Butler County Public Records

Butler County public records are kept by the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk in Greenville. The county has about 19,000 residents and sits in south-central Alabama.

Butler County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles property records for Butler County. This covers deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and marriage licenses. The Probate Judge also deals with wills, estates, and adoptions. All land transactions in the county must be filed here to be valid.

You can visit the office in person to search records or get copies. The staff can help you find what you need. Bring the name of the person or the address of the property you want to look up. Having the legal description helps too if you know it. The office gets busy around the first of the month, so plan ahead if you can.

Butler County keeps property records going back many years. Older records may take more time to find. Some historical records are stored off-site, so call ahead if you need something from before 1950. The staff can usually get older records within a day or two if they are not on site.

Search Butler County Records Online

Butler County uses the statewide Alacourt system for court records. Property records are not available online through the county at this time. You must visit the Probate Court in person or send a written request to get property record copies.

The Alacourt system at pa.alacourt.com lets you search court cases. This covers civil, criminal, domestic, and traffic cases. The system is easy to use. Just type in a name and pick Butler County from the list. Results show up fast.

A basic name search costs $9.99. That gets you one case detail. Each extra case costs $9.99 more. If you need to see documents from a case, that costs $5.00 for up to 20 pages. More pages cost extra. The fees go to help run the court system.

Some people prefer to go in person. The clerk can do a search while you wait. You pay by the page for copies. Cash and checks work at the courthouse. Some offices take cards too, but call first to make sure.

Butler County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk keeps all court records for Butler County. This is a separate office from the Probate Court. Court records include lawsuits, criminal cases, divorces, and small claims. Traffic tickets and misdemeanors go through the District Court but are still part of the Alacourt system.

Butler County is in the 35th Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court hears serious cases like felonies and major civil disputes. A Circuit Judge handles trials and makes rulings. The District Court takes care of smaller matters. Both courts share the same courthouse in Greenville.

To get court records, you have a few options. Use Alacourt online if you just need basic info. Go to the clerk in person if you need certified copies. Some records are sealed or confidential. Juvenile cases and some family matters have limits on who can see them. The clerk can tell you what is public and what is not.

Criminal background checks often start with a court record search. Butler County records show arrests, charges, and case outcomes. Not all arrests lead to charges. Not all charges lead to convictions. Read the records carefully to understand what happened in each case.

Butler County Recording Fees

Butler County charges fees for recording documents and making copies. These fees are set by state law with some local variation. Bring the right amount when you visit or include payment with mail requests.

Here are the main fees you should know:

• Recording a deed: $12 for first page, $3 each page after
• Recording a mortgage: $12 for first page, $3 each page after
• Copy of recorded document: $1 per page
• Certified copy: $2 per page plus $1 certification fee
• Marriage license: $70 to $80 depending on type

Fees can change. Call ahead to confirm the exact amount before you send payment. The Probate Court accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Personal checks may need to clear before the office releases documents.

Deed tax is $0.50 per $500 of property value in Alabama. Mortgage tax is $0.15 per $100 of debt. Butler County collects these when you record the documents. The amounts can add up fast on big transactions, so plan your budget before closing day.

Butler County Marriage Records

Alabama changed how marriage works in 2019. There are no more marriage licenses in the old sense. Instead, couples fill out a marriage certificate form and file it with the Probate Court. No ceremony is required. No officiant signs. The couple and two witnesses sign, then the Probate Court records it.

To get married in Butler County, both people must be at least 18 years old. There is no waiting period. You can file the same day you show up. Bring valid ID for both people. A driver's license or passport works fine. The filing fee is around $70 to $80.

Old marriage licenses from before August 2019 are still valid. The Probate Court has records of past marriages. You can get certified copies for legal purposes. These show the date, the names of both spouses, and when it was recorded. Copies cost a few dollars per page plus a certification fee.

Butler County Property Records

Property records in Butler County include deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats. The Probate Court records these documents when they are filed. Recording puts the world on notice of who owns what. It protects buyers and lenders.

A deed shows who sold property and who bought it. It lists the legal description and sale price. Mortgages show what loans are on a property. Liens show debts attached to the land. Satisfaction documents show when debts are paid off.

Title searches look at all these records. Before you buy land, you want to know if it has any claims against it. A title company or attorney can do this search for you. Or you can do it yourself at the Probate Court. The staff will show you how to use the index books if you ask.

Butler County property records go back to when the county was formed. Very old records may be hard to read. Handwriting from the 1800s takes practice to figure out. The Probate Court has preserved many original books. Some have been microfilmed for backup.

How to Request Public Records

Alabama law gives the public the right to inspect and copy most government records. This applies to Butler County offices. You can ask for records in person, by mail, or sometimes by email. Put your request in writing for the best results.

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, public records must be available during normal business hours. The county can charge for copies but not for just looking. They cannot charge search fees in most cases. If a record is exempt, they must tell you why.

Some records are not public. Personnel files have limits. Medical records are private. Some law enforcement records are restricted during active investigations. Ask if you are not sure. The clerk can explain what is available and what is not.

Standard requests should get a response within a reasonable time. Complex requests may take longer. If you need records for a court case, file your request early. Do not wait until the last minute. Give the office time to find and copy what you need.

Cities in Butler County

Butler County has several small towns and communities. All property records file at the Butler County Probate Court in Greenville. Court cases go through the Butler County courts in the 35th Judicial Circuit.

Greenville is the county seat and largest city. It has about 7,000 people. Other communities include Georgiana, McKenzie, and Chapman. None of these cities have their own records offices. Everything goes through the county.

Nearby Counties

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