Search Blount County Court Docket

Court docket records for Blount County are kept by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Oneonta. The docket has a full log of all actions in each case in date order. Blount County is the only county in the 41st Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Clerk has records for civil cases, criminal cases, family law, and traffic tickets. You can search online through Alacourt ACCESS or see records in person at the clerk's office.

Blount County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk keeps all court records in Blount County. This office files new cases, keeps the docket for open and closed matters, sends out court docs, and gives the public access to records. The clerk also runs jury work, takes in fees and fines, and handles appeal docs.

The Blount County Courthouse is in downtown Oneonta on 2nd Avenue. Street parking and a public lot are close by. You must go through security to enter. The clerk's office is on the main floor. Staff can help with record searches and copies.

Online Court Record Access

Blount County court records are on the Alacourt ACCESS site. This statewide system has civil, criminal, family, and traffic case dockets. You can search by name or case number and see results after you pay the fee.

To search Blount County records online:

1. Visit pa.alacourt.com
2. Select Blount County from the county list
3. Enter the party name or case number you are searching for
4. Complete the payment and review the docket information

The online site shows the docket sheet for each case with all filings and court actions in order. To get actual docs like complaints, motions, and orders, you may need to ask the clerk's office. Some records are not online. These include sealed cases, juvenile matters, and some domestic violence files.

Copy and Search Fees

The Circuit Clerk charges fees for copies and searches. These fees help pay for keeping records and giving the public access.

The clerk's office takes cash, checks, and money orders. Credit cards may or may not work, so call first. For mail requests, add a check or money order to Blount County Circuit Clerk. They will call you if more payment is needed.

Types of Court Records Available

The Blount County Circuit Clerk maintains docket records for all trial court cases in the county.

Civil Cases

Civil dockets track fights between parties. These include injury suits, broken contracts, property fights, debt cases, and evictions. Circuit Court handles civil cases over $10,000. District Court deals with smaller claims under $3,000.

Criminal Cases

Criminal dockets track cases where the state charges someone with a crime. Felonies go to Circuit Court. Misdemeanors go to District Court. The docket shows arraignments, hearings, motions, trial dates, pleas, verdicts, and sentences.

Domestic Relations

Family law cases in Circuit Court include divorce, child custody, child support, visitation, and protection orders. These cases often have many hearings with changes logged in the docket over time.

Traffic Cases

Traffic tickets go through District Court. The docket covers speeding to more serious crimes like DUI. Each case shows the ticket, court dates, outcome, and any fines.

Legal Framework for Record Access

Alabama law gives you access to court records while keeping some info private.

Public Records Law

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, Alabama residents can look at and copy public records like court records. A 2024 change asks you to prove you live in Alabama. A driver license, state ID, or voter card works. The law leans toward giving you access.

Court Privacy Rules

The Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy list 96 types of info that stay private. These include Social Security numbers, bank accounts, medical info, child victim names, and some addresses. This info gets blacked out before records go out.

Sealed Records

Courts may seal records when letting them out would cause harm. Reasons to seal include trade secrets, national security, stopping harassment, and family privacy. Sealed records are not open to the public. You can ask to unseal if things change.

Expungement

Alabama Code Section 15-27-1 lets you erase some criminal records. Dropped charges and wins at trial usually qualify. Some misdemeanors can be erased after a wait. A few non-violent felonies may also work. Erased records come off public systems.

Visiting the Courthouse

The Blount County Courthouse in Oneonta is open during work hours. The building has the clerk's office, courtrooms, and other county services.

Before visiting:

• Bring a valid photo ID for identification
• Have case details ready such as party names, case numbers, or date ranges
• Allow time for security screening at the entrance
• Bring payment for copy fees if you need documents
• Leave prohibited items in your vehicle

Staff can help find records and tell you how things work. They cannot give legal advice or help make legal docs. For legal help, talk to a lawyer or call a legal aid group.

Submitting Written Requests

Blount County takes written requests for court records by mail. It takes two to four weeks to process, based on how hard the request is.

Include the following in your request:

• Complete names of parties in the case
• Case number if available
• Type of case being requested
• Date range if case number is not known
• Specific documents you need
• Your name, address, and phone number
• Proof of Alabama residency
• Check or money order for estimated fees

Send your request to: Blount County Circuit Clerk, 220 2nd Ave E, Oneonta, AL 35121. The office will contact you if additional fees are required. Overpayments are refunded.

Cities in Blount County

Court records for all places in Blount County are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Oneonta. City courts may handle local law violations.

Cities in Blount County include Oneonta, Blountsville, Cleveland, Hayden, and Locust Fork. Oneonta is the county seat and biggest city. All court filings for Blount County go through the Oneonta courthouse.

For records from other counties, call the Circuit Clerk there. Cases are filed where the defendant lives or where the events took place.

Nearby Counties

Blount County is the only county in the 41st Judicial Circuit. Nearby counties have their own courts and clerks. If your case involves people or events in another county, you may need to search there too.

Legal Resources

The following resources can help Blount County residents with legal matters.

Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal help to low-income folks who qualify. The Alabama State Bar can link you with local lawyers. Court forms are on the Alabama Judicial System site.

Start Your Search

Use the search tool below to look up court docket records in Blount County.