Divorce records in Russell County, Alabama, are available through several channels. RussellCourt.us allows you to quickly find publicly available information about divorce records in the county. Additionally, you can contact the circuit court that issued the divorce decree, the office of the circuit court clerk, or the Alabama Department of Public Health, which maintains vital records, including divorce certificates.
Russell Divorce Records Search
In Russell County, divorce records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk, who serves as the official custodian of documents for all judicial proceedings in the circuit and district courts of the 26th Judicial Circuit. The collection of records includes:
- Divorce decrees
- Settlement agreements
- Custody orders
- Related court documents (motions, orders, filings)
Separately, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) maintains a registry of divorce certificates — a brief document confirming the fact of divorce but not containing full details of the court decision.
In the lobby of the Judicial Annex, there is a public access computer where you can view case information and document images.
Russell County Circuit Clerk's Office
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Russell
Divorce cases in Alabama are handled by the Circuit Court — a court of general jurisdiction. In Russell County, this is the Twenty-Sixth Judicial Circuit Court. After a judge issues a decision, the divorce decree remains in the case file, which is kept by the circuit court clerk's office.
At the same time, the fact of divorce is registered at the state level. ADPH maintains divorce certificates for all divorces processed in Alabama. What you need depends on the purpose of your request:
- Full court decree (decree with details on property, custody, alimony) — contact the circuit court clerk.
- Divorce certificate (brief document for confirmation) — contact the ADPH Center for Health Statistics.
Russell County Circuit Clerk's Office — for court records:
Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics — for divorce certificates:
To obtain a copy of a divorce decree through the circuit court clerk's office, you can send a request by mail along with a money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Note: the Domestic Relations section on the court's website indicates that a copy of the divorce decree costs $20.00.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Russell
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of divorce decree — Russell County Circuit Clerk | $20.00 | Depends on the method of request; mail requests may take 1–3 weeks |
| Certified copy of divorce certificate — ADPH | $15.00 | 3 to 6 weeks for standard processing |