Search Lee County Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Lee County are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Opelika. The 37th Judicial Circuit is based here. The Lee County Justice Center handles all civil case filings. That means small claims, big contract fights, and everything in between. Mary Roberson is the Circuit Clerk. She runs the office and keeps track of the county's civil docket.
Lee County Quick Facts
Lee County Circuit Clerk Office
The Circuit Clerk's office is where you go for civil court records. This office takes new case filings. It keeps court files safe. It hands out copies. And it helps folks with record requests. All civil stuff in Lee County goes through this one place. Need to file a lawsuit? Start here. Want to look up an old case? Same spot. The staff deals with hundreds of requests each week, so they know the ropes when it comes to finding what you need.
Lee County is home to Auburn University. That has a big impact on local civil cases. The large student base means more landlord-tenant fights. Lease disputes pop up a lot. So do claims over security deposits not being returned. Local shops and firms deal with contract issues tied to the school too. Real estate deals in the Auburn-Opelika area bring their share of civil disputes as well.
| Circuit Clerk | Mary Roberson |
|---|---|
| Address | 2311 Gateway Dr Room 104 Opelika, AL 36801 |
| Phone | (334) 749-7141 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | lee.alacourt.gov |
The Lee County Justice Center sits on Gateway Drive in Opelika. It is a new, clean building. All court work for the county takes place here. There is plenty of parking out front, which is nice since some courthouses make you hunt for a spot. You will go through a metal detector at the door, so leave pocket knives and sharp tools in your car. If you have a court deadline, show up early. Lines can build up in the morning, and you do not want to be late because you got stuck at security.
Types of Civil Cases in Lee County
Circuit Court Civil Cases
Circuit court takes civil cases over $20,000. That is set by Alabama Code Section 12-11-30. These cases cover personal injury suits, business fights, real estate claims, and broken contract cases. Lee County circuit court also handles things like court orders to stop someone from doing something or to make them do what they promised. The 37th Judicial Circuit covers just Lee County. All cases stay local.
Contract disputes fill up a big chunk of the circuit court docket. Auburn University keeps growing, and so does Opelika. That means more building projects and more chances for things to go wrong. Construction fights and business contract cases show up all the time. You will also see medical malpractice claims from folks hurt by doctors or hospitals. Car crash lawsuits are common too, since I-85 runs right through the county and brings plenty of traffic.
District Court Civil Cases
District court handles civil cases under $20,000. That is the rule per Alabama Code Section 12-12-30. These tend to be smaller fights. Debt collection takes up a lot of space on this docket. Same with landlord-tenant cases and minor contract claims. The process moves faster here. It is less formal than circuit court, which is good if you want to get in and out without a lot of hassle.
Landlord-tenant cases are especially common in Lee County due to the student rental market. Evictions, security deposit disputes, and lease violation claims come through district court regularly. If you rent property in Auburn or Opelika, this is where most disputes get resolved.
Small Claims Court
Small claims court is part of district court. It takes cases under $6,000 per Alabama Code Section 12-12-31. The process is meant to be simple. You do not need a lawyer. Filing is quick. Hearings are laid back. Common small claims cases include broken stuff, unpaid debts, and buyer complaints. A lot of folks come here to settle minor beefs without spending a fortune on legal fees.
Many residents use small claims for neighbor disputes, failed repairs by contractors, or getting money back from a bad deal. The court tries to make it accessible. You can represent yourself and tell your side of the story without all the formal rules of evidence that apply in higher courts.
How to Search Lee County Civil Court Records
Online Access Through Alacourt
Lee County civil court records are on the Alacourt Public Access site. You can search by name or case number. Basic results show the case type and filing date for free. But if you want to see the actual documents and full case info, you have to pay. District case lookups run $19.99. Circuit case lookups cost $29.99. That fee gives you access to the case file, including all the filings and orders.
Alacourt is run by the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. It covers all 67 counties in the state. Set up one account and you can search civil records from any county. The system has active cases and closed cases going back years. Some older records may not be fully scanned in, but anything from the past decade or so should be there.
In-Person Record Requests
You can go to the Circuit Clerk's office at 2311 Gateway Dr in Opelika. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring your ID. Staff can help you find cases if you know the names or have a rough filing date. They have computer terminals in the public area where you can search on your own too.
For simple requests, you can often get copies the same day. Just walk in, ask for what you need, and wait a bit. More complex searches take longer. Same with large document orders. If you need certified copies, tell the clerk up front. Certification costs more but is required for some legal uses. For example, if you want to prove a judgment exists in another state, you will likely need a certified copy.
Mail and Written Requests
You can mail requests to the Lee County Circuit Clerk at 2311 Gateway Dr Room 104, Opelika, AL 36801. Put as much detail as you can in your letter. Got the case number? Great, that makes it easy. If not, give party names, rough dates, and the type of civil case. Say what documents you want and how many copies.
Include payment with your request. Make checks payable to the Lee County Circuit Clerk. Money orders work too. Not sure how much to send? Call the office first at (334) 749-7141 and ask. Processing takes about 5 to 10 business days for routine stuff. Complex requests or busy times can push that out a bit longer.
Lee County Civil Court Portal
The Lee County Circuit Court website has info about court services and how things work. From here you can jump to the Alacourt system and run searches on civil records. The site also lists court dates, local rules, and contact info for the different court divisions.
Alabama Civil Court Laws
Public Records Access
Court records in Alabama are public. That is the rule under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. The law gives folks the right to see and copy public records. Courts are supposed to read this law broadly in favor of letting people access stuff. If a clerk says no, they have to prove an exception applies. You can request records and pay fair copy fees under Section 36-12-41.
Court Record Privacy Rules
The Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy and Confidentiality kicked in on January 1, 2025. Rule 104(A) says court records are open unless a law or court order says they are not. Some things get blacked out or sealed. Social security numbers, for one. Bank account numbers too. Info about kids is often protected. But most civil case details are still public and available if you ask.
Statutes of Limitations for Civil Claims
Alabama law puts time limits on filing civil suits. Miss the deadline and you lose your right to sue. Under Alabama Code Section 6-2-34, you get six years to file on a written contract. Section 6-2-38 gives you two years for personal injury and property damage claims. For medical malpractice, Section 6-5-482 sets a two-year limit with a four-year cap overall.
These deadlines matter if you are searching old civil records. A case filed near the deadline may have been a last-minute effort to preserve a claim. Knowing the limitation period can help you understand why a lawsuit was filed when it was.
Civil Court Jurisdiction Rules
Alabama Code sets the limits for each court level. Circuit court gets cases over $20,000. District court takes $6,000 to $20,000. Small claims is under $6,000. These amounts tell you where a case gets filed. They also tell you where to search for records. Not sure which court heard a case? Start with district court for small stuff. Check circuit court for bigger claims.
Civil Court Record Copy Fees
Lee County charges fees for copies of civil court records. The fee list is set by state law, so rates are the same across Alabama. If you want to know exactly what a certain document will cost, call the clerk's office at (334) 749-7141. They can give you a price before you come in or mail your request. Fees can add up fast if you need a lot of pages, so it pays to ask first.
| Standard Copies | $0.50 to $1.00 per page |
|---|---|
| Certified Copies | $1.00 to $5.00 per page plus certification fee |
| Online Access (District) | $19.99 per case via Alacourt |
| Online Access (Circuit) | $29.99 per case via Alacourt |
| Payment Methods | Cash, check, money order |
Got a large order? Call ahead for a cost quote. This saves time. It also means you bring the right payment. The clerk's office can tell you what docs are in the file before you pay. That way you do not waste money on pages you do not need.
Related Civil Record Sources
Federal Court Records
Lee County falls in the Middle District of Alabama. Federal civil cases with Lee County parties may end up in U.S. District Court in Montgomery or the Opelika division. You can pull federal records through PACER at $0.10 per page. Cases that involve federal law go there. Same with cases between citizens of different states worth over $75,000. Bankruptcy filings are federal too.
Property and Judgment Liens
Civil judgments can turn into liens on real property. Under Alabama Code Section 6-9-190, a judgment lien sticks to the debtor's land in any county where you record it. The Lee County Probate Judge keeps property records. That includes judgment liens, deeds, and mortgages. If you are looking into a civil judgment, check property records too. See if a lien was filed. That can tell you a lot about whether the winner ever got paid.
Business Entity Records
Civil cases that involve businesses may need info from the Alabama Secretary of State. Business entity records show who runs the company, where they are located, and who can accept legal papers. This helps with serving lawsuits on the right person. The Secretary of State has a free online search tool. You can look up any business registered in Alabama and find their agent for service of process.
Legal Help in Lee County
Legal Services Alabama
Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal help to people who qualify based on income. They take housing disputes, consumer protection cases, public benefits issues, and family law matters. Call their statewide line at 1-866-456-4995. If you cannot pay for a lawyer, start here. They may be able to take your case or point you to other resources that can help.
Alabama Legal Help
The Alabama Legal Help website has self-help resources, court forms, and legal information. You can find guides for common civil matters like landlord-tenant disputes and small claims cases. The site is run by Legal Services Alabama and the Alabama Access to Justice Commission.
Lee County Bar Association
Local attorneys in Lee County may offer consultations or reduced-fee services. The Alabama State Bar operates a lawyer referral service at 1-800-392-5660. Initial consultations are capped at $50 for 30 minutes. If you need a civil attorney in the Auburn-Opelika area, this service can connect you with someone.
Auburn University Legal Resources
Auburn University students have access to Student Legal Services for certain civil matters. This program helps students with landlord-tenant issues, consumer disputes, and other common legal problems. Non-students should contact Legal Services Alabama or a private attorney.
Cities in Lee County
Lee County contains the cities of Auburn and Opelika. Auburn is home to Auburn University and has a population of about 65,000. Opelika, the county seat, has around 32,000 residents. Neither city has a population over 100,000, so civil court records for both cities are handled exclusively through the Lee County Circuit Clerk in Opelika.
All civil lawsuits involving Auburn or Opelika residents or businesses are filed at the Lee County Justice Center. There are no separate municipal civil courts. If you need civil court records related to these cities, search Lee County records through the methods described above.
Nearby Counties
Lee County borders four other Alabama counties. Civil cases involving parties from these areas may have records in multiple jurisdictions. Cross-border business transactions and auto accidents on Interstate 85 can result in cases being filed in neighboring counties.