Tuscaloosa Family Court Records
Tuscaloosa family court records are filed with the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court. As the county seat of Tuscaloosa County, Tuscaloosa has access to comprehensive family law services through the 6th Judicial Circuit's Family Court Division. Residents can get divorce decrees, child custody orders, child support documentation, paternity determinations, and protection from abuse petitions. The courthouse is on Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. Records are available through the Circuit Clerk's office during business hours, by mail request, or via the Alacourt online subscription database for electronic access to case filings and court documents.
Tuscaloosa Family Court Quick Facts
County Jurisdiction for Tuscaloosa Family Cases
All family court cases for Tuscaloosa residents are filed with the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court. Tuscaloosa County is organized under the 6th 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.
As the county seat, Tuscaloosa hosts the county courthouse where all family law records are kept. The Circuit Clerk, Magaria H. Bobo, manages record access and gives certified copies of court documents. Residents have direct local access to courthouse services without needing to travel outside the city.
Tuscaloosa County Courthouse Information
Location and Contact
The Tuscaloosa County Courthouse is located at 714 Greensboro Avenue, Room 214, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. The Circuit Clerk's office can be reached by phone at (205) 464-8259. The courthouse is situated in downtown Tuscaloosa with accessible parking for visitors.
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 6th Circuit.
Obtaining Case Files
Records requests can be submitted in person at the Circuit Clerk's office in Room 214 during work hours. Staff can help with locating case files, providing photocopies, and certifying documents for legal purposes. Telephone inquiries at (205) 464-8259 can give basic case status info. Mail requests should be addressed to the Circuit Clerk at 714 Greensboro Ave Rm 214, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, with payment enclosed.
Online Access to Tuscaloosa Family Court Records
Alacourt Access System
The Alacourt Access portal at https://pa.alacourt.com/ gives subscription-based access to Tuscaloosa County family court records. 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.
Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Website
The county's court website at https://tuscaloosa.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 Tuscaloosa Family Court Records
Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule
The Tuscaloosa 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 (205) 464-8259 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 Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court issues these orders, including emergency ex parte orders. No filing fee is usually needed for protection order petitions.
Local Legal Assistance in Tuscaloosa
Legal Services Alabama
Legal Services Alabama runs a Tuscaloosa office that gives free civil legal aid to eligible low-income residents of Tuscaloosa County. 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.
Tuscaloosa County Volunteer Lawyers Program
The Tuscaloosa County Volunteer Lawyers Program connects eligible people with pro bono attorneys who give free legal services in family law cases. The program serves Tuscaloosa County residents and offers help with divorce, custody, and related matters.
University of Alabama School of Law Clinics
The University of Alabama School of Law runs legal clinics that give services to Alabama residents. The Domestic Violence Clinic assists victims of domestic violence with protection orders and related matters. The Elder Law Clinic may give help with guardianship and conservatorship matters. These clinics are supervised by law school faculty and staffed by law students.
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 in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa County Probate Court
The Tuscaloosa County Probate Court handles marriage licenses, adoptions, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes. Probate Court records are kept separately from Circuit Court family law cases. The Probate Court is located at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse.
Child Support Enforcement
The Alabama Department of Human Resources keeps child support payment records, modification history, and enforcement actions for Tuscaloosa 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
Tuscaloosa is located in West Central Alabama. Residents of nearby municipalities file family court cases in their respective county circuit courts:
- Birmingham - Jefferson County, approximately 60 miles east of Tuscaloosa
- Hoover - Jefferson/Shelby County, approximately 50 miles east of Tuscaloosa
- Montgomery - Montgomery County, approximately 110 miles southeast of Tuscaloosa
- Mobile - Mobile County, approximately 215 miles south of Tuscaloosa
- Huntsville - Madison County, approximately 125 miles northeast of Tuscaloosa