Search Hale County Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Hale County are filed and stored at the Circuit Clerk office in Greensboro. That is the county seat. The 4th Judicial Circuit serves Hale County along with Dallas and Wilcox counties. Amanda Harper is the current Circuit Clerk. She oversees all civil case filings and keeps the official court records. Hale County is a small, rural county in west-central Alabama with about 14,000 people. The courthouse sits on Main Street in downtown Greensboro. Staff can help you find case files if you visit or call during business hours. You can also search records through the Alacourt online system. You will need to pay a fee to see full case details though. The office processes new filings, handles record requests, and provides copies from past cases. Whether you are looking for a lawsuit, a judgment, or any other civil matter, start at the Circuit Clerk office.

County Information

Circuit Clerk Office

The Hale County Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of all civil court records in the county. Amanda Harper serves as Circuit Clerk. Her office keeps case files, processes new filings, and gives copies to the public. The office handles records for both Circuit Court and District Court matters. Since Hale County is smaller, the staff can often give more personal help finding what you need. That said, they still stay busy. The office is a good place to start if you are not sure where to look. Staff know the local filing system well and can point you in the right direction.

Physical Location

Online Access

Hale County civil court records are online through the Hale 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, so you can search when it works for you.

For appeal records, visit the Alabama Appellate Courts Portal. It gives free access to cases appealed from Hale County Circuit Court. This is a good tool if you need to track a case that moved up to a higher court.

Civil Cases in Hale County

The 4th Judicial Circuit handles all civil matters in Hale County. This same circuit also covers Dallas County and Wilcox County. Where your case is filed depends on how much money is at stake. The type of dispute matters too.

Circuit Court Civil Division

Circuit Court handles civil cases over $20,000. This includes personal injury lawsuits, breach of contract claims, business disputes, real estate cases, and class actions. Circuit Court also has sole power over equity matters like injunctions. Civil cases filed here tend to be more complex. They take longer to resolve. In a small county like Hale, you might see fewer of these big cases, but they do come up. Land disputes are fairly common given the farming nature of the area.

District Court Civil Division

District Court handles civil cases up to $20,000. Common matters include debt collection, landlord-tenant disputes, property damage claims, and consumer complaints. The process moves faster than Circuit Court. Most district civil cases wrap up within a few months. In Hale County, you will see a fair number of collection cases. Smaller disputes between neighbors or local businesses show up often too.

Small Claims Court

Small claims is a part of District Court that handles disputes under $6,000. The process is meant to be informal and simple. Many people represent themselves without hiring a lawyer. Typical matters include security deposit disputes, minor contract issues, and small debt collection. Filing is simpler. Hearings happen quickly. If you have a smaller dispute and want to keep costs down, small claims is often the best way to go.

Domestic Relations Cases

The court also handles family law civil matters. These include divorces with property disputes, child custody cases, and spousal support. While these are civil matters, they follow special rules. Domestic cases can get tricky, especially when there is property or children involved. The Circuit Clerk office can point you to the right forms if you need to file something in this area. Just ask at the front desk and they will help you get started.

Legal Framework

Alabama law governs how civil court records are maintained and accessed in Hale County. Several key statutes apply to public records requests and court filings. Here is what you should know.

Public Records Access

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, residents have the right to look at 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 Hale County. If you want to see a record and someone tells you no, they need a good legal reason.

Court Filing Requirements

Alabama Code Section 12-19-71 sets the fee schedule for filing civil cases. The law applies statewide including Hale County. Filing fees help fund court work. They vary based on case type and value. Small claims cases under $1,500 have a $35 filing fee. Small claims from $1,500 to $6,000 cost $96. District court cases cost $219 to file. Circuit court cases under $50,000 cost $197. Those over $50,000 cost $297.

Court Jurisdiction

Circuit court power is set under Alabama Code Section 12-11-30. This law gives circuit courts power over civil cases above $20,000. District court power under Alabama Code Section 12-12-30 covers civil matters up to $20,000. Knowing which court handles your case matters. Filing in the wrong court can cause delays.

Court Record Privacy

The Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy took effect January 1, 2025. Rule 104(A) states that court records are open for viewing unless a law or court order says otherwise. The rules list 91 types of info that may be sealed or blacked out. This includes Social Security numbers and bank account numbers. Most civil case papers remain public, but sensitive personal info gets protected.

Statutes of Limitations

Civil lawsuits must be filed within time limits set by Alabama law. Under Alabama Code Section 6-2-34, claims on written contracts have a six-year limit. Personal injury claims have a two-year limit per Section 6-2-38. These deadlines matter a lot. If you wait too long, you lose your right to sue. Talk to a lawyer if you are not sure how much time you have left on a claim.

How to Get Civil Court Records

In Person

Visit the Circuit Clerk office at 1001 Main Street in Greensboro. Bring valid photo ID. Tell staff what case you are looking for. If you have a case number, that speeds things up. 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 easy to find. The office staff in Hale County tend to be helpful. They can walk you through the process if you have questions.

Online

Go to hale.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. This is handy if you cannot visit during office hours. It is probably the fastest way to get records if you know what case you need. Just be aware of the fees before you start clicking through results.

By Mail

Send a written request to the Circuit Clerk at 1001 Main Street, Greensboro, AL 36744. Include the names of all parties, rough date range, and case type. Provide a check or money order for the fees. Make it payable to Hale 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 well, gather as much of this info as you can. Get full names of parties involved. Note the rough date the case was filed. Know the type of case (small claims, civil, domestic). Have the case number if you have it. The more details you provide, the faster staff can find your records. Even partial info helps narrow things down. If you only have a name, that works too. You might get multiple results though.

Related Record Sources

Civil court records often connect to records held by other agencies. These sources can provide additional information about parties or related matters in Hale County.

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 Hale County Probate Judge. Searching property records can reveal judgments that have been recorded. The Probate office is in the Hale County Courthouse in Greensboro. If you are trying to collect on a judgment, this is where you would look. You can also check what liens exist on a property here.

Federal Court Records

Some civil cases fall under federal jurisdiction. Hale County is in the Northern District of Alabama. Federal civil records are accessible through PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov. PACER charges $0.10 per page viewed. Diversity cases (where parties are from different states) and federal question matters get filed in federal court rather than state court. If you are looking for a case and cannot find it in state court, check federal court too.

Bankruptcy Records

If a party to a civil case files for bankruptcy, it can affect the lawsuit. Bankruptcy records are federal records available through PACER. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama handles Hale County cases. A bankruptcy filing can stop collection efforts and put pending lawsuits on hold through something called an automatic stay.

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. You can search for businesses online to find their official address and who can accept legal papers on their behalf.

Legal Assistance

Several organizations provide free or low-cost legal help to Hale County residents dealing with civil court matters. If you cannot afford an attorney, these resources may help you figure out your options.

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 been helping low-income Alabamians for decades and is a good first call if you need help but cannot pay for a lawyer.

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. Even if you end up hiring someone, this is a low-cost way to get initial advice.

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. There are step-by-step guides for many common situations.

Pro Bono Programs

Some attorneys in the Greensboro and Tuscaloosa 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 Hale County. Availability varies and depends on volunteer attorney participation. You may have better luck finding pro bono help in nearby Tuscaloosa where there are more lawyers.

Cities in Hale County

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

Greensboro is the largest city in Hale County with a population of around 2,200 people. Other communities include Akron, Moundville, and Newbern. None of the cities in Hale County exceed 100,000 population. The nearest major city is Tuscaloosa, located about 30 miles to the north in Tuscaloosa County. Residents who need legal resources or services not available locally often head to Tuscaloosa. The University of Alabama School of Law is there, and the larger legal community means more options for finding attorneys or specialized help.

Nearby Counties

Hale County borders six other Alabama counties. If you need records from a case filed in a neighboring county, contact that county's Circuit Clerk. Each county maintains its own separate records.