Access DeKalb County Court Docket

Court docket records in DeKalb County are kept by the Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Fort Payne. These records track civil cases, criminal matters, traffic tickets, and family law cases in the county court system. DeKalb County is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit. It shares this circuit with Cherokee County to the east. The county sits in the far northeast corner of Alabama and serves about 71,000 people. You can get court docket info through the Alacourt ACCESS site or in person at the clerk's office during work hours.

DeKalb County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk keeps all court records in DeKalb County. This office takes in case filings, keeps track of docket entries, collects fees, and gives the public access to court papers. Staff can help you find case files and tell you how court steps work. But they can't give legal advice.

Office Services

The Circuit Clerk's office does many things. You can look up case records, ask for copies of court papers, get certified copies for legal use, and pay fines or court costs. The office also takes new filings for civil cases, family matters, and appeals from lower courts. If you have a case number or party names ready, staff can help you faster.

Online Court Record Searches

You can search DeKalb County court dockets from home through Alacourt ACCESS. This state database holds trial court records from all 67 Alabama counties.

Alacourt ACCESS

The Alacourt ACCESS site lets you look up DeKalb County court records online. You need to sign up first. You can search by name or case number. There's a fee for each search, and the site shows the cost before you pay. Results show case info, party names, filing dates, and docket entries.

Available Records

Most DeKalb County court records from the past few years are in the online system. This covers civil cases, criminal matters, traffic tickets, and family law cases. Some records can't be seen by the public. These include juvenile cases, sealed files, and some domestic violence cases. Old records from before e-filing may need an in-person search at the courthouse.

Searching at the Courthouse

Going to the DeKalb County Courthouse in person lets you search records with no per-search fees. The clerk's office has public terminals and keeps paper case files. This works well if you need to look at many cases or want detailed papers. Bring a valid ID and any case info you have so staff can find what you need.

Fees for Court Records

DeKalb County charges fees for court record services as established by Alabama law.

You can pay at the courthouse with cash, money order, or certified check. Credit cards may work too, but there's a fee. For mail requests, write down what records you need, add a stamped return envelope, and pay up front with a check or money order to DeKalb County Circuit Clerk.

Types of Court Docket Records

Civil Dockets

Civil court dockets in DeKalb County track lawsuits over non-criminal matters. Common civil cases are contract fights, injury claims, property disputes, debt collection, and foreclosures. Circuit Court takes claims over $10,000. District Court handles smaller amounts. Each docket entry logs filings, motions, hearings, and court orders in order by date.

Criminal Dockets

Criminal dockets show cases where the State of Alabama goes after people for alleged crimes. DeKalb County Circuit Court handles felonies like drug crimes, theft, and violent acts. District Court deals with misdemeanors and holds first hearings for felonies. The docket tracks each step from arrest to final outcome.

Traffic Dockets

Traffic tickets in DeKalb County go into the court docket system. Most minor traffic cases end up in District Court or Municipal Court. More serious ones like DUI, reckless driving, and driving with no license get treated as criminal matters. The docket shows the ticket, court dates, and the final result with any fines.

Domestic Relations Dockets

Family law matters show up in domestic relations dockets at Circuit Court. These cover divorce cases, child custody fights, child support, visitation changes, and protective orders. Docket entries log petitions, temp orders, hearings, and final judgments. Some parts of family cases may be kept private, especially when kids are involved.

Legal Framework for Record Access

Alabama law sets the rules for public access to court records. Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 gives Alabama residents the right to look at and copy public records, including court papers. You must prove you live in Alabama. An Alabama driver license or voter registration card works as proof.

The Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy and Confidentiality give more details on what stays private. These rules list 96 types of data that must be cut from public records. This includes Social Security numbers, bank info, and info that could ID certain crime victims.

Restricted Records

Some court records can't be seen by the public. Juvenile cases are private under Alabama Code Section 12-15-133. Adoption records are sealed. Courts can seal other cases if release would cause harm. To see restricted records, you may need to file a motion with the court and show a real legal need.

The 9th Judicial Circuit

DeKalb County is part of Alabama's 9th Judicial Circuit. Cherokee County is also in this circuit. Judges serve both counties and move between Fort Payne and Centre to hear cases. This setup lets the courts use their judges well in this part of northeast Alabama.

The circuit serves about 98,000 people across both counties. Court times change based on when the judge is at each spot. Lawyers in DeKalb County should know how things work in both counties. The clerk's office can tell you about court dates and the circuit schedule.

Geographic Considerations

DeKalb County takes up a big chunk of northeast Alabama. It includes parts of Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain. The land is hilly and some spots are rural, so folks may have to drive far to reach the courthouse in Fort Payne. The Alacourt ACCESS site gives you a way to do basic record searches from home.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County has Fort Payne and a few smaller towns. Court records for folks across the county are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Fort Payne. City courts handle local law violations in towns.

Towns in DeKalb County include Fort Payne (the county seat, about 14,000 people), Rainsville, Collinsville, Crossville, Fyffe, Geraldine, Henagar, Ider, Mentone, Powell, Shiloh, Sylvania, and Valley Head. None of these towns have over 100,000 people.

For court info in nearby big cities, check our city pages. Huntsville is about 60 miles west in Madison County. Birmingham is about 100 miles to the southwest.

Nearby Counties

DeKalb County sits next to several other Alabama counties and also borders Georgia. Each Alabama county keeps its own court records.

Additional Resources

These links can help with court record searches and legal matters in DeKalb County.

Search DeKalb County Court Records

Use the search tool below to find court docket information for DeKalb County, Alabama.