How Dallas County Court Records Are Organized
Dallas County Court records are split by function. Circuit and district court case files route through the Dallas County Circuit Clerk. Probate, recording, marriage certificate, name change, guardianship, conservatorship, involuntary commitment, wills, estates, and election-related probate functions route through Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn and the Probate Office. Jail and warrant service information comes from the Dallas County Sheriff's Department, while statewide court searches use Alabama systems such as Alacourt ACCESS, AlaFile, Alabama E-Forms, and the appellate public portal.
The official Dallas County Fourth Judicial Circuit site is the local court instruction hub. It identifies the courthouse, court divisions, Circuit Clerk services, court fees, traffic rules, magistrate and warrant procedure, juvenile matters, domestic relations, protection from abuse, jury information, expungement resources, and Alabama e-form links. It does not act as a free county case-search box. For online trial-court case data, Dallas County Court records are searched through Alabama's paid Alacourt ACCESS portal.
The Dallas County official county site fills in the offices outside the Circuit Clerk. It provides Sheriff's Department, jail, juvenile detention, Probate Office, recording, marriage, probate-service, and county-directory pages. A record request often depends on which site holds the first reliable instruction.
According to the Dallas County Fourth Judicial Circuit homepage, the local court site presents the courthouse and court-service menu used for many Dallas County Court records.
That homepage is useful because it separates Circuit Clerk, court fees, traffic, magistrates, juvenile, domestic, and expungement resources before a user chooses a records path.
Start With the Right Dallas County Office
Dallas County records access works best when the search begins at the office that keeps the file. Circuit Clerk Lynnethia Bennett maintains court records for several court categories, including civil, criminal, domestic, child support, and juvenile matters. The Probate Office handles Probate Court and Recording Office work. Sheriff Michael L. Granthum's department handles jail operations, warrant service, courthouse security, subpoenas, civil process, and law-enforcement records. Traffic citations use the Dallas County Traffic Court page and Alabama payment portals.
The practical split is important. A divorce case file is a domestic-relations court record, while a divorce certificate is a state vital record. A recorded deed or lien is a Probate Office recording matter, while a civil lawsuit judgment is a court case record. A jail custody question belongs with the jail or sheriff, while the later criminal case belongs with the court record. Dallas County Court records can cross offices, but the first office still matters.
| Record need | Dallas County starting point | Access channel |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit, district, criminal, civil, domestic, child support | Circuit Clerk | Alacourt ACCESS, courthouse counter, mail, AlaFile for e-notices |
| Probate, wills, estates, guardianships, name changes | Probate Office | Ingenuity portal, Probate Office, mail, phone |
| Marriage certificate recording | Probate Office / Recording Office | State certificate form, notarization, recording by deadline |
| Jail custody and inmate location | Sheriff's Department / County Jail | Jail phone, sheriff contact, ADOC for state inmates, VINELink |
| Traffic citation payment or contest | Traffic Court / District Court Clerk | Alapay, traffic.alacourt.gov, mail, in person, court appearance |
Dallas County Court Records Online Search
Alabama does not provide a Dallas County-only free online search for all trial-court case files. The main statewide court-record portal is Alacourt ACCESS, which states that it provides on-demand access to Alabama trial-court records. The public landing page lists criminal, civil, small claims, state traffic, domestic relations, and child support records. It also states that name searches and case-number searches cost $9.99, with document images priced separately.
Alacourt ACCESS reports can include basic case information, court actions, case status, setting dates, party information, financial history, a case action summary, and document images or attachments when available. That makes it the broadest online path for Dallas County Court records in Circuit Court and District Court matters. It is still not the only path. Certified copies, older files, records not visible online, and records with access limits may require the Dallas County Circuit Clerk.
- Identify whether the file is a court case, probate matter, traffic citation, jail record, warrant issue, or vital-record certificate.
- For trial-court case records, open Alacourt ACCESS and choose name search or case-number search.
- Use the court type, party name, or known case number to narrow the Dallas County result set.
- Review the case-detail report for status, settings, actions, party data, financial history, and available images.
- Contact the Circuit Clerk when a certified copy, sealed-file question, older record, or in-person review is needed.
| Portal field | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name Search | Party-based trial-court lookup | Public page confirms name searches, with detailed fields behind the search workflow. |
| Case Number Search | Known case lookup | Useful when a citation, docket notice, or clerk letter lists a case number. |
| Document Images | Paid image add-on | Portal lists $5.00 for the first 20 pages and $0.50 for each page after that. |
| Case Monitoring | Paid monitoring option | Portal lists different prices for district and circuit cases. |
The Dallas County official home page is the county source that points users toward probate, sheriff, jail, and county-office records.
That county site matters because many Dallas County records do not begin with the state court portal.
Dallas County Court System
Dallas County is part of Alabama's Fourth Judicial Circuit with Bibb, Hale, Perry, and Wilcox counties. The Circuit Court is Alabama's general-jurisdiction trial court. The county also has District Court, Municipal Court, and Probate Court functions. The local court site lists Circuit Judges Marvin W. Wiggins, Donald L. McMillan, and Robert Bryan Jones. It also lists District Judge Vernetta Perkins for Dallas County District Court.
District Court handles many lower-level matters, including small claims, district civil, traffic, and preliminary criminal work. Probate Court is separate and handles estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, name changes, involuntary commitments, adoptions, marriage certificate recording, and recording-office records. Municipal matters inside city limits may require municipal police or municipal court contact, especially for report intake or bench-warrant questions.
Case flow: Municipal, magistrate, or District Court start point › Circuit Court for felony or higher-level matters › Alabama Court of Civil Appeals or Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals › Supreme Court of Alabama where review is available.
| Court or office | Role in Dallas County records | Main contact point |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | General-jurisdiction trial court for higher civil, felony, domestic, and related matters | Circuit Clerk, Dallas County Courthouse |
| District Court | Lower-level civil, small claims, traffic, misdemeanor, and preliminary matters | District Judge / District Court Clerk |
| Probate Court | Estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, recording, marriage certificate recording | Probate Judge / Probate Office |
| Municipal Court | City-level violations and municipal bench-warrant paths | Municipal court or police agency |
The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts is the statewide judiciary source that connects Dallas County Court records to state forms, e-filing, and court-system resources.
Statewide court resources matter because Dallas County's local pages point users to Alabama systems for records, forms, notices, and payments.
Dallas County Courthouse Contacts
The main courthouse address for Dallas County Court records is 105 Lauderdale Street in Selma. The Circuit Clerk's site lists the Dallas County Courthouse with P.O. Box 1148 and a Circuit Clerk phone line. The Probate Office also works from 105 Lauderdale Street, but it publishes its own phone, fax, mailing address, and hours. The Sheriff's Department is listed at 102 Church Street, while the temporary county jail facility is on US-80.
Office-specific addresses matter because Dallas County records are not stored in one counter. A person seeking a certified circuit case copy should not start with the Probate Office. A marriage certificate recording question should not start with the Circuit Clerk. A jail custody question should not start with Alacourt ACCESS. Call before traveling when the needed record may be restricted, old, sealed, or held in a different office.
Dallas County Courthouse / Circuit Clerk
105 Lauderdale Street
P.O. Box 1148
Selma, AL 36701
(334) 874-2523
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Dallas County Probate Office
105 Lauderdale Street
P.O. Box 987
Selma, AL 36702
(334) 876-4830
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Dallas County Sheriff's Department
102 Church Street
Selma, AL 36702
(334) 874-2530
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Dallas County Court Record Types
Dallas County Court records include more than one kind of file. Civil records cover contract disputes, civil torts, condemnation, worker's compensation, small claims, district civil, circuit civil, unlawful detainers, garnishments, attachments, executions, jury demands, complaints, answers, motions, orders, judgments, subpoenas, and enforcement filings. Criminal records include charges, arraignments, pleas, motions, court settings, rulings, dispositions, sentences, fines, costs, probation terms, and appeal notices.
Family and domestic records include divorce, child support, domestic-relations filings, protection from abuse matters, custody-related filings, and enforcement records. Probate records include wills, estates, adoptions, conservatorships, guardianships, name changes, involuntary commitments, and recording-office records. Traffic records include citations, UTC or case numbers, court dates, payable or mandatory-appearance status, fines, costs, payment records, and failure-to-appear consequences.
- Civil court records: disputes over money, property, contracts, injury claims, eviction-related matters, and post-judgment collection.
- Criminal court records: formal charges, hearings, pleas, case status, court actions, and sentencing data.
- Domestic records: divorce, support, protection from abuse, and related family-court filings.
- Probate and recording records: wills, estates, guardianships, name changes, deeds, liens, plats, UCCs, and recorded documents.
- Traffic records: citations, court dates, payment status, fines, and alias-warrant risk for missed court or unpaid tickets.
What Dallas County Court Records Show
A Dallas County Court record usually shows the case number, court or division, party names, case category, filings, court setting dates, actions, rulings, status, and financial data. The exact fields depend on the record type. A criminal case may show charges and sentence data. A traffic case may show UTC number, ticket date, court date, fine, costs, appearance requirement, and license-suspension risk. A civil case may show pleadings, service, motions, orders, judgment, and collection steps.
The case action summary is one of the most useful parts of an Alabama court record. It is a timeline of filed documents, settings, rulings, and status changes. It can show whether a hearing was set, a motion was filed, a judgment was entered, or a payment event occurred. It should not be read as a full legal opinion or a full police report.
| Field | What it means in Dallas County records |
|---|---|
| Case number | The identifier used by the court and in case-number searches. |
| Party names | Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, or the State of Alabama and defendant. |
| Case category | The record type, such as criminal, civil, small claims, traffic, domestic relations, or child support. |
| Setting dates | Scheduled court appearances, hearings, or other court dates. |
| Court actions | Orders, rulings, docket events, and case activity. |
| Financial history | Fines, costs, filing fees, payments, or other money entries tied to the case. |
Dallas County Court Records Public Access
Alabama public-records law supports inspection and copying of public records unless another law makes a file confidential or restricted. For Dallas County Court records, that means the office that created or maintains the record is the starting point. Circuit and district records route through the Circuit Clerk and Alacourt systems. Probate, land, marriage certificate, name change, guardianship, conservatorship, involuntary commitment, wills, and estate records route through the Probate Office. Criminal-history records beyond one court case may require ALEA's separate fingerprint-based CHRI process.
Public access does not make every court file open. Juvenile court records, juvenile law-enforcement records, sealed records, expunged records, adoption records, involuntary commitment files, personal identifiers, military discharges, and marriage licenses may be restricted or withheld from public viewing. The Dallas County Recording Office gives a local example: public computer stations are available for most records, but not military discharges or marriage licenses.
Key Alabama statutes:
Ala. Code § 36-12-40 gives Alabama residents a right to inspect and copy public records unless another law restricts access.
Ala. Code § 36-12-41 allows public officers to provide copies and charge lawful copy fees.
Ala. Code § 12-15-133 protects juvenile court records from ordinary public disclosure.
Ala. Code § 15-27-2 governs felony-charge expungement petitions when statutory conditions are met.
Restricted Dallas County Court Records
Restricted records need care because they often appear in search results as partial information or do not appear at all. Juvenile court records and juvenile law-enforcement records have statutory confidentiality. Adoption and involuntary-commitment records are sensitive Probate Court matters. Expunged criminal records are restricted by court order. Sealed records may require a judge's order before a clerk can allow inspection. Marriage licenses and military discharges are not open on Dallas County Recording Office public computer stations.
Expungement is a court process, not an online deletion request. Dallas County links a local petition for expungement PDF, and the court-fee table lists a $300 expungement filing fee. ALEA explains that Alabama courts grant expungements under Code of Alabama Section 15-27. A person seeking expungement must identify the charge, confirm where it was filed, check the disposition and waiting period, complete the court petition, and file in the criminal division of the Circuit Court where the charge was filed.
Note: Clerk staff can provide procedures and forms, but the Dallas County Circuit Clerk site says the clerk cannot give legal advice.
Dallas County Sheriff and Jail Records
Sheriff Michael L. Granthum leads the Dallas County Sheriff's Department. The department patrols nearly 980 square miles with 27 sworn deputies and 18 marked cars. Its dispatch office handles communications for both Dallas County and the City of Selma around the clock. The Sheriff's Department maintains the county jail, provides courthouse security when three courtrooms are in session, transports state inmates and juveniles, serves arrest warrants, subpoenas, restraining orders, small claims, evictions, and divorce decrees, and works with local, state, and federal agencies.
Jail custody records are not the same thing as Dallas County Court records. A jail record may show custody, booking, or detention status. A criminal court record shows the formal court case, charges, settings, pleas, rulings, disposition, and sentence. State-prison inmates route to the Alabama Department of Corrections search, and custody-status notices may route through VINELink.
The Alabama Secretary of State county official lookup identifies Dallas County's sheriff for public office reference.
That office lookup supports the local sheriff identification used when jail, warrant, and courthouse-security records intersect with court matters.
Dallas County Marriage Divorce Probate
Marriage records in Dallas County route through the Probate Office and Recording Office. Alabama changed its marriage process in 2019. The persons entering marriage complete the Alabama Marriage Certificate form through Vital Statistics, have it notarized, and deliver it to Dallas County Probate Court for recording within 30 days. Dallas County lists an $80.00 total cost, no blood test, no personal checks, and a scheduled Probate Judge ceremony option for $15.00.
Divorce records are split. The court case file is a domestic-relations matter under the Circuit Clerk and may be searched through the court-record channels when access is allowed. A divorce certificate is a state vital record through the Alabama Department of Public Health. Probate records include wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, name changes, involuntary commitments, adoptions, recording records, and related Probate Court matters.
- Testator
- A person who made a will.
- Executor
- A person named to handle estate tasks under a will.
- Guardian
- A person appointed to care for another person's personal needs when law allows.
- Conservator
- A person appointed to manage another person's money or property.
For Dallas County probate case and land-record access, the Ingenuity Dallas County portal offers land record lookup, probate case record lookup, account login, sign-up instructions, search instructions, and terms.
Dallas County Traffic and Warrants
Dallas County Traffic Court provides some of the county's most specific online instructions. Traffic tickets and criminal fines can be paid online through Alapay, and the local court page links to traffic.alacourt.gov. Mail payments go to the Dallas County District Court Clerk and must include the UTC and/or case number. Money order or cashier's check is required for mail or in-person payment. The court page states that personal checks and cash are not accepted, and credit cards cannot be accepted by mail.
Some traffic charges require court appearance and are not assigned a fine before that appearance. The local page names DUI, driving with suspended license, and reckless driving as examples. Failure to appear or pay before the court date may lead to an alias warrant and driver-license suspension without prior notice. Continuance requests must be in writing to the judge and include the case number.
The Dallas County Magistrates & Warrants page explains warrant intake for misdemeanors, felonies, traffic offenses, and worthless checks. It says an incident or offense report must be filed first. County misdemeanors outside Selma city limits route through the Sheriff's Department, while municipal matters begin with the municipal police agency. Felony warrant process requires the municipality or Sheriff's Department investigator to come with the complainant to the Circuit Clerk's Office.
Dallas County Court Fees
Dallas County publishes a court-fee table for several filing types. These fees help records users understand why different case categories route to different counters. Filing fees are not the same as online search fees, certified-copy charges, or document-image charges in Alacourt ACCESS. They are the local filing amounts listed by the Dallas County court site for court actions such as small claims, district civil, circuit civil, domestic relations, subpoenas, jury demands, and expungement.
| Filing or item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Small Claims, $1,500 or less | $61.00 |
| Small Claims, $1,501-$3,000 | $135.00 |
| Small Claims, $3,001-$6,000 | $224.00 |
| District Civil, $6,001-$10,000 | $256.00 |
| Circuit Civil through $50,000 or non-monetary filing | $255.00 |
| Circuit Civil over $50,000 | $355.00 |
| Domestic Relations original filing | $203.00 |
| Domestic Relations modification or enforcement | $306.00 |
| Civil jury demand | $100.00 |
| Expungement | $300.00 |
The Dallas County court-fee page is the source for these local court filing amounts.
Federal Court Records Near Dallas County
Federal court records are separate from Dallas County Court records. Dallas County is served by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, which lists a Selma court location at 908 Alabama Avenue. Federal civil and criminal records use PACER and CM/ECF, not Alacourt ACCESS. Bankruptcy records route through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama, and federal appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
PACER provides federal electronic public access and a nationwide case locator for registered users. PACER fees are separate from Alabama trial-court search fees. Federal custody searches may require the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator, while federal fugitive or enforcement matters can involve the U.S. Marshals Service.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama is the official federal court source for the Selma location serving Dallas County federal court users.
Federal records should be kept distinct from Dallas County Circuit Court, District Court, Probate Court, and traffic records.
The PACER federal court access portal is the official search path for federal case records.
PACER may be needed when a matter is federal, bankrupt, or appealed in the federal system rather than filed in Dallas County state court.
The Central Violations Bureau payment site is the federal violation-notice payment source referenced in federal court warnings.
That payment site is separate from Dallas County Traffic Court and Alabama's Alapay system.
Dallas County Court History
Dallas County's modern court records sit inside a long Selma courthouse tradition. The current research ties the local court and probate cluster to Lauderdale Street and Church Street. The Circuit Clerk and Probate Office both use Dallas County Courthouse imagery, and the court site still presents that courthouse as the hub for civil, criminal, domestic, juvenile, child support, traffic, warrant, jury, and expungement work.
The Fourth Judicial Circuit also gives Dallas County a multi-county court history. In February 2026, Governor Ivey announced Robert Bryan Jones of Selma as a Fourth Judicial Circuit judge for Dallas, Wilcox, Perry, Hale, and Bibb counties. The release stated that he succeeded Circuit Judge Collins Pettaway Jr., who retired after 13 years on the Dallas County Circuit Court.
The Governor's appointment release supplies a recent official judicial-history detail for Dallas County Court records. That appointment matters for records users because circuit judges serve across the Fourth Judicial Circuit rather than only within one courthouse counter.
Dallas County Court Records FAQ
Where do Dallas County Court records start? Circuit and District Court files usually start with the Circuit Clerk or Alacourt ACCESS. Probate, recording, marriage, and estate records start with the Probate Office.
Is there a free Dallas County case search? The research did not locate an official free county case-search page for all Dallas County trial-court records. Alacourt ACCESS is the statewide paid portal for Alabama trial-court record searches.
Where are Dallas County probate records searched? Probate case and land records can be searched through the Dallas County Ingenuity portal or requested through the Probate Office, depending on the record and access limits.
How are Dallas County traffic tickets handled? Traffic tickets can often be paid through Alapay, by allowed mail or in-person payment methods, or contested by appearing in court. DUI, suspended-license, reckless-driving, and unlisted charges may require court appearance.
Are Dallas County juvenile records public? Juvenile court records and juvenile law-enforcement records are restricted under Alabama law. They should not be treated like ordinary adult court dockets.
Can the Circuit Clerk give legal advice? No. The Dallas County Circuit Clerk site states that the clerk can provide procedures and forms but is prohibited from giving legal advice.