Search Baldwin County Family Court Records

Family court records for Baldwin County are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Bay Minette. Baldwin County is huge - Alabama's largest county by area at 1,590 square miles along the Gulf Coast. The Circuit Court takes care of divorce filings, child custody fights, child support enforcement, paternity cases, and domestic violence protection orders under the 28th Judicial Circuit. Brenda Ganey is the Circuit Clerk. You can get records through Alacourt if you pay for a subscription. Or go to the courthouse in person. Or send a written request to the clerk's office. Child custody records are now confidential effective January 2025 - that's when Alabama Supreme Court privacy rules changed.

Circuit Clerk Contact Information

Baldwin County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk's office in Bay Minette keeps all family court case files for Baldwin County. Brenda Ganey is the Circuit Clerk right now. The office takes divorce petitions. Also custody modifications and child support orders. They handle protection from abuse filings too. Staff can help you get records. They'll give you certified copies of court papers if you need them.

Address:
312 Courthouse Sq, Suite 10
Bay Minette, AL 36507

Phone: 251-937-9561

County Website: https://baldwin.alacourt.gov/

This office is the official keeper of all Circuit Court records in Baldwin County. If you need family court records, call this office. Ask about case status. Get copies. Or file new papers.

Online Access to Court Records

Alacourt Access System

Baldwin County uses the statewide Alacourt Access system at https://pa.alacourt.com/. You can search family court cases by party name, case number, or attorney if you subscribe. The database shows case dockets and filing history. Some scanned documents are available too. You have to pay for a subscription to get full access - there's no free version.

County-Specific Website

Baldwin County has a court website at baldwin.alacourt.gov. You can find info about court procedures here. Also clerk contact details and how to file papers. But you can't search cases for free. The website sends you to the Alacourt subscription service if you want detailed records.

AlaFile Electronic Filing

You can file documents online using AlaFile at https://efile.alacourt.gov/ if you're in a case. Attorneys use this portal a lot. You can submit pleadings and get electronic notifications. Also access case documents. You need to register first. It's really for active case participants, not the general public.

Types of Family Court Cases

Divorce and Legal Separation

Baldwin County Circuit Court handles both contested and uncontested divorces under Alabama Code § 30-2-1. You or your spouse must have lived in Alabama for six months before filing - § 30-2-4 requires this. Divorce files have the initial complaint and temporary orders. Also property settlement agreements if you reach a deal. And the final decree that ends the marriage.

Child Custody and Visitation

The Circuit Court decides custody based on what's best for the child per Alabama Code § 30-3-1. Courts can give sole custody to one parent. Or joint legal custody where both parents make big decisions. Or joint physical custody where the child lives with both. Alabama Code Title 30, Chapter 3 covers joint custody arrangements and parenting plans too. Child custody case details became confidential in January 2025 - the general public can't access them now.

Child Support

Child support orders in Baldwin County follow state guidelines from Title 30, Chapter 6. The Circuit Clerk keeps payment records. Also modification orders when amounts change. And enforcement actions when someone doesn't pay. The Alabama Department of Human Resources Child Support Enforcement Division helps collect and enforce support orders.

Protection from Abuse

Domestic violence victims can ask for protection orders under Alabama Code Title 30, Chapter 5. Take your petition to the Circuit Clerk. No filing fee is needed. Ex parte orders can be granted right away - these are emergency orders. A full hearing usually happens within 10 days. These orders can give you temporary custody. They can order the abuser not to call you. And they can give you exclusive use of your home.

Fees for Records and Services

Baldwin County Circuit Clerk charges fees for searches, copies, and certified documents. Here's what you'll usually pay:

• Case Search Fee: Contact clerk for specific search fees
• Copy Fee: Typically $0.50 per page
• Certified Copies: $3 to $5 per document plus per-page copying fees
• Exemplified Copies: Additional fee for authentication seal when required
• Alacourt Subscription: Monthly or annual fees set by the state (not county)

They take cash, checks, and money orders. Sometimes credit or debit cards too, but you'll pay an extra processing fee. Call the Circuit Clerk's office first to check current fees and what payment methods they accept before you send in a request.

Legal Framework and Statutes

28th Judicial Circuit

Baldwin County makes up the 28th Judicial Circuit all by itself. The circuit judge runs court operations for the county per Alabama Code § 12-17-24. Circuit judges here hear all family law matters - divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence cases.

Jurisdiction Over Family Matters

The Circuit Court handles all domestic relations matters. It can grant divorces. It can decide child custody. It orders child support. It adjudicates paternity. And it issues protection orders. Circuit Court orders are binding and enforceable throughout Alabama and in other states too.

Key Statutes

• Alabama Code § 30-2-1 - Grounds for divorce
• Alabama Code § 30-2-4 - Residency requirements for divorce
• Alabama Code § 30-3-1 - Child custody determinations
• Alabama Code Title 30, Chapter 5 - Protection from abuse orders

How to Request Records

In-Person Requests

Visit the Circuit Clerk's office at 312 Courthouse Sq, Suite 10, Bay Minette, AL 36507 during work hours. Bring your ID. Give them the case number or both parties' names. Staff can search and give you copies the same day if records are easy to get and they're not too busy.

Mail Requests

Send a written request to the Circuit Clerk at the Bay Minette address above. Put in the case number or both parties' full names. Add when the case was filed (a rough date is fine). Include your phone and address. Send payment if you know the fees, or ask for a quote. Mail requests take 2 to 4 weeks depending on how busy the clerk's office is.

Phone Inquiries

Call the Circuit Clerk's office at 251-937-9561 for basic case status info. They can tell you if a case exists. They can give procedural guidance. But detailed case information is restricted over the phone due to confidentiality rules.

Online Access

Subscribe to Alacourt Access at https://pa.alacourt.com/ for online access right away. This is the fastest way to search cases and review stored documents.

Local Resources

Legal Services Alabama

If you live in Baldwin County and don't make much money, you can get free legal help from Legal Services Alabama. They help with divorce, child custody, child support, and domestic violence matters. Call the statewide intake line at 1-866-456-4995 or visit https://legalservicesalabama.org/ to see if you qualify.

Alabama Legal Help

If you're representing yourself, you can get free legal forms and instructions at https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/. The website has forms you can download for divorce, custody modifications, child support enforcement, and other family law cases.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service to connect you with family law attorneys in Baldwin County. Visit https://www.alabar.org/for-the-public/get-legal-help/ for more info.

Cities in Baldwin County

Baldwin County doesn't have any cities with more than 50,000 people. Bay Minette is the county seat. Fairhope, Daphne, and Spanish Fort are other towns here. None of them are big enough for their own pages on this site.

All Baldwin County residents should call the Circuit Clerk's office in Bay Minette for family court records and filings. It doesn't matter which town you live in.

Nearby Counties

Baldwin County sits next to other Alabama counties and the Gulf of Mexico. If a family court case was filed in a nearby county, call that county's Circuit Clerk: