Coffee County
Coffee County was created from Dale County in 1841 and lies in Alabama's southeastern region. Named after General John R. Coffee, a Creek War soldier, it is home to over 55,000 residents and has Elba as its county seat.
Coffee County's court structure comprises several courts, including circuit courts, district courts, probate courts, and municipal courts. The Coffee County Circuit Courts are general jurisdiction courts authorized to hear all case types, especially cases beyond other minor courts' jurisdictions. Typical Circuit Court cases include felonies, certain misdemeanors, lesser-included offenses, civil claims exceeding $10,000, domestic relations lawsuits, equitable relief cases, and certain District Court appeals. They share concurrent jurisdiction with the District Courts over guilty plea-felony cases that exclude the death penalty and civil claims between $3,000 and $10,000. In addition, the Circuit Courts, through their Juvenile Court divisions, have shared jurisdiction with the District Courts over juvenile cases such as child custody, child support, and paternity.
In contrast, the District Courts in Coffee County exercise limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, including misdemeanors, initial felony hearings, certain ordinance violations, civil claims for amounts in dispute below $10,000, and small claims below $3,000 (over which it exercises exclusive jurisdiction). The Coffee County District Courts also share jurisdiction with the Municipal Courts over state law violations.
The Coffee County Probate Court has original and general jurisdiction over probate cases, including the probate of wills, appointment of guardians/conservators, decedents' estates administrations, adoptions, name changes, and mental health commitments. The Municipal Courts, which are limited jurisdiction courts, hear cases relating to violations of municipal ordinances. Typical Municipal Court cases include parking tickets, traffic infractions, and violations of city ordinances.
Coffee County court records are files and other forms of records that detail judicial proceedings. They highlight the county court's transparency and accountability and enhance justice delivery. Typically, court records may exist in electronic or paper format and contain various information such as case parties' details, including the names and addresses of litigants and attorneys, motions, pleadings, audio/video case recordings, and court decrees. General examples of Coffee County court records include:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Probate Court records
- Juvenile records
The Coffee County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the official court record custodian and oversees the management of county court records. Per the Alabama Public Records Law, public records, including court records, are open to public examination and copy. The State's Administrative Office of Courts provides online access to trial court records, although it is subject to the payment of certain search and copy fees. In-person court record searches can also be conducted at the Circuit Clerk's Office at:
101 S. Edwards Street
Enterprise, AL 36330
Phone: (334) 347-2519 (Enterprise Office)
(334) 897-2954 (Elba Office)
