Alabama County Court Information

The state of Alabama has a Unified Judicial System. This implies that the common man’s first point of contact in the judicial system is the lower level courts. If the decisions of the lower level courts are not agreeable to all of the contending parties, they can appeal for a review of the decision of the lower courts in an appellate court. The Alabama Supreme Court is the highest court in the state.

The administration of the unified court system in the state is looked after by the Administrative Office of Courts and the Administrative Director of Courts and also offers essential services to the trial courts located in the different parts of the state.  The courts in Alabama can be classified into three distinct categories based on their levels of jurisdiction. These include:

•    Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction
•    Courts of General Jurisdiction
•    Courts of Limited Jurisdiction

Limited Jurisdiction Courts in Alabama

All counties of Alabama have courts of limited jurisdiction. These include the district courts, the municipal courts, the small claims courts, the juvenile courts and the probate courts. There are a total of 67 counties in Alabama which have been placed under 41 judicial circuits or districts. The division is not based on territorial divisions as there are some circuits which have more than one county under their purview.

The Municipal courts in Alabama decide cases pertaining to misdemeanors and the violation of municipal ordinances that take place within the jurisdiction of the city police. However, not all cities in the state have a municipal court.

The probate courts in the counties of Alabama decide on matters related to property, wills, adoption, estates, and even mental problems.

The Juvenile Courts decide on cases related to young adults below 18 years of age. These include criminal and civil matters. The legalities involved in juvenile delinquency cases are not made public. All counties in the state have a juvenile court of their own.

The county small claims courts have the power to pass judgments over civil cases that are worth not more than $3,000. You do not need a lawyer in small claims court, and self representation is permissible.

Alabama County court comprises the district courts as well.  Each county has its respective district court. The district courts have been empowered to conduct preliminary hearings of felony cases. Civil cases worth more than $3,000 but less than $10,000 are also filed in the district courts.

General Jurisdiction Courts in Alabama

The 67 counties of Alabama each have a circuit court of their own. These are courts of general jurisdiction and decide cases relating to felonies and other legal matters.  The amount involved in the legal dispute is, however, not less than $3,000. In matters that involve an amount of more than $10,000, the circuit courts have an exclusive jurisdiction over these. The circuit courts also serve as an appellate court in some cases where the decisions of the lower courts are up for a review.  All these courts fall under a judicial circuit that is presided over by a judge who has the power of general supervision over the courts that are part of that particular judicial circuit.

Alabama counties also have a county clerk in charge of the court documents filed on a regular basis in his office.

More information about the county courts in Alabama can be obtained from http://www.judicial.state.al.us/.