Barbour County Public Records

Barbour County public records are maintained by the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk, with two courthouses located in Clayton and Eufaula. This unique dual courthouse setup has been in place since 1879.

Barbour County Dual Courthouse System

Barbour County is one of the few counties in Alabama with two active courthouses. The main courthouse sits in Clayton, the official county seat. A second courthouse operates in Eufaula. This arrangement dates back to 1879 when Eufaula was the larger city and needed local court access.

Both courthouses handle public records. You can file documents at either location. The Barbour County Commission still alternates its meetings between the two sites. This practice keeps both facilities active and serves residents across the county. If you live closer to Eufaula, you do not have to drive to Clayton for basic court services.

The dual system can create some confusion for people unfamiliar with the county. Some records may be stored at one location while others are at the second site. When searching for older documents, you might need to check both courthouses. Staff at either location can tell you where specific files are kept.

Barbour County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles property records for Barbour County. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and marriage certificates. The Probate Judge also processes wills, estates, and mental health matters. Property transfers must be filed with this office to become part of the public record.

The Clayton office is the primary Probate Court location. Most property recordings happen here. The Eufaula courthouse can also accept filings and process requests. Call ahead to confirm which office has the records you need, especially for older documents that may have been filed at either site over the years.

Search Barbour County Records Online

Online access to Barbour County records is available through the state Alacourt system. This covers court cases from Circuit Court, District Court, and municipal courts. Property records from the Probate Court require either an in-person visit or a written request.

The Alacourt portal at pa.alacourt.com lets you search cases by name or case number. A basic name search costs $9.99. This includes one case detail. Each additional case costs $9.99 to view. Document images cost $5.00 for the first 20 pages.

The Barbour County Circuit Clerk website at barbour.alacourt.gov provides local court information. You can find office hours, contact details, and filing instructions. The site does not offer free records searches, but it helps you understand what each court division handles.

For property records, the county does not have an online portal like some larger Alabama counties. You will need to contact the Probate Court directly. Written requests should include the property address or legal description, the type of document you need, and payment for copy fees. The staff can research records and mail copies to you.

Barbour County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk maintains all trial court records in Barbour County. This is separate from the Probate Court. Court records include civil lawsuits, criminal cases, family law matters like divorce and custody, and small claims cases. The county is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit of Alabama.

Civil cases in Barbour County include contract disputes, personal injury claims, and property disagreements. Criminal records cover felony charges prosecuted by the District Attorney. Family court handles divorce filings, child support matters, and custody modifications. These records are public unless sealed by court order.

The District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic tickets. Small claims court is also part of the District Court. These courts have separate docket numbers from Circuit Court cases. When searching, make sure you check both court levels if you are not sure where a case was filed.

Access to court records follows Alabama law. Most documents are public. Some records are restricted by statute. Juvenile cases are confidential. Certain mental health and domestic violence records have limited access. The clerk can tell you if specific files are available for review.

Barbour County Recording Fees

Barbour County follows the standard Alabama fee schedule for recording and copies. These fees apply at both courthouse locations. Confirm current rates before sending payment because fees can change.

Typical fees for Barbour County include:

• Recording a deed: $10 for the first page, $3 for each additional page
• Copy of recorded document: $1 per page
• Certified copy: $2 per page plus $5 certification fee
• Marriage license: $70
• Plat recording: $30 minimum

Court filing fees are separate from recording fees. Civil case filing starts at $305 for most cases. Small claims filing is lower. Criminal fees depend on the charge and outcome. The Circuit Clerk can provide exact amounts for specific filings.

Payment methods vary by office. The courthouse accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Some services may take credit cards, but call to confirm. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to Barbour County.

Barbour County Property Records

Property records in Barbour County go back to the 1830s when the county was formed. The Probate Court maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land documents. These show the history of ownership for any parcel in the county.

Deed records document the transfer of real property. Each deed lists the seller (grantor), buyer (grantee), legal description, and sale price. Mortgages show loans secured by property. Lien records indicate claims against property for unpaid debts. Plats are maps that show how land is divided.

To search property records in person, visit either courthouse during business hours. Tell the clerk what property you need to research. They can help you find the right record books or computer indexes. Some older records may only exist in large record books. Newer filings are often indexed by computer.

The county does not charge to search records yourself at the courthouse. Fees apply when you want copies. Bring exact change or be prepared to pay the minimum fee even for short documents. The staff can make copies while you wait for most current records.

Vital Records in Barbour County

Marriage licenses are issued by the Barbour County Probate Court. Alabama changed its marriage law in 2019. Couples no longer have a ceremony requirement. They complete a marriage certificate form, both spouses sign it before a notary, and then file it with the Probate Court. The license costs $70.

Birth and death certificates are handled by the Alabama Department of Public Health, not the county. You can request these through the state vital records office in Montgomery. Online ordering is available at alabamapublichealth.gov. Some older birth and death records may also exist at the county level.

Divorce records in Barbour County are court records, not vital records. The Circuit Clerk maintains these files. A divorce decree is part of the court case file. You can get copies from the clerk's office or through Alacourt for recent cases.

How to Request Public Records

Alabama does not have a formal public records request form. You can ask for records in writing or in person. State the documents you want as specifically as possible. Include dates, names, case numbers, or property addresses to help staff find the right files.

Written requests can be mailed or delivered to the appropriate office. For court records, contact the Circuit Clerk. For property and probate records, contact the Probate Judge's office. For county government records, contact the County Commission office.

Response times vary. Simple requests may be filled the same day. Complex searches take longer. The county can charge reasonable fees for search time and copies. If a request is denied, you have the right to appeal under Alabama law.

Some records have restrictions. Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, citizens have the right to inspect public records. However, other laws protect certain information from disclosure. The clerk will tell you if a requested record is confidential.

Historical Records Research

Barbour County has records dating back nearly 200 years. Researchers studying family history, land ownership patterns, or local history can find valuable documents in the county archives. Older records require more effort to locate because indexing methods were different.

Early deed books are organized by grantor and grantee indexes. You need to know a name to search effectively. Some volumes have worn pages that are hard to read. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm copies of many early Barbour County records as a backup.

Marriage records before 1936 are at the county level. After that date, the state also kept copies. Court records from early cases may be stored in archive boxes rather than active files. Contact the courthouse before your visit to ensure staff can retrieve the records you need.

Cities in Barbour County

Barbour County includes several towns and communities. All of them file property records at the Barbour County Probate Court. Court cases go through the Barbour County Circuit Court or District Court depending on the matter.

Major communities include Eufaula, Clayton, Clio, and Louisville. Eufaula is the largest city in the county with a population around 12,000. Clayton serves as the county seat with about 1,500 residents. None of the cities in Barbour County meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Nearby Counties

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