Etowah County, Alabama Court Records
Etowah County court records are official files, logs, reports, and legal paperwork generated from proceedings within the county's judicial system. These court records comprise case files, court dockets, filed motions, petitions, pleadings, evidence, transcripts, orders, final judgments, decisions, verdicts, and sentencing details.
Court records produced in Etowah County are typically maintained by the Office of the County Circuit Court's Clerk and made available to the public on request. State laws allow members of the public to request publicly available records from their designated custodians-this includes court records, arrest records, and other vital records. Record requests can be made in person, online, or via other alternatives provided by the custodial office.
Are Etowah County Court Records Public?
Yes. Per the Alabama Open Records Law (§36-12-40, Alabama 1975), Etowah County court records are presumed open to the public unless otherwise stated by law or court order. In addition, Rule 33.3 of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration and the Alabama Rule of Civil Procedure 5.1 also govern the visibility and transparency of judicial records created in Etowah County.
Pursuant to these statutes, interested persons may request access to public court records from the court clerk's office via the various approved channels. It might be helpful to note that Etowah County court records may not always be available for public inspection and copying, as certain restrictions may apply under state laws. For instance, the following court records may be unavailable to the public:
- Juvenile Records (Ala. Code § 12-15-133)
- Grand Jury Proceedings (Ala. Code § 12-16-214)
- Adoption Records (Ala. Code § 26-10A-31)
- Sealed/Expunged Records (Ala. Code § 15-27-9)
- Records containing sensitive information like a social security number, home address, and so on (Ala. R. Civ. P. 5.1.(a) and (b))
What Information is Available in Etowah County Court Records?
Court records created and maintained in Etowah County typically contain the following information:
- Full name and/or aliases of case parties
- The designation of the parties-defendant, plaintiff, prosecutor, and complainant
- Assigned case number and case type
- Case filing date
- Case status and outcome
- Court docket information
- Name of attorneys or legal representatives
- Audio/Video recordings of court proceedings
- Court minutes and transcripts
- Exhibitory materials and evidence
- Court calendar and hearing schedule
- Name of judge(s) or magistrates
Etowah County Court Records Search
To access Etowah County court records, interested persons may search online, in person at the clerk's office, or submit mail requests.
Online Access
Concerned persons may search Etowah County case records online via the ALECourt Just One Look portal-the State Judicial System's on-demand public access portal. This portal provides the public with statewide information from criminal, civil, small claims, domestic relations, child support, and traffic case files/records. One may perform a case search on this portal by entering a name or case number.
In-Person Access
Requestors may visit the circuit court clerk's office within regular hours to inspect and copy court records. Note that while inspecting records is usually without cost, copies may be obtained for a fee that varies by record type, certification, and staff involvement. The Etowah County Sixteenth Circuit Court of Alabama also provides public access terminals at the courthouse for the public to review comprehensive court records and case files.
Mail and Phone Requests
Written requests enclosed in a self-addressed stamped envelope containing substantial record identifiers and fees can be mailed to the clerk's office using the following information:
Etowah County Circuit Clerk's Office
801 Forrest Avenue
Suite 202
Gadsden, AL 35901
Note that the acceptable methods for fee payment include a money order or cashier's check made payable to "Cassandra Johnson, Clerk." Also, the processing time for mail requests depends on the record type but is usually not more than 30 days from the date the request is received. Inquiries about record requests may also be made by calling the circuit clerk's office at (256) 549-2150.
Fees for Court Records in Etowah County
The cost of obtaining court records in Etowah County depends on the record type, the mode of request, and certification. For online searches via the Alacourt Access Portal, name and case number searches cost $9.99 per search. In addition, downloading document images cost $5.00 for the first 20 pages and $0.50 per page for subsequent pages.
Inspecting records at the clerk's office in person is usually free of charge; however, requesting copies costs $25.00 for the first 20 pages, plus an additional $0.50 per extra page. Certified copies require an additional $5.00 fee per document. Persons requesting archived or closed paper cases will be charged a $25 non-refundable search fee.
Etowah County Courthouse Locations
Etowah County has a Circuit Court, a District Court, a Probate Court, and eight municipal courts. The addresses and phone numbers of the various courts in Etowah County are listed below:
Etowah County Circuit Courthouse
800 Forrest Avenue
Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone: (257) 549-2150
Etowah District Court
800 Forrest Avenue
Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone: (256) 549-5313
Etowah County Probate Court
800 Forrest Avenue
Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone: (256) 549-1444
Altoona Municipal Court
2844 Main Street
P.P.O. Box 279
Altoona, AL 35952
Phone: (205) 589-2311
Attalla Municipal Court
612 North 4th Street North West,
Attalla, AL 35954
Phone: (256) 538-9986
Gadsden Municipal Court
1511 Campbell Avenue,
Gadsden, AL 35903
Phone: (256) 549-4595
Fax: (256) 492-8885
Glencoe Municipal Court
201 West Chastain Boulevard
Glencoe, AL 35905
Phone: (256) 492-1424
Hokes Bluff Municipal Court
3301 Alford's Bend Road
Hokes Bluff, AL 35903
Phone: (256) 492-2414 (Ext. 4)
Rainbow City Municipal Court
3700 Rainbow Drive
Rainbow City, AL 35906
Phone: (256) 413-1216
Sardis Municipal Court
1335 Sardis Drive
Sardis, AL 35956
Phone: (256) 593-6492
Southside Municipal Court
2255 Highway 77
Southside, AL 35907
Phone: (256) 442-9775
Criminal Records Access in Etowah County
Official state-level criminal history checks are managed by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and not the county courts. The ALEA processes requests for criminal history records at $25 per certified copy and charges an additional $5 for each additional copy. Concerned persons may submit requests in person at 301 South Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36104, or send completed application forms to:
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Criminal Records and Identification Unit
ATTN: Background Checks
P.O. Box 1511
Montgomery, AL 36102-1511
More so, local criminal case records may be obtained from the county circuit clerk's office in person from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays or online via the Alabama Unified Judicial System Portal.
Etowah County Probate Records
Etowah County probate records are official documentation of court proceedings handled by the county's probate judge. They include case files and records related to the administration of decedents' estates, property deeds, marriage licensing/annulments, and the protection of incapacitated persons.
Probate records are generally considered public under the state's public records law and may be obtained on request. Some examples of probate records maintained in Etowah County include wills, trusts, conservatorship, divorce decrees, marriage licenses/certificates, and guardianship.
Concerned persons may obtain records of recent probate filings online on the Probate Records page or the Alacourt portal. Note that certain probate records such as those related to adoptions, mental health involuntary commitment, and juvenile guardianship/conservatorship may not be available to the public. In addition, records containing sensitive information may be redacted or exempt from public disclosure.
Etowah County Family Court Records
Family Court records comprise case files and information generated from proceedings of adoptions, child support, divorce, juvenile dependence, and other domestic matters. In Etowah County, family law cases are handled by the Domestic Relations and Juvenile divisions of the Circuit Court.
Public access to Etowah County family court records is dependent on the case type-case information for child/spousal support issues, custody disputes, divorce, and annulments are generally public, while records of adoption, juvenile delinquency/dependency, and paternity suits are exempt under law.
Interested persons may obtain family court records online via the state judiciary's Just One Look system or send mail containing adequate search information. One may also visit the county courthouse in person between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm weekdays to utilize the public access terminals or search with the clerk's office. For certified copies, requestors may be required to provide valid identification and pay an additional fee of $5 per document.
Federal Court Records in Etowah County
Federal court records are typically generated from criminal or civil case proceedings that involve federal laws. Some examples of federal cases include constitution violations, treaties, bankruptcy, disputes between citizens of different states, and cases where the federal government is a party.
Federal court records in Etowah County are created and maintained by the U.S. DistrictandBankruptcy Courts for the Northern District of Alabama. Online access to federal criminal, civil, or bankruptcy case information is available via the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). In-person searches may also be performed at the Eastern Division of the U.S. Courthouse located at 1129 Noble Street, Anniston, AL 36201.
