Court records of Lee County, Alabama, are available through several channels. LeeALCourt.us allows searching for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, official resources — including the website of the Lee County Circuit Clerk and the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts portal — provide access to case materials. Records can also be viewed in person at the clerk's office or on public terminals at the T.K. Davis Justice Center in Opelika.
Lee Court System & Jurisdictions
Lee County is part of the 37th judicial circuit of Alabama. Several courts operate here, each handling specific categories of cases.
Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction. It handles serious criminal cases (felonies), large civil claims over $20,000, as well as divorce, custody, and other family matters. Appeals from lower courts also go here.
District Court handles:
- Criminal misdemeanors
- Civil claims up to $20,000
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Traffic violations — from speeding to DUI
- Small claims up to $6,000
Small claims cases are filed in District Court without the mandatory involvement of an attorney.
Probate Court handles estate, wills, guardianship cases, and issues marriage licenses. The Probate Court judge also performs certain county administrative functions.
Magistrates issue arrest and search warrants, set bail, and conduct initial hearings. Note: an arrest warrant is not a public document until it is served.
Municipal courts operate separately. For example, the Opelika Municipal Court handles violations of city ordinances and certain traffic cases within the city. A similar court operates in Auburn.
Lee Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the date and time of a hearing, start with the Lee County Circuit Clerk's website. It publishes information about the schedule of Circuit Court and District Court sessions. For cases heard in the Opelika Municipal Court, check the Municipal Court page on the city's website.
Several practical tips:
- Call the clerk's office at the T.K. Davis Justice Center if you need to confirm a specific date. The clerk will confirm whether a hearing is scheduled for today or this week.
- The Alacourt.com system (the "Just One Look" platform) allows registered users to view case data, including hearing dates, for all county courts in the state.
- For appellate cases, use the Alabama appellate courts public portal, where access to case registers is open to everyone.
If you do not appear at a hearing for a traffic violation, the court may issue a warrant for your arrest and suspend your driver's license.
How to Get a Copy of a Lee Court Document
The Circuit Clerk's office maintains case materials for the Circuit Court and District Court. You can obtain a copy of a document in three ways.
In Person
Visit the office at the T.K. Davis Justice Center. You will need the case number or the full name of the party. The clerk will issue a regular or certified copy on the spot.
By Mail
Send a written request to the address above. Include:
- The full name of the party in the case
- The case number (if known)
- The type of document needed
- Whether a certified copy is required
- A return address and payment (check or money order payable to Lee County Circuit Clerk)
Online
Through the Alacourt system, registered users can view and purchase documents. Media requests are processed through a special form on the Circuit Clerk's website — note that this form is intended exclusively for media representatives.
A certified copy has the court's seal and the clerk's signature — it is needed for official legal procedures. A regular copy is suitable for personal review. Some records — juvenile cases, sealed criminal cases — are closed to general access.
To obtain sheriff's office records (arrest reports, incidents), submit a request through the Sheriff's Office Records Request page, in accordance with the Alabama Open Records Act (Act 2024-278, effective October 1, 2024).
Lee Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for court documents in Alabama are set by state law and local administrative orders. Below are the approximate rates for Lee County.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Case register search | Depends on the system; through Alacourt — by subscription |
| Regular copy (per page) | $0.50 |
| Certified copy | $1.00 per document plus copying cost |
| Search for marriage, divorce, birth, or death record (ADPH) | $15.00 per search |
Payment at the office is accepted in cash, check, or money order. Confirm the possibility of card payment directly with the clerk — rules may change.
For vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates), requests are processed by the Center for Health Statistics at ADPH. The $15.00 fee covers the search and one copy; an additional fee is charged for each extra copy. Download the request form from the ADPH website.
If you are looking for state-level inmate information, use the Alabama Department of Corrections inmate search — it is free and contains data only on individuals currently in custody.