How to Search Mobile County Court Records
The main public docket portal for Mobile County is Alacourt ACCESS at pa.alacourt.com with LOC=58. The page returns a docket PDF for a chosen setting date. It does not return a full case profile or a document index. For full case-detail access you may need an Alacourt account or a paid Alacourt subscription. Probate cases use a different system at Benchmark WEB, and probate land and marriage indexes use Landmark WEB through the Probate site.
Before you start, gather: a case number (with the right prefix), a full last name, and an event date if you know one. Alacourt's free docket page needs only a setting date and an optional last name. Benchmark WEB needs a login after first registration. Landmark WEB lets you register and search the index for free, with image purchase at $0.10 per page.
- Open pa.alacourt.com. Confirm the heading says "SEARCH DOCKET - County: 58."
- Pick a Setting Date from the dropdown. The list rolls through a small window of upcoming court days.
- Enter a Last Name if you want to narrow the docket. Leave it blank to pull the entire day's docket.
- Click Search. The page generates a PDF inside a "Docket results" iframe.
- If the case you expect is missing, read the disclaimer. The page warns that not all cases appear electronically. Call the Mobile County Circuit Clerk to confirm.
The Alacourt docket page shown below is the source for this walkthrough; it makes the Setting Date dropdown and the Last Name field visible at a glance.
That is the page you should bookmark for Mobile County daily docket lookups in circuit and district court.
Mobile County Court Records Search Fields
The Alacourt docket page exposes a small but specific set of fields, captured directly from the live page. The county is fixed as 58, the Setting Date dropdown is required, and the Last Name field is optional. Leaving Last Name blank returns the entire docket for that date.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| County | Fixed display | Yes | County 58 = Mobile County |
| Setting Date | Dropdown | Yes | Five rolling court-setting dates were visible on inspection |
| Last Name | Text | No | Leave blank to return the entire day's docket |
| Search | Submit button | n/a | Generates and displays a PDF in an iframe |
Probate's Benchmark WEB uses a different field set. After you register and log in, you search by case number using the format printed on the invoice. If costs are owed, a green "PAY Online" button shows in the case summary. Landmark WEB lets you search recorded land, marriage, and election indexes; the page describes coverage of 1813-present for real property records and marriage indexes.
The Benchmark screen above is the gate for probate judicial case search and online court-cost payment in Mobile County.
Types of Mobile County Court Records
Mobile County court records split by court level and subject. Circuit court holds felonies, larger civil cases, domestic relations matters, and appeals from lower courts. District court holds misdemeanors, preliminary criminal hearings, small claims, civil cases under the district court limit, and traffic. Probate Court holds wills, estates, guardianships, marriage certificates, and recorded documents. Family Court at Strickland Youth Facility holds juvenile and family matters. Federal cases for Mobile County go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, not the state circuit.
The Mobile court site sorts its navigation into Circuit Civil, Circuit Criminal, Domestic Relations, District Civil, Small Claims, District Criminal, Juvenile, Traffic, Garnishments, Filing Fees, Unlawful Detainer, and Notices of Garnishment. That structure mirrors the record categories you will find when you search.
- Circuit civil filings, judgments, garnishments, and certificates of judgment
- Circuit criminal indictments, pleas, sentences, and probation revocations
- District civil and small claims complaints, answers, and judgments
- District criminal misdemeanors, preliminary hearings, traffic, and bond records
- Domestic relations divorce, custody, support, and protection-from-abuse cases
- Juvenile records (restricted) and family-court referrals
- Probate wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, and name changes
- Traffic citations handled in district court or through the Online Traffic Resolution system
What Mobile County Court Records Show
A Mobile County case record has predictable fields. The Alacourt docket PDF lists settings, parties, and case numbers but is not a full case file. Benchmark WEB shows a probate case summary with cost lines after login. The MCSO jail roster shows charges with case prefixes that map back to Alacourt cases when you cross-reference. Use the table below as a guide to what each field typically tells you.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | Prefix + year + sequence, e.g., CC25-2821 (circuit criminal), DC25-908658 (district criminal), DR (domestic relations), CV (civil), JU (juvenile) |
| Filing Date | Date the case was filed or first set |
| Parties | Plaintiff and defendant in civil; State and defendant in criminal; petitioner/respondent in probate or domestic |
| Charges / Cause | Statute and short description; multi-line for multi-count cases |
| Disposition | Plea, judgment, dismissal, or sentence outcome |
| Sentence / Judgment | Jail or prison time, fine, restitution, probation, or civil award |
| Court Costs | Owed amount, payments received, and "PAY Online" button when applicable |
Redactions you can expect: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, juvenile identifiers, sealed filings, and protected-victim information are stripped or withheld in the public view.
Public Access Framework for Mobile County Court Records
Alabama's base public-records statute is Alabama Code § 36-12-40. It gives Alabama citizens the right to inspect and copy public writings unless another law makes the record confidential. Court records are also governed by Alabama Rule of Judicial Administration 33, which sets the procedure for inspection and copying of court records on payment of fees, unless restricted by rule, statute, or court order. The Mobile County records request form references Alabama residency and existing-record limits, and fees can be charged for copying and preparation.
Who can request what depends on the system. Alacourt's free docket page is open to anyone. Benchmark requires registration. Landmark indexes are free to search after registration; images cost $0.10 per page. The Mobile County public records request form is the path for non-court county records and requires a description of the records and an acknowledgment of fees.
Note: Public access in Mobile County is system-specific. A case can be visible in one portal and partly restricted in another, so check each system separately.
Records That Are Sealed or Confidential in Mobile County
Some Mobile County court records are not open to the public. Juvenile legal and social files are confidential under Alabama Code § 12-15-133. Adoption files are confidential at Probate Court. Mental health commitment files contain medical data and are restricted. Youthful offender records are typically confidential. Sealed warrants and grand jury materials are not public while sealed. Records that have been expunged under Alabama Code Title 15, Chapter 27 are removed from public access after a court grants the petition.
If you need to view a sealed file, you generally file a motion in the court that holds it. For expungement, the ALEA expungement page explains that the petitioner must first obtain a certified criminal history record from ALEA, then file the petition in the court that handled the case. ALEA does not give legal advice on eligibility; the court grants or denies. Counsel is recommended because denials often turn on missing records, unpaid obligations, or pending charges.
Mobile County Federal Court Records
Federal cases tied to Mobile County go through the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Mobile Division. Filed case access runs through CM/ECF, and free public access goes through PACER. PACER requires registration and charges per-page fees, with some quarterly fee exemptions. Bankruptcy cases for Mobile County go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama. Appeals from the Southern District go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Federal records differ from county records. A Mobile County state felony is searched through Alacourt or the circuit clerk; a federal indictment is searched through PACER or CM/ECF. CourtListener supplements PACER for opinions and some dockets, but it is not the official docket.
If your case crosses state and federal lines, plan to check both systems separately.
In-Person Court Record Requests
If a portal does not show the record you need, visit the right office. Circuit and district case records are at the Mobile County Courthouse at 205 Government Street. Probate records are at the Government Center Annex. Bring photo ID, the case number (or party name and approximate date), and the copy fee. The Probate Recording Office windows are open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Probate staff cannot notarize documents for the public, so bring your own notarization where needed.
Mobile County Circuit Clerk
Ashleigh Long, Circuit Clerk
205 Government Street
Mobile, AL 36644
Court Admin 251-574-8420
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mon-Fri