Cullman County Court Docket

Court docket records for Cullman County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in downtown Cullman. These records document all proceedings in civil lawsuits, criminal prosecutions, traffic cases, and family law matters handled by the county court system. Cullman County is the sole county in the 32nd Judicial Circuit, which gives it dedicated judicial resources. The county serves a population of approximately 87,000 residents across north-central Alabama. Public access to docket information is available through the Alacourt ACCESS online portal and through in-person visits to the clerk's office during regular business hours.

Cullman County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk is the official record keeper for all court proceedings in Cullman County. This elected office handles case filings, maintains docket records, issues subpoenas, and provides certified copies of court documents. The clerk's staff can help locate case files and explain general court procedures, though they cannot offer legal advice or help you fill out forms.

Office Services

Visitors to the Circuit Clerk's office can search court dockets, request copies of documents, pay fines and court costs, and file new cases. The office maintains both current and archived records. For older cases, retrieval may take additional time as some records are stored off-site. Call ahead if you need records from cases more than a few years old to ensure the files will be available when you arrive.

Searching Court Records Online

Cullman County court dockets can be searched remotely through the statewide Alacourt ACCESS system. This database contains records from all Alabama trial courts including the Cullman County Circuit and District Courts.

Alacourt ACCESS Portal

The Alacourt ACCESS portal allows you to search Cullman County court records by party name or case number. The system covers civil cases, criminal matters, traffic violations, and domestic relations proceedings. Searches require payment, with fees shown before you complete each transaction. You can view case summaries, party information, and docket entries. Some detailed documents may require additional fees to access.

What Records Are Available Online

Most Cullman County court dockets from recent years are available through the online system. This includes case numbers, party names, filing dates, hearing dates, and case dispositions. However, some records have restricted access. Juvenile cases, sealed records, and certain domestic violence matters are not publicly viewable. Older records may not be fully digitized and could require an in-person search at the courthouse.

In-Person Searches

Coming to the Cullman County Courthouse in person allows you to search records without the per-transaction fees of the online system. The clerk's office has computer terminals for public use as well as access to physical case files. Bring a valid ID and any information you have about the case you are looking for. The staff can point you in the right direction but cannot conduct searches on your behalf due to workload limitations.

Fees for Court Records

Cullman County follows the standard fee schedule established by Alabama law for court record services. These fees apply to both in-person requests and mail inquiries.

The courthouse accepts cash, money orders, and certified checks. Credit card payments may be accepted with an additional processing fee. For mail requests, send a written request with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order payable to Cullman County Circuit Clerk. Include as much detail as possible about the records you need to help staff locate the correct files.

Types of Court Records Available

Civil Dockets

Civil court dockets in Cullman County track non-criminal disputes between parties. These include lawsuits over contracts, property disputes, personal injury claims, landlord-tenant matters, and collections cases. Circuit Court handles civil matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $10,000. District Court manages smaller claims and landlord-tenant evictions. The docket shows all filings, hearings, and orders in chronological order.

Criminal Dockets

Criminal case dockets record prosecutions by the State of Alabama against individuals charged with crimes. Cullman County Circuit Court handles felony cases including violent crimes, drug offenses, and property crimes with higher dollar amounts. District Court processes misdemeanors and conducts preliminary hearings for felonies. Docket entries track arraignments, bond hearings, motions, trials, and sentencing.

Traffic Dockets

Traffic violations in Cullman County are processed through the District Court or Municipal Courts within incorporated cities. The docket records the citation, court dates, any hearings, and the final disposition including fines paid or alternative sentences. DUI cases and other serious traffic offenses may be handled as criminal matters with more extensive docket entries.

Domestic Relations Dockets

Family law matters are heard in Cullman County Circuit Court and tracked in domestic relations dockets. This includes divorce proceedings, child custody disputes, child support modifications, adoption cases, and protection from abuse orders. These dockets contain sensitive personal information and some portions may be sealed, particularly when minor children are involved.

Legal Framework for Public Access

Alabama law provides for public access to court records while also protecting certain sensitive information. Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 establishes the right of Alabama residents to inspect and copy public records, including court documents. The law requires requesters to provide proof of Alabama residency such as a driver license or voter registration card.

The Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy and Confidentiality further define what information must be kept confidential. These rules list 96 categories of protected information including Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, medical information, and the names of minor crime victims. Clerks must redact this information before releasing records to the public.

Sealed and Restricted Records

Some court records in Cullman County are not available for public viewing. Juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Alabama Code Section 12-15-133. Adoption records are sealed. Youthful offender cases have special protections. Courts may also seal individual cases when there is clear and convincing evidence that disclosure would cause harm, such as in trade secret disputes or matters involving domestic violence victims.

Expungement

Alabama law allows expungement of certain criminal records under specific circumstances. Charges that were dismissed, cases resulting in acquittal, and some non-violent offenses may qualify. Once expunged, the record is removed from public court dockets. The expungement process requires filing a petition with the court and meeting statutory requirements.

The 32nd Judicial Circuit

Cullman County is the sole county in Alabama's 32nd Judicial Circuit. This means the county has its own dedicated circuit judge rather than sharing judicial resources with neighboring counties. The arrangement reflects Cullman County's population size and caseload, which warrant a full-time judicial presence.

Being a single-county circuit provides some advantages for litigants and attorneys. Court schedules are more predictable since the judge is not traveling between counties. Cases may move through the system more efficiently. The judge becomes familiar with local attorneys and can manage the docket with consistent practices. For those involved in Cullman County cases, this structure means you will generally appear before the same judge throughout your proceedings.

Cities in Cullman County

Cullman County contains the city of Cullman along with several smaller municipalities. Court records for all residents are maintained at the county level by the Circuit Clerk. Municipal courts handle city ordinance violations within incorporated areas, but those records are separate from the county court system.

Communities in Cullman County include the city of Cullman (population approximately 17,000), plus the towns of Dodge City, Fairview, Garden City, Good Hope, Hanceville, Holly Pond, South Vinemont, and West Point. None of these communities exceed the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Residents seeking court records for major Alabama cities can visit our city-specific pages. The closest large city to Cullman County is Birmingham, located approximately 50 miles to the south in Jefferson County. Huntsville is about 55 miles to the northeast in Madison County.

Nearby Counties

Cullman County is bordered by several other Alabama counties. Court records are maintained separately by each county, so if you are unsure where a case was filed, you may need to check multiple jurisdictions.

Additional Resources

These resources can help with court record research and legal matters in Cullman County.

Search Cullman County Records

Use the search tool below to find court docket records for Cullman County, Alabama.