Jefferson County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Jefferson County is the most populous county in Alabama. With a population of over 672,265 residents, its county seat is Birmingham. Jefferson County is part of the 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, which is served by the Circuit Court, Family Court, District Court, Probate Court, and Municipal Courts.

The Circuit Court is the highest trial court in Jefferson County. The court has jurisdiction over civil claims over $3,000, felonies, misdemeanors, and lesser-included offenses. The Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court handles domestic matters, including divorce, nullity, alimony, and harassment cases. The county also has a Family Court that is administered by the judges of the Circuit and District Courts. The Family Court specializes in juvenile matters such as delinquency, dependency, child abuse, and enforcement of child support. Meanwhile, the District Court presides over civil cases involving $20,000 or less, traffic cases, misdemeanors, and certain felony hearings. The court also handles small claims of $6,000 or less. Small claims procedures are simple, and parties can represent themselves without an attorney. Furthermore, probate matters, such as cases on wills, administration of a deceased estate, guardianships, and involuntary mental health commitments, fall within the authority of the Jefferson County Probate Court. The Circuit, District, and Probate Courts have their courthouses in Birmingham and Bessemer. Finally, Municipal Courts operate in several cities in Jefferson County, including Adamsville, Midfield, Birmingham, and Bessemer. The Municipal Courts handle misdemeanor offenses, traffic cases, and municipal ordinance violations.

According to reports by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, there were 3,547 crime incidents reported in the county in 2022. Similarly, during the 2022 fiscal year, the Circuit Court had a total of 20,237 case dispositions, while the District Court had 56,161 case dispositions. Jefferson County has a Circuit Clerk in its courthouses in Birmingham and Bessemer. Both Clerks maintain the court's records and provide copies of the same to persons who make the appropriate request. Other courts in Jefferson also have Clerks or record offices where residents can obtain case records. Additionally, records of civil, criminal, traffic, small claims, domestic relations, and child support cases are available online on the Trial Court Records Portal. Similarly, the Probate Court has an online Archive for records within its custody.

In summary, the Circuit, Family, District, Probate, and Municipal Courts are the primary judicial bodies in Jefferson County. They settle disputes by hearing the parties, entertaining evidence and legal arguments, and handing down an order or judgment. Members of the public can also examine how the courts apply the laws to resolve disputes by accessing public case records.