St. Clair County Family Court Records Search
Family court records in St. Clair County are kept by the Circuit Clerk's office, which runs from two locations. St. Clair County is unusual in that it has two county seats: Ashville and Pell City. Kathryn Burke serves as Circuit Clerk for both divisions. These records cover divorce proceedings, child custody determinations, child support orders, paternity cases, and protection from abuse petitions. The Circuit Court handles all domestic relations matters under the 30th Judicial Circuit. St. Clair County is part of the Birmingham metropolitan area. Records can be accessed through the Alacourt system, in-person visits to either courthouse, or written requests submitted to the clerk. Call the appropriate courthouse depending on where the case was filed. Custody case details are confidential under Alabama court privacy rules effective January 2025.
St. Clair County Quick Facts
Circuit Clerk Contact Information
St. Clair County Circuit Clerk
Kathryn Burke serves as Circuit Clerk for St. Clair County and runs from two courthouse locations. The same clerk keeps all family court case files for the county regardless of filing location. people seeking records should call the appropriate division based on where the case was filed.
Ashville Division
Address:
100 6th Ave, Suite 400
Ashville, AL 35953
Phone: (205) 594-2184
Pell City Division
Address:
1815 Cogswell Ave, Ste 217
Pell City, AL 35125
Phone: 205-338-2511
County Website: https://stclair.alacourt.gov/
people seeking family court records should call the appropriate office during work hours. If unsure which division handled a case, call either office or search the Alacourt system, which covers records from both locations.
Online Access to Court Records
Alacourt Access System
St. Clair County family court records from both Ashville and Pell City divisions are available through the Alacourt Access subscription service at https://pa.alacourt.com/. This statewide database gives electronic access to case information including party names, case numbers, filing dates, and case status. Scanned court documents may be available depending on the age of the case and whether records have been digitized. The system doesn't distinguish between divisions, so all county cases are searchable in one location.
County-Specific Website
St. Clair County has a dedicated subdomain at stclair.alacourt.gov that gives information about the circuit court, clerk contact details for both divisions, and court procedures. The website covers clerk biographical information and contact details for both Ashville and Pell City offices.
AlaFile Electronic Filing
Parties and attorneys in St. Clair County cases can use the AlaFile system at https://efile.alacourt.gov/ to file documents electronically. This system requires registration and is primarily used by active case participants rather than the general public.
Types of Family Court Cases
Divorce and Legal Separation
St. Clair County Circuit Court processes contested and uncontested divorce filings under Alabama Code § 30-2-1. Either party must have been a resident of Alabama for at least six months before filing per § 30-2-4. Divorce records cover the complaint, answer, temporary orders, settlement agreements, and final decree. Cases can be filed at either the Ashville or Pell City courthouse.
Child Custody and Visitation
Custody determinations are made based on the best interests of the child under Alabama Code § 30-3-1. The court may award sole custody, joint legal custody, or joint physical custody. Custody records became confidential effective January 2025 under updated Alabama court privacy rules. Access requires you to be a party to the case or obtaining a court order.
Child Support
Child support orders in St. Clair County follow the Alabama Child Support Guidelines established in Title 30, Chapter 6 of the Alabama Code. The Circuit Clerk keeps payment records and modification orders at both courthouse locations. Enforcement actions are handled by the Circuit Court in coordination with the Alabama Department of Human Resources Child Support Enforcement Division.
Protection from Abuse
Victims of domestic violence can petition for protection orders under Alabama Code Title 30, Chapter 5. The Circuit Clerk at either Ashville or Pell City accepts these petitions, and no filing fee is needed. Ex parte orders can be issued the same day, with full hearings usually scheduled within 10 days.
Fees for Records and Services
St. Clair County charges the following fees for family court records and services. Fees might change, so call the Circuit Clerk for current rates.
- Case Search Fee: Varies by request type; contact clerk for details
- 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
- Alacourt Subscription: Monthly or annual subscription fees (not controlled by county)
Payment methods accepted at the Circuit Clerk's office usually include cash, check, and money order. Some counties accept credit or debit cards with an additional processing fee. Call the appropriate clerk's office to confirm accepted payment methods.
Legal Framework and Statutes
30th Judicial Circuit
St. Clair County comprises the 30th Judicial Circuit. The presiding circuit judge oversees court operations for both the Ashville and Pell City divisions per Alabama Code § 12-17-24.
Jurisdiction Over Family Matters
The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over divorces, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, and other domestic relations matters under Alabama law. Circuit Courts are courts of record with authority to issue binding orders enforceable throughout Alabama and other states through interstate compacts.
Key Statutes
- Alabama Code § 30-2-1 - Grounds for divorce
- Alabama Code § 30-2-4 - Residency requirements
- Alabama Code § 30-3-1 - Child custody determinations
How to Request Records
Determine the Correct Division
St. Clair County has two courthouse locations. If you know where a case was filed, call that division. If unsure, call either division or use the Alacourt online system to search all county records.
In-Person Requests
Visit the appropriate Circuit Clerk office during work hours. Ashville division: 100 6th Ave, Suite 400, Ashville, AL 35953. Pell City division: 1815 Cogswell Ave, Ste 217, Pell City, AL 35125. Bring identification and give the case number or the names of both parties. Staff can search and give copies while you wait, depending on workload and record availability.
Mail Requests
Send a written request to the appropriate division at the addresses above. Include the case number or full names of both parties, the approximate date of filing, and your contact information. Enclose payment for search and copying fees. Processing time for mail requests usually takes 2 to 4 weeks.
Phone Inquiries
Call the appropriate Circuit Clerk's office for basic case status info. Ashville: (205) 594-2184. Pell City: 205-338-2511. Due to privacy rules, detailed case information may not be provided over the phone. Staff can confirm whether a case exists and give general procedural info.
Online Access
Subscribe to Alacourt Access at https://pa.alacourt.com/ for immediate online access to case records from both divisions. This is the fastest method for searching and reviewing court documents electronically.
Local Resources
Legal Services Alabama
St. Clair County residents who qualify based on income can get free legal help from Legal Services Alabama. Services include help with divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence matters. Call the statewide intake line at 1-866-456-4995 or visit https://legalservicesalabama.org/.
Alabama Legal Help
Self-help forms and instructions for family court cases are available at https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/. This website gives downloadable forms for divorce, custody modifications, and other family law proceedings.
Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral
The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service at https://www.alabar.org/for-the-public/get-legal-help/ to connect people with family law attorneys in St. Clair County and surrounding areas.
Cities in St. Clair County
St. Clair County doesn't contain any cities with a population over 50,000. The county seats of Ashville and Pell City are the primary municipalities but don't meet the population threshold for dedicated city pages on this site.
All St. Clair County residents should call the Circuit Clerk's office in either Ashville or Pell City for family court records and filing needs. Choose the courthouse most convenient to your location or where your case was originally filed.
Nearby Counties
St. Clair County is bordered by several other Alabama counties. If a family court case was filed in a neighboring jurisdiction, call the Circuit Clerk in that county: