Divorce records in Etowah County, Alabama, can be accessed through several channels. EtowahCourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information for the county. You can also request records directly from the circuit court that issued the decree, the Etowah County Circuit Clerk's Office, or the Alabama Department of Public Health's Center for Health Statistics, which serves as the state vital records office. Each office handles different types of divorce documents, so the right contact depends on what you need.
Etowah Divorce Records Search
Divorce records in Etowah County are maintained by two offices. The Etowah County Circuit Clerk keeps the official court file for every divorce case heard in the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, including the final decree, settlement agreements, custody orders, and all related filings. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) maintains a separate divorce certificate — a vital-statistics abstract that confirms the divorce occurred.
The court file is the more detailed record. It contains the complete case history: the complaint, answer, any motions, property settlement agreements, child custody and support orders, and the signed divorce decree. A public access computer terminal is available inside the Circuit Clerk's Office for searching court record information in person.
Etowah County Circuit Clerk's Office
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Etowah
In Alabama, divorce cases are handled by the circuit court in the county where the action is filed. For Etowah County, that is the Sixteenth Circuit Court. After a judge signs the final divorce decree, the parties file it with the Circuit Clerk's Office, which becomes the permanent custodian of the court record. The clerk also submits a vital statistics report to ADPH.
Which office you contact depends on what you need:
- Court records (full decree, settlement agreements, custody orders, motions) — contact the Etowah County Circuit Clerk.
- Divorce certificate (vital-statistics abstract confirming the divorce) — contact ADPH's Center for Health Statistics.
Etowah County Circuit Clerk's Office
Alabama Department of Public Health — Center for Health Statistics
Court-related forms, including domestic relations forms used in divorce proceedings, are available through the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts E-Forms portal. Statewide trial court records can also be searched through the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts on-demand public access system.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Etowah
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| ADPH divorce certificate search (includes one certified copy or Certificate of Failure to Find) | $15.00 | 4–6 weeks by mail |
| ADPH additional certified copy (same request) | $6.00 each | Included with initial request |
| In-person court record search (public access terminal at Circuit Clerk's Office) | No charge to search | Same day |
| Certified copy of court document (Circuit Clerk) | Contact clerk for current fee | Varies; often same day for in-person requests |