Sumter County Public Records

Sumter County public records are kept by the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk in Livingston. This rural county in west Alabama has about 12,000 residents and offers basic online access through the state court system.

Sumter County Probate Court

The Probate Court handles all property records in Sumter County. This office keeps deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and marriage licenses. The Probate Judge also deals with estate matters and mental health commitments. Sumter County has one courthouse in Livingston where all records are stored.

Property records in Sumter County go back to the 1830s when the county was formed. Some old records were lost to fires and floods over the years. The office has worked to preserve what remains. Most records from the past 50 years are in good shape and easy to find.

The Probate Court staff can help you search for records. You can visit in person or call ahead to check if a record exists. Mail requests take longer but work fine for simple searches. The office is small, so staff may be busy with court duties at times.

Search Sumter County Records Online

Sumter County has limited online records access compared to larger counties. The county does not have its own records portal like Jefferson or Mobile do. You must use the state systems or visit the courthouse to search most records.

For court records, use the AlacourtAccess system. This state portal covers all Alabama courts including Sumter County. You can search by name to find civil cases, criminal cases, and traffic matters. The system charges $9.99 per name search. Each case detail costs $9.99 extra. Document images run $5.00 for up to 20 pages.

Property records require a trip to the courthouse in most cases. The Probate Court has not put its deed and mortgage records online yet. Some third-party sites have Sumter County property data, but the official records live at the courthouse. If you need a certified copy, you have to get it from the Probate Court directly.

The state is slowly helping smaller counties digitize records. Sumter County may get better online access in the coming years. For now, plan on using the phone or visiting in person for most property searches.

Sumter County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk keeps all court records for Sumter County. This is a different office from the Probate Court. Court records include civil lawsuits, criminal cases, domestic relations, and small claims. The Circuit Clerk also handles jury duty and court filings.

Sumter County is part of the 17th Judicial Circuit along with Greene and Marengo counties. A circuit judge travels to each county to hear cases. This means court schedules vary throughout the month. Check the docket before you plan a courthouse visit.

You can search court records through pa.alacourt.com. The site shows case summaries and hearing dates. To get full case files, you may need to visit the Circuit Clerk office or order copies by mail. Not all documents are scanned into the online system.

Criminal background checks often come from court records. You can run a name search on Alacourt to see if someone has cases in Sumter County. For official background checks, contact the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency or use their online portal. Court records are public unless a judge has sealed them.

Sumter County Recording Fees

Sumter County follows state fee guidelines for most services. Recording fees help cover the cost of maintaining public records. Fees can change, so call ahead if you need exact amounts.

Common fees in Sumter County include:

• Copy of recorded document: $1 per page
• Certified copy: $2 per page plus $1 certification
• Recording a deed: $20 for first page, $3 each additional
• Recording a mortgage: $20 for first page, $3 each additional
• Marriage license: $70 to $80 range

The county accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Credit cards may be accepted for some services. Ask when you call or visit. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the Sumter County Probate Court.

Deed tax and mortgage tax apply when you record property transfers. Deed tax is $0.50 per $500 of sale price. Mortgage tax is $0.15 per $100 of the loan amount. These state taxes add to your recording costs.

Sumter County Property Records

Property records show who owns land and buildings in Sumter County. These records include deeds, mortgages, easements, and liens. The Probate Court maintains all property records for the county. You need these records for title searches, real estate sales, and boundary disputes.

Deeds transfer property from one owner to another. Sumter County has warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, and special warranty deeds. Each type offers different protections to the buyer. A title company or attorney can explain which type fits your situation.

Mortgages and liens show debts attached to property. Banks file mortgages when they lend money for a home purchase. Tax liens appear when owners fall behind on property taxes. Judgment liens can attach when someone loses a lawsuit. All these records are public.

To search property records, you can contact the Probate Court with a name or address. Staff will search the grantor and grantee indexes for you. These indexes list every deed by the seller name and buyer name. For a full title search going back many years, consider hiring a title company.

Vital Records in Sumter County

Vital records include birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage records. In Alabama, the state health department handles birth and death records. Marriage licenses come from the county probate courts.

For birth and death certificates, contact the Alabama Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery. You can order online through the VitalChek service or by mail directly to the state. Sumter County does not issue these records. The state charges about $15 per certified copy.

Marriage licenses are different. You get these from the Sumter County Probate Court. Alabama no longer requires a ceremony to be married. Since 2019, couples just file a marriage certificate form with the Probate Court. Both parties must sign the form, and it gets recorded. The fee runs around $70 to $80.

Marriage records from Sumter County stay with the Probate Court. You can request copies there. Old marriage records may also be on file with the state health department. For genealogy research, check both sources.

How to Request Public Records

Alabama law gives you the right to access most government records. This is sometimes called the open records law. Sumter County offices must respond to public records requests within a reasonable time. The state recently updated the law to set clearer deadlines.

For property records, contact the Probate Court directly. For court records, go to the Circuit Clerk. For other county records like meeting minutes or budgets, contact the specific department that created the record. Each office handles its own records.

You do not need to give a reason for your request. The law says records are open to everyone. However, some records have restrictions. Sealed court files, juvenile records, and certain personnel files may not be public. The office will tell you if a record is restricted.

Fees for copies are allowed under state law. The county can charge for staff time on large requests. Most small requests cost just a few dollars. Get a quote before the office does the work if you want to avoid surprise fees.

Cities in Sumter County

Sumter County has several small towns but no large cities. Livingston is the county seat and largest town with about 3,500 people. All cities and towns in the county file property records at the Sumter County Probate Court. Court cases go through the Sumter County Circuit Court.

Other communities in Sumter County include York, Geiger, Emelle, Epes, Cuba, and Gainesville. These are all small towns. None have their own records offices. All public records for these areas go through the county courthouse in Livingston.

Nearby Counties

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

Sumter County also borders Mississippi to the west. If you need records from across the state line, contact Noxubee County or Kemper County in Mississippi.

Legal Help and Resources

Finding records is one thing. Understanding what they mean is another. If you need legal help in Sumter County, several resources are available.

Legal Services Alabama provides free legal aid to people who qualify based on income. They help with civil matters like housing, family law, and public benefits. They do not handle criminal cases. Contact them at 1-866-456-4995 or visit their website to apply.

The Alabama State Bar has a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with an attorney in the Sumter County area. The service is free, though the lawyer will charge for their time. Call 1-800-392-5660 to get a referral.

For self-help legal forms, check the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts website. They have forms for common matters like small claims, name changes, and divorces. The forms are free to download. Court staff cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you which forms to file.