Records of divorce in Lauderdale County, Alabama, are available through several channels. LauderdaleCourt.us allows you to find publicly accessible information about divorce records in the county. Additionally, complete court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk's office, and divorce certificates are issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person—depending on the type of document and the institution that holds it.
Lauderdale Divorce Records Search
In Alabama, divorce cases are handled by the Circuit Court. In Lauderdale, this is the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, and the office is headed by Circuit Clerk Missy Homan. This office maintains complete court cases: divorce decrees, settlement agreements, custody orders, and related documents.
Separate from the court, there is another type of document—a divorce certificate. It is issued by the Center for Health Statistics at the Alabama Department of Public Health. The certificate contains only basic information: the names of the parties, the date, and the place of the divorce.
Information about court cases can be searched through the Alacourt.com "Just One Look" system—a paid online access to the records of the state's trial courts.
Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk's Office
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Lauderdale
The structure of divorce record storage in Alabama is divided between two institutions, each responsible for its type of document.
Circuit Court
All divorce cases in Lauderdale County are handled by the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. After the court issues a decision (divorce decree), the original case remains with the Circuit Clerk's office. Contact them if you need:
- A copy of the divorce decree
- A settlement agreement between the parties
- Custody or property division orders
- Any other procedural documents from the case
Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)
After the case is concluded, the court sends a notification to the Center for Health Statistics, which registers the divorce and issues divorce certificates. This document is not a copy of the court decision but a brief certificate confirming the fact of the divorce. Contact them if you need the certificate for administrative purposes.
Errors in the divorce certificate are corrected not by the ADPH but by the circuit court that issued the decision.
The local health department also issues certified copies of vital records. The Lauderdale office issued over 12,000 certified copies of various records in 2022.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Lauderdale
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of divorce certificate (ADPH) | $15.00 | 3–6 weeks (by mail) |
| Each additional certificate copy (in one order, ADPH) | $6.00 | With the main order |
| Expedited certificate processing (ADPH) | $15.00 + additional delivery | 5–10 business days |
| Online court case search (Alacourt "Just One Look") | Depends on the chosen subscription plan | Instantly |
| Copy of court document (Circuit Clerk) | Depends on the number of pages | Usually 1–5 business days |