Find Family Court Records in Auburn
Auburn family court records are filed with the Lee County Circuit Court - this is in Opelika, not Auburn. Auburn residents have access to family law services through the 37th Judicial Circuit's Family Court Division. Residents can get divorce decrees, child custody orders, child support documentation, paternity determinations, and protection from abuse petitions from the courthouse in Opelika, about 12 miles from Auburn. Auburn isn't the county seat, so you'll need to go to Opelika for courthouse services. Records are available through the Circuit Clerk's office at the Lee County Courthouse during business hours, by mail request, or via the Alacourt online subscription database for electronic access to case filings and court documents.
Auburn Family Court Quick Facts
County Jurisdiction for Auburn Family Cases
All family court cases for Auburn residents are filed with the Lee County Circuit Court. Lee County is organized under the 37th Judicial Circuit, which has established a dedicated Family Court Division per Alabama Code § 12-17-24.1. This specialized division focuses exclusively on domestic relations matters.
The county seat is Opelika, not Auburn, so the courthouse is located there. Auburn residents must go to Opelika for courthouse services. The Circuit Clerk, Mary Roberson, manages record access and gives certified copies of court documents. The office can be reached at (334) 749-7141.
Lee County Courthouse Information
Location and Contact
The Lee County Courthouse is located at 2311 Gateway Drive, Room 104, Opelika, AL 36801. The courthouse is in Opelika, about 12 miles east of Auburn. The Circuit Clerk's office can be reached by phone at (334) 749-7141. The courthouse is accessible from major highways connecting Auburn and Opelika.
Family Court Division Services
The Family Court Division handles all domestic relations matters within the jurisdiction established by Alabama Code § 12-17-24.2. Cases cover divorces, legal separations, annulments, child custody and visitation, child support establishment and modification, alimony, paternity determinations, termination of parental rights, and protection from abuse orders. Dedicated judges preside over family law matters in the 37th Circuit.
Obtaining Case Files
Records requests can be submitted in person at the Circuit Clerk's office in Room 104 during work hours. Staff can help with locating case files, providing photocopies, and certifying documents for legal purposes. Telephone inquiries at (334) 749-7141 can give basic case status info. Mail requests should be addressed to the Circuit Clerk at 2311 Gateway Dr, Room 104, Opelika, AL 36801, with payment enclosed.
Online Access to Auburn Family Court Records
Alacourt Access System
The Alacourt Access portal at https://pa.alacourt.com/ gives subscription-based access to Lee County family court records, including Auburn cases. Users can search by party names, case numbers, or other identifiers to locate divorce cases, custody orders, and related documents. Scanned images of court filings are available when the court has digitized records and uploaded them to the system.
Lee County Circuit Court Website
The county's court website at https://lee.alacourt.gov/ gives general information about the Circuit Court, contact details, and procedural guidance. The website doesn't offer free public case searches but serves as a resource for people needing court information.
AlaFile Electronic Filing
Attorneys and pro se litigants can file documents electronically through AlaFile at https://efile.alacourt.gov/. The system allows electronic submission of pleadings, motions, and other case documents. Users get electronic service and can access filed documents after registering for an account.
Fees for Auburn Family Court Records
Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule
The Lee County Circuit Clerk charges fees for records services as authorized by Alabama law. Standard fees include:
- Copy Fee: $0.50 per page for standard photocopies
- Certified Copies: $3 to $5 certification fee per document plus per-page copy fees
- Search Fee: May vary based on the complexity of the request
- Alacourt Subscription: Monthly or annual fees for online database access
Fee amounts might change. Call the Circuit Clerk's office at (334) 749-7141 for current pricing. Payment methods accepted include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards at the courthouse.
Vital Records Fees
Divorce certificates are available from the Alabama Department of Public Health for $15, which includes a search and one certified copy. Additional certified copies are $6 each. Requests may be submitted to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625, by phone at (334) 206-5418, or online via VitalChek.
Alabama Family Law Statutes
Divorce and Legal Separation
Grounds for divorce in Alabama are specified in Alabama Code § 30-2-1, including irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, adultery, voluntary abandonment, imprisonment, addiction, and other enumerated grounds. Residency requirements under § 30-2-4 need that either party must have been a bona fide resident of Alabama for six months before filing. Legal separation is addressed in § 30-2-40.
Child Custody and Support
Child custody determinations are governed by Alabama Code § 30-3-1, which need courts to consider the best interests of the child. Joint custody provisions are detailed in § 30-3-160 through § 30-3-169.4. Child support guidelines are established in Title 30, Chapter 6. Interstate custody cases are handled under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act in Title 30, Chapter 3A.
Protection from Abuse
Domestic violence victims can petition for protection from abuse orders under Alabama Code Title 30, Chapter 5. The Lee County Circuit Court issues these orders, including emergency ex parte orders. No filing fee is usually needed for protection order petitions.
Local Legal Assistance for Auburn Residents
Legal Services Alabama
Legal Services Alabama serves Lee County residents, providing free civil legal aid to eligible low-income people and families. Services include help with divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence protection orders, and other family law matters. The statewide intake number is 1-866-456-4995. Eligibility is based on income and household size.
Lee County Volunteer Lawyers Program
If on hand, the Lee County Volunteer Lawyers Program may connect eligible people with pro bono attorneys who give free legal services in family law cases.
Auburn University Resources
Auburn University may have legal clinics or resources for students and community members. The university's presence gives access to educational resources related to law and legal procedures.
Self-Help Resources
Alabama Legal Help at https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/ offers do-it-yourself forms, instructions, and legal information for people representing themselves in family court. Resources cover divorce petition templates, custody modification forms, and procedural guides.
Record Privacy and Confidentiality
Family Court Privacy Rules
Alabama's updated court-record privacy rules, effective January 1, 2025, exempt "wholly private family matters" from public access. Child custody records are automatically sealed. Personal information such as social security numbers, financial account numbers, and medical records is redacted from publicly on hand documents. Parties seeking access to sealed records must get a court order.
Confidential Case Types
Certain proceedings are confidential by statute. Adoption records are sealed under the Alabama Adoption Code, Title 26, Chapter 10A. Juvenile court proceedings are confidential under the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act, Title 12, Chapter 15. Domestic violence victim addresses and location information are protected in protection from abuse cases.
Secondary Record Sources for Auburn Residents
Lee County Probate Court
The Lee County Probate Court handles marriage licenses, adoptions, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes. The Probate Court is located in Opelika at the Lee County Courthouse. Probate Court records are kept separately from Circuit Court family law cases.
Child Support Enforcement
The Alabama Department of Human Resources keeps child support payment records, modification history, and enforcement actions for Auburn residents. Information is available to parties in the case and authorized agencies. The DHR website is https://dhr.alabama.gov/child-support-enforcement-division/.
Vital Records
Marriage and divorce certificates from August 1936 forward (marriage) and January 1950 forward (divorce) are available from the Alabama Department of Public Health. Requests may be submitted to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625, by phone at (334) 206-5418, or online via VitalChek at https://www.vitalchek.com/.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
Auburn is located in East Alabama. Residents of nearby municipalities file family court cases in their respective county circuit courts:
- Montgomery - State capital in Montgomery County, approximately 55 miles west of Auburn
- Dothan - Houston County, approximately 90 miles southeast of Auburn
- Birmingham - Jefferson County, approximately 120 miles northwest of Auburn
- Mobile - Mobile County, approximately 235 miles south of Auburn
- Huntsville - Madison County, approximately 200 miles north of Auburn