Hoover Family Court Records Search

Hoover family court records are filed based on where you live in the city. The city straddles two counties. Most Hoover residents live in Jefferson County and file family law cases with the Jefferson County Circuit Court's Family Court Division in Birmingham. Some Hoover residents in the Shelby County part file cases with the Shelby County Circuit Court in Columbiana. Residents can get divorce decrees, child custody orders, child support documentation, and protection from abuse petitions from the appropriate county. Family court records are available through Circuit Clerk offices in Jefferson or Shelby County, mail requests to the appropriate courthouse, or the Alacourt online subscription database system for electronic access to case filings.

Which County Handles Hoover Family Cases

Hoover residents must file family court cases in the county where they reside. Most of Hoover is located in Jefferson County, with a significant portion extending into Shelby County. Residents should find out their county of residence before filing.

Jefferson County Portion

Jefferson County is part of the 10th Judicial Circuit, which has established a dedicated Family Court Division per Alabama Code § 12-17-24.1. Hoover residents in Jefferson County have access to specialized family law judges and comprehensive court services. The Jefferson County Family Court is located at 120 2nd Court North, Birmingham, AL 35204. The Circuit Clerk for the Birmingham Division is Jackie Anderson-Smith, (205) 325-5355.

Shelby County Portion

Shelby County is part of the 18th Judicial Circuit, shared with Bibb County. The Circuit Court in Shelby County handles family law matters but doesn't have a separate Family Court Division. The Shelby County Courthouse is in Columbiana. The Circuit Clerk is Mary H. Harris, (205) 669-3760.

Courthouse Information for Hoover Residents

Jefferson County Family Court (Birmingham)

Hoover residents living in the Jefferson County portion file cases at the Jefferson County Family Court in Birmingham. The court is located at 120 2nd Court North, Birmingham, AL 35204. The Juvenile Docket office can be reached at (205) 325-5444, and the Adult Docket office at (205) 325-5803. The Family Court Division handles divorces, child custody, child support, protection from abuse orders, and all other domestic relations matters under Alabama Code § 12-17-24.2.

Shelby County Circuit Court (Columbiana)

Hoover residents living in the Shelby County portion file cases at the Shelby County Courthouse in Columbiana, not in Hoover. The Circuit Clerk can be reached at (205) 669-3760. The Circuit Court handles family law matters including divorce, custody, and support cases.

Determining Your County

Residents uncertain about their county of residence can check property tax bills, voter registration cards, or call the Hoover City Hall. School district assignments may also differ based on county. Property taxes and court jurisdiction follow county boundaries, not city limits.

Online Access to Hoover Family Court Records

Alacourt Access System

The Alacourt Access portal at https://pa.alacourt.com/ gives subscription-based access to family court records from both Jefferson and Shelby Counties. Users can search by party names or case numbers to locate divorce cases, custody orders, and related documents regardless of which county keeps the records. Scanned images of court filings are available when digitized.

County Court Websites

Jefferson County Circuit Court keeps a website at https://jefferson.alacourt.gov/. The Family Court website is at https://www.jccal.org/Default.asp?ID=251&pg=Family+Court. Shelby County Circuit Court information is available at https://shelby.alacourt.gov/. These sites give contact information, forms, and procedural guidance.

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 and motions in both Jefferson and Shelby County cases. Users get electronic service and can access filed documents after registration.

Fees for Hoover Family Court Records

Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule

Fees vary by county. Both Jefferson and Shelby Counties charge standard Alabama fees for records services:

• 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

call the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk at (205) 325-5355 or Shelby County Circuit Clerk at (205) 669-3760 for current pricing. Payment methods accepted include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards at courthouses.

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.

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.

Protection from Abuse

Domestic violence victims can petition for protection from abuse orders under Alabama Code Title 30, Chapter 5. Both Jefferson and Shelby County Circuit Courts issue these orders. No filing fee is usually needed for protection order petitions.

Local Legal Assistance for Hoover Residents

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama serves both Jefferson and Shelby County residents. The Birmingham office gives free civil legal aid to eligible low-income people and families, including help with divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence, and other family law matters. The statewide intake number is 1-866-456-4995.

Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program

The Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program serves Jefferson County residents in Hoover, connecting eligible people with pro bono attorneys who give free legal services in family law cases.

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 Hoover Residents

County Probate Courts

The Jefferson County Probate Court handles marriage licenses, adoptions, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes for Jefferson County residents. The Shelby County Probate Court handles the same matters for Shelby County residents. 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. 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

Hoover is part of the Birmingham metropolitan area. Residents of nearby municipalities file family court cases in their respective county circuit courts:

• Birmingham - Jefferson County seat, approximately 10 miles northeast of Hoover
• Tuscaloosa - Tuscaloosa County, approximately 50 miles west of Hoover
• Montgomery - State capital in Montgomery County, approximately 95 miles south of Hoover
• Huntsville - Madison County, approximately 105 miles north of Hoover
• Mobile - Mobile County, approximately 260 miles south of Hoover