Etowah County Public Records

Etowah County public records are kept by the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk in Gadsden. The county has about 102,000 residents and sits in northeast Alabama along the Coosa River.

Etowah County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles property records for Etowah County. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and marriage licenses. The office is in the Etowah County Courthouse in downtown Gadsden. All real estate transactions in the county must be recorded here to be valid against third parties.

You can visit the Probate Court in person to search records. The staff will help you find what you need. Bring as much info as you can about the property or person you are looking for. Names, dates, and addresses all help narrow down the search. The office has computers for public use, and staff can pull older records from storage if needed.

The Probate Court also handles wills and estate matters. When someone dies in Etowah County, their will goes through this court. Estate records show who got what property and any debts that were paid. These records are public after the case closes. You can search them by the name of the person who died.

Search Etowah County Records Online

Etowah County uses the Ingenuity system for online records access. This web-based portal lets you search property records from home or office. You can look up deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents without going to the courthouse. The system is available 24 hours a day.

To use the Ingenuity portal, you need to create an account. Registration is free. Once logged in, you can search by name, date range, instrument type, or book and page number. Basic search results show up at no cost. You pay per page when you want to view or print actual document images.

The online system has records going back several decades. Older records from the 1800s and early 1900s may not be in the digital system yet. For those, you need to visit the courthouse. The county has been working to scan more old records each year, so the online collection keeps growing.

Here is what you can find through the Ingenuity portal:

• Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
• Mortgages and mortgage releases
• Liens and lien releases
• Powers of attorney
• Plats and surveys
• Marriage records
• UCC filings

The portal is at etowahingenuity.com. Contact the Probate Court if you have trouble with the system or need help finding a record that should be there but does not show up in search results.

Etowah County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk keeps all trial court records in Etowah County. This is a different office from the Probate Court. Court records cover civil lawsuits, criminal cases, family court matters, and traffic tickets. Etowah County is part of the 16th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with no other counties.

You can search court cases through the state Alacourt system. The website pa.alacourt.com covers all Alabama trial courts, including Etowah County. A name search costs $9.99 and gives you one case detail. Each extra case costs another $9.99. Document images are $5.00 for the first 20 pages.

The Circuit Clerk website is at etowah.alacourt.gov. This site has info about the office, forms, and contact details. It does not have free case search. All case lookups go through the paid Alacourt system.

For in-person searches, visit the Etowah County Judicial Building. The Circuit Clerk office is on the main floor. Staff can help you find cases if you have the case number or the names of parties involved. You can request copies of documents at the counter. Certified copies cost more than plain copies.

Etowah County Recording Fees

Etowah County follows the state fee schedule for most recording work. Fees can change, so call the office or check the website before you send payment. Paying the wrong amount will delay your filing.

Current fees for Etowah County Probate Court:

• Recording fee (first page): $36.00
• Each additional page: $3.00
• Copy of recorded document: $1.00 per page
• Certified copy: $2.00 per page plus $1.00 certification
• Plat recording: varies by size
• Online image viewing: per-page charge

Transfer taxes apply when property changes hands. Alabama has two parts to the deed tax. The state portion is $0.50 per $500 of value. Some counties add a local portion on top. Make sure you know the total tax before closing so there are no surprises. The title company or attorney usually handles this.

Marriage license fees are separate from recording fees. A marriage license in Etowah County costs $70.77 as of 2024. This is a one-time fee paid when you apply. The license must be signed and returned to the Probate Court within 30 days for recording.

How to Request Public Records

Alabama law gives you the right to access most government records. This includes Etowah County records. Some records have limits, like juvenile cases or sealed files. But most records at the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk are open to the public.

For property and probate records, go to the Probate Court. You can search in person or use the online Ingenuity portal. The staff will make copies for you at the posted rates. Large requests may take extra time if staff needs to pull files from storage.

For court records, contact the Circuit Clerk or use Alacourt online. Criminal background checks go through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). The county offices cannot do background checks for employment or housing.

For other county records not held by the courts, contact the department that has what you need. Each office handles its own records. The county commission, tax assessor, sheriff, and other offices each have their own files. Most will help you make copies if you ask.

Under changes to Alabama open records law, county offices must respond to written requests within 15 business days. They can ask for more time on large or complex requests. You may have to pay for copies and staff time on big requests.

Etowah County Tax Records

The Tax Assessor office has records on property values in Etowah County. This includes land, buildings, and personal property like cars and boats. These records help determine how much property tax you owe. They are public records you can look up.

Property tax maps show parcel lines and ownership. The Tax Assessor has these maps at the office. Some info may be online through the county website or state systems. You can find out who owns a piece of land and what it is worth for tax purposes.

The Revenue Commissioner collects property taxes in Etowah County. If you need tax payment records or want to pay your bill, that office handles it. Tax sale records show properties that were sold for unpaid taxes. These records can help buyers find deals on land.

Cities in Etowah County

Etowah County has several cities and towns. All of them file property records at the Etowah County Probate Court. Court cases go through the Etowah County Circuit Court. Gadsden is the largest city and serves as the county seat.

Major cities in Etowah County include Gadsden, Attalla, Rainbow City, Southside, Glencoe, and Hokes Bluff. None of these cities have populations over 50,000, so all public records matters go through the county offices in Gadsden.

Nearby Counties

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