Autauga County Public Records

Autauga County public records are kept by the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk in Prattville. The county has about 58,000 residents and sits just north of Montgomery in central Alabama.

Autauga County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles all property records in Autauga County. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, and marriage licenses. The office sits in the Autauga County Courthouse in downtown Prattville. Staff can help you find what you need and make copies of any public document.

Property records date back to the county's founding in 1818. Most older records are on microfilm. Newer records from the past two decades have been scanned into digital form. You can visit in person to search or use one of the online tools described below. The staff will pull documents for you if you know what you need.

Autauga County was one of the first counties formed when Alabama became a state. The name comes from a Creek word. Early records cover land grants and original patents from that era. These older documents can be useful for title searches and genealogy work.

Search Autauga County Records Online

Autauga County uses the Ingenuity system for online property records. This web portal lets you search deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents from your computer. The system is free to search. You pay only when you view or print document images.

The Ingenuity portal covers records from the mid-1990s to the present. Older records require an in-person visit. To use the system, go to the Autauga County section on the Ingenuity website. You can search by name, book and page, or document type. The interface takes some getting used to, but it works well once you figure it out.

For vehicle records, Autauga County uses AL Tags. This is the statewide system for motor vehicle titles and registrations. You can renew tags online or check title status. The Revenue Commissioner handles these records, not the Probate Court. Visit altags.org to access vehicle services.

Tax records and property assessments are available through the Revenue Commissioner as well. The county tax maps show parcel boundaries and ownership. These help when you need to identify a piece of land or find who owns it. Some of this data appears on the state property tax search portal.

Autauga County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk maintains trial court records in Autauga County. This covers civil cases, criminal cases, and family court matters. Autauga County is part of the 19th Judicial Circuit along with Chilton County. The two counties share some court resources.

The official court records portal is at autauga.alacourt.gov. This site has basic information about the clerk's office and how to file documents. For actual case searches, you need to use the statewide Alacourt system.

AlacourtAccess at pa.alacourt.com lets you search court records online. A name search costs $9.99. This gives you a list of matching cases and one case detail. Each additional case detail costs $9.99. Document images cost extra. The system covers all Alabama trial courts, not just Autauga County.

You can also search for free at the courthouse. The public access terminals in the clerk's office let you look up cases without paying. Bring a notepad to write down the info you need. Printing or copies cost money, but searching is free if you go in person.

Autauga County Recording Fees

Autauga County follows state fee guidelines for most recording services. The Probate Court collects these fees when you record a document or request copies. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted at most windows.

Here are the common fees you might pay:

• Recording a deed or mortgage: $15 for first page, $3 each additional page
• Copy of recorded document: $1 per page
• Certified copy: $2 per page plus $1 for the seal
• Marriage license: $70 (includes recording fee)
• Plat filing: varies by size

Transfer taxes also apply when you record deeds. The state deed tax is $0.50 per $500 of sale price. The mortgage tax is $0.15 per $100 of debt. These taxes go to the state, not the county. Make sure you calculate the right amount before you file.

Fees can change. Call the Probate Court or check their website before you send payment by mail. In-person visits let you pay the exact amount after the clerk calculates it. Mail-in requests should include extra to cover any overages.

How to Request Public Records

Alabama law gives you the right to access most government records. This includes records held by Autauga County offices. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The county must respond within a reasonable time.

For property records, go directly to the Probate Court. They have the deeds, mortgages, and plats. For court records, contact the Circuit Clerk or use Alacourt online. For other county records, contact the specific department that holds them.

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, county officials must allow inspection of public documents during normal business hours. They can charge reasonable fees for copies. If a request is denied, the official must cite the specific law that allows them to withhold the record.

Written requests help create a paper trail. Include your name, contact info, and a clear description of what you want. Be as specific as you can. Vague requests take longer to fill and may cost more.

Autauga County Vital Records

Birth and death certificates are handled by the state, not the county. The Alabama Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery issues certified copies. You can order online through VitalChek or by mail. The state started keeping birth records in 1908 and death records around the same time.

Marriage records are a county matter. The Probate Court issues marriage licenses and keeps the records after the ceremony. You can get certified copies of marriage certificates from the Autauga County Probate Court. Divorces are court records, so those go through the Circuit Clerk instead.

To get a marriage certificate, visit the Probate Court in Prattville. You will need to provide the names of both parties and the approximate date of the wedding. Copies cost a few dollars. Certified copies cost a bit more but have an official seal.

Cities in Autauga County

Autauga County has several cities and towns. Prattville is the largest and serves as the county seat. All property records are filed at the Autauga County Probate Court. Court cases go through the Autauga County Circuit Court.

The main communities in Autauga County include Prattville, Autaugaville, Billingsley, Booth, Jones, Marbury, Pine Level, and White Hall. Prattville has grown significantly in recent decades as a suburb of Montgomery. Many residents commute to Montgomery for work but live in Autauga County.

None of the cities in Autauga County meet the population threshold for a separate city page. All public records for these areas are handled at the county level through the offices listed above.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Autauga County. If you need records from a neighboring area, select the county below.