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Public records by state

Choose a state to jump to its official court, property, business, vital-record and criminal-history sources below. Each section explains the right custodian, access limits, possible fees and how to request agency records that are not already online.

Choose a jurisdiction

51 jurisdictions

Explore a state guide

Alabama public records

Start with the Alabama agency or county that holds the record. The Secretary of State provides business filings, county assessment offices provide property data, and court clerks provide case documents. A public-records request is useful for agency files that are not already published.

By DeepSearch · Updated

Public Records Law

Ala. Code § 36-12-40

Official access guidance

Official record sources

Court records

Alabama Judicial System
How to access
Use the judiciary's court links to identify the trial clerk or appellate search.
Fees
Online services and document copies have separate charges.
Coverage and limits
An appellate search does not cover every county trial file; ask the filing clerk for missing documents.

Property and land records

Alabama Department of Revenue / county offices
How to access
Choose the county's assessment office for parcel and valuation records.
Fees
County copy and certification fees vary.
Coverage and limits
Assessment data is not a deed or title report; recorded instruments belong with the county probate office.

Business records

Alabama Secretary of State
How to access
Search filed business entities by name or entity number.
Fees
Search access and certified-copy orders are separate services.
Coverage and limits
Entity filings describe registration, not professional licensing or a guarantee of business legitimacy.

Birth, death, marriage and divorce

Alabama Department of Public Health
How to access
Follow the birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate ordering instructions.
Fees
Certificate search and copy fees apply.
Coverage and limits
Access restrictions depend on record type and age; a divorce certificate is not the complete court decree.

Criminal-history checks

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
How to access
Select the personal record-review or authorized criminal-history procedure.
Fees
Record checks and fingerprint services may carry fees.
Coverage and limits
ALEA access rules differ from public court searches; a personal review is not an unrestricted statewide people search.

Choose the record, then the custodian

Each state section links to government agencies, courts and official local-office directories and retains its source review dates. Case indexes, assessment records and business filings are starting points; certified documents and restricted records use their own request procedures. A public court search is not a comprehensive criminal-history report.

How to use the state guides

Choose the document you need before searching. Case indexes, parcel assessments, recorded deeds and certified certificates are different records. Court copies, vital certificates and criminal-history reports use the separate procedures in each state’s Official sources section. A criminal charge is not a conviction, and a name match does not establish identity.

For existing government agency documents, use the template below with the state-specific request wording and eligibility requirements. Replace the brackets, narrow the dates and send it to the agency that holds the records. Use its required form or portal when applicable; this is not a certificate application or court filing.

To: [the agency's designated records custodian]
Subject: [State] public-records request: [record or project identifier]

[Insert the state-specific wording from the selected guide's Request example section.]

Please use existing records in their available electronic format. If any material is withheld, identify the legal basis and provide the non-exempt portions. Before incurring charges above [your limit], please send an itemized estimate. Please confirm receipt and the expected response date.

[Name and contact details required by the receiving agency]
[Requester eligibility or residency information, where required]

Keep the submission confirmation, cost estimate, response and any exemption cited so a follow-up or appeal can refer to the same request. Source dates record when a source was reviewed, not when a government record was created. Portal coverage and fees can change; confirm the current order details before paying.