Search Hoover Divorce Decrees

Hoover divorce decree records depend on which county you live in. Hoover straddles both Jefferson County and Shelby County. Most Hoover residents live in Jefferson County and file at the Birmingham Division. Hoover is Alabama's largest suburb with a population of approximately 92,000. Incorporated in 1967, the city has a Mayor Council form of government. You must file your divorce in the county where you reside. Jefferson County residents file at 716 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham. Shelby County residents file at 112 North Main Street, Columbiana.

Which County Handles Your Case?

Hoover straddles two counties. Most of the city is in Jefferson County. A smaller portion is in Shelby County. You must file in the county where you live, not where you work or shop.

If you live in the Jefferson County portion of Hoover, file with the Jefferson County Circuit Court. The Birmingham Division is at 716 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham, AL 35203. Phone (205) 325-5355. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

If you live in the Shelby County portion of Hoover, file with the Shelby County Circuit Court. The courthouse is at 112 North Main Street, P.O. Box 1810, Columbiana, AL 35051. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

Check your property tax bill or voter registration to confirm which county you live in. This determines where you file your divorce case.

How to File

To file a divorce in Hoover, visit the Circuit Clerk office in your county. 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.

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, a sheriff or process server must deliver the papers. Service is required before the case can proceed. Once served, your spouse has 30 days to respond.

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. Most uncontested cases are complete within 30 to 60 days total.

Filing Fees

Filing fees depend on which county you file in. Jefferson County charges around $290 as of 2024. Shelby County fees may differ. Call ahead to confirm the current fee before 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 varies by county.

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.

Certified copies cost 50 cents per page. Service of process 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 Hoover divorce decree, contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the divorce was filed. For Jefferson County, call (205) 325-5355. For Shelby County, call the courthouse at (205) 670-6900.

Visit in person and 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 the Circuit Court in the county where the case was filed. 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 Hoover divorce cases using Alacourt Public Access at https://pa.alacourt.com/. This free statewide database covers all Alabama counties including both Jefferson and Shelby. 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 Clerk to obtain certified copies.

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.

Legal Aid Resources

Legal aid resources depend on which county you live in. Jefferson County residents can contact Legal Services of Metro Birmingham at (800) 819-7685. The Birmingham Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program serves low income Jefferson County residents. Call (205) 250-5198 or visit www.vlbham.org.

Shelby County residents can contact Legal Services Alabama at (866) 456-4995 or visit https://legalservicesalabama.org/. They provide free civil legal help for qualified individuals based on income.

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. 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.

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.

Nearby Cities

Other major cities in the Birmingham metro include Birmingham. Cities in other counties include Tuscaloosa and Montgomery. Each city's residents file with their county of residence.

For more details about Jefferson County divorce procedures, visit the Jefferson County page. For Shelby County information, visit the Shelby County page.

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