Houston County, Alabama Court Records
Houston County court records include documents, files, transcripts, and recordings generated by the county courts during legal proceedings. Such records typically include motions, petitions, subpoenas, judgments, decrees, orders, rulings, exhibit documents, and other paperwork connected to court processes within the county.
State laws allow members of the public to scrutinize and copy public records like arrest records, vital records, and court records. Court records maintained either in paper or electronic formats are made available to the public by the Houston County Circuit Court Clerk's Office and the various courthouses in the County. Interested persons may query the Clerk's Office or utilize other available search options to access court records.
Are Houston County Court Records Public?
Generally, yes. The Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 grants members of the public the right to inspect and copy government records such as court records. Similarly, Rule 33.3 of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration and the Alabama Rule of Civil Procedure 5.1 regulate public access to judicial records maintained in Houston County.
These laws allow interested persons to request, review, and duplicate court records from the relevant custodial office. However, the public's right to access court records is not absolute. Restrictions may apply to the following records:
- Juvenile and adoption records
- Records of medical information or mental evaluations
- Records whose disclosure may cause public harm or disrupt investigative processes
- Sealed or expunged records
- Sensitive or personally identifying information like a Social Security number or license number
- Information about pending or ongoing criminal investigations
- Information deemed confidential under federal, state, or privacy laws
What Information is Available in Houston County Court Records?
Houston County court records provide members of the public with the following case and court information:
- Names of case parties
- Case number
- Type of case
- Docket/file number
- Filing dates
- Attorney and legal representatives of the opposing parties
- Presiding judge, magistrate, or judicial officer
- Court name, jurisdiction, and location
- Warrant, arrest, and booking information where available
- Exhibitory documents
- Judgments, decrees, and orders
- Case outcome/status
- Transcripts, minutes, and recordings of court proceedings
- Hearing schedules and court calendar
Houston County Court Records Search
Court records are generally considered public records in Houston County and may be obtained from the circuit court clerk's office. Search options for public access to court records typically include online searches, in-person requests, and mail or phone requests.
Online Access
The state judicial system maintains an on-demand portal for public access to court records-the ALECourt Just One Look portal. This portal contains statewide case information and records from civil, criminal, traffic, family law, and small claims suits. Interested persons may subscribe and search case information by entering a name or case number.
For probate case records, one may search the Houston County Online Services portal. Here, users may create a free account and log in using their registered details. To begin a search, select the preferred search criteria-name, book/ page number, instrument number, date range, and instrument type.
In-person Access
County residents and visitors who prefer to obtain court records in person may visit the circuit court clerk's office or any other custodial office within regular hours. In-person requesters may need to provide case search details and valid identification, if necessary. In addition, most courthouses in Houston County maintain public access computer terminals for free access to court records.
Mail and Phone Requests
The circuit court clerk's office processes mail requests for copies of court records. Interested persons may submit handwritten request letters and proof of copy fees enclosed in a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Houston County Circuit Clerk
P.O. Drawer 6406
Dothan, AL 36302
Acceptable payment methods include checks or money orders made payable to the clerk's office. Note that mail requests may require a processing time between 3 and 30 days. You can phone the clerk's office at (334) 677-4805 to make inquiries about record requests, copy fees, and record availability
Fees for Court Records in Houston County
The fees attached to public access of Houston County court records depend on the mode of access, the type of record, and the volume of requested documents. Generally, reviewing court records at the custodian's office during business hours is completely free of charge. However, records accessed through the ALECourt Just One Look portal attract a fee of $9.99 per name or case number search plus a downloading fee of $5.00 for the first 20 pages and $0.50 per subsequent page.
The clerk of the circuit/district courts in Houston County provides copies of court records to the public at $5.00 for the first 20 pages and $0.50 for each additional page. Certification of records costs an additional $5. The probate court issues copies of its records at $1 per page plus a $3 certification fee. Authenticated copies of probate records cost $3 per page with an additional certification fee of $2.
Houston County Courthouse Locations
The Houston County court system comprises the Circuit Court, District Court, Probate Court, and Municipal Courts. The addresses and contact information of the courts in Houston County are as follows:
Houston County Circuit Court
Houston County Courthouse
114 North Oates Street
Dothan, AL 36303
Phone: (334) 677-4805
Houston County District Court
Houston County Courthouse
114 North Oates Street
Dothan, AL 36302
Phone: (334) 677-4805
Houston County Probate Court
462 North Oates Street
P.O. Box 6404
Dothan, AL 36302
Phone: (334) 677-4728
Fax: (334) 677-4733
Ashford Municipal Court
525 North Broadway Street
P.O. Box 428
Ashford, AL 36312
Phone: (334) 899-3366 ext. 114
Cottonwood Municipal Court
1414 Metcalf Street
P.O. Box 447
Cottonwood, AL 36320
Phone: (334) 691-2671 ext. 103
Fax: (334) 691-3111
Dothan Municipal Court
115 West Adams Street
P.O. Box 2128
Dothan, AL 36302
Phone: (334) 615-4150
Fax: (334) 615-4149
Gordon Municipal Court
692 Tifton Road
P.O. Box 46
Gordon, AL 36343
Phone: (334) 522-3113
Taylor Municipal Court
1469 South County Road 59
Taylor, AL 36301
Phone: (334) 677-5079
Criminal Records Access in Houston County
Individuals seeking state-level criminal history records in Houston County may contact the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)-the county courts process requests for local criminal case records.
Official statewide criminal history records are issued by the ALEA at $25 per certified copy plus a $5 fee for subsequent copies. Concerned persons may fill out the Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) and mail alongside fingerprints and ID to the Criminal Records and Identification Unit of the ALEA. For county-level criminal case information, visit the circuit court clerk's office within regular hours or search online via the ALECourt Just One Look portal.
Houston County Probate Records
Probate records in Houston County consist of documents, files, and legal paperwork related to the distribution of a decedent's estate, guardianships, conservatorships, adoption, legitimation, involuntary commitments, name changes, and the registration of putative fathers. The Houston County Probate Court presides over such matters and maintains probate records within county limits.
Houston County probate records like wills, trusts, and estate filings are generally considered public records under state laws and may be accessed by members of the public. Recent probate filings and case information are available to the public online via the Houston County Online Services portal. You can also visit the probate court between 7:00 am and 5:30 pm, Monday through Thursday, to inspect and copy probate court records in person.
Note that not all probate records may be accessible to the public; contact the court to confirm records availability.
Houston County Family Court Records
Houston County does not have a specialized family court-the circuit court handles domestic relations and family law cases. The jurisdiction to hear and resolve juvenile matters is shared between the circuit and district courts in Houston County.
Persons in search of Houston County family court records may query the circuit court clerk's office in person or search online via the State Judiciary's Just One Look portal. Certified copies of family court records, though restricted to authorized entities, are available at the clerk's office for $5 per copy, excluding copy and research fees.
Federal Court Records in Houston County
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama (Southern Division), located in Dothan, presides over and maintains records of federal cases for Houston County. Houston County federal court records include case files and documents from federal bankruptcy, criminal, or civil litigation.
To obtain copies of federal court records in Houston County, visit the clerk's office counter, utilize the public access terminal at the Courthouse, or access the PACER Case Locator system. Copies of federal court records are provided at $0.5 or $0.10 per page at the clerk's office or the public access terminals, respectively.
