Find Civil Court Records in Morgan County

Civil court records in Morgan County are kept by the Circuit Clerk's office in Decatur. Decatur is the county seat. The office handles all civil case filings for the 8th Judicial Circuit, which means every lawsuit filed here passes through this one office. Morgan County residents and attorneys can access records in person at the courthouse or online through the Alacourt portal. The Circuit Clerk keeps records for both circuit court cases over $20,000 and district court cases with smaller sums at stake. You'll find case filings, motions, court orders, judgments, and settlement docs from all lawsuits filed in Morgan County courts. Public access is set by Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. This law says court records are open for any Alabama resident to look at unless a specific rule blocks access.

Morgan County Circuit Clerk

The Morgan County Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of all court records in the county. Chris Priest holds this post and runs the day-to-day work of record keeping, case filings, and pulling docs for people who need them. The office sits in the Morgan County Courthouse in downtown Decatur, right in the heart of the city's government center. Staff there can help you search for records and give you both plain and certified copies of court docs. If you're not sure what you need, just ask. They deal with these requests all day long and can point you in the right direction.

Visiting the Circuit Clerk's Office

When you visit the Morgan County Circuit Clerk's office, bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license or state ID card works fine. It helps to have case info ready before your visit. Party names, rough filing dates, and case types speed up the search. Staff can run searches on their computer while you wait. Simple lookups take just a few minutes. Bigger research jobs take more time. It depends on how old the records are and how many cases need to be checked.

The office takes walk-ins on a first-come basis. If you plan to do a lot of research, show up early when the office opens. Mornings are slower. Afternoons get busy, and Thursdays and Fridays are the worst for crowds. The office shuts at 4:30 PM sharp. Don't show up at 4:00 thinking you can do an hour of research. Give yourself plenty of time, or you might have to come back another day.

Online Record Access Options

Morgan County civil court records are online through two main sites. The county portal at morgan.alacourt.gov gives you direct access to Morgan County court records. The statewide Alacourt system at pa.alacourt.com has Morgan County records plus all other Alabama counties in one place. Both sites need you to make an account before you can search and view case docs. Setting up an account takes just a few minutes and lets you save searches for later.

Alacourt Public Access Portal

The Alacourt Public Access system lets you search by party name or case number. You can look up civil cases filed in Morgan County Circuit Court and District Court. District court searches cost $19.99 each. Circuit court searches run $29.99 each. The system shows case info like parties, filing dates, case status, and hearing dates. Document images show up when they're in the system. You pay by credit or debit card right on the site.

What Records Are Available Online

The online portals have most civil case records filed in Morgan County courts. You can find contract fights, injury cases, property disputes, debt claims, and other civil suits. Some records have limits based on court orders or privacy rules. Sealed cases and some family law matters won't show up in public searches. Can't find a record online? Call the Circuit Clerk's office. The record might only be there in paper form, so an in-person visit could turn it up when the website comes up empty.

Types of Civil Cases Filed in Morgan County

Morgan County courts hear all kinds of civil matters. Which court gets your case depends on the money at stake and what the fight is about. Small sums go to small claims court. Mid-range amounts land in district court. Big money cases end up in circuit court. Knowing which court handles what can save you time when you're searching for records or figuring out where to file a new case.

Circuit Court Civil Cases

Morgan County Circuit Court has power over civil cases where more than $20,000 is at stake. The circuit court handles major lawsuits. These include injury claims from car wrecks and slip-and-fall cases. Breach of contract fights with big sums go here too. So does business litigation between firms, land disputes over property lines, and malpractice claims against doctors or lawyers. Circuit court also deals with equity matters like injunctions. These cases tend to be more complex than district court matters. They take longer to resolve, sometimes a year or more from filing to trial.

District Court Civil Cases

Morgan County District Court handles civil matters with $6,000 to $20,000 at stake. Common cases here include landlord-tenant fights over unpaid rent or security deposits. Debt lawsuits from creditors show up a lot. So do consumer disputes, contract fights with mid-range sums, and property damage claims. District court rules are simpler than circuit court. Cases move faster too. You might get to trial in just a few months rather than waiting a year or more.

Small Claims Court

Small claims court in Morgan County handles disputes of $6,000 or less. The process is simple. Most people represent themselves without a lawyer. Typical cases involve goods sold, minor property damage, unpaid debts, security deposit fights, and disputes over services. Filing is easy. Hearings are informal. Judges try to resolve these matters fast, often in one hearing. The whole thing might be done in a few weeks from start to finish.

Legal Framework for Civil Court Records

Alabama law sets clear rules for public access to court records. Knowing these laws helps you figure out what records you can get and what limits might apply. The state has been pretty open about court records for a long time. Most civil case files are public. That said, some things stay sealed or private based on court orders or specific state laws that protect certain types of info.

Court Filing Fees

Alabama Code Section 12-19-71 sets the filing fees for civil cases across the state. Morgan County uses this same schedule. Small claims under $1,500 cost $35 to file. Small claims from $1,500 to $6,000 cost $96. District court civil filings run $219. Circuit court cases under $50,000 need $197. Cases over $50,000 need $297. Can't afford the fee? You might get it waived if you show financial hardship through a sworn statement.

Public Records Access

Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 gives Alabama citizens the right to look at and copy public records. Court records count as public records under this law unless a specific rule says otherwise. The law says public records must be made available in a reasonable time. If an office says no, it must tell you why. Courts read this statute broadly in favor of letting people see records.

Copy Fees and Certification

Plain copies of court docs usually cost $0.50 to $1.00 per page at the Morgan County Circuit Clerk's office. Certified copies cost more. These come with an official seal and a statement that the copy is a true match of the original. You need certified copies when filing docs in another court or using them for official legal purposes. Fees can change, so call the Circuit Clerk's office to check current prices before you go.

How to Request Morgan County Civil Court Records

In-Person Requests

The fastest way to get civil court records is to visit the Morgan County Circuit Clerk's office in Decatur. Bring your photo ID and any case info you have. Staff will search the system and print copies while you wait. You can pay with cash, check, or money order. Some offices take debit cards now too. Ask at the counter what they accept.

Mail Requests

You can ask for records by mail if you can't visit in person. Send your request to the Circuit Clerk at PO Box 668, Decatur, AL 35602. Put the full names of all parties in the case. Add the rough date the case was filed and the type of case if you know it. Say what docs you need. Maybe you want the full case file, just certain motions, or only the final judgment. Include a check or money order for copy fees. Make it out to the Morgan County Circuit Clerk. The office will handle your request and mail the docs to you. Give it 7 to 14 days.

Online Requests

Use Alacourt at pa.alacourt.com for quick access to records. Make an account, search for your case, and pay by credit card. You can view and download doc images right away if they're in the system. Not all old records have been scanned yet. Some docs are only at the Circuit Clerk's office in paper form. For cases from the 1990s or earlier, you may need to visit in person.

Public Records Requests

If you need records that aren't easy to get through normal means, you can file a formal public records request under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. Put your request in writing. Describe what records you want as clearly as you can. The Circuit Clerk's office must respond in a reasonable time. If they say no, they have to tell you why with a legal reason.

Related Record Sources in Morgan County

Civil court matters often link to records kept by other county offices. These extra sources can add useful context for civil case research. For instance, a lawsuit over property might connect to deed records at the Probate Court. A judgment might show up as a lien in property records. Checking these other offices can round out your search and give you a fuller picture of any legal matter.

Probate Court Records

The Morgan County Probate Court handles several record types that may tie to civil matters. Judgment liens get recorded here when creditors go after real property. Deeds, mortgages, and other land records show who owns what and what debts are on a property. Marriage licenses and estate records are also kept by the Probate Judge's office. Call the Morgan County Probate Court at (256) 351-4750 for these records.

Revenue Commissioner

The Morgan County Revenue Commissioner keeps property tax records. These show who owns property, what it's worth for tax purposes, and whether taxes have been paid. Tax liens can pop up from unpaid property taxes. These liens matter in civil suits over real property because they affect who gets paid first if the property sells. The Revenue Commissioner's office is in the Morgan County Courthouse, so you can check both places in one trip.

Sheriff's Office

The Morgan County Sheriff's Office handles serving papers for civil lawsuits. They also run execution sales when creditors collect on judgments by selling debtor property. Incident reports from the Sheriff's Office can matter in injury lawsuits or other civil cases that stem from accidents or disputes. If you need proof that someone was served with court papers, the Sheriff's Office can provide that too.

Federal Court Records

Some civil cases with Morgan County residents end up in federal court, not state court. Morgan County is in the Northern District of Alabama. Federal court records are on the PACER system at pacer.uscourts.gov. Federal courts hear cases under federal law, fights between people from different states, and bankruptcy matters. PACER charges per page, but fees are capped each quarter.

Legal Assistance Resources

Several groups help Morgan County residents who need aid with civil court matters. If you can't afford a lawyer, these resources might be able to help. Some offer free legal services if you meet income limits. Others give free info and forms you can use to represent yourself. Don't skip getting help just because you think you can't afford it.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama offers free legal help to qualifying low-income residents throughout the state, including Morgan County. They handle civil matters such as housing disputes, family law issues, consumer problems, and public benefits cases. Call their intake line at 1-866-456-4995 to see if you qualify for free legal assistance.

Alabama Legal Help

The Alabama Legal Help website provides free self-help resources for people handling civil matters without an attorney. You can find court forms, instructional guides, and information about common legal issues. The site covers topics like landlord-tenant law, debt collection, and consumer rights.

Volunteer Lawyers Program

The Huntsville-Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program serves the greater North Alabama region including Morgan County. They connect low-income residents with volunteer attorneys who provide free legal help. Contact them at (256) 539-2275 to learn about eligibility requirements and available services.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

If you need to hire an attorney, the Alabama State Bar operates a lawyer referral service. Call 1-800-392-5660 to be connected with attorneys who handle civil cases in Morgan County. Initial consultations through the referral service cost a maximum of $50 for 30 minutes.

Start Your Search

Use our search tool to find civil court records from Morgan County and throughout Alabama.

Cities and Towns in Morgan County

Morgan County includes several incorporated municipalities. Civil cases involving residents of these communities are filed at the Morgan County Circuit Clerk's office in Decatur.

• Decatur (county seat)
• Hartselle
• Priceville
• Falkville
• Somerville
• Eva
• Trinity
• Lacey's Spring

None of the cities in Morgan County have a population over 100,000, so civil court records for all municipalities are handled by the county Circuit Clerk rather than separate city courts.

Nearby Counties

Morgan County borders several other Alabama counties. If your civil matter involves parties or property in these neighboring counties, you may need to search their court records as well.