Escambia County Public Records

Escambia County public records are kept by the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk in Brewton. This rural south Alabama county sits near the Florida border and has about 36,000 residents.

Escambia County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles property records for Escambia County. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and marriage licenses. The Probate Judge oversees all recording and serves as the chief election official for the county. You can visit the office in Brewton during regular business hours.

Property records in Escambia County go back many decades. Older records are in paper format stored at the courthouse. More recent filings may be indexed in the county system. Staff can help you search for specific documents if you visit in person. They charge per-page fees for copies.

Marriage licenses are also filed here. Couples must apply in person and pay the required fee. Alabama law no longer requires a ceremony or officiant. Once the license is signed and returned, it becomes a public record that anyone can request a copy of.

Search Escambia County Records Online

Escambia County has limited online access for property records. Unlike larger Alabama counties, there is no web portal where you can search deeds and mortgages from home. Most record searches require a visit to the courthouse or a call to the Probate Court office.

Court records are different. You can search Escambia County court cases through the state Alacourt system. This covers civil, criminal, domestic, and traffic cases filed in Circuit Court and District Court. The statewide system makes it easy to look up case status and hearing dates.

For property records, your best option is to call the Probate Court. Staff can often do a quick search over the phone if you have the property address or owner name. For certified copies, you will need to visit in person or send a written request with payment. Some title companies and attorneys use third-party services to pull records from rural counties like Escambia.

The county does maintain basic information on its website, but full document access is not available online at this time. This is common for smaller Alabama counties that lack the budget for expensive records management software.

Escambia County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk maintains all trial court records in Escambia County. This is separate from the Probate Court. Court records include civil lawsuits, criminal cases, family law matters, and traffic violations. Escambia County is part of the 21st Judicial Circuit along with several neighboring counties.

You can search court records through AlacourtAccess at pa.alacourt.com. A name search costs $9.99 and includes one case detail. Each additional case costs $9.99 more. Document images are $5.00 for the first 20 pages. The system covers all Alabama counties including Escambia.

The Circuit Clerk website is at escambia.alacourt.gov. Here you can find contact information, office hours, and basic forms. Case filings and records are handled through the Alacourt system rather than a separate county portal.

In-person requests work too. Visit the courthouse in Brewton during business hours. Bring the case number if you have it. Staff can pull files and make copies for you. Cash and checks are the most common payment methods at the clerk window.

Escambia County Recording Fees

Escambia County follows state guidelines for recording fees. These apply to documents filed at the Probate Court. Fees can change, so call ahead to confirm current rates before you send payment by mail.

Common fees for Escambia County include:

• Deed recording: $6 for first page plus $3 each additional page
• Mortgage recording: same per-page structure
• Copy of recorded document: $1 per page
• Certified copy: $2 per page
• Marriage license: approximately $70

Recording fees include both state and county portions. Deed tax is $0.50 per $500 of property value transferred. Mortgage tax is $0.15 per $100 of the debt amount. These taxes are paid at the time of recording. Staff will calculate the total when you file.

Payment methods at the Probate Court typically include cash, check, and money order. Some offices now accept credit cards but may charge a convenience fee. Call ahead if you need to confirm what forms of payment they take.

How to Request Public Records

Escambia County handles public records requests through each department. There is no centralized online portal like larger counties use. For property records, contact the Probate Court. For court records, go through the Circuit Clerk or use Alacourt.

Alabama law gives the public the right to inspect and copy most government records. Under Alabama Code Title 36, Chapter 12, public records include documents made or received in connection with government business. Some records are exempt, such as certain law enforcement files and sealed court cases.

To request records by mail, write a letter that includes your name, contact information, and a clear description of what you want. Be specific about dates, names, or property addresses. Include a check or money order for any fees. Send your request to the appropriate office at the courthouse in Brewton.

Response times vary. Simple requests may be filled the same day. More complex searches can take a week or longer. The county must respond in a reasonable time. If you have trouble getting records, you can file a complaint with the Alabama Attorney General.

Tax and Assessment Records

Property tax records are maintained by the Escambia County Revenue Commissioner. This office handles tax assessments, tax payments, and delinquent tax sales. Tax records show the assessed value of property, tax amounts owed, and payment history.

You can often look up basic tax information by parcel number or owner name. Some of this data may be available on the state property tax website or county portal. For detailed records or payment histories, contact the Revenue Commissioner office directly.

Tax sale information is also public. When property owners fail to pay taxes, the county may sell the tax lien. These sales are announced in local newspapers and at the courthouse. Lists of properties going to tax sale are available from the Revenue Commissioner.

Cities in Escambia County

Escambia County contains several small cities and towns. All of them file property records at the Escambia County Probate Court. Court cases go through the Escambia County Circuit Court in Brewton.

The main cities in Escambia County include Brewton (the county seat), Atmore, East Brewton, Flomaton, and Riverview. None of these cities have populations over 100,000, so all records requests go through county offices. Atmore is the largest city in the county with around 10,000 residents.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has a reservation in Escambia County near Atmore. Tribal matters are handled through federal and tribal authorities rather than county courts. However, property records for land outside the reservation are still filed with the county Probate Court.

Nearby Counties

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

Escambia County also borders Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County in Florida. For records in those areas, contact the Florida county clerk offices.