Morgan County
Morgan County was established in 1821 and covers an area of 579.7 square miles, ranking it as the 59th largest county by land area in Alabama. The county has over 123,421 residents, and Decatur serves as the county seat.
The court structure in Morgan County consists of a Circuit Court, a District Court, a Probate Court, and six Municipal Courts. The Morgan County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all types of cases and usually manages cases outside the scope of the other county courts. Criminal cases handled by the Circuit Court include felonies and misdemeanors, while civil cases heard are those in which the disputed amounts exceed $10,000, excluding interest and costs. The Morgan County District Court has limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases, including ordinance violations, misdemeanors, and civil cases in which the amount in contention is less than $10,000.
The Morgan County Probate Court handles cases involving probate of wills, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes. Generally, the Morgan County Municipal Courts serve as the cities' judicial branch and have jurisdiction over traffic offenses, city code violations, misdemeanors, and parking violations. The court is committed to providing a neutral and courteous forum, due process, and fair treatment to all citizens.
Morgan County court records are available to the public. These documents include pleadings, court orders, judgments, motions, and dockets. However, certain records are marked confidential and are typically restricted from public access. The following Morgan County court records are usually available to the public upon request:
- Family court records
- Civil court records
- Criminal court records
- Traffic records
- Probate court records
Morgan County court records may be accessed by visiting the courthouses. A fee may apply for obtaining physical and certified copies.
