Unfortunately, approximately fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce, resulting in divorce records. The local county courthouse in the state where the divorce took place is responsible for holding most divorce records. Therefore, anyone searching for official divorce records should begin at the local county courthouse level.
If you don’t know the county where the divorce took place, you have several choices for conducting your search. If your state has one, you can look at the state repository where you should find a collection of all of the divorce records that have been generated in Alabama. Additionally, searching your state one county at a time should locate the divorce records that you are looking for.
You can conduct a search at every county in Alabama until you are successful in finding the divorce records. Your last option involves conducting a search for past and current spouses of the person whose divorce records you are trying to find. This type of search includes the addresses for each spouse. Once you have that information, continue your search for finding divorce records at the county courthouse that coincides with these.
Typically, divorce records include the first, middle, and last names of the divorced individuals. The wife’s maiden name is often included. Plus, the county name where the divorce took place is listed along with the official date of the divorce, the recorded date of the filing of the divorce, and an identifying certificate number. Some states will also include the number of children under the age of eighteen at the time of the divorce.
A basic search for divorce records usually takes two to ten business days. If little information is provided for the search, it might take longer. Genealogical searches often take much longer depending on the date of the divorce. In some cases, specific divorce records simply do not exist because the records were never written up or they were damaged by fire.
A written request is often required when trying to find divorce records. This must include personal information about the requestor, including your name and relationship to the individual for whom you are trying to find divorce records. A small fee is often required as well. The fee should cost between five and fifteen dollars, depending on the courthouse location. Longer searches such as genealogical searches often charge additional fees.
Follow these guidelines for a successful search for official divorce records:
1. Print or type each name and address clearly, including the full name of both individuals. The wife’s maiden name should be included.
2. Keep the request brief and to the point.
3. Limit the request to one document.
4. Include full names of the individuals, including nicknames and alternate spellings.
5. Include full addresses of the individuals at the time of the divorce, including street, city or town, county, and state.
6. Include the date of the finalized divorce. Include a time frame for the search if you don’t have the exact date. Specify only a short span of years for an unknown year search. You should expect to pay an additional fee for unknown year searches since they require more effort.
7. Include your contact information such as a daytime and evening telephone number. A fax number or an e-mail address is also a good idea.
8. Include your relationship to the individuals who are listed in your request.
9. Include the purpose of your request for divorce records.
10. Print your name and sign your request.
11. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request.
12. Date your request. An alphabetical list of addresses for county courthouses in Alabama is provided:
Autauga County
Autauga County Clerk
134 N Court St
Prattville, AL 36067-0488
Telephone: (334) 361-3725
Baldwin County
Baldwin County Clerk
P.O. Box 239
Bay Minette, AL 36507-0239
Telephone: (251) 937-9561
Barbour County
Barbour County Clerk
1800 Fifth Avenue, North
P.O. Box 398
Clayton, AL 36016
Telephone: (334) 775-8371
Bibb County
Bibb County 455 Walnut St., Room #100
Centreville, AL 35042
Telephone: (205) 926-3103
Blount County
Blount County Clerk
P.O. Box 668
Oneonta, AL 35121
(205) 625-4160
Telephone: (205) 625-4191
Bullock County
Bullock County Clerk
P.O. Box 71
Union Springs, AL 36089-0071
Telephone: (334) 738-2280 for divorce records, (334) 738-2250 for marriage and probate records
Butler County
Butler County Clerk
700 Court Square
Greenville, AL 36037-2326
Telephone: (334) 382-3512
Calhoun County
Calhoun County Clerk
P.O. Box 610
Anniston, AL 36202-0610
Telephone: (256) 236-8231
Chambers County
Chambers County Clerk
Court Square
Lafayette, AL 36862
Telephone: (334) 864-7181
Cherokee County
Cherokee County Clerk
100 Main St.
Centre, AL 35960-1534
Telephone: (256) 927-3363
Chilton County
Chilton County Clerk
P.O. Box 557
Clanton, AL 35045-0057
Telephone: (205) 755-1555
For marriage records:
Chilton County Probate Office
P.O. Box 270
Clanton, Alabama 35046
Telephone: (205) 755-1555
Choctaw County
Choctaw County Clerk
117 S. Mulberry Ave.
Butler, AL 36904
Telephone: (205) 459-2155
Clarke County
Clarke County Clerk
P.O. Box 548
Grove Hill, AL 36451-0548
Telephone: (251) 275-3251
Clay County
Clay County Courthouse
Judge of Probate
P.O. Box 187
Ashland, AL 36251
Telephone: (256) 396-6421
Cleburne County
Cleburne County Clerk
406 Vickery Street
Heflin, AL 36264
Telephone: (256) 463-5655
Coffee County
Coffee County Clerk
230 Court Street
Elba, AL 36323
Telephone: (334) 897-2211
Colbert County
Colbert County Clerk
201 North Main Street
Tuscumbia, AL 35674-2042
Telephone: (256) 383-6353
Conecuh County
Conecuh County Clerk
200 Court Square, Jackson St.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 149
Evergreen, AL 36401
Telephone: (251) 578-1221
Coosa County
Coosa County Clerk
P.O. Box 218
Rockford, AL 35136
Telephone: (256) 362-5721
Covington County
Covington County Clerk
1 Court Square
Andalusia, AL 36420
Telephone: (334) 222-3189
Crenshaw County
Crenshaw County Clerk
P.O. Box 227
Luverne, AL 36049-0227
Telephone: (334) 335-6569
Cullman County
Cullman County Clerk
P.O. Box 698
Cullman, AL 35056-0698
Telephone: (256) 739-3530
Dale County
Dale County Clerk
P.O. Box 246
Ozark, AL 36361-0246
Telephone: (334) 774-2754 for marriage records, (334) 774-5003 for divorce records
Dallas County
Dallas County Clerk
P.O. Box 997
Selma, AL 36702-0997
Telephone: (334) 875-4401
DeKalb County
DeKalb County Clerk
111 Grand Ave, Ste 200
Fort Payne, AL 35967
Telephone: (256) 845-8525
Elmore County
Elmore County Clerk
P.O. Box 280
Wetumpka, AL 36092-0280
Telephone: (334) 567-2571
Escambia County
Escambia County Clerk
P.O. Box 848
Brewton, AL 36427-0848
Telephone: (850) 595-6543
Etowah County
Etowah County Clerk
800 Forrest Avenue
Gadsden, AL 35901-3641
Telephone: (256) 546-2821
Fayette County
Fayette County Clerk
P.O. Box 509
Fayette, AL 35555-0509
Telephone: (205) 932-4519
Franklin County
Franklin County Clerk
P.O. Box 1438
Russellville, AL 35653
Telephone: (256) 332-1210
Geneva County
Geneva County Clerk
P.O. Box 430
Geneva, AL 36340-0430
Telephone: (334) 684-2276
Greene County
Greene County Clerk
P.O. Box 656
Eutaw, AL 35462-0656
Telephone:(205) 372-3349
Hale County
Hale County Clerk
P.O. Box 396
Greensboro, AL 36744-0396
Telephone: (334) 624-8740
Henry County
Henry County Clerk
P.O. Box 337
Abbeville, AL 36310-0337
Telephone: (334) 585-3257
Houston County
Houston County Clerk
100 North Oates Street
Dothan, AL 36302-6406
Telephone: (334) 793-1114
Jackson County
Jackson County Probate
204 Liberty Ln.
Scottsboro, AL 35769
Telephone: (256) 574-9290
Jefferson County
Jefferson County Clerk
716 North 21st Street
Birmingham, AL 35263
Telephone: (205) 325-5512
Lamar County
Lamar County Clerk
P.O. Box 338
Vernon, AL 35592-0338
Telephone: (205) 695-9119
Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County Clerk
P.O. Box 1059
Florence, AL 35631-1059
Telephone: (256) 760-5800
Lawrence County
Lawrence County Clerk
P.O. Box 307
Moulton, AL 35650
Telephone: (256) 974-2440
Lee County
Lee County Clerk
215 S 9th St
Opelika, AL 36801-0666
Telephone: (334) 749-7141
Limestone County
Limestone County Clerk
310 West Washington Street
Athens, AL 35611
Telephone: (256) 233-6404
Lowndes County
Lowndes County Clerk
P.O. Box 66
Hayneville, AL 36040-0065
Telephone: (334) 584-2365
Macon County
Macon County Clerk
101 East Northside Street
Tuskegee, AL 36083-1750
Telephone: (334) 727-1800
Madison County
Madison County Clerk
100 Northside Square
Huntsville, AL 35801-3606
Telephone: (256) 532-3300
Marengo County
Marengo County Clerk
101 E. Coats Ave.
Linden, AL 36748-1546
Telephone: (334) 295-5226
Marion County
Marion County Clerk
P.O. Drawer 1687
Hamilton, AL 35570
Telephone: (205) 921-2471
Marshall County
Marshall County Clerk
Guntersville, AL 35976
Telephone: (256) 921-3172
Mobile County
Mobile County Health Department
251 N Bayou
P O Box 2867
Mobile, AL 36652
Telephone: (251) 690-8150
Monroe County
Monroe County Clerk
P.O. Box 8
Monroeville, AL 35461-0008
Telephone: (251) 575-3778
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Clerk
P O Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103
Telephone: (334) 206-5418
Morgan County
Morgan County Clerk
P.O. Box 668
Decatur, AL 35602-0668
Telephone: (256) 351-4600
Perry County Clerk
P.O. Box 478
Marion, AL 36756-0478
Telephone: (334) 571-7701
Pickens County
Pickens County Clerk
P.O. Box 370
Carrollton, AL 35447
Telephone: (205) 367-2010
Pike County
Pike County Clerk
P.O. Box 1147
Troy, AL 36081
Telephone: (334) 566-1246
Randolph County
Randolph County Clerk
P.O. Box 328
Wedowee, AL 36278-0328
Telephone: (256) 357-4933
Russell County
Russell County Clerk
P.O. Box 518
Phenix City, AL 36868-0518
Telephone: (334) 297-1347
St. Clair County
St. Clair County Clerk
P.O. Box 397
Ashville, AL 35953-0397
Telephone: (205) 594-5114
Shelby County Clerk
P.O. Box 1627
Columbiana, AL 35051-1627
Telephone: (205) 669-3740
Sumter County
Sumter County Clerk
P.O. Box 936
Livingston, AL 35470-0936
Telephone: (205) 652-7281
Talladega County
Talladega County Clerk
P.O. Box 755
Talladega, AL 35160-0755
Telephone: (256) 362-4175
Tallapoosa County
Tallapoosa County Clerk
125 N. Broadnax St., Rm. 126
Dadeville, AL 36853-1395
Telephone: (256) 825-4266
Tuscaloosa County
Tuscaloosa County Clerk
714 Greensboro Ave.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35402-1847
Telephone: (205) 349-3870
Walker County
Walker County Clerk
P.O. Box 749
Jasper, AL 35501-0749
Telephone: (205) 384-7268
Washington County Clerk
P.O. Box 549
Chatom, AL 36518
Telephone: (251) 847-2201
Wilcox County
Wilcox County Clerk
P.O. Box 656
Camden, AL 36726
Telephone: (334) 682-4881
Winston County
Winston County Clerk
P.O. Box 309
Double Springs, AL 35553-0309
Telephone: (205) 489-5219
