Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama, was established in 1819 by the Alabama Legislature. With a population of nearly 660,000 residents, it is the most populous county in the state. Covering 1,119 square miles, Jefferson County is comprised of 72 cities.
The trial system in Jefferson County encompasses three primary courts: the Circuit Court, Family Court, and Probate Court. As the county's highest court, the Circuit Court oversees jury trials and is divided into civil and criminal divisions. The civil division has exclusive original jurisdiction for civil actions in which the disputed amount is less than $10,000 and shares concurrent original jurisdiction with the District Court for civil actions in which the disputed amount is less than $3,000.
On the other hand, the criminal division has exclusive original jurisdiction over felony prosecutions and misdemeanor or ordinance violations that include offenses within a felony charge or arise from the same incident as a felony charge.
The Jefferson County Family Court has jurisdiction over various cases involving children, including legal matters related to establishing paternity, enforcing child support, and seeking protection from abuse. Additionally, the court presides over cases involving allegations of a child being delinquent, dependent, or needing supervision. The Jefferson County Probate Court has original jurisdiction over cases involving wills and decedent estates, estate settlements, summary distribution of small estates, and claims against estates.
In Jefferson County, most trial court records are considered public and can be requested by anyone. These records can be accessed through a statewide trial court records portal. The portal allows users to search for court records using case numbers or the names of involved parties. The records cover various categories, including criminal proceedings, civil cases, small claims disputes, state traffic violations, domestic relations matters, and documents related to child support. It's important to note that there is a $9.99 fee for both name and case number searches and an additional $5 charge for the first 20 pages of documents, including images.
