Walker County Public Records

Walker County public records are kept at the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk offices in Jasper. The county uses Ingenuity software and AL Tags for online records access.

Walker County Probate Court

The Walker County Probate Court handles all property records for the county. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and marriage licenses are filed here. The office also deals with estate matters and adoptions. The Probate Judge is Hon. Jimmy Porch.

You can visit the courthouse in downtown Jasper to search records in person. Staff can help you find what you need. Bring the property address or names of the parties if you have them. This makes searches go faster. The records room has computer terminals for public use.

Walker County sits in northwest Alabama. It covers about 800 square miles. Most of the population lives in or near Jasper. The county has rural areas too. All property transactions in these areas go through the Jasper office. There is no branch location.

Search Walker County Records Online

Walker County uses the Ingenuity software system. This lets you search property records from home or office. The system is available around the clock. You can look up deeds, mortgages, and other land records without visiting Jasper.

To use the online system:

• Go to the Walker County website
• Find the online records link
• Search by name, book and page, or instrument number
• View index information for free
• Pay a fee to see document images

The county also participates in the AL Tags system. This covers vehicle registration and tag renewal. You can handle tag business online instead of going to the courthouse. The system accepts credit cards.

Some records are not online yet. Older documents from before the computer era may need an in-person search. Staff can help with historical records. These go back to when the county was formed in 1823. Walker County has worked to digitize old records, but the project is not done.

Walker County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk keeps all trial court records. This office is separate from Probate Court. Court records cover civil lawsuits, criminal cases, divorces, and traffic matters. Walker County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit.

You can search Walker County court records through the statewide Alacourt system. Go to pa.alacourt.com for public access. The fee is $9.99 per name search. This gets you one case detail. More cases cost $9.99 each. Document images start at $5.00 for up to 20 pages.

The Walker County Circuit Clerk website is at walker.alacourt.gov. Here you can find court schedules and local rules. The site has contact info for the clerk office too.

District Court handles smaller cases. Traffic tickets, misdemeanors, and small claims go here. The District Court is in the same building. Check Alacourt for these records too.

Walker County Recording Fees

Walker County charges fees for recording documents and making copies. These fees follow state guidelines but can vary a bit. Check with the Probate Court for current rates before you send payment.

Typical fees include:

• Recording a deed: around $20 for first page, plus per page after
• Copy of recorded document: $1 per page
• Certified copy: $2 per page plus certification fee
• Marriage license: around $70
• Online image viewing: per-page fee applies

Payment methods vary by office. The Probate Court takes cash, check, and money order. Some services accept credit cards. Online systems take card payments. Call ahead if you are not sure what payment they accept.

Deed tax and mortgage tax apply to real estate transactions. The deed tax is $0.50 per $500 of property value. Mortgage tax is $0.15 per $100 of debt secured. These are state rates that apply in Walker County.

Other Walker County Records

The Probate Court handles more than property records. You can get marriage licenses here. The office also processes estate matters when someone dies. Guardianships and conservatorships go through Probate too.

For birth and death certificates, you have two options. You can order from the Alabama Department of Public Health. Or you can try the local health department in Walker County. The state office in Montgomery has records going back to 1908. Older records may be at local or county archives.

Tax records are at the Revenue Commissioner office. This includes property tax information and assessment data. The office is in the courthouse complex. You can check property values and tax bills here. Some tax info is online through the county website.

Sheriff records include arrest logs and incident reports. Contact the Walker County Sheriff Office for these. The jail also keeps booking records. Some of this information is public. Other parts may be restricted.

Alabama Public Records Law

Alabama law makes most government records public. The state updated its public records law in 2024. Under Act 2024-277, agencies must respond to requests within 15 business days. This applies to Walker County offices.

You can request records in writing or in person. Email requests work too in most cases. You do not have to give a reason for wanting records. The law says records are open unless a specific exemption applies.

Some records are exempt from disclosure. These include:

• Sealed court records
• Juvenile case files
• Active criminal investigations
• Personnel files (parts of them)
• Medical records
• Trade secrets

If an office denies your request, they must tell you why. You can appeal denials. The new law created better enforcement options. Agencies that violate the law can face penalties.

Tips for Searching Walker County Records

Here are some things to know before you search. These tips can save you time and money.

Know what you need before you start. Property records need an address or owner name. Court records need a case number or party name. The more info you have, the easier the search.

Try online first. Many records are available from home now. You can check basic info without driving to Jasper. Save a trip for when you need certified copies or old records.

Call ahead for complex requests. Staff can tell you if they have what you need. They may also suggest the best way to get it. This is especially helpful for historical records.

Bring ID if you visit in person. Some records require proof of identity. Others need proof of relationship. Marriage records and some court files have these rules.

Check multiple offices. Property records are at Probate. Court records are at Circuit Clerk. Tax records are at Revenue. Each office handles different things. Knowing where to go saves time.

Cities in Walker County

Walker County has several cities and towns. All property records are filed at the Walker County Probate Court in Jasper. Court cases go through the Walker County Circuit Court.

Major communities include Jasper (the county seat), Carbon Hill, Cordova, Dora, Oakman, Parrish, and Sumiton. These towns range from small rural communities to the larger Jasper area. None of them are big enough to have separate city pages, but they all use the county courthouse for public records.

Nearby Counties

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