Mobile Court Docket Lookup

Court docket records for Mobile go through the Mobile County Circuit Clerk at Government Plaza downtown. Mobile is the county seat and sits in the 13th Judicial Circuit, which covers just Mobile County. As a big port city on the Gulf Coast, Mobile sees a lot of civil and business lawsuits on top of regular crime and family cases. The Clerk keeps files for all trial court cases. You can search most of them on Alacourt ACCESS or in person at the courthouse.

County Filing Information

Mobile is the county seat of Mobile County. All court filings for Mobile go through the Mobile County Circuit Clerk. The 13th Judicial Circuit covers just Mobile County. This puts all circuit court work in one place at Government Plaza.

The Mobile County Circuit Court hears felony cases, civil suits over $10,000, divorce and child custody, juvenile cases, and appeals from District Court. District Court deals with misdemeanors, civil cases under $10,000, traffic tickets, and small claims. Both courts keep their dockets with the Circuit Clerk.

The Circuit Clerk also runs absentee voting for Mobile County. Some records you can only get in person. These include old deeds, files not yet scanned, probate records, and docs that need a notary. For these, you'll need to go to the courthouse during work hours.

Courthouse Information

Mobile County courts run out of Government Plaza downtown. The Circuit Clerk's office is on the ninth floor. They take all record requests and case filings there.

Court Jurisdiction

Mobile County courts split up cases by type:

• Circuit Court: Felonies, civil cases over $10,000, domestic relations, juvenile matters
• District Court: Misdemeanors, civil cases under $10,000, traffic, small claims
• Municipal Court: City ordinance violations, parking tickets within city limits

Restricted Records

Some records are locked and you can't see them:

• Sealed cases
• Adoption records
• Youthful offender cases
• Juvenile records

How to Search Mobile Court Dockets

Online Search

The main way to search court records is through Alacourt ACCESS. It's the state's court records database. You can find trial court files from all 67 Alabama counties, Mobile County included. Search by name or case number. You pay per search, and fees show up before you pay.

Mobile also has a separate Municipal Court record search for city code tickets and traffic stops in city limits. This is not the same as the county court system.

In-Person Search

Going to the courthouse lets you search records with no online fees. The Clerk's office on the ninth floor has public computers. Staff can help you find cases and pull files. Some records, like old deeds and docs that need a notary, are only there in person. Bring your ID and any case info you have.

Written Requests

You can mail in a request for court records. Put all party names, rough filing dates, and case type if you know it. You'll likely need to pay up front. Give it two to four weeks. Send mail to the courthouse address up top.

Fees and Costs

Mobile County has set fees for court record work. State law sets the rates, and they apply to most requests.

Fees can change based on the doc type and if you need it certified. At the courthouse, pay with cash, check, or money order. Alacourt ACCESS takes credit cards and shows exact fees before you pay.

Legal Aid Resources

Mobile has groups that give free or low-cost legal help to those who qualify. They work on civil cases like family law, housing, and buyer issues.

Legal Services Alabama - Mobile Office

Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help to low-income folks state-wide. The Mobile office covers Mobile County and nearby areas.

• Address: 107 St. Francis Street, Suite 2100, Mobile, AL 36602
• Phone: (866) 456-4995
• Spanish: (888) 835-3505
• Website: legalservicesalabama.org
• Eligibility: Household income at or below 125% of federal poverty level

South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program (SAVLP)

SAVLP hooks up low-income folks with volunteer lawyers who work for free in South Alabama.

• Phone: (251) 438-1102
• Toll-Free: (855) 997-2857
• Website: savlp.org
• Service Area: Baldwin, Clarke, Mobile, and Washington Counties
• Volunteers: More than 885 volunteer attorneys

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service

If you don't qualify for free legal aid but need help finding a lawyer, the State Bar runs a referral line.

• Phone: 1-800-392-5660
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
• Initial Consultation: Maximum $50 for 30 minutes

Alabama Legal Help

This site has DIY forms, legal info, and a list of legal aid groups.

• Website: alabamalegalhelp.org

Legal Framework for Court Record Access

State law and court rules set who can see court records. If you know these rules, you'll know what you can get and what's off limits.

Alabama Code Section 36-12-40

This law gives Alabama residents the right to look at and copy public records, court files too. A 2024 change means you must prove you live in Alabama now. Show an Alabama driver license, state ID, or voter card. The law leans toward letting people see records. If there's doubt, courts should let the public in.

Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy and Confidentiality

These rules kicked in on January 1, 2025. They list 96 types of info that must stay private. This covers Social Security numbers, bank accounts, medical files, names of child crime victims, abuse victim addresses, and trade secrets. Courts black out this info or seal whole files to keep folks safe.

Sealed Records

Some records are off limits to the public. Juvenile cases stay closed under Alabama Code Section 12-15-133. Same goes for sealed criminal files, adoption records, youthful offender cases, and anything a judge sealed. Courts can lock files that touch on trade secrets, national security, stalking risks, or touchy family issues.

Expungement

Alabama Code Section 15-27-1 covers how to wipe criminal records clean. You may be able to expunge dismissed charges, not-guilty verdicts, some misdemeanors after a wait, and certain non-violent felonies. Once expunged, those records come off public access.

Nearby Major Cities

Each city's court records go through its county's Circuit Clerk. If you need files from somewhere else, check these pages.

Start Your Search

Use our search tool to find court docket info from Mobile and the rest of Alabama.

Official Resources