Decatur Divorce Decree Access

Decatur divorce decree records are filed with the Morgan County Circuit Court at 302 Lee Street N.E., Decatur, AL 35601. Decatur is known as the Grand City on a Charming Scale and is located on the Tennessee River with a population of approximately 57,000. Morgan County is part of the Eighth Judicial Circuit. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Family Division handles divorce cases, phone (256) 351-4790. Domestic Relations can be reached at (256) 351-4724. You can search cases online through Alacourt or obtain certified copies in person or by mail. A six month state residency is required for at least one spouse.

Morgan County Circuit Court

Decatur is the county seat of Morgan County. All divorce cases for Decatur residents are filed with the Morgan County Circuit Court. The Morgan County Courthouse is at 302 Lee Street N.E., Decatur, AL 35601. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Morgan County is part of the Eighth Judicial Circuit. The Family Division handles all divorce and family law cases. Phone (256) 351-4790 for the Family Division. The Domestic Relations office can be reached at (256) 351-4724.

Decatur City Hall is at 402 Lee St NE, Decatur, AL 35601. Phone (256) 341-4500 for city services. However, divorce cases are filed with the Circuit Court, not city offices.

Filing for Divorce

To file a divorce in Decatur, visit the Morgan County Circuit Court at 302 Lee Street N.E. Bring your completed forms and filing fee. Download forms from the Alabama E-Forms Portal at https://eforms.alacourt.gov/. The Uncontested Divorce Packet includes all necessary documents for a simple uncontested case.

At least one spouse must be an Alabama resident. If your spouse lives out of state, you must be a resident for six months before filing. This is in Alabama Code § 30-2-5. If both spouses are Alabama residents, you can file immediately. The six month residency requirement is critical for out of state spouse situations.

File in person at the courthouse or use AlaFile to file online. AlaFile is at https://efile.alacourt.gov/. Register for free and upload your documents as PDFs. Pay the filing fee online with a card. Electronic filing is available 24/7.

After filing, serve your spouse with the complaint and summons. If they agree to the divorce, they can sign a waiver. If not, the Morgan County Sheriff's Clerk's Office handles civil process including divorce papers. Service is required before the case can proceed.

Alabama Code § 30-2-8.1 requires a 30 day wait from filing to final decree. No divorce can be granted before 30 days pass. This is the mandatory minimum waiting period. Most uncontested cases are complete within 30 to 60 days total.

Filing Fees

Morgan County filing fees vary. Contact the Circuit Court at (256) 351-4790 to confirm the current fee before filing. As of 2024, most Alabama counties charge between $200 and $350 for a divorce filing.

Alabama Code § 12-19-72 sets a base state fee of $145. Counties add local fees on top of this amount. The exact total depends on whether you have children and other case factors.

If you cannot afford the fee, file an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship. This form requests a fee waiver. The fee is deferred until the case ends. You must show financial hardship to qualify. Alabama Code § 12-19-70 allows this option for those who cannot pay.

Certified copies cost 50 cents per page in most counties. Service of process through the Sheriff's office adds $25 to $50. Attorney fees range from $2,000 to $15,000 for complex cases.

Obtaining Certified Copies

To get a certified copy of a Decatur divorce decree, contact the Morgan County Circuit Court at (256) 351-4790. Visit in person at 302 Lee Street N.E., Decatur, AL 35601. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring photo ID. Provide the full names of both parties and the date of divorce if known. The case number speeds up the search.

You can view records for free at the courthouse. Fees apply only for printed or certified copies. Most counties charge 50 cents per page. A standard divorce decree is 5 to 15 pages.

By mail, send a written request to Morgan County Circuit Court, 302 Lee Street N.E., Decatur, AL 35601. Include your contact information and details about the case. Add a check for the estimated cost. Include a return envelope with postage. Allow 2 to 4 weeks for processing.

Online Case Search

Search Decatur divorce cases using Alacourt Public Access at https://pa.alacourt.com/. This free statewide database covers all Alabama counties including Morgan County. Enter a name or case number to find case details. Results show filing dates, case status, and party names. Full divorce decrees are not available online. You must contact the Circuit Court to obtain certified copies.

Decatur also has an online portal at cityview.decatur-al.gov for permits and applications. However, this is for city services only. Divorce filings go through the Circuit Court, not the city portal.

AlaFile at https://efile.alacourt.gov/ is for electronic filing and case management. Both attorneys and self represented parties can use it. Register for free and manage your case online. You receive electronic service of documents from other parties.

Legal Aid Resources

Limited legal aid information is available for Morgan County. Contact the courthouse at (256) 351-4790 for legal aid referrals. The court can direct you to local resources and volunteer lawyer programs.

Legal Services Alabama at (866) 456-4995 or https://legalservicesalabama.org/ may serve Morgan County residents. Check if you meet income requirements for free assistance. They provide free civil legal help for qualified individuals.

Alabama Legal Help at https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/ offers self help forms and guides. The site includes step by step instructions for uncontested divorces. Videos and frequently asked questions are available. This is useful if you are representing yourself.

For contested cases, hire an attorney. Complex property division or custody disputes require legal representation. An attorney protects your rights and handles the legal process.

Alabama Divorce Laws

Alabama Code § 30-2-1 lists the grounds for divorce. Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is the most common. Other grounds include adultery, abandonment, and incompatibility. The Circuit Court has authority to grant divorces in Alabama.

Alabama Code § 30-2-5 sets residency requirements. At least one spouse must be an Alabama resident. If the other spouse is not a resident, the filing spouse must live in Alabama for six months before filing. This six month requirement is critical. If both are residents, no wait is required.

The 30 day waiting period is in Alabama Code § 30-2-8.1. No final decree can be entered before 30 days pass from the filing date. This applies to all Alabama divorces. The court may issue temporary orders during the wait period for custody, support, and other urgent matters.

Divorce records are public under Alabama Code § 36-12-40. All citizens have the right to inspect public records. Divorce case files are accessible unless a court seals them. Sealed records require a court order to access.

Nearby Cities

Other major cities in northern Alabama include Huntsville and Madison. Huntsville and Madison residents file with Madison County Circuit Court. Other cities include Birmingham and Montgomery. Each city's residents file with their county of residence.

For more details about Morgan County divorce procedures, visit the Morgan County page.

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