Decatur Public Records

Public records for Decatur are maintained by Morgan County and the City of Decatur. Decatur sits in the Tennessee Valley region of north Alabama along the Tennessee River.

Morgan County Handles Decatur Records

Most public records for Decatur residents are kept at the county level. Morgan County is home to Decatur and several other cities in the Tennessee Valley. The county seat is in Decatur itself, which makes access to records convenient for city residents. You do not need to travel to another town to visit the courthouse.

The Morgan County Probate Court handles property records. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats. The office also issues marriage licenses and keeps those records on file. If you need a property record from Decatur, you go to the Morgan County Probate Court. The current Probate Judge oversees all recording and record keeping duties for the county.

Morgan County uses the Ingenuity system for online records access. You can search the index for free at ingprobate.com. Document images cost a small fee per page. This covers deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents filed in Decatur and throughout Morgan County. The online system has records going back several decades.

Decatur Court Records

Court records for Decatur cases are kept by the Morgan County Circuit Clerk. This is separate from the Probate Court. The Circuit Clerk maintains files for civil cases, criminal cases, family matters, and traffic cases. Decatur is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Lawrence, Limestone, and Morgan counties.

You can search court records online through Alacourt ACCESS at pa.alacourt.com. The system covers all courts in Morgan County. A name search costs $9.99 and includes one case detail. Extra cases cost $9.99 each. Document images cost $5.00 for the first 20 pages. This is a fast way to find court records from Decatur without visiting the courthouse.

The Morgan County Courthouse is in downtown Decatur. It is the main courthouse for the county and handles most court business. Cases from Decatur go through this location. The building has a security checkpoint at the entrance. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit to request records. Street parking is available around the courthouse, and there are some parking lots nearby.

City of Decatur Public Records

The City of Decatur maintains its own records for city government operations. These include records from city departments, police reports, building permits, and administrative files. City records are separate from county court and property records. For these, you go through the city rather than Morgan County.

Decatur offers two ways to request city records. You can use the JustFOIA online portal for bulk requests or complex searches. This system lets you submit requests and track their status online. It works well when you need multiple documents or records that may take time to gather. The portal is at decaturcity.justfoia.com.

For simpler requests, you can contact the City Clerk office directly. The staff can help with basic record lookups and copies. This is often faster for straightforward requests like meeting minutes or city ordinances. The dual system gives you options based on what kind of records you need from Decatur city government.

Under the 2024 changes to Alabama records law, the city must acknowledge your request within 10 business days. Standard requests get a substantive response within 15 business days. Requests that take more than 8 hours to process may take up to 45 business days. The JustFOIA system tracks these deadlines and sends updates as your request moves through the process.

Decatur Police Records

The Decatur Police Department handles requests for police reports and incident records. You can get copies of accident reports, incident reports, and certain case files. Some records are restricted by state law, especially for ongoing investigations or cases involving minors.

To request police records from Decatur:

• Visit the police department in person
• Submit a request through JustFOIA
• Call the records division
• Send a written request by mail

Accident reports typically cost a small fee for copies. Criminal history checks go through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, not the local police. For background checks, you need to contact ALEA at alea.gov and pay the $25 state fee plus fingerprinting costs. The Decatur police can help with local incident records but not statewide criminal history.

Vital Records for Decatur Residents

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for Decatur residents come from the Alabama Department of Public Health. The state office handles all vital records statewide. You can order certificates online, by mail, or in person at a local health department office.

The Morgan County Health Department in Decatur can help with vital records. They work with the state to process requests locally. This is often faster than ordering directly from the state office in Montgomery. Walk-in service may provide same-day certificates for some requests.

Vital record fees in Alabama are $15 for a search and one certified copy. Additional copies cost $6 each. You can also order through VitalChek at vitalchek.com, which adds a service fee. Birth records less than 125 years old are restricted to family members and authorized requesters under Alabama law.

Public Records Fees in Decatur

Fees for public records in Decatur depend on which office handles your request. County records have their own fee schedule. City records may have different costs. Here are typical fees you can expect.

County Property Records: Morgan County charges per-page fees for copies from the Probate Court. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. The Ingenuity online system charges for document images. Search of the index is free.

Court Records: Alacourt ACCESS fees apply for online searches. In-person copies at the Circuit Clerk have separate fees. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call the clerk at (256) 351-4740 to confirm current rates.

City Records: The City of Decatur can charge for time-intensive requests under the 2024 law changes. Standard requests may be free or have minimal copy costs. The JustFOIA system will inform you of any fees before processing your request.

Police Records: Accident reports typically cost around $5 to $10 per report. Other records may have different fees. Call the police records division to ask about specific costs.

Note: Fees change from time to time. Always confirm current costs before sending payment to any office in Decatur.

How to Request Records in Decatur

The process for getting public records in Decatur depends on what you need. Different offices handle different types of records. Here is where to go for common requests.

Property Records: Go to the Morgan County Probate Court or search online through the Ingenuity system. The Probate Court is at 302 Lee Street NE in downtown Decatur. You can view indexes for free online and pay for document images.

Court Cases: Use Alacourt ACCESS online or visit the Morgan County Circuit Clerk. The clerk office is in the same courthouse as the Probate Court. Bring a case number if you have one to speed up your search.

City Government Records: Submit a request through the JustFOIA portal or contact the City Clerk at 256-341-4500. The portal works best for complex requests. Simple requests can go directly to the clerk office.

Vital Records: Visit the Morgan County Health Department or order through VitalChek. The health department is at 1309 Danville Road SW in Decatur. Bring ID and know the details of the record you need.

Tips for requesting records in Decatur:

• Be as specific as you can about what you need
• Include names, dates, and case numbers when possible
• Ask about fees before the search begins
• Bring a valid photo ID for in-person visits
• Under Alabama law, you must be a state resident to access most public records

Legal Resources in Decatur

Several organizations offer legal help to Decatur residents. Some provide free services based on income. Others offer reduced-fee consultations. These resources can help if you need assistance understanding records or filing court documents.

Legal Services Alabama serves the Tennessee Valley region including Decatur. They offer free legal help to people who qualify based on income. Their Huntsville office covers Morgan County. Call their intake line at (256) 536-9645 or the statewide toll-free number at (866) 456-4995 to check if you qualify.

The Morgan County Bar Association can refer you to local attorneys. A lawyer referral can help when you need legal advice about records or court matters. The Alabama State Bar runs a statewide referral service at 1-800-392-5660. First consultations through the referral service cost up to $50 for 30 minutes.

Alabama Legal Help at alabamalegalhelp.org has free information and forms for common legal issues. The site covers topics like family law, housing, and consumer issues. You can find guides that explain court procedures and help you fill out forms without a lawyer.

Morgan County Public Records

Decatur is the county seat of Morgan County. All property records and court cases from Decatur go through the Morgan County offices. The county also serves the cities of Hartselle, Priceville, Somerville, Falkville, and Eva. For more details about county-level records, fees, and resources, visit the Morgan County public records page.

View Morgan County Public Records

Nearby Major Cities

These cities are near Decatur and have their own public records pages. If you need records from a nearby area, select a city below.

Huntsville is about 25 miles east of Decatur in Madison County. Madison city is nearby as well. Both are in the Tennessee Valley region. Florence and Athens are also close but do not have dedicated pages on this site.