Montgomery County Public Records

Montgomery County public records are maintained by the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk in the state capital. As the seat of Alabama government, Montgomery County serves about 225,000 residents and offers online access to land records through its web portal.

Montgomery County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles property records for Montgomery County. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and marriage licenses. The current Probate Judge is Hon. J.C. Love, III. The Probate Court has served Montgomery County since its formation in 1816, and the office has processed millions of land documents over the years.

The Probate Court is in Courthouse Annex III on South Lawrence Street in downtown Montgomery. This is a few blocks from the main courthouse complex. The office is easy to find near the state capitol building. Most people come here for property transfers, title searches, and certified copies of recorded documents. Staff can help you find what you need if you are not sure which office to visit.

The Probate Court also handles estates and wills. When someone dies, their estate goes through probate here. This includes small estates that do not need a full court case. The court has records of all estates filed in Montgomery County going back many decades. These records can help with family research or to settle property questions.

Search Montgomery County Records Online

Montgomery County offers online access to land records through its web portal. The system lets you search the index for free. You can look up deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents by name or document number. This saves a trip to the courthouse for basic research.

The online land records portal is at pjr.mc-ala.org/weblandrecord. You can search by grantor, grantee, or instrument type. The system shows recording dates and book and page numbers. Some images may be available online as well. For older records or full document copies, you will need to contact the office or visit in person.

The portal does not require registration for basic searches. Just go to the site and start your search. This works well for quick lookups. If you need certified copies or want to view images not available online, call the records room at (334) 832-1260. They can tell you what is available and what fees apply.

Online access has limits. Not all document types are in the system. Some older records have not been scanned yet. The index goes back further than the images in most cases. Staff at the Probate Court can search older records for you if you need them. Just call or email with your request.

Montgomery County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk maintains all trial court records in Montgomery County. This is separate from the Probate Court. Court records include civil cases, criminal cases, family matters, and traffic cases. Montgomery County is in the 15th Judicial Circuit.

You can search Montgomery County court records through the state Alacourt system. AlacourtAccess at pa.alacourt.com covers all courts in the county. A name search costs $9.99 and includes one case detail. Extra cases cost $9.99 each. Document images cost $5.00 for the first 20 pages. The Circuit Clerk website is at montgomery.alacourt.gov.

The Circuit Court hears major civil and criminal cases. This includes felonies, large civil disputes, and divorce cases. The District Court handles misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic matters. Both courts file their records with the Circuit Clerk.

Family court matters like divorce, custody, and child support go through the Circuit Court. These records are public with some limits. Adoption records are sealed. Some juvenile records have restricted access. The clerk can tell you what records are available for your search.

Montgomery County Recording Fees

Montgomery County sets its own fee schedule for recording and copies. These fees apply at the Probate Court. Fees can change, so confirm current rates before you send payment.

Current fees for Montgomery County:

• Index search: $5.00
• Copy of recorded document: $2.50 per page
• Certification fee: $1.00
• Recording fees vary by document type

The Probate Court accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Some services may take credit cards. Call ahead to confirm payment methods if you plan to pay in person. For mail requests, send a check payable to Montgomery County Probate Court.

Recording fees include state and county portions. Deed tax is $0.50 per $500 of property value. Mortgage tax is $0.15 per $100 of debt. These taxes are in addition to the base recording fee. The Probate Court can give you the exact total when you bring in your documents.

How to Request Public Records

Montgomery County handles public records requests through individual offices. For property records, contact the Probate Court directly. For court records, use Alacourt or visit the Circuit Clerk. Each office has its own process.

Alabama law gives you the right to access public records. Under the 2024 law changes, government offices must respond within 15 business days for standard requests. Some records may take longer if they need review or redaction. Fees for copies are set by state law.

For land records, call the Probate Court records room at (334) 832-1260. You can also email your request to probatejudge@mc-ala.org. Include the names, dates, and document type you are looking for. Staff will search the records and tell you what they find and what it will cost.

As the state capital, Montgomery has many state agencies with their own records. These are not handled by the county. For state records, contact the specific agency. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency handles criminal history checks. The Center for Health Statistics has vital records. The Secretary of State has business filings.

Marriage Records in Montgomery County

The Probate Court issues marriage licenses for Montgomery County. Alabama changed its marriage laws in 2019. You no longer need a ceremony or officiant. Couples fill out a form, get it notarized, and file it with the Probate Court. The court records the marriage and it becomes official.

Marriage records from Montgomery County are public. You can search the index and get certified copies from the Probate Court. Old marriage records are also in the system, going back many years. These help with genealogy research and legal matters.

The fee for a marriage license is set by state law. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost extra. The Probate Court can mail copies to you if you cannot come in person. Just call or email with your request and they will tell you what to send.

Cities in Montgomery County

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

Other communities in Montgomery County include Pike Road, Millbrook (partly in Elmore County), and smaller towns. Montgomery city is by far the largest, home to most of the county's population and serving as the state capital.

Nearby Counties

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