Are Divorce Records Public in Alabama?
Divorce records in Alabama are public records. Therefore, they are available to anyone requesting them. However, to obtain divorce records, requesters must provide the necessary details related to the marriage dissolution, such as the names of the parties involved. Alabama Circuit Clerk’s Offices charge nominal fees for requested copies of divorce records.
While most records are open, Alabama restricts access to sealed divorce records. Only those named on these records and their attorneys can search divorce records in Alabama. Divorce records in Alabama are not sealed by default. To seal a divorce record in Alabama, the parties involved must file a motion with the court requesting the sealing of their records. Both parties in a divorce case must agree to this and provide valid reasons. A judge will then decide whether to grant or deny the motion.
Alabama family courts are likely to seal divorce records if they:
- Contain confidential financial records or trade secrets
- Contains information regarded to impact on national security
- Encourage scandal or defamation
- Include the identities of minors and victims of abuse
- Pose threats of harassment, exploitation, physical intrusion, or other forms of harm to the parties involved or a third party
To have an Alabama divorce record sealed, both parties to the divorce must agree and wish to move forward with the process. A motion must then be filed in court, and a judge must grant the motion. Sealed divorce records in Alabama are only available to both parties on the record, their attorneys (and employees thereof), and officers of the court.
How to Lookup a Divorce Record in Alabama
An Alabama divorce record refers to all office documents establishing the dissolution of a marriage in the state. Every piece of information regarding the divorce may be included in the record. Courts in Alabama maintain three types of divorce documents. These are divorce certificates, divorce decrees, and divorce records.
Divorce records are considered court records and can, therefore, be obtained by contacting the clerk of court. Members of the public may also be able to obtain divorce records using third-party public record websites. Online divorce records can offer personal information on minors, finances, and sensitive criminal information like domestic abuse. Because of this, divorce records, certificates, and decree availability are usually much lower than other types of public records because of the personal nature of divorces.
How to Find Out if Someone is Divorced in Alabama for Free
Alabama divorce records are considered public information. Hence, almost anyone can obtain divorce records by contacting the government office in charge of the record. Publicly available divorce records are also managed and disseminated by some third-party aggregate sites. These sites are generally not limited by geographical record availability and may serve as a reliable jump-off point when researching specific or multiple records. However, third-party sites are not government-sponsored. As such, record availability may differ from official channels.
To look up divorce records online on third-party sites, requesting parties are usually required to provide the following information:
- The location of the record in question, including the city, county, or state where the case was filed.
- The name of someone involved, provided it is not a juvenile.
| Find Alabama Divorce Records | County Health Department | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Autauga Health Department | 219 North Court Street Prattville, Alabama 36067 | Office: (334) 361-3743 Fax: (334) 361-3718 |
| Baldwin County Health Department | 22251 Palmer Street P.O. Drawer 369 Robertsdale, Alabama 36567 | Phone: (251) 947-3618 Fax: (251) 947-3557 |
| Barbour County Health Department | P.O. Box 238 634 School Street Eufaula, Alabama 36027 | Office: (334) 687-4808 Fax: (334) 687-6470 |
| Bibb County Health Department | 281 Alexander Ave, Centreville, AL 35042, United States | Office: (205) 926-9702 Fax: (205) 926-6536 |
| Blount County Health Department | 1001 Lincoln Avenue Oneonta, Alabama 35121 | Office: (205) 274-2120 Fax: (205) 274-2210 |
| Bullock County Health Department | 674 Hicks Industrial Boulevard Union Springs, Alabama 36089 | Office: (334) 738-3030 Fax: (334) 738-3008 |
| Butler County Health Department | 350 Airport Road Greenville, Alabama 36037 | Office: (334) 382-3154 Fax: (334) 382-3530 |
| Calhoun Health Department | 3400 McClellan Boulevard Anniston, Alabama 36201 | Office: (256) 237-7523 Fax: (256) 238-0851 |
| Chambers County Health Department | 5 North Medical Park Drive Valley, Alabama 36854 | Office: (334) 756-0758 Fax: (334) 756-0765 |
| Cherokee County Health Department | 833 Cedar Bluff Road Centre, Alabama 35960 | Phone: (256) 927-3132 Fax: (256) 927-2809 |
| Chilton County Health Department | 301 Health Center Drive Clanton, Alabama 35045 | Office: (205) 755-1287 Fax: (205) 755-2027 |
| Choctaw County Health Department | 1001 South Mulberry Avenue Butler, Alabama 36904 | Office: (205) 459-4026 Fax: (205) 459-4027 |
| Clarke County Health Department | 22600 Highway 84 East Grove Hill, Alabama 36451 Mailing Address P.O. Box 477 Grove Hill, Alabama 36451 | Office: (251) 275-3772 Fax: (251) 275-8066 |
| Clay County Health Department | 86892 Highway 9 Lineville, Alabama 36266 | Office: (256) 396-6421 Fax: (256) 396-9172 |
| Cleburne County Health Department | 90 Brockford Road Heflin, Alabama 36264-1605 | Office: (256) 463-2296 Fax: (256) 463-2772 |
| Coffee County Health Department | Health Department/Environmental Services 2841 Neal Metcalf Road Enterprise, Alabama 36330 | Office: (334) 347-9574 Fax: (334) 347-7104 |
| Colbert County Health Department | 1000 S. Jackson Highway Sheffield, Alabama 35660 | Office: (256) 383-1231 Fax: (256) 383-8843 |
| Conecuh County Health Department | 102 Wild Avenue Evergreen, Alabama 36401 | Phone: (251) 578-1952 Fax: (251) 578-5566 |
| Coosa Health Department | 9518 U.S. Highway 231 Rockford, Alabama 35136 | Office: (256) 377-1068 Fax: (256) 377-1067 |
| Covington County Health Department | 23989 Alabama Highway 55 Andalusia, Alabama 36420 | Office: (334) 222-1175 Fax: (334) 222-1560 |
| Crenshaw County Health Department | 15 Hospital Drive Luverne, Alabama 36049 | Office: (334) 335-2471 Fax: (334) 335-3795 |
| Cullman County Health Department | 601 Logan Avenue, S.W. Cullman, Alabama 35055 | Office: (256) 734-1030 Fax: (256) 737-9646 |
| Dale County Health Department | 532 W. Roy Parker Road Ozark, Alabama 36360 | Phone: (334) 774-5146 Fax: (334) 774-2333 |
| Dallas County Health Department | 100 Samuel O. Moseley Drive Selma, Alabama 36701 | Office: (334) 874-2550 Fax: (334) 875-7960 |
| DeKalb County Health Department | 2401 Calvin Drive, Southwest Fort Payne, Alabama 35967 | Office: (256) 845-1931 Fax: (256) 845-2967 |
| Elmore County Health Department | 6501 U.S. Highway 231 Wetumpka, Alabama 36092 | Office: (334) 567-1186 Fax: (334) 567-1186 |
| Escambia County Health Department | 8600 Highway 31 North Atmore, Alabama 36502 | Phone: (251) 368-9188 Fax: (251) 368-9189 |
| Etowah County Health Department | 709 East Broad Street Gadsden, Alabama 35903 | Phone: (256) 547-6311 Fax: (256) 549-1579 |
| Fayette Health Department | 215 1st Avenue NW Fayette, Alabama 35555 | Office: (205) 932-5260 Fax: (205) 932-3532 |
| Franklin County Health Department | Franklin County Health Department 801 Highway 48 Russellville, Alabama 35654 Mailing Address Franklin County Health Department P.O. Box 100 Russellville, Alabama 35653 | Office: (256) 332-2700 Fax: (256) 332-1563 |
| Geneva County Health Department | 300 County Road 41 Hartford, Alabama 36344 | Office: (334) 684-2256 Fax: (334) 684-3970 |
| Greene County Health Department | 412 Morrow Avenue Eutaw, Alabama 35462-1109 | Office: (205) 372-9361 Fax: (205) 372-9283 |
| Hale County Health Department | 670 Hall Street Greensboro, Alabama 36744 | Office: (334) 624-3018 Fax: (334) 624-4721 |
| Henry County Health Department | P.O. Box 86 505 Kirkland Street Abbeville, Alabama 36310 | Office: (334) 585-2660 Fax: (334) 585-3036 |
| Houston County Health Department | 1781 East Cottonwood Road Dothan, Alabama 36301 | (334) 678-2800 (334) 678-2817 |
| Jackson County Health Department | 204 Liberty Lane Scottsboro, Alabama 35769-4133 | Office: (256) 259-4161 Fax: (256) 259-1330 |
| Jefferson County Health Department | 1400 Sixth Avenue South Birmingham, Alabama 35233 | Phone: (205) 933-9110 |
| Lamar County Health Department | 300 Springfield Road Vernon, Alabama 35592 | Office: (205) 695-9195 Fax: (205) 695-9214 |
| Lauderdale County Health Department | 4112 Chisholm Road Florence, Alabama 35630 Mailing Address P.O. Box 3569 Florence, Alabama 35630 | Office: (256) 764-7453 Fax: (256) 764-4185 |
| Lawrence County Health Department | 13299 Alabama Highway 157 Moulton, Alabama 35650 Mailing address: 13299 Alabama Highway 157 Moulton, Alabama 35650 | Main Office: (256) 974-1141 Fax: (256) 974-5587 |
| Lee County Health Department | 1801 Corporate Drive Opelika, Alabama 36801 | Office: (334) 745-5765 Fax: (334) 745-9830 |
| Limestone County Health Department | 20371 Clyde Mabry Drive Athens, Alabama 35611 | Office: (256) 232-3200 Fax: (256) 232-6632 |
| Lowndes County Health Department | 507 East Tuskeena Street Hayneville, Alabama 36040 | Office: (334) 548-2564 Fax: (334) 548-2566 |
| Macon County Health Department | 812 Hospital Road Tuskegee, Alabama 36083 | Office: (334) 727-1800 Fax: (334) 727-7100 |
| Madison County Health Department | 301 Max Luther Drive NW Huntsville, Alabama 35811 Mailing address: P.O. Box 17708 Huntsville, Alabama 35810 | Phone: (256) 539-3711 Fax: (256) 536-2084 |
| Marengo County Health Department | 303 Industrial Drive Linden, Alabama 36748 | Office: (334) 295-4205 Fax: (334) 295-0124 |
| Marion County Health Department | 2448 Military Street South Hamilton, Alabama 35570 | Office: (205) 921-3118 Fax: (205) 921-7954 |
| Marshall County Health Department | 150 Judy Smith Drive Guntersville, Alabama 35976 | Main: (256) 582-3174 Fax: (256) 582-3548 |
| Mobile County Health Department | Mobile County Health Department 251 North Bayou St. Mobile, Alabama 36603 | Office: (251) 690-8158 |
| Monroe County Health Department | 416 Agriculture Drive Monroeville, Alabama 36460 | Phone: (251) 575-3108 Fax: (251) 575-7935 |
| Montgomery County Health Department | 3060 Mobile Highway Montgomery, Alabama 36108 | Office: (334) 293-6400 Fax: (334) 293-6410 |
| Morgan County Health Department | 3821 Hwy. 31 South Decatur, Alabama 35603 | Main Office: (256) 353-7021 Fax: (256) 353-7901 |
| Perry County Health Department | 1748 South Washington St. Marion, Alabama 36756 | Office: (334) 683-6153 Fax: (334) 683-4509 |
| Pickens County Health Department | 80 William E. Hill Drive Carrollton, Alabama 35447 | Office: (205) 367-8157 Fax: (205) 367-8376 |
| Pike County Health Department | 900 South Franklin Drive Troy, Alabama 36081 | Phone: (334) 566-2860 Fax: (334) 566-8534 |
| Randolph County Health Department | 320 Main Street Roanoke, Alabama 36274 | Phone: (334) 863-8981 Fax: (334) 863-8975 |
| Russell County Health Department | 1850 Crawford Road Phenix City, Alabama 36867 | Office: (334) 297-0251 Fax: (334) 291-5478 |
| Shelby County Health Department | 2000 County Services Drive P.O. Box 846 Pelham, Alabama 35124 | Office: (205) 664-2470 Fax: (205) 664-4148 |
| St. Clair County Health Department | 1175 23rd Street North Pell City, Alabama 35125 | Phone: (205) 338-3357 Fax: (205) 338-4863 |
| Sumter County Health Department | 1121 North Washington Street Livingston, Alabama 35470 | Office: (205) 652-7972 Fax: (205) 652-4331 |
| Talladega County Health Department | Physical Address: 1004 South Street E Talladega, Alabama 35160 Mailing Address: Talladega Health Department P.O. Box 455 Talladega, Alabama 35161 | Office: (256) 362-2593 Fax: (256) 362-0529 |
| Tallapoosa County Health Department | 2078 Sportsplex Boulevard Alexander City, Alabama 35010 | Office: (256) 329-0531 Fax: (256) 329-1798 |
| Tuscaloosa County Health Department | 2350 Hargrove Road East Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405 | Office: (205) 562-6900 Fax: (205) 562-6903 |
| Walker County Health Department | 705 20th Avenue East Jasper, Alabama 35501 | Office: (205) 221-9775 Fax: (205) 221-8810 |
| Washington County Health Department | 14900 St. Stephens Avenue Chatom, Alabama 36518 | Office: (251) 847-2245 Fax: (251) 847-3480 |
What Information is in a Divorce Record?
A divorce record typically contains the most information of all divorce documents and represents a complete case file of a divorce. It will include all information from a divorce certificate and a divorce decree, as well as every single file and report from the whole process.
Understanding Divorce Certificates
In Alabama, divorce certificates are issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health and may be obtained by anyone who can provide enough information for a record search and pay the required fees.
Among the three types of official divorce records, a divorce certificate contains the least information about the divorce on record. However, it is the most commonly used divorce document. A divorce certificate issued in Alabama will include the following information:
- Names of the two people getting the divorce
- Time of the divorce
- The location of the divorce
How to Obtain Alabama Divorce Certificates
Eligible parties can obtain copies of a divorce certificate by submitting requests for these records to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). The Center for Health Statistics keeps records of all divorces in the state since January 1950. To obtain divorce records produced before this date, requesters may need to contact the Offices of the Clerks of the Circuit Courts in the respective county where the marriage dissolution was granted.
The public can request divorce certificates from the ADPH by submitting their applications online, by mail, and in person. Send a mail application to the state office of the ADPH or visit any county health department in the state to request these records in person.
The ADPH charges $15 to search for a divorce certificate and provide a certified copy of the record. If the record cannot be found, a ‘Failure to Find’ certificate will be issued. There are no refunds if the record is not found. Each additional copy of the same record, ordered at the same time, costs $6.
A mail request for a divorce certificate should include a completed Vital Records Request Application form and a check or money order for a search/copy fee made payable to the State Board of Health. Send the completed form and payment to the following:
Alabama Vital Records
Alabama Department of Public Health
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
For a walk-in request, submit the completed Vital Records Request Application form to any county health department in the state, along with the appropriate fee. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted for payment when requesting divorce certificates in person. In most cases, the divorce certificate can be issued while the applicant waits.
Government public record search portals and third-party public record websites both may provide court records search tools, which can help find divorce records. However, the availability of records varies widely. Some dissolution of marriage records may simply not be available through either source.
Understanding Divorce Decrees
A divorce decree is a court document that details the final judgment of an Alabama Family Court at the end of a divorce case leading to the dissolution of a marriage. It is issued by the court and received at the end of the proceedings. A divorce decree is signed by a Family Court judge and bears an identifying case number.
This legal document also details the judge’s decisions, which are binding to both parties. It will indicate the terms of any settlement reached, as agreed by both parties. In addition to the information contained in a divorce certificate, a divorce decree will also include custody information, details about property division, and terms (and schedule) for spousal and child support payments.
A divorce decree is issued by the court which granted the divorce. In Alabama, all divorce final judgments before January 1950 are only available from the Offices of the Clerks of the Circuit Courts of the counties where such decrees were issued.
How to Obtain Alabama Divorce Decrees
Eligible persons can obtain copies of a divorce decree by contacting the Clerk at the Circuit court where the dissolution was granted. Usually, Alabama Court Clerks require requesters to submit written requests for this purpose. A written request for copies of a divorce decree must provide the following information:
- Names of both parties to the divorce
- Court case number
- Date of the divorce
- Location of the divorce
Alternatively, requesters can visit the Office of the Court Clerk to obtain divorce records in person. The fee for obtaining an Alabama divorce decree varies by county and is determined by the court which granted the divorce.
Does Alabama Recognize Common-Law Marriage?
Alabama common law marriages created before January 1, 2017, are considered legal. Simply living together is not enough to create a common-law union. For a common-law marriage to be recognized, couples must be of marriageable age and must agree to be married, which means they must act or say something that shows their intent to marry. They must also have demonstrated to their families and friends that they are married.
