Lawrence County Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Lawrence County are kept by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Moulton. The 34th Judicial Circuit serves Lawrence County only. It handles all civil lawsuits, contract disputes, and other civil matters filed here. Lawrence County sits in the northwest part of Alabama. The Tennessee River runs along the north edge. The Circuit Clerk handles all civil filings and keeps the case files. They also give the public access to court records. You can search records online through Alacourt, visit the clerk office in person, or send requests by mail. The courthouse is at 750 Main Street in downtown Moulton, which is the county seat. Most civil cases here involve contract disputes, property issues, and debt collection.

Lawrence County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk is the record keeper for all civil court matters in Lawrence County. Rhonda Thornton holds this job. She is elected by voters. She runs the office that takes in new case filings, keeps court records, and hands out certified copies. The clerk office handles both circuit court and district court civil matters from the same spot. This makes it easy to get what you need in one trip.

Staff at the clerk office can help you look up case info. They can pull documents from files and make certified copies for court or work needs. They handle requests in the order they come in. Walk-in visits are welcome during business hours. Calling ahead is a good idea if you need a lot of documents. The staff is used to helping people who have never dealt with court records before.

Online Access to Civil Court Records

Lawrence County gives you online access to court records through the statewide Alacourt system. This lets you search cases from home or work. You do not have to drive to the courthouse. The system works on any computer or phone with internet access.

Lawrence County Alacourt Portal

The Lawrence County Alacourt portal links to the statewide court records database. You can search by name or case number. This helps you find civil cases filed in the county. You need an account to see the full case details. District court cases cost $19.99 to view. Circuit court cases cost $29.99. The system shows docket info, party names, filing dates, and case status.

Alacourt Public Access

The main Alacourt Public Access site at pa.alacourt.com also lets you get to Lawrence County records. This is the same database. You just reach it through the state portal instead of the county page. Both ways give you the same results. The state site may be easier if you need to search records in more than one county at a time.

In-Person Record Requests

If you want to visit in person, the clerk office takes walk-in requests during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID. Give as much detail as you can about the case you need. The names of parties help a lot. So does knowing roughly when the case was filed. Tell them what type of dispute it was if you know. Staff can search and pull case files for you to look at. Standard copies are usually ready the same day. Certified copies take longer since they need to be checked and stamped with the clerk's seal.

Types of Civil Cases in Lawrence County

Lawrence County courts handle various types of civil disputes. The court that hears your case depends on how much money is at stake, as set by Alabama law.

Circuit Court Civil Cases

Lawrence County Circuit Court handles civil lawsuits where over $20,000 is at stake. This is set by Alabama Code Section 12-11-30. Common circuit court civil cases here include land disputes and major contract fights. Personal injury claims from car crashes end up here too. So does business litigation. The circuit court is also the only court for equity matters like injunctions. Quiet title actions go here too, no matter the dollar amount.

District Court Civil Cases

Lawrence County District Court handles civil matters where $20,000 or less is at stake. Under Alabama Code Section 12-12-30, this court has power over smaller claims. Typical cases include debt collection and landlord-tenant disputes. Smaller contract claims show up here too. Property damage under the limit goes here as well. Many cases in Lawrence County fall into this group. It is the busier of the two courts for most people.

Small Claims Court

For disputes under $6,000, small claims court offers a simpler path. Alabama Code Section 12-12-31 sets up this part of district court. It handles minor claims without all the formal steps of regular court. People often use small claims for unpaid bills. Security deposit fights are common too. So is minor property damage. You do not need a lawyer for small claims. You can hire one if you want, but most people go on their own.

Filing Civil Cases in Lawrence County

If you need to file a civil lawsuit in Lawrence County, the Circuit Clerk office handles the paperwork. Here is what you need to know about the process.

Where to File

Civil cases are usually filed where the defendant lives. They can also be filed where the events took place. If the person you want to sue lives in Lawrence County, you file here. If the incident happened here, you can file here too. All filings go to the clerk office at 750 Main Street in Moulton.

Required Documents

To start a civil case, you need to file a complaint. This paper tells what happened and what you want the court to do. Include the names and addresses of everyone involved. You must pay the filing fee. You also need to set up service of process on the defendant. The clerk can give you standard forms for small claims cases. For circuit court matters, you may want to talk to a lawyer. They can make sure your complaint meets all the rules.

Service of Process

After you file your complaint, the defendant must be told about the lawsuit in a formal way. This is called service of process. The Lawrence County Sheriff can serve the papers. You can also use a private process server. Service fees are on top of the filing fee. The case cannot move forward until the defendant has been properly served. This step is very important.

Legal Framework for Court Records Access

Access to civil court records in Lawrence County is governed by Alabama law. Understanding these rules helps when you need to request records.

Public Records Law

Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 gives state residents the right to see and copy public records. Court records fall under this law. The statute says the law should be read broadly. It leans in favor of letting people see records. If an agency says a record is off limits, they have to prove why. You can find the full text at the Alabama Code public records section.

Court Record Privacy Rules

The Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy and Confidentiality took effect January 1, 2025. Rule 104(A) says court records are open to look at and copy. This is true unless a law, rule, or court order says no. The rules list what types of info may be blacked out or kept private. Social Security numbers are one example. Bank account numbers are another. Facts about children may also be hidden.

Sealed Records

Some civil records may be sealed by court order. A judge can seal records to protect trade secrets or private business info. Other sensitive stuff can be sealed too. Settlement deals are sometimes sealed when the parties ask for it. If a record is sealed, you cannot get to it. You would need a court order that lets you see it.

Time Limits for Filing Civil Cases

Alabama law sets deadlines for filing different types of civil lawsuits. Miss the deadline and you lose your right to sue. These are called statutes of limitations.

Contract Claims

Under Alabama Code Section 6-2-34, you have six years to file a lawsuit based on a written contract. This covers things like breach of a written agreement, failure to pay on a promissory note, or disputes over written lease terms. Oral contracts have a shorter time limit.

Personal Injury and Property Damage

Alabama Code Section 6-2-38 gives you two years to file a personal injury or property damage claim. The clock starts running from the date of the injury or damage. Car crash cases, slip and fall injuries, and property damage from negligence all fall under this rule. Missing the deadline means the court will dismiss your case.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice has its own time limits under Alabama Code Section 6-5-482. You generally have two years from the act that caused the injury. There is also a four-year statute of repose, which means no case can be filed more than four years after the medical treatment, even if the injury was not discovered until later.

Related Record Sources

Civil court records sometimes connect to records kept by other offices. These additional sources can provide useful context when researching a civil matter.

Judgment Liens and Property Records

When someone wins a money judgment in civil court, they can file it as a lien on the loser's real estate. Under Alabama Code Section 6-9-190, a judgment lien sticks to property in the county where it is filed. The Lawrence County Probate Judge keeps property records. A search of these records can show judgments against a person or business.

Federal Court Records

Some civil cases end up in federal court instead of state court. This happens when the case involves federal law or the Constitution. It also happens when the parties are from different states and over $75,000 is at stake. Lawrence County is in the Northern District of Alabama. Federal court records are on PACER. There is a small fee to get documents.

Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy filings can change your civil case. If someone you are suing files for bankruptcy, your case may stop right away. This is called an automatic stay. If someone owes you money and files bankruptcy, you need to file a claim in that case. Bankruptcy records for the Northern District of Alabama are also on PACER.

Business Entity Records

For civil cases involving companies, the Alabama Secretary of State keeps records on business entities. This includes registration information, registered agent details (who can be served with lawsuits), and corporate status. This information helps when you need to sue a business or verify that a company is in good standing.

Collecting on Civil Judgments

Winning a civil lawsuit is just the first step. If the losing party does not pay voluntarily, you need to take additional steps to collect.

Recording Judgment Liens

You can record your judgment as a lien against the debtor's real property. This is done through the Probate Judge office. Once recorded, the lien attaches to any real estate the debtor owns in the county. If they try to sell or refinance, your lien must be paid off first. You can record the judgment in multiple counties if the debtor owns property elsewhere.

Wage Garnishment

Alabama allows garnishment of wages to collect civil judgments. Under Alabama Code Section 6-6-140, you can ask the court to order the debtor's employer to withhold part of their wages and send it to you. There are limits on how much can be taken, and some income like Social Security is protected from garnishment.

Bank Garnishment

You can also garnish bank accounts. This involves serving the bank with legal papers requiring them to freeze the debtor's account and turn over funds to satisfy your judgment. The process goes through the court and requires proper legal documents.

Legal Assistance Resources

Several organizations provide free or low-cost legal help to Lawrence County residents dealing with civil court matters.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama offers free civil legal aid to qualifying low-income residents in all 67 Alabama counties, including Lawrence. They help with housing issues, consumer problems, family law matters, and public benefits cases. Call the statewide intake line at 1-866-456-4995 to see if you qualify for assistance.

Alabama Legal Help

The Alabama Legal Help website provides free self-help information and court forms for people handling civil matters on their own. You can find guides on small claims court, landlord-tenant issues, consumer rights, and other common topics. The site is run by Legal Services Alabama and the Alabama Access to Justice Commission.

Volunteer Lawyers Program

The Huntsville-Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program serves the region that includes Lawrence County. They connect qualifying individuals with attorneys who volunteer their time for free. Call (256) 539-2275 to learn about eligibility and available services.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

If you need to hire an attorney, the Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service. Initial consultations cost up to $50 for 30 minutes. Call 1-800-392-5660 during business hours to get a referral to a lawyer who handles your type of case.

Search Civil Court Records

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

Cities and Towns in Lawrence County

Lawrence County includes several small towns and communities. Civil court records for residents of all these places are maintained at the county level by the Circuit Clerk in Moulton. None of the municipalities in Lawrence County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page, but records for residents of all areas are available through the county system.

Municipalities in Lawrence County include Moulton (the county seat), Town Creek, Courtland, Hillsboro, North Courtland, and several unincorporated communities. The county has a total population of around 33,000 spread across these communities and rural areas.

Nearby Counties

The following counties border Lawrence County. Each maintains its own Circuit Clerk office for civil court records.