Tuscaloosa County
Tuscaloosa County is Alabama's second-largest county by land, occupying approximately 1,321 square miles. The county was established in 1818, with its name derived from the Native American word ‘tushka-lusa' meaning ‘black warrior.' More than 231,000 persons reside in the county, making it the fifth most populous county in Alabama. The City of Tuscaloosa is the county's largest city and government seat.
Tuscaloosa County has four trial courts: Circuit, District, Probate, and Municipal Courts. The Circuit Court, also the 6th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, has unlimited jurisdiction over felony criminal cases and civil disputes with financial claims of over $10,000. It also presides over family law cases involving juvenile delinquency, child custody, child support, divorce, domestic violence, and spousal support. The court has appellate jurisdiction over appeals from the District, Probate, and Municipal Courts. Meanwhile, the Tuscaloosa County District Court is tasked with resolving civil claims for up to $10,000 and small claims disputes involving $3000 or less. The limited jurisdiction court tries minor criminal cases such as misdemeanors and traffic violations. Probate matters like contested wills, guardianships, and conservatorships are exclusive to the Probate Court in Tuscaloosa County. The county also has Municipal Courts in Tuscaloosa, Lake View, and other major cities. The local courts preside over ordinance violations, juvenile cases, and civil violations.
Tuscaloosa County public court records are official documents or materials generated during court cases. These records, containing case filings, transcripts, depositions, dockets, complaints, and judgments, are maintained by the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Clerk. According to the state's Public Records Policy, members of the public can request the following court records from the Circuit Court Clerk:
- Traffic records
- Land records
- Civil records
- Criminal court records
- Family law records
- Probate records
To protect individuals' privacy, the state's law prohibits public access to juvenile, mental health, and sealed court records. Confidential court records are available only to parties to the records and individuals granted special court permissions. Requesters can get court records by contacting the Circuit Court Clerk at:
Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Clerk
714 Greensboro Avenue, 2nd Floor
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Phone: (205) 464-8259
Note that the Clerk may request specific fees before processing court records requests. Individuals can also view Tuscaloosa County court records online via the Alabama Just One Look tool. The online portal costs $9.99 per name or case number search.
