Colbert County Public Records

Colbert County public records are maintained by the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk in Tuscumbia. Part of the Shoals area in northwest Alabama, the county serves about 56,000 residents and offers online records access through the Ingenuity system and state court portals.

Colbert County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles property records in Colbert County. All deeds, mortgages, liens, and property transfers get filed here. The office also keeps marriage records and issues marriage licenses. You can visit the courthouse in Tuscumbia to search records in person or use the online system from home.

The Probate Judge oversees all probate matters for the county. This includes estates, wills, guardianships, and mental health commitments. Property records go back many decades at this office. Older records may need staff help to find. Most recent records are in the computer system and easy to pull up.

The courthouse sits in downtown Tuscumbia, the county seat. Staff can help you find what you need during office hours. Bring the property address or names of the parties when you visit. This makes the search faster. You can also call ahead to check if they have what you need before making the trip.

Search Colbert County Records Online

Colbert County uses the Ingenuity system for online property records. This web portal lets you search deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents from your computer. You do not need to visit the courthouse to do a basic search. The system is free to search, though viewing full documents may cost a small fee.

The Ingenuity portal covers:

• Deed records and property transfers
• Mortgage filings and releases
• Liens and judgments
• Plat maps and surveys
• Marriage license records

To search, go to the county website and look for the records search link. You can search by name, parcel number, or document type. The system shows an index of matching records. Click on a record to see more details. If you need a certified copy, you still have to get that from the Probate Court in person or by mail.

Vehicle tag renewals and registration are handled through the AL Tags system. Visit alabamainteractive.org/tags to renew your tags online. This saves a trip to the courthouse for basic vehicle matters. The online system accepts credit cards and sends your tags by mail.

Colbert County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk keeps all trial court records for Colbert County. This office is separate from the Probate Court. Court records include civil lawsuits, criminal cases, family court matters, and traffic violations. Colbert County is part of the 34th Judicial Circuit along with Franklin County.

You can search court records through the state Alacourt system. Visit colbert.alacourt.gov for the local court page. For statewide searches, use pa.alacourt.com which covers all Alabama courts. A name search costs $9.99 and gives you one case detail. More cases cost extra.

The Circuit Clerk office is in the courthouse in Tuscumbia. You can go in person to search records or get copies. Staff can help you find cases if you know the case number or party names. Some older cases may not be in the online system yet. For those, an in-person visit works best.

Colbert County Recording Fees

Colbert County charges standard Alabama fees for most recording services. Fees can change, so check with the office before sending payment. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted. Some services may take credit cards.

Typical fees include:

• Recording a deed: $10 for first page, $3 each extra page
• Copy of recorded document: $1 per page
• Certified copy: $2 per page plus $1 certification fee
• Marriage license: $71
• Notary filing: $10

Deed tax in Alabama is $0.50 per $500 of property value. This is split between state and county portions. Mortgage tax runs $0.15 per $100 of debt amount. These taxes apply on top of recording fees. The Probate Court collects these at the time of filing.

Court filing fees are set by state law. Civil case filing runs around $200 to $300 depending on the case type. Criminal cases have their own fee schedule. The Circuit Clerk can tell you the exact cost for your filing. Copies of court documents cost $1 per page for regular copies or $2 for certified.

How to Request Public Records

Alabama law gives the public the right to access government records. Most county records are open to anyone who asks. Some records have restrictions, like sealed court cases or certain personal information. The county must respond to requests within 15 business days under current law.

To request records from Colbert County:

• Visit the courthouse in person during office hours
• Call the relevant office to ask about records
• Submit a written request by mail or fax
• Check if online access is available first

Be as specific as you can in your request. Give names, dates, case numbers, or property addresses. Vague requests take longer to process. The county can charge for copies and staff time on large requests. Simple requests are often free or low cost.

For property records, go to the Probate Court. For court cases, contact the Circuit Clerk. For general county government records, try the County Commission office. Each office handles its own records. Knowing which office to contact saves time.

The Shoals Area

Colbert County is part of the Shoals region in northwest Alabama. This area includes four main cities: Muscle Shoals, Florence, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. The region sits along the Tennessee River and has a combined population of over 145,000 in the metro area.

Florence is in neighboring Lauderdale County. If you need records for Florence, you would go to the Lauderdale County offices. Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia are in Colbert County. All property records for these cities file through the Colbert County Probate Court in Tuscumbia.

The Shoals area shares some regional services. The courts work together on certain matters. But each county keeps its own records separate. Make sure you check the right county for the records you need. Property location determines which county has the records, not your mailing address.

Additional Resources

Several other offices can help with records in Colbert County. The Tax Assessor has property tax records and parcel maps. The Revenue Commissioner handles tax collections. The Sheriff maintains arrest records and incident reports.

For vital records like birth and death certificates, contact the Colbert County Health Department or the Alabama Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery. The county health department can issue certified copies of births and deaths that happened in Colbert County. State vital records go back to 1908.

Legal aid services are available for those who qualify. Legal Services Alabama covers this area and can help with civil legal matters. Contact them if you need help with a court case but cannot afford an attorney. The Alabama State Bar also has a lawyer referral service.

Cities in Colbert County

Colbert County contains several cities and towns. All property records file at the Colbert County Probate Court in Tuscumbia. Court cases go through the Colbert County Circuit Court, which is part of the 34th Judicial Circuit.

Major communities in Colbert County include Tuscumbia (the county seat), Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Leighton. The Quad Cities area of the Shoals has a combined population that makes it one of the larger metro areas in north Alabama. None of the individual cities reach the population threshold for separate city pages, but all records are handled through the county offices listed above.

Nearby Counties

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

Lauderdale County to the north contains Florence, the largest city in the Shoals area. Lawrence County lies to the east. Franklin County shares the 34th Judicial Circuit with Colbert County. These neighboring counties have their own Probate Courts and Circuit Clerks for their records.