Covington County Public Records

Covington County public records are held by the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk in Andalusia. This south Alabama county has about 37,000 residents and uses the statewide Alacourt system for court case searches.

Covington County Probate Court

The Probate Court in Andalusia handles property records for Covington County. This office manages deeds, mortgages, liens, and marriage licenses. The Probate Judge also oversees estate matters, guardianships, and mental health commitments.

You can visit the courthouse in person to search records. The staff can help you find what you need and make copies. Bring as much info as you can about the record you want. Names, dates, and property addresses all help speed up your search. The office gets busy some days, so plan for wait times.

Covington County has digitized many of its older records. This makes searches faster than in the past. But some very old documents still need a manual search through the archives. The staff can tell you what is and is not in the computer system when you arrive.

Search Covington County Records Online

Covington County uses the Ingenuity system for some online record access. This lets you search certain document types from home or your office. The county also uses AL Tags for motor vehicle records. These state systems connect to the local offices in Andalusia.

For court records, the main portal is AlacourtAccess. You can find it at pa.alacourt.com. A name search costs $9.99 and gives you one case detail. Each extra case costs $9.99 more. Document images run $5.00 for up to 20 pages. This is a statewide fee that applies to all 67 Alabama counties.

The Alacourt system has records going back many years. But not all old cases are in the system. Some records from before the system started still sit in paper files at the courthouse. If you need very old court records, you may have to visit in person or call the clerk.

Property records have different rules. The Probate Court keeps these separate from court cases. Many counties in Alabama do not put property records online for free. Check with the Probate Court about what search options exist. Some let you search indexes online but charge for copies.

Covington County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk in Andalusia maintains all trial court records. Civil cases, criminal cases, and family law matters go through this office. The Circuit Court handles felonies and civil cases over $20,000. District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and small claims.

Covington County sits in the 22nd Judicial Circuit. This circuit includes just Covington County. Some rural circuits cover more than one county, but not this one. This means all judges and staff work only on Covington County cases. The Circuit Clerk website is at covington.alacourt.gov.

Court records in Alabama are public with some limits. Juvenile cases are sealed. Mental health records have extra rules. Some records in family cases can be sealed by court order. But most civil and criminal cases are open to anyone who wants to look.

To get court records, you have a few options. First, you can search online through Alacourt. This works well for recent cases. Second, you can visit the clerk in person. Third, you can send a written request by mail. Include as much case info as you know. The case number helps most if you have it.

Covington County Recording Fees

The Probate Court charges fees for copies and certified documents. These fees are set by state law and local rules. They can change, so call ahead if you need exact amounts.

Common fees you might pay:

• Plain copy of a recorded document: $1 per page
• Certified copy: $2 per page plus certification fee
• Recording a deed: base fee plus per-page charges
• Marriage license: set by state law

The court clerk can tell you the total cost before you pay. For mail requests, send a check or money order. Most offices do not take credit cards for small transactions. Some take cash in person only. Call ahead to ask about payment methods if you plan to visit.

Deed tax in Alabama runs $0.50 per $500 of property value. Mortgage tax is $0.15 per $100 of the loan. These apply when you record new documents. They do not apply to copies of existing records.

How to Request Public Records

Alabama law gives you the right to see public records. The state does not have one central form for requests. Each office handles them its own way. In Covington County, you can ask in person, by phone, by mail, or sometimes by email.

When you make a request, be as clear as you can. Tell them what record you want. Give names, dates, case numbers, or property info. The more you provide, the faster they can find it. Vague requests take longer and may cost more if staff has to search through many files.

The county has 15 business days to respond to most requests. They can take longer for complex requests. If they deny your request, they must tell you why. You can appeal denials. The law changed in 2024 to give clearer rules on timing and fees.

Some records cost money. The county can charge for copies and staff time. Simple requests are often cheap. Complex searches that take hours can cost more. Ask about fees before they start the work so you know what to expect.

Vital Records in Covington County

Birth and death records in Alabama come from the state. The Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery handles these. You cannot get them from the county. The state charges $15 for a certified birth certificate and $15 for a death certificate.

Marriage records are different. The county issues marriage licenses, so the Probate Court has those. They also have divorce records if the divorce happened in Covington County. For divorces from other counties, check with that county's court.

To order birth or death records, visit alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords. You can order online, by mail, or in person in Montgomery. Processing takes about two weeks for mail orders. Online orders with rush delivery go faster.

Property Records Search

Looking for property records in Covington County? The Probate Court is your main stop. They have deeds that show who owns land. They have mortgages that show what is owed. They have liens, easements, and plats too.

A title search is common when buying property. This traces the ownership back through time. It shows any claims against the land. Title companies do this before closings. You can do it yourself too, but it takes time and you need to know what to look for.

Tax records come from a different office. The Revenue Commissioner handles property tax bills and payments. The Tax Assessor sets property values. These are separate from the Probate Court. Each office has its own records and its own staff.

For property tax info in Covington County, you can also check online. Many Alabama counties have tax info on their websites now. This shows assessed values, tax amounts, and payment history. The county website or a call to the Revenue Commissioner can point you to the right place.

Cities in Covington County

Covington County has several towns and cities. All of them file property records at the Covington County Probate Court in Andalusia. Court cases go through the Covington County court system.

The main cities and towns include Andalusia (the county seat), Opp, Red Level, Florala, and Lockhart. None of these cities have populations over 100,000, so they are served by the county offices for public records needs. Andalusia is the largest with around 8,000 residents.

Nearby Counties

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