Washington County Public Records

Washington County public records are kept by the Probate Court and Circuit Clerk in Chatom. This rural county in southwest Alabama has about 16,000 residents and uses the Ingenuity system for online court record access.

Washington County Probate Court

The Probate Court in Washington County handles property records for the entire county. This office maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and marriage licenses. The Probate Judge also handles estate matters, wills, and guardianship cases. You can visit the courthouse in Chatom to search records or request copies.

Washington County is one of the oldest counties in Alabama. It was formed in 1800 from territory that was part of the Mississippi Territory. The county covers over 1,000 square miles of land in the southwest corner of the state. Most of the population lives in small towns spread across this large area. Chatom became the county seat in 1907 after it was moved from McIntosh.

Search Washington County Records Online

Washington County uses the Ingenuity court management system. This lets you look up court cases online through the state Alacourt portal. The system covers civil cases, criminal cases, traffic matters, and domestic relations. You can search by name, case number, or other details.

To search Washington County court records online, go to pa.alacourt.com. A basic name search costs $9.99. This includes one case detail. Each extra case is $9.99 more. Document images cost $5.00 for the first 20 pages. The Alacourt system is run by the state, not the county. It covers all 67 Alabama counties.

Property records work a bit different. The Probate Court keeps land records. Some counties have these online. Washington County has limited online access for property records. You may need to visit the courthouse in Chatom or call to request a search. The staff can look up deeds and mortgages by name or parcel number.

Marriage records from Washington County are at the Probate Court too. Marriage licenses have been required in Alabama since 1936. Before that, many marriages were not recorded at all. The state changed its marriage law in 2019. Now couples fill out a form instead of having a ceremony. The Probate Court keeps these marriage certificates on file.

Washington County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk maintains all trial court records in Washington County. This office is separate from the Probate Court. The Circuit Clerk handles civil lawsuits, criminal cases, family court matters, and appeals. Washington County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit along with Choctaw and Clarke counties.

The Circuit Court hears serious cases. Felony crimes go to Circuit Court. Civil cases over $10,000 also go there. The court handles divorces, adoptions, and custody disputes. Most people need a lawyer for Circuit Court cases. The court can be busy even in a small county.

District Court handles less serious matters. Misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and small claims go to District Court. Civil cases under $20,000 can be filed in District Court. Many people handle these cases without a lawyer. The District Court shares space in the Chatom courthouse.

You can get court records in person at the courthouse. The Circuit Clerk office is on the main floor. Bring ID and the case number if you have it. Staff can search by name too. There are fees for copies. Cash and checks are usually accepted. Call ahead to make sure the office will be open.

Washington County Recording Fees

Washington County follows Alabama state guidelines for recording fees. Fees can change, so you should call and verify rates before sending payment. The Probate Court collects these fees when you record documents.

Typical fees for Washington County:

• Recording fee: varies by document type
• Copy of recorded document: $1 per page
• Certified copy: additional fee per page
• Marriage license: set by state law
• Search fee: may apply for staff time

Deed recording has a base fee plus per-page charges. The state collects a portion of every recording fee. There is also a deed tax of $0.50 per $500 of property value. Mortgage recording has a separate tax of $0.15 per $100 of debt. These taxes go to the state, not the county.

Payment methods vary by office. The courthouse may take cash, checks, or money orders. Credit cards might not be accepted everywhere. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the office. Include a return envelope with postage if you want copies mailed back.

How to Request Public Records

Alabama law gives the public access to government records. Washington County offices must respond to records requests. The 2024 changes to state law set a 15 business day deadline for standard requests. Complex requests can take longer.

To request records from Washington County, contact the office that has what you need. For property records, call the Probate Court. For court cases, contact the Circuit Clerk. For other county records, try the county commission office. Be specific about what records you want. This helps staff find them faster.

You can make requests in person, by mail, or sometimes by email. There is no required form in most cases. Just put your request in writing. Include your contact information and describe the records clearly. If you are not sure which office has the records, call and ask. Staff will direct you to the right place.

Fees may apply for copies and staff time. Simple requests might be free. Larger requests could have charges for copying and research. The office should tell you the cost before they do the work. You can narrow your request if the fees are too high. This is common for large requests that cover many years.

Legal Resources in Washington County

Washington County residents have access to several legal help options. The Alabama State Bar has a lawyer referral service. You can find an attorney who handles your type of case. The bar can be reached at (800) 392-5660.

Legal Services Alabama helps low-income residents. They offer free legal help for civil matters. This includes housing issues, family law, and benefits problems. They do not handle criminal cases. You have to meet income guidelines to qualify. Visit legalservicesalabama.org for more information.

The Washington County law library is at the courthouse. It has legal forms, statute books, and case reporters. The library is open during courthouse hours. Librarians can help you find materials but cannot give legal advice. Self-help forms are available for common matters like small claims and name changes.

For criminal cases, the public defender office helps people who cannot afford a lawyer. You must qualify based on income. The court will appoint a public defender if you are eligible. This applies to criminal charges that could result in jail time.

Towns in Washington County

Washington County has several small towns and communities. All property records are filed at the Washington County Probate Court in Chatom. Court cases go through the Washington County courts regardless of where you live in the county.

The main towns in Washington County include Chatom (the county seat), McIntosh, Millry, Fruitdale, Leroy, and Carson. None of these towns have populations over 100,000, so all records matters are handled at the county level. The entire county has about 16,000 residents spread across over 1,000 square miles.

If you live in Washington County and need public records, go to the courthouse in Chatom. The drive can be long from some parts of the county. Call ahead to make sure the office has what you need. This saves you a wasted trip. Staff can often tell you over the phone if a record exists.

Nearby Counties

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