Find Civil Court Records in Washington County

Civil court records in Washington County are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Chatom. Washington County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit, which also includes Choctaw and Clarke counties. The clerk's office handles all civil case filings, keeps court papers, and lets the public see case records. This rural county in southwest Alabama sees fewer civil filings than urban counties. But the same rules apply here. You can search records online through the Alacourt system or visit the clerk's office in person. The county courthouse sits on Court Street in downtown Chatom. Staff can help you find case files going back many years. Most civil disputes here involve property matters, contract claims, and debt collection. Whether you need to look up an old judgment or file a new lawsuit, the Circuit Clerk's office is your starting point for all civil court work in Washington County.

Washington County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of all civil court records in Washington County. This office handles case filings, works on court papers, takes fees, and gives copies of records to the public. Suzanne Alley serves as the current Circuit Clerk. Her staff can help you search for cases. They can pull files for review and get certified copies of court papers. The office is small but runs well. Staff know most of the local lawyers and regular filers by name.

Online Access Options

Washington County civil court records are on the state's Alacourt system. The Washington County Alacourt portal lets you search cases by party name, case number, or lawyer. This is the fastest way to find basic case info like filing dates, party names, and case status. You can see docket entries and some case details without paying a fee. The search is free and works around the clock.

For full document access, use the statewide Alacourt Public Access system. This paid service lets you view and download actual court papers. District court lookups cost $19.99. Circuit court lookups cost $29.99. You need to create an account first. Once signed up, you can search any Alabama county's records through one portal. Payment is by credit card.

In-Person Record Requests

To search records in person, go to the Circuit Clerk's office at 45 Court Street in Chatom. Bring a photo ID with you. Tell the clerk what you need. If you have a case number, that makes the search quick. If you only have names, the clerk can search the index to find matches. You can look at files at the counter. Staff will make copies for a per-page fee. Most requests are done the same day. Busy times are Monday mornings and right after lunch.

The courthouse is in downtown Chatom, which is a small town. Parking is free on the street or in lots nearby. The building is easy to find. Chatom only has a few blocks of shops and offices. Call ahead if you plan to ask for a large number of records so staff can get them ready.

Types of Civil Cases Filed in Washington County

Washington County courts hear various civil disputes. The court that handles your case depends on how much money is at stake and what type of claim you have.

Circuit Court Civil Cases

The Washington County Circuit Court handles civil cases where more than $20,000 is at stake. This includes big contract fights, injury lawsuits, medical malpractice claims, and business disputes. Real property matters go here too. Circuit Court also has sole power over equity cases like injunctions. Under Alabama Code Section 12-11-30, Circuit Courts are courts of general jurisdiction. That means they can hear almost any type of civil or criminal case.

Washington County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit along with Choctaw and Clarke counties. Circuit judges rotate between the three courthouses. This setup has been in place for many years. Case schedules depend on when the judge is in Chatom. You might wait longer for a hearing date here than in a county with its own full-time judge.

District Court Civil Cases

Washington County District Court takes civil cases under $20,000, as set out in Alabama Code Section 12-12-30. Most cases here involve debt collection, landlord-tenant fights, and smaller contract disputes. Property damage claims are common too. District Court moves faster than Circuit Court. The rules are less formal. Many people handle their own cases without a lawyer here.

Small Claims Division

For disputes under $6,000, you can use the Small Claims Division. Alabama Code Section 12-12-31 created this simple court process. Small claims court is made for regular folks who need to settle minor disputes without hiring a lawyer. Common cases include security deposit fights, unpaid debts, minor car wrecks, and broken contracts. The clerk's office has fill-in forms you can use. Hearings are casual. The judge listens to both sides and makes a call, often the same day. No formal rules of evidence apply.

How to File a Civil Case in Washington County

Starting a lawsuit means filing papers with the Circuit Clerk. The exact steps depend on which court handles your case, but the basic process is similar for all civil filings.

Circuit Court Filing Process

To file a civil case in Circuit Court, you need to write a complaint. The complaint tells the court who you are suing, what they did wrong, and what you want. You must include names and addresses for all parties. Take the original plus copies to the Circuit Clerk at 45 Court Street. Pay the filing fee. The clerk stamps your papers with the file date and gives your case a number.

Next, you must serve the defendant. This means giving them official notice of the lawsuit. The Washington County Sheriff can serve papers for a fee. You can also hire a private process server if you want. Some cases allow service by certified mail. The defendant then has 30 days to file an answer. If they do not respond, you can ask for a default judgment. The clerk can explain how to request default if it comes to that.

District Court Filing Process

District Court uses simpler forms. The clerk's office has standard complaint forms for common case types like debt collection and eviction. Fill out the form, pay the fee, and file with the clerk. Service rules are the same as Circuit Court. The defendant must respond within 14 days for some District Court cases.

Small Claims Filing

Small claims is the easiest to file. Get a complaint form from the clerk. Fill in the blanks with names, addresses, and a short description of your dispute. State how much money you want. Pay the small filing fee. The clerk will schedule a hearing date. You can serve the defendant by certified mail in many small claims cases.

Electronic Filing

Alabama courts take electronic filings through the AlaFile system. Lawyers must use e-filing. Regular people can use it too but are not required to. E-filing works around the clock. You can file papers at midnight if you want. The system sends a note when your filing goes through. For Washington County, e-filed papers show up in the clerk's system the next business day.

Court Fees in Washington County

Alabama law sets civil court fees statewide under Alabama Code Section 12-19-71. Washington County uses these same fee amounts. The fee depends on your case type and the amount in dispute.

Filing Fees by Case Type

• Small claims (under $1,500): $35
• Small claims ($1,500 to $6,000): $96
• District court civil ($6,000 to $20,000): $219
• Circuit court civil (under $50,000): $197
• Circuit court civil (over $50,000): $297

These fees are paid when you file your complaint. The clerk will not take your filing without payment. Cash, checks, and money orders work fine. Credit cards may be accepted for some things. Call ahead to check what payment methods they take.

Other Court Costs

Beyond the filing fee, expect to pay for service of process, copies, and other court work. Sheriff service runs about $25 to $50 per defendant. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you win your case, you can usually get most court costs back from the other side as part of your judgment. Keep your receipts so you can prove what you spent.

Fee Waivers

If you cannot afford court fees, you may ask the court to waive them. File an affidavit of indigency showing your income and costs. The judge will decide if you qualify. Fee waivers are more common in District Court and Small Claims Court. Circuit Court cases rarely get fee waivers. The plaintiff must show they clearly cannot pay.

Related Record Sources in Washington County

Civil court records tie into other public records kept by different offices. Checking these extra sources can give you a fuller picture of a legal matter or party. You might find liens, property records, or other court cases that relate to your search.

Probate Court Records

The Washington County Probate Court handles property records, estates, and guardianships. When someone wins a civil judgment, they often record it with the Probate Court. This creates a lien on the debtor's real property. Deed records, mortgages, and liens are all at the Probate Court. This office is also in the courthouse in Chatom, just down the hall from the Circuit Clerk.

Sheriff's Office Records

The Washington County Sheriff handles service of civil process and keeps records of writs, levies, and executions. If a judgment creditor tries to collect through the sheriff, those records are at the Sheriff's Office. This would include cases where someone tries to seize property to pay off a debt.

Federal Court Records

Some civil cases belong in federal court instead of state court. Washington County sits in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. Federal cases include lawsuits between citizens of different states when more than $75,000 is at stake, and cases involving federal law. Search federal court records through PACER at $0.10 per page.

Bankruptcy Court Records

Bankruptcy filings can affect civil lawsuits. When a defendant files bankruptcy, an automatic stay stops most collection efforts. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama handles cases from Washington County. These records are on PACER too. Checking bankruptcy records can explain why a civil case suddenly stopped or why a judgment went uncollected.

Legal Framework for Civil Court Records Access

Alabama law controls who can see court records and how. These rules apply to Washington County the same as everywhere else in the state.

Public Records Law

Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 gives every Alabama citizen the right to inspect and copy public records. Courts must follow this law. The statute says to read it broadly in favor of letting people see records. If an agency says no, they must prove why. Most civil court records are public. Sealed cases are the exception, not the rule.

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 unless a specific law says otherwise. The rules list information that clerks should redact, like Social Security numbers and bank account numbers. Personal addresses may be limited in some case types. These rules balance public access with privacy concerns.

Statutes of Limitations

You cannot wait forever to file a lawsuit. Alabama sets time limits for different claims. Under Alabama Code Section 6-2-34, written contracts have a six-year limit. Section 6-2-38 gives you just two years for personal injury and property damage claims. Medical malpractice under Section 6-5-482 has a two-year limit and a four-year final cutoff. Miss the deadline and you lose your right to sue.

Judgment Duration and Collection

Civil judgments in Alabama last 20 years under Alabama Code Section 6-9-190. A judgment creditor can record the judgment as a lien, garnish wages, or seize property to collect. Judgment records stay in the court file permanently. You can search for old judgments through the Circuit Clerk even after they expire.

Legal Help in Washington County

Not everyone can afford a lawyer. Several organizations help people with civil legal problems in Washington County and the surrounding area.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama provides free civil legal help to low-income Alabamians. They handle housing cases, family law, consumer problems, and benefits issues. Income limits apply. Washington County residents can contact the Mobile office for help.

Alabama Legal Help

The Alabama Legal Help website has free self-help information for people handling civil cases without a lawyer. Find court forms, step-by-step guides, and plain-language legal information. This resource is run by Legal Services Alabama and the Alabama Access to Justice Commission.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service. Call 1-800-392-5660 to get connected with an attorney in your area. First consultations cost up to $50 for 30 minutes. The service is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Pro Se Resources

Going to court without a lawyer is called appearing pro se. Many people do this in small claims and District Court. The Circuit Clerk's office can give you blank forms but cannot give legal advice. The Alabama Legal Help website has guides for handling your own case. Local libraries may have legal self-help books. Consider at least consulting with an attorney before filing or responding to a lawsuit, even if you plan to handle the case yourself.

How to Get Civil Court Records

There are several ways to obtain copies of civil court records from Washington County. Pick the method that works best for your needs.

Online Requests

The quickest way to get records is through Alacourt Public Access at pa.alacourt.com. Make an account, search for the case, pay the fee, and download documents. The Washington County portal at washington.alacourt.gov shows case information but may have limited document access.

In-Person Requests

Go to the Circuit Clerk's office at 45 Court Street in Chatom during business hours. Give the clerk a case number or party names. Staff will search the records and let you review the file. Ask for copies of what you need. Bring cash or a check to pay copy fees. Most requests are filled the same day. For old cases or large files, it may take longer.

Mail Requests

Write a letter to the Washington County Circuit Clerk, 45 Court Street, Chatom, AL 36518. Include the case number or full party names, what records you need, your return address, and a check or money order for fees. Call ahead to find out the exact cost. Allow one to two weeks for processing and mailing.

Public Records Request

For records that are hard to find or that the clerk questions, submit a formal request under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40. Put your request in writing. Be specific about what you want. The clerk must respond within a reasonable time. If access is denied, you can appeal to the court.

Start Your Records Search

Use our search tool to find civil court records from Washington County and other Alabama counties.

Cities and Towns in Washington County

Washington County is a rural county with no cities over 100,000 population. Chatom serves as the county seat and is the largest town. Other communities include McIntosh, Millry, Fruitdale, and Leroy. Residents throughout Washington County file civil cases with the Circuit Clerk in Chatom. The closest major city is Mobile, located in neighboring Mobile County to the south.

Mobile residents who need Washington County records or who have disputes with Washington County residents will work with the Chatom courthouse.

Nearby Counties

Washington County borders several other Alabama counties. Civil cases must be filed in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute occurred. If your case involves people or property in multiple counties, venue rules determine where to file.

Clarke and Choctaw counties share the 1st Judicial Circuit with Washington County, so the same circuit judges handle cases in all three counties.