Dallas County Public Records /Dallas County Court Records

Dallas County Court Records

How To Find Court Records in Dallas County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Dallas County, Alabama, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. DallasCountyRecords.us provides a directory of resources and publicly available information related to court records maintained by Dallas County courts and state judicial systems. Depending on the case type and the court involved, records that may be located through official sources include:

Criminal case filings, dispositions, and sentencing entries
Civil complaints, judgments, and orders
Probate filings, estate records, and guardianship matters
Family court orders, divorce decrees, and custody rulings
Traffic citations and municipal court dispositions
Appellate court dockets and decisions

Court records in Dallas County may be searched through five primary methods. First, members of the public may visit the Dallas County Circuit Clerk's office in person to request case files or conduct a name-based search. Second, courthouse public access terminals are available at the Dallas County Courthouse, allowing on-site review of electronic case indexes without charge. Third, the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts maintains an online case search platform providing on-demand access to Alabama state trial court records. Fourth, the Alabama Appellate Courts Public Portal provides statewide access to appellate dockets and, for registered users, the ability to view and purchase appellate documents. Fifth, written or mail requests submitted to the Circuit Clerk's office allow individuals who cannot appear in person to request copies of specific records; such requests should include the case number, party name, and a description of the documents sought, along with any applicable copy fees.

Dallas County Circuit Clerk's Office 105 Lauderdale Street Selma, AL 36701 Phone: (334) 874-2527 Dallas County Circuit Clerk – Alabama Administrative Office of Courts

Are Court Records Public In Dallas County

Court records in Dallas County are subject to public access under Alabama law. The Alabama Open Records Act, Ala. Code § 36-12-40, establishes that public writings, including court records, are open to inspection by any citizen of Alabama. The Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration further govern access to court records maintained by the state's unified judicial system.

Records that are public under current law include:

Case dockets and docket entries
Party names and case numbers
Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling orders
Filed pleadings, motions, and responses
Final judgments, orders, and decrees
Sentencing entries and conviction records

Certain categories of records are confidential, sealed, or restricted under state law or court rule:

Juvenile delinquency and dependency records, which are protected under Ala. Code § 12-15-133
Adoption records and related proceedings
Mental health commitment records
Records sealed by court order
Expunged criminal records
Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings

A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While the public may inspect most court records in person at the clerk's office or on courthouse terminals, not all documents are available through online portals. The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts notes that its online system provides access to trial court case information, though full document images may not be available for all case types or older filings.

What Are Court Records in Dallas County?

Court records are the official documents and data generated by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In practical terms, a court record encompasses everything filed with or created by the court from the initiation of a case through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal.

A docket entry is a chronological log of actions taken in a case, while a full case file contains the actual documents associated with those entries. Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, and include complaints, answers, motions, and judgments. Criminal court records document the prosecution of individuals charged with offenses and include charging instruments, plea entries, trial records, and sentencing orders. Filed pleadings are the formal documents submitted by parties, while final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter.

Public filings are those accessible to any member of the public under applicable law, whereas sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public view by court order or statute. Trial court records are maintained at the court where the case was heard, while appellate records are maintained by the relevant appellate court and are accessible through the Alabama Appellate Courts Public Portal.

In Dallas County, the Circuit Clerk is the official custodian of records for the courts within the Fourth Judicial Circuit. As stated by the Dallas County Circuit Clerk's office, "the Circuit Court Clerk is charged with the responsibility of maintaining not only the records of the seven courts but also is the Absentee Election Manager for Dallas County." Records are created when a party files an initiating document, updated as the case progresses through hearings and orders, and finalized upon entry of judgment or dismissal.

What's Included in a Dallas County Court Record?

A court record in Dallas County may contain a range of documents and data depending on the case type and applicable public-access rules. The following categories of information are found within court records:

Case identification: case number, court name and division, filing date, and case type
Party information: names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and counsel of record
Case status: open, closed, pending appeal, or transferred
Docket entries: a chronological log of all filings, hearings, and court actions
Hearing information: scheduled and past hearing dates, continuances, and minute entries
Filed documents: complaints, petitions, answers, motions, responses, notices, stipulations, and briefs
Court orders and judgments: interlocutory orders, final judgments, decrees, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
Outcome information: dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, acquittals, and case dispositions
Financial and administrative data: filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown

Certain items are excluded or restricted from public court records. Sealed filings are withheld by court order. Expunged matters are removed from public access pursuant to Alabama expungement statutes. Juvenile case files are confidential under state law. Adoption records are sealed. Protected personal data, including Social Security numbers and financial account numbers, is redacted from publicly accessible documents. Some exhibits, particularly those containing sensitive personal information or subject to protective orders, are not available for public inspection.

Types of Courts in Dallas County

Dallas County is served by a multi-tiered court system under the Alabama Unified Judicial System. The Dallas County – Fourth Circuit Court of Alabama serves as the primary portal for court information in the county. The courts currently operating within Dallas County include:

Circuit Court: The court of general jurisdiction for Dallas County, hearing felony criminal cases, major civil matters, domestic relations cases, and appeals from lower courts. The Circuit Clerk maintains official records for the Circuit Court.
District Court: A court of limited jurisdiction handling misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims, civil cases involving amounts up to $20,000, and preliminary hearings in felony matters.
Probate Court: Handles estate administration, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health commitments, and related matters. The Probate Judge maintains records for this court.
Municipal Court: The Selma Municipal Court handles ordinance violations and certain misdemeanor offenses occurring within the city limits of Selma. As described by the Municipal Court of the City of Selma, "the function of the Selma Municipal Court is to efficiently administer and process all matters coming into and before the Municipal Court."
Juvenile Court: Handles delinquency, dependency, and child in need of supervision matters; records are confidential under Ala. Code § 12-15-133.

The Circuit Clerk's office is the official record custodian for the Circuit Court and District Court. The Probate Court maintains its own separate records. Municipal Court records are maintained by the Selma Municipal Court clerk.

Selma Municipal Court 1300 Alabama Avenue Selma, AL 36701 Phone: (334) 874-2100 Municipal Court – City of Selma

Dallas County Probate Court 105 Lauderdale Street Selma, AL 36701 Phone: (334) 874-2516 Dallas County – Fourth Circuit Court of Alabama

How to Search Dallas County Court Records for Free?

Several methods for searching Dallas County court records are available at no cost. In-person inspection at the Dallas County Circuit Clerk's office is free; members of the public may review case indexes and docket entries without charge during regular business hours. Courthouse public access terminals, located at the Dallas County Courthouse, provide free electronic access to case information maintained in the Alabama court system.

The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts provides an online case search tool that allows members of the public to search trial court records statewide at no cost for basic case information. The Alabama Appellate Courts Public Portal states that "access to court dockets is universally available," meaning docket information for appellate cases may be viewed without charge or registration.

Fees are assessed for the following services:

Service	Typical Cost
Plain paper copies (per page)	$0.25–$1.00
Certified copies	$1.00–$5.00 per document
Electronic document purchase (appellate portal)	Varies by document
Research by clerk staff	Varies

Fee schedules for Alabama courts are governed by Ala. Code § 12-19-70, which establishes the docket fees and costs applicable to civil and criminal proceedings. Certified copies of court documents require payment of the applicable certification fee at the time of the request.

How Long Does Dallas County Keep Court Records?

Retention periods for Dallas County court records are governed by the Alabama Judicial Records Retention Schedule, which is administered by the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. Retention periods vary by case type and record category:

Felony criminal case files: Retained permanently or for extended periods following final disposition, given the severity of the offense and potential for post-conviction proceedings.
Misdemeanor and traffic case files: Retained for a defined period following case closure, which may range from several years to a decade depending on the offense classification.
Civil case files: Retention periods vary based on the nature of the judgment; cases involving real property or permanent injunctions may be retained indefinitely.
Probate records: Wills, estate files, and guardianship records are retained permanently due to their ongoing legal significance.
Juvenile records: Retained in accordance with confidentiality requirements and may be destroyed or sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood, subject to applicable statutes.
Docket books and minute records: Retained permanently as the official record of court proceedings.

Paper files may be destroyed after imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the retention schedule permits destruction and the record has been preserved in an alternative format. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing or expungement: a sealed record still exists but is withheld from public access, while an expunged record is removed from public view and, in some cases, physically destroyed pursuant to court order. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives held at the courthouse or transferred to state archival facilities.

How To Find a Court Docket in Dallas County

A court docket is the official chronological log of all actions, filings, and proceedings in a specific case. It differs from a full case file in that it records what happened and when, rather than containing the actual documents filed. A docket entry may note that a motion was filed, but the docket itself does not reproduce the text of that motion.

Dockets for Dallas County Circuit and District Court cases may be accessed through the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts online case search system. To locate a docket, a user may search by party name, case number, or attorney name. The system returns a case summary and docket sheet reflecting all recorded entries. For appellate matters, the Alabama Appellate Courts Public Portal provides universally available docket access; registered users may additionally view and purchase filed documents.

In-person docket searches are available at the Dallas County Circuit Clerk's office. Courthouse public access terminals allow visitors to search the case index and view docket entries for cases maintained in the electronic system. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be available through the clerk's office upon request.

A court docket in Dallas County may contain:

Case number and party names
Filing date and case type
Chronological list of all filings and court actions
Hearing dates, continuances, and minute entries
Motion filings and ruling notations
Status updates and case disposition entries

A docket does not include full document images for all entries, sealed or confidential entries, exhibits subject to protective orders, or confidential attachments. The E-Forms portal of the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts provides standardized forms that may be used when submitting written requests for docket information or certified copies from the clerk's office.