Divorce records are public in Alabama under Ala. Code § 36-12-40, meaning any person may inspect or copy a divorce case file. A certified divorce certificate from the Alabama Department of Public Health costs $15.00 as of 2026 and includes one certified copy. Courts seal records only by order.
Alabama treats divorce records as open judicial documents, a policy rooted in the state's public-records tradition of governmental transparency. This guide explains exactly what is public, what stays private, how to run a divorce records search, what a certified copy costs, and the narrow legal path to seal divorce records under Alabama law. Every figure below was verified against the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Code of Alabama in 2026.
Key Facts: Alabama Divorce & Records
| Factor | Alabama Detail |
|---|---|
| Records Public? | Yes — Ala. Code § 36-12-40 |
| Divorce Certificate Fee | $15.00 (1 certified copy); $6.00 each additional |
| Court Filing Fee | ~$200–$400 (varies by county) |
| Waiting Period | 30 days from filing — Ala. Code § 30-2-8.1 |
| Residency Requirement | 6 months if defendant is nonresident — Ala. Code § 30-2-5 |
| Grounds | No-fault + fault-based — Ala. Code § 30-2-1 |
| Property Division | Equitable distribution |
| Records Since | ADPH certificates from 1950; earlier at Circuit Court |
Are Divorce Records Public in Alabama?
Divorce records are public in Alabama under Ala. Code § 36-12-40, which grants every citizen the right to inspect and copy any public document generated by the state, including divorce case files, unless a statute or court order exempts them. This means anyone with enough identifying information can access a divorce filing without proving a relationship to the parties.
Alabama's public-records framework rests on the principle that judicial proceedings should remain transparent. Because divorce is resolved through the Circuit Court system, the resulting decree, motions, and orders become part of the public court record. A member of the public does not need to be a spouse, relative, or attorney to view most divorce filings. The practical effect is that a divorce records search in Alabama is open to journalists, employers running background checks, genealogists, and curious neighbors alike. The state balances this openness against privacy through narrow statutory exceptions and judge-approved sealing orders, but the default position under Alabama law is disclosure, not secrecy.
Where Are Alabama Divorce Records Kept?
Alabama stores divorce records at two separate levels: the Circuit Court Clerk in each of the state's 67 counties holds the complete case file, while the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Center for Health Statistics maintains short-form divorce certificates for divorces occurring since 1950. These are distinct records serving different purposes.
The Circuit Court file is the comprehensive record. It contains the full divorce decree, property settlement agreements, custody and parenting orders, financial affidavits, and every motion filed during the case. To obtain public divorce filings with this level of detail, you contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. The ADPH certificate, by contrast, is a one-page vital record that simply confirms a divorce occurred, listing the parties' names, the county, and the date. Divorces finalized before 1950 are not in the ADPH system at all — those records exist only at the county Circuit Court that issued them. Choosing the right source depends on whether you need proof a divorce happened or the full contents of the case.
How to Search Alabama Divorce Records
You can run a free divorce records search in Alabama through the Alacourt public access system, which covers all 67 counties and displays case numbers, filing dates, party names, and case status, though it does not release the full decree document. For a certified copy, you must request records from the Circuit Court Clerk or the ADPH.
The Alacourt online portal is the fastest starting point for a divorce records search because it lets you confirm a case exists and retrieve the case number before ordering documents. Once you have identifying details, you have three paths to certified public divorce filings. First, contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the granting county to request the full case file, paying the clerk's per-page copy fees. Second, order a divorce certificate from ADPH for proof-of-divorce purposes. Third, visit any county health department in person, where most divorce certificates can be issued while you wait. Each route produces a legally recognized record, but only the Circuit Court file contains the substantive terms of the divorce, such as asset division and custody arrangements.
What Does an Alabama Divorce Certificate Cost?
A certified Alabama divorce certificate costs $15.00 as of 2026, which includes one certified copy of the record or a "Certificate of Failure to Find" if no record exists. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $6.00, and expedited processing adds a $15.00 fee. Fees are non-refundable.
The Alabama Department of Public Health's Center for Health Statistics processes these requests and has maintained divorce certificates since 1950. Payment must be made by check or money order payable to "Center for Health Statistics" — cash is not accepted for mailed requests. You can order three ways: by mail to Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5625; in person at any county health department, where certificates are often issued while you wait; or online and by phone through VitalChek at 1-888-279-9888, which charges additional service and shipping fees. As of 2026, verify current pricing with the Alabama Department of Public Health or your local clerk, since vital-record fees can change without broad public notice.
Alabama Divorce Records: Cost Comparison
| Record Type | Source | Cost (2026) | Contains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case status lookup | Alacourt online | Free | Case number, filing date, status |
| Divorce certificate | ADPH | $15.00 + $6.00/extra | Names, county, date of divorce |
| Expedited certificate | ADPH | $15.00 + $15.00 rush | Same, faster processing |
| Full case file | Circuit Court Clerk | Per-page clerk fees | Decree, custody, property terms |
| Online certificate | VitalChek | $15.00 + service fees | Certified divorce certificate |
As of 2026. Verify current fees with your local clerk or the Alabama Department of Public Health.
What Divorce Information Stays Private in Alabama?
Even though divorce records are public in Alabama, courts routinely protect specific categories of sensitive information, including children's identifying details, complete Social Security numbers, bank account and credit card numbers, medical records entered as evidence, and domestic violence documentation such as police reports and protective orders. These protections operate through statute and court rule rather than blanket secrecy.
Alabama courts can issue protective orders under Rule 26(c) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure to restrict access to particular documents or data within an otherwise public case. Separately, Ala. Code § 30-3-194 provides confidentiality for certain child-support records, which can shield financial identifiers tied to support enforcement. These mechanisms allow the court to redact or restrict discrete items — a minor's school information, a full account number, a victim's home address — without sealing the entire divorce file. The result is a layered approach to divorce records privacy: the case remains publicly searchable and the decree accessible, but the most exploitable personal identifiers are removed or limited before disclosure. Parties who want specific data protected must request it, because redaction is not automatic in every filing.
How to Seal Divorce Records in Alabama
To seal divorce records in Alabama, a party must file a motion with the Circuit Court and prove by clear and convincing evidence that the records contain information posing a serious threat of harassment, exploitation, physical intrusion, or other particularized harm. The judge holds complete discretion, and sealing is rarely granted because the public's right of access is strong.
Under the standard set by the Alabama Supreme Court, the court must conduct a hearing on any motion to seal and may only seal records when the moving party meets the demanding clear-and-convincing burden. Ala. Code § 12-15-103 authorizes confidentiality in specific contexts, but general divorce sealing turns on the case-law standard. Courts are most receptive when records contain scandalous or defamatory material, trade secrets, national-security matters, or details that could endanger the parties or a third person not involved in the litigation. If you cannot meet the full sealing standard, a narrower protective order under Rule 26(c) may restrict access to sensitive portions instead. Once a court seals a divorce record, access is limited to the parties, their attorneys, and officers of the court. Because success depends heavily on the individual judge and the strength of your evidence, this is a decision to review with a licensed Alabama family-law attorney.
Alabama Divorce Filing Basics That Affect Your Record
Before a public divorce record exists, a spouse must file a complaint meeting Alabama's residency and grounds requirements, and the court cannot finalize the divorce until 30 days after filing under Ala. Code § 30-2-8.1. Filing fees generally range from about $200 to $400 depending on the county and whether minor children are involved.
Alabama requires a six-month bona fide residency for the filing spouse only when the defendant is a nonresident, per Ala. Code § 30-2-5; if both spouses live in Alabama, no minimum durational residency applies. This six-month rule is jurisdictional — filing prematurely can render the final decree void. Reported 2026 county filing fees include roughly $208 in Mobile County, $192 in Marion County, $290 in Jefferson County (Birmingham), and $324 to $344 in Madison County (Huntsville). Residents who cannot afford the cost may request a waiver by filing an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship, generally available at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. Every one of these filings — complaint, decree, and supporting motions — becomes part of the public court record once entered, which is why understanding divorce records privacy matters from the moment you file. As of 2026, verify filing fees with your local Circuit Court clerk.