counties, the process works the same here. Nothing new to learn.

Fayette County Alacourt Portal

The Fayette County Alacourt portal lets you search for civil cases by party name or case number. Basic search results are free. You can see case listings, parties, and filing dates at no cost. But if you want to view the actual papers filed in a case, you have to pay a fee for that case.

Access Fees for Online Records

Alacourt uses a pay-per-case model. District court case access costs $19.99. Circuit court cases run $29.99. That fee unlocks the papers in that one case only. Many people find it cheaper to ask the clerk office for copies if they only need a page or two from a case file. Worth checking both options.

What Records Are Available Online

The online system has complaints, summons, answers, motions, court orders, and judgments. Older cases might not have every paper scanned in. Cases from before the court went digital may only show basic info online. The paper file is still at the clerk office for those. You will need to visit or call to get older records.

Requesting Records In Person

Walk-in folks can search records at the clerk office using public computers. You can also ask staff to pull paper files for cases you want to look through. In-person copies often cost less than online access if you only need a few pages. Staff can give you certified copies on the spot too. That is handy if you need papers for use in another court or for some official reason.

Types of Civil Cases Filed in Fayette County

Fayette County courts handle various civil disputes. Which court gets the case depends mainly on how much money is at stake and what kind of case it is.

Circuit Court Civil Jurisdiction

The circuit court takes civil cases where more than $20,000 is at stake. This comes from Alabama Code Section 12-11-30. Big injury cases, major business fights, and large contract claims go to circuit court. The circuit court also handles equity matters like injunctions and quiet title actions. Dollar amount does not matter for those. These cases follow the full Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure.

District Court Civil Matters

Cases from $6,000 to $20,000 go to district court under Alabama Code Section 12-12-30. Debt collection lawsuits, evictions, smaller contract fights, and property damage claims often fall in this range. District court cases move faster than circuit court. The steps are simpler too, though the rules of evidence still apply.

Small Claims Division

Disputes under $6,000 can go through small claims court. Alabama Code Section 12-12-31 set this up to give people a cheap, simple way to solve minor disputes. You do not need a lawyer to file or argue a small claims case. The court has forms on hand. Staff can explain how the process works. Small claims is popular for neighbor fights, minor car crashes, and small debt cases.

Domestic Relations Cases

The Circuit Clerk also handles divorce cases, child custody fights, and support matters. Family law is not the same as general civil cases, but these records are kept in the same office. Property splits in a divorce can overlap with other civil matters. Domestic cases may come up when you look into someone's full legal history.

Filing Fees for Civil Cases

Civil filing fees in Fayette County follow the state schedule laid out in Alabama Code Section 12-19-71. You pay these fees when you file a new case.

Other Costs to Expect

The filing fee is just the start. You also pay for service of process. That is when the sheriff or a private server hands papers to the defendant. Witness subpoenas cost $12 each under Alabama Code Section 12-19-74. If your case goes to trial with a jury, there may be jury fees too. These costs add up fast. Plan your budget.

Copy and Certification Costs

Basic copies of court papers run $0.50 to $1.00 per page at the clerk office. Certified copies cost more. Expect $1.00 to $5.00 per page plus a fee for the certification itself. You need certified copies if you plan to use papers in another court case. Same goes for official business like real estate deals or licensing matters.

Getting Fees Waived

If court fees would cause real hardship, you can file a form asking the judge to waive them. Explain your money situation in detail. Be honest about what you earn and what you owe. People with low income, those on public aid, or folks without jobs often qualify for fee waivers. The judge looks at each request and decides based on your case.

Legal Framework for Accessing Court Records

Your right to see civil court records in Fayette County comes from state law and rules adopted by the Alabama Supreme Court. Knowing these rules can help if you run into any roadblocks.

Alabama Public Records Law

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, every Alabama resident can inspect and copy public records. The law leans toward letting people see records, not hiding them. If the clerk office says no, they have to prove why. They must show that some rule blocks access. This is a strong law that favors the public.

Court Record Privacy Rules

Alabama adopted new Court-Record Privacy rules that took effect January 1, 2025. Rule 104(A) says court records are open unless a law, rule, or court order says no. That is the default. The rules also list 91 types of info that get blacked out or protected. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and some details about kids fall into these protected groups.

Sealed Records

Courts sometimes seal civil case files or parts of them. This happens when cases involve trade secrets, private business info, or settlements with secrecy clauses. A sealed file still shows up in the case index. But you cannot see the papers without a court order. If you think a file was sealed wrong, you can file a motion to unseal it.

Time Limits for Filing Lawsuits

When looking through civil records, it helps to know time limits for filing suits. Alabama Code Section 6-2-34 gives six years to sue on written contracts. Same for trespass to property. Personal injury and most tort claims must be filed in two years under Section 6-2-38. These deadlines shape what active cases you might find in the records.

Related Records and Secondary Sources

Civil court records are just one piece of the puzzle. Related record types can give you a more complete picture when researching a person, business, or property.

Judgment Liens and Property Records

Civil judgments can become liens on real property under Alabama Code Section 6-9-190. Creditors record these liens with the Probate Court, not the Circuit Clerk. Checking property records at the Fayette County Probate Court can reveal judgments and other encumbrances that might not show up in a basic civil case search.

Fayette County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles wills, estates, guardianships, and property recordings. Probate matters sometimes connect to civil disputes, especially when heirs fight over an inheritance or question how property was transferred before someone died. The Probate Judge office is in the same courthouse complex as the Circuit Clerk.

Federal Court Records

Fayette County falls within the Northern District of Alabama for federal court purposes. Cases involving federal law, bankruptcy, and disputes between parties from different states with amounts over $75,000 go to federal court in Birmingham or Tuscaloosa. Search these records at pacer.uscourts.gov. Some business disputes and larger civil matters end up in federal rather than state court.

Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy filings affect civil cases significantly. When someone files bankruptcy, an automatic stay stops most civil collection actions. Outstanding judgments may be discharged or modified through bankruptcy proceedings. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama handles these cases, and records are available through PACER.

About the 24th Judicial Circuit

Fayette County is part of the 24th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Lamar County and Pickens County. The three counties share circuit judges who rotate between courthouses. This means civil cases might be scheduled based on when the judge is in Fayette versus the other two counties.

The shared circuit structure can affect scheduling. If you have a case pending, hearings might be set weeks apart depending on the judge's rotation schedule. For record searches, it does not matter much since each county maintains its own files. But if you are researching someone who might have cases in multiple counties of the circuit, check records in Lamar and Pickens as well.

Circuit judges handle major civil matters while district judges stay in their assigned county. District court cases move somewhat independently from the circuit rotation. Small claims and lower-dollar civil matters can be scheduled more flexibly since they do not depend on the circuit judge's availability.

Legal Assistance in Fayette County

If you have a civil legal matter but cannot afford private attorney fees, several organizations offer free or reduced-cost help.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama provides free legal assistance to low-income residents across the state including Fayette County. They help with housing problems, consumer disputes, family law issues, and government benefits cases. Income limits apply, but if you qualify, you can get representation at no cost. Call their intake line to see if your situation fits their program guidelines.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service

The State Bar operates a referral program at 1-800-392-5660. For no more than $50, you get a half-hour consultation with a lawyer who handles your type of case. The attorney can review your situation and explain your options. This is useful when you need professional advice but are not sure whether to hire someone for full representation.

Alabama Legal Help

The Alabama Legal Help website offers free guides, forms, and explanations for people handling civil matters on their own. Topics include small claims procedures, landlord-tenant rights, debt collection defenses, and other common issues. If you are representing yourself, this resource can help you understand what to expect and what forms to use.

West Alabama Legal Services

This regional office serves Fayette County and surrounding areas. They focus on housing, family, and consumer issues for eligible clients. Like the statewide Legal Services Alabama, they have income requirements but provide full representation in qualifying cases.

Search Civil Court Records

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

Cities and Towns in Fayette County

Fayette County includes the city of Fayette (the county seat), Berry, Belk, and several smaller communities. All civil court records for residents throughout the county are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Fayette. None of the municipalities in Fayette County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. The nearest major city with its own page is Tuscaloosa in neighboring Tuscaloosa County, which is about 45 minutes to the east.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Fayette County or are close by. Each county has its own Circuit Clerk office that handles civil court records for that area.