Alabama runs one statewide court system, not 67 separate ones. The Alabama Unified Judicial System sets common rules for every county. The buildings, hours and local habits still differ a great deal between a Birmingham courthouse and a county seat on Sand Mountain. This page explains how the pieces fit together, so you can work out which office handles your problem before you drive there. Our database lists 346 court offices across the state, and the notes below draw on those listings and on how Alabama courts are actually organised.

How the Alabama Unified Judicial System Divides Cases

The Alabama Constitution and the Code of Alabama create a single court structure for the whole state. The Administrative Office of Courts in Montgomery supports it, and the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court serves as its administrative head. Judges and clerks in your county follow statewide rules, even though each courthouse has its own staff, schedule and customs.

Four trial-level courts matter to most residents:

Above these sit the appellate courts: the Alabama Supreme Court, the Court of Civil Appeals and the Court of Criminal Appeals, all based in Montgomery. You will only deal with them after a trial court has ruled. Alabama elects its judges in partisan elections, so the person on the bench in your county is usually a local lawyer who ran on the ballot. The state is also divided into judicial circuits, and a circuit may cover one county or several.

Courts in Alabama: Birmingham, Huntsville and the Rural County Seats

Jefferson County has the largest number of court listings in the state, 28 in our database. The county is split into two divisions, one in Birmingham and one in Bessemer. The Bessemer Courthouse at 23 15th Street North (205-426-8602) serves the western part of the county. Brookside Municipal Court at 2711 Municipal Drive (205-674-9275) is one of the many city courts around the metro area. If you live in the Birmingham suburbs, the city on your ticket or paperwork usually tells you which court you need. Our Jefferson County page lists the rest.

In Huntsville, Madison County District Court sits at 100 Northside Square (256-532-3380), on the downtown square. Further south, the Dothan Courthouse at 115 West Adams Street (334-615-4150) serves Houston County. The Decatur Courthouse at 402 Lee Street Northeast (256-341-4676) serves Morgan County. These larger courthouses tend to have separate counters for civil, criminal and traffic business, plus security screening at the door.

Split Courthouses on Sand Mountain and in the Northeast Hills

Some counties run courts from more than one town. Marshall County has 10 listings, including the Albertville Courthouse at 200 Sand Mountain Drive (256-891-8291) and the Mountainboro Courthouse at 19 North Main Street in Boaz (256-593-0087). Residents of Boaz and Albertville should check which building hears their case type. Each location may handle a different set of dockets.

In Etowah County, the Gadsden Courthouse at 90 Broad Street (256-549-4595) is the main stop. Our Etowah County page covers its other offices. In Anniston, the Calhoun County District Court at 25 West 11th Street (256-231-1866) serves the area. More offices are listed under Calhoun County. Anniston and Gadsden each have three listings, which reflects a mix of county, district and municipal offices in the same city.

Rural counties work differently. The Bibb County District Court at 35 Court Square West in Centreville (205-926-3106), the Camden Courthouse in Wilcox County at 108 Water Street (334-682-4603) and the Carrollton Courthouse in Pickens County at 1 Courthouse Square (205-367-8711) are small offices. A few clerks may handle several jobs, and some dockets meet only on set days of the week. Call before you go, and ask which day your type of case is heard. Do not assume the office is open for walk-in business on every weekday.

What to Bring and When to Go to an Alabama Courthouse

Preparation saves more time than anything else. Most visits go wrong because someone arrives without a case number or the right paper. Use this checklist before you leave home:

Clerk offices generally keep weekday business hours and close on state holidays. Alabama's holiday calendar includes some local observances, such as Mardi Gras in Mobile and Baldwin counties, so check before planning a trip around that date. Arrive early for security screening. Many courthouses restrict phones, bags or sharp objects, and a line at the metal detector on a busy Monday can take longer than the visit itself.

Dress neatly if you have a hearing, and plan to wait. Clerks and bailiffs cannot give legal advice. They can tell you where to go, what forms exist and what the filing process looks like. That is useful, but it is not the same as legal guidance.

Fees, Hardship Waivers and Free Legal Help in Alabama

Filing fees are set by statute and vary by court and case type, so ask the clerk for the current amount before you go. If you cannot afford the fee, Alabama courts allow you to file an affidavit of substantial hardship. A judge reviews it and decides whether to waive or delay the costs. Fines on traffic tickets and misdemeanors are separate, and you should ask the municipal or district court clerk whether a payment plan is possible.

For civil problems such as evictions, family law or benefits disputes, Legal Services Alabama offers free help to people who meet income limits. The Alabama State Bar also runs a lawyer referral service if you want a private attorney. Whichever route you choose, keep copies of every paper you file. Write down the name of the clerk you spoke to and the date. That record helps if a hearing date changes or a document goes missing.

Courts in Alabama operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Alabama Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 256 cities across Alabama. They are spread across 68 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Birmingham, Centreville, Dothan, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Alabama should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
L
M
P
R
S
T
W

Residents of Alabama who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Alabama to find the nearest location.

Using the Alabama Court Listings Without Wasting a Trip

Some Alabama court listings look confusing at first, so a few notes help. Many entries use a town name, while the court itself belongs to a county. The Albertville Courthouse and the Mountainboro Courthouse both sit in Marshall County, yet they are different buildings in different towns. Henry County District Court appears in our database at an Eufaula address under Barbour County. When a name and a county seem mismatched, trust the street address and phone number, then call to confirm.

County courthouses also share space. One building often houses the circuit clerk, the district court and sometimes the probate office, but each has its own counter and its own line. Ask at the information desk, or call ahead, to learn which window handles your matter.

Three steps work in almost every county. First, find your case number or ticket number. Second, call the clerk for that courthouse and confirm the hours and the courtroom. Third, ask which payment methods and forms of ID the office accepts. Those questions prevent most wasted trips, especially in rural counties where one clerk may cover several functions. If your matter crosses county lines, the court named on your paperwork controls, not the one nearest your home.

Alabama Courts: Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on who wrote the ticket. A citation from a city police officer normally goes to that city's municipal court, such as Brookside Municipal Court at 2711 Municipal Drive in Birmingham or Athens Municipal Court on Hobbs Street East. Tickets from state troopers or county deputies outside city limits usually go to the district court of the county. The court name and appearance date are printed on the ticket. Call the clerk before the date if you cannot attend, because ignoring a ticket can bring added penalties and license problems. Ask whether you can pay by mail or must appear.

Small claims belong in the district court. Alabama's small claims limit is $6,000, and you do not need a lawyer. File with the district court clerk in the county where the defendant lives or does business, or where the problem happened. For example, Madison County residents can start at Madison County District Court, 100 Northside Square in Huntsville, 256-532-3380. Bring a written summary of the claim, the defendant's full name and address, and copies of contracts, receipts or photos. The clerk will quote the filing fee and explain how the other side must be notified.

Probate courts handle matters tied to families and estates: wills, estate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, adoptions and involuntary mental-health commitments. The probate office also issues marriage licenses and records deeds in each county. Circuit courts handle felonies, large civil suits, divorce and child custody. Alabama has an elected probate judge in every one of its 67 counties. A probate case that becomes a contested dispute can be moved to circuit court. If you are unsure which office you need, call the probate office or the circuit clerk and describe your situation in one sentence.

Jefferson County is Alabama's most populous county, and state law divides its court business between a Birmingham Division and a Bessemer Division. The Bessemer Courthouse at 23 15th Street North, phone 205-426-8602, serves the western side of the county. The Birmingham courthouse serves the rest. Where a case goes generally depends on where the events took place or where the parties live. Your summons, ticket or filing notice names the correct division, so read it closely. If you are unsure, call before driving, since showing up at the wrong division can cost you a missed hearing or a long second trip.

Alabama's state court system offers an online case search service called Alacourt, and attorneys file civil cases electronically through AlaFile. Some search features require registration or a fee, and municipal court records may not appear in the same system. If you cannot find your case online, call the clerk at the courthouse. For example, the Baldwin County courts in Baldwin County, including the Bay Minette Courthouse at 300 North Hoyle Avenue (251-580-2558), can confirm a hearing time by phone. Have your name, the case number or ticket number, and the approximate filing date ready when you call.

Read the summons first. It names the courthouse, the date and the time, and it gives the clerk's phone number. Jurors are drawn from county residents. In Alabama they must be U.S. citizens and at least 19 years old, the state's age of majority. If you have a real conflict, such as illness, caregiving duties or a work obligation, contact the clerk quickly and send any documentation requested. A judge decides whether to excuse you or move your date. Do not ignore a summons, because failing to appear can lead to a court order and penalties. Bring photo ID on the day you report.