| Circuit Clerk | Jefferson County Circuit Clerk — Birmingham Division |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Birmingham Division: 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203. Bessemer Division: Bessemer Judicial Building, 1851 2nd Ave N, Bessemer, AL 35020 |
| Phone | Birmingham Division (205) 325-5355; Bessemer Division (205) 497-8510 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (both Birmingham and Bessemer Divisions) |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Probate records: $1.00 per page (Code of Alabama § 12-19-90). Circuit/district clerk copies: set by directive of the Administrative Director of Courts under Rule 30, Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration; confirm with the clerk |
| Certified copy fee | Probate records: $3.00 per document (certificate with seal) in addition to the per-page copy charge. Circuit/district clerk certification: confirm with the clerk |
Jefferson County is Alabama's most populous county and the only one split into two judicial divisions, each with its own Circuit Clerk and courthouse. The Birmingham Division Circuit Clerk keeps circuit- and district-court records for cases filed in Birmingham, and the Bessemer Division Circuit Clerk keeps the corresponding records for the Bessemer cutoff. Both offices handle felony, misdemeanor, civil, domestic-relations, and traffic cases the same way a single circuit clerk would in a smaller county.
Probate matters are also split. Jefferson County has two Probate Court divisions — Birmingham and Bessemer — each with its own probate judge, so a will, estate, or guardianship case is filed and recorded in the division that covers the property or the decedent's residence.
Because the county runs two parallel court systems, the first step in any records search is confirming which division heard the case. Alacourt ACCESS ("Just One Look") and Alacourt.com both let you search by county, but you still need to know whether the record is in the Birmingham or Bessemer index.
Search Jefferson County court records online
Circuit Clerk
Jefferson County Circuit Clerk — Birmingham Division
- Cost
- Free to view docket information on the office site; Alacourt/Just One Look search and copy fees apply for full case detail
- Coverage
- Circuit- and district-court criminal, civil, domestic-relations, and traffic cases filed in the Birmingham Division
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Traffic
The office site links to AlaFile (e-filing), docket viewing, Just One Look, and AlaPay for online fine and fee payment.
Other courts
Jefferson County Circuit Clerk — Bessemer Division
- Cost
- Free to view docket information on the office site; Alacourt/Just One Look search and copy fees apply for full case detail
- Coverage
- Circuit- and district-court criminal, civil, domestic-relations, and traffic cases filed in the Bessemer Division
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Traffic
Separate courthouse and separate case index from the Birmingham Division.
Other courts
Probate Court of Jefferson County (Birmingham Division)
- Cost
- Free to search office information; recording and copy fees apply
- Coverage
- Wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licenses, and recorded documents for the Birmingham Division
- Records
- Probate
Jefferson County has separate Birmingham and Bessemer probate divisions; confirm which one covers the property or decedent before searching.
What is available online
Both circuit clerk offices link out to Alacourt-based tools (AlaFile, docket viewing, Just One Look) for case detail and document images rather than hosting a free public case search of their own. The Probate Court of Jefferson County (Birmingham Division) has its own site for wills and recorded documents; a parallel Bessemer probate office keeps records for that division.
Which clerk has your record
In Alabama, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Alabama page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Courts (41 judicial circuits) | Felony criminal cases; Divorce, custody, and other domestic-relations cases; Civil cases exceeding $10,000 (and $3,000–$10,000 by discretion) | Circuit Clerk of the county |
| District Courts | Misdemeanor criminal cases and preliminary felony hearings; Civil cases between $3,000 and $10,000; Small claims up to $6,000 | Circuit Clerk of the county |
| Probate Courts | Wills and estate administration; Guardianships and conservatorships; Adoptions | Judge of Probate of the county |
| Municipal Courts | Municipal ordinance violations; Traffic tickets issued within city limits; Class C misdemeanors when tried by the city | Municipal court clerk for that city |
Request records in person or by mail
Jefferson County clerk offices
Birmingham Division: 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203. Bessemer Division: Bessemer Judicial Building, 1851 2nd Ave N, Bessemer, AL 35020
Phone: Birmingham Division (205) 325-5355; Bessemer Division (205) 497-8510
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (both Birmingham and Bessemer Divisions)
Circuit- and district-court records. Contact the Circuit Clerk for the division where the case was filed — Birmingham (716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N) or Bessemer (1851 2nd Ave N) — in person, or search online through Just One Look or Alacourt.com. Bring or provide the case number if you have it, along with the documents you need and whether you require certified copies.
Probate records. Contact the Probate Court division (Birmingham or Bessemer) that covers the property or the decedent's residence. Many recorded documents and some estate records are searchable online through the probate court's own site.
Confirm the division first. Because Jefferson County keeps two complete, separate court systems, calling ahead to confirm Birmingham versus Bessemer before requesting copies saves a wasted trip or mailed request to the wrong office.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Alabama |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Probate records: $1.00 per page (Code of Alabama § 12-19-90). Circuit/district clerk copies: set by directive of the Administrative Director of Courts under Rule 30, Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration; confirm with the clerk |
| Certified copy | Probate records: $3.00 per document (certificate with seal) in addition to the per-page copy charge. Circuit/district clerk certification: confirm with the clerk |
Probate judges charge the statutory schedule in Code of Alabama § 12-19-90 — $1.00 per page for a copy of an instrument and $3.00 for each certificate with seal — which county probate offices such as Shelby, Lee, and Tuscaloosa reproduce on their posted fee sheets. Circuit clerks are governed instead by Rule 30 of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, which says copy costs "shall be established by directive of the Administrative Director of Courts" and lets clerks charge for record searches; no statewide amount is published online, and court files remain free to inspect at the clerk's office. Parties and their attorneys may receive copies free at the clerk's discretion.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Alabama court records are presumed open under the state's public-records law, Code of Alabama § 36-12-40, but several categories are restricted or excluded from any public search:
The Alabama guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Jefferson County have two Circuit Clerks?
Jefferson County is divided into the Birmingham and Bessemer judicial divisions, each with its own courthouse, circuit clerk, and case index. A case is filed and indexed in only one division, so you need to know which one before searching.
How do I find out which division has a Jefferson County case?
If you do not know, search both divisions through Just One Look (pa.alacourt.com), which lets you choose the county and will show results from whichever division the case is filed in, or call either circuit clerk's office for help locating the file.
Where are Jefferson County probate and estate records?
With the Probate Court, which is also split into Birmingham and Bessemer divisions. The division that covers the decedent's residence or the property at issue is the one that has the file.
Are Jefferson County court records free to search online?
The circuit clerk's own websites provide office information and docket-viewing links rather than a free full case search. Detailed case information and document images require Just One Look ($9.99 per search) or an Alacourt.com subscription.
Sources
- Jefferson County Circuit Clerk — Birmingham Division — https://jeffersoncircuitclerk.alacourt.gov/
- Jefferson County Circuit Clerk — Bessemer Division — https://bessemer.alacourt.gov/circuit-clerk-karen-dunn-burks/
- Probate Court of Jefferson County, Alabama — https://jeffcoprobatecourt.com/
- Jefferson County, Alabama official website — https://www.jccal.org/
- Alabama Administrative Office of Courts — https://www.alacourt.gov/
- Alabama Judicial System — Judicial System Chart — https://judicial.alabama.gov/Appellate/JudicialSystemChart
- Alacourt ACCESS ("Just One Look") — https://pa.alacourt.com/
- Alacourt.com 2.0 (subscription service) — https://v2.alacourt.com/
- ALEA Alabama Background Check Program — https://www.alea.gov/sbi/criminal-justice-services/criminal-records/alabama-background-check
- Alabama Appellate Courts Public Portal — https://publicportal.alappeals.gov/
- Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy and Confidentiality — https://judicial.alabama.gov/docs/library/rules/RulesPrivacyConfidentiality.pdf
- Code of Alabama, Title 15, Chapter 27 — Expungement — https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-15/chapter-27/section-15-27-1/
- Code of Alabama, Title 36, Chapter 12, Article 3 — Public Writings — https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-36/chapter-12/article-3/section-36-12-40/
- Code of Alabama, Title 12, Chapter 19 — Court Finances — https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-12/chapter-19/article-3/division-2/section-12-19-71/
- Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, Rule 30 — Copies, certified copies; cost for copies — https://judicial.alabama.gov/docs/library/rules/ja30.pdf
- Shelby County Probate — Public Fee Schedule (Code of Alabama § 12-19-90) — https://www.shelbyal.com/DocumentCenter/View/892/Probate-Public-Fees
- Lee County Probate Recording — Fees — https://www.leeco.us/government/probate_judge/recording/fees.php
See also: all Alabama counties.