Not a government site. We do not sell records or host personal data. About us

County Records Guide
Menu

Shelby County, Alabama public records

In Shelby County, deeds are recorded by the Shelby County Probate Office, Recording; property values come from the Shelby County Property Tax Commissioner; court files are split between the Shelby County Circuit Clerk and the Shelby County Probate Court.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Shelby County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Questions people ask
  16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  17. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsShelby County Probate Office, Recording2Search deeds2$1.00 per page3
Property values and ownersShelby County Property Tax Commissioner4Property search4—
Property tax billsShelby County Property Tax Commissioner5Tax bill search5—
Court casesShelby County Circuit Clerk6
Shelby County Probate Court2		Circuit Court, 18th Judicial Circuit7
District Court7		Circuit Clerk copies: pages 1-20 $5.00, each additional page $.50, each certification $5.00; record search: computerized records (1993 to present) no charge, paper or archived/microfilmed records $20.00; $10.00 deposit with mailed requests; cashier's check or money order only8
Marriage recordsJudge of Probate records Alabama marriage certificates (forms from ADPH)9——
Divorce recordsDivorce case files: Circuit Clerk (domestic relations); domestic relations docket fee $280.0010——
Birth certificatesShelby County Health Department issues certified Alabama birth certificates (state ViSION system)11——
Death certificatesShelby County Health Department issues certified Alabama death certificates11——
Probate and willsProbate Court (Judicial office, Room A101): will probate petition $45.003——
Business names (DBA)Since January 1, 2021 domestic corporation filings go to the Alabama Secretary of State, not the Probate Office12——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Shelby County are recorded by the Shelby County Probate Office, Recording (Judge of Probate).2

About this search
Recording Room Records Search2
Years online
Deeds from 1819 to present2
Copy fee
$1.00 per page3
Certified copy fee
$3 for each certified copy plus $1.00 for each page13
How to order
By mail or in person; by mail send the fee with a postage-paid self-addressed envelope and a check payable to the Judge of Probate to P.O. Box 825; in person at the Courthouse, Columbiana; cards accepted with 3.5% or $2.99 minimum service fee13
Recording fees
Deeds: filing stamp $3, index fee $10, $3 per page, deed tax $0.50 per $500 of value, $1 per grantor/grantee over two, mental health fee $6; mortgages: same base plus mortgage tax $0.15 per $10012

How deeds work in Alabama

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Shelby County Property Tax Commissioner (appraisal and assessment) sets property values4; the Shelby County Property Tax Commissioner (collection) bills and collects the tax5.

Property search
ptc.shelbyal.com (Citizen Access Portal for appraisal & assessment records)4
Tax bill search
ptc.shelbyal.com (Pay Property Tax Online)5
Parcel map (GIS)
maps.shelbyal.com (GIS Maps)4
Appealing a value
ptc.shelbyal.com/boesearch (File BOE Appeal, Property Tax Commissioner portal)14
Homestead
ptc.shelbyal.com (Homestead Exemption)5

How property tax works in Alabama

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Circuit Court, 18th Judicial CircuitFelonies, domestic relations/divorceShelby County Circuit Clerk (18th Judicial Circuit; circuit and district courts)pa.alacourt.com/default.aspx Alacourt case access, linked from the Circuit Clerk site; or written record-search request to the Circuit Clerk7
District CourtMisdemeanors, traffic, district civil, small claimsShelby County Circuit Clerk (circuit civil, district civil, small claims, domestic relations)pa.alacourt.com/frmDocketListsearch.aspx Alacourt case access via the Circuit Clerk site; docket lists7
Probate CourtWills, estates, guardianship, conservatorship, adoption, name change, mental health commitmentsShelby County Probate Court (Probate Office, Judicial) Not online: contact the Probate Clerk's Office15
Fees
Circuit Clerk copies: pages 1-20 $5.00, each additional page $.50, each certification $5.00; record search: computerized records (1993 to present) no charge, paper or archived/microfilmed records $20.00; $10.00 deposit with mailed requests; cashier's check or money order only8

Criminal records and background checks

Summary
Circuit Clerk holds circuit and district criminal records; record search by written request (computerized 1993-present free; paper records $20.00); juvenile, youthful offender and sealed records not public8

How Alabama courts keep their files

Marriage records

Judge of Probate records Alabama marriage certificates (forms from ADPH); certified copy $3 per certification, only for certificates issued in Shelby County; Probate Office holds records from October 1981; earlier records at the Shelby County Museum and Archives (205) 669-39129

Alabama marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Divorce case files: Circuit Clerk (domestic relations); domestic relations docket fee $280.00. Divorce certificates: county health department10

Alabama divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Shelby County Health Department issues certified Alabama birth certificates (state ViSION system); restrictions and fees per ADPH11

Ordering an Alabama birth certificate

Death certificates

Shelby County Health Department issues certified Alabama death certificates11

Ordering an Alabama death certificate

Probate records and wills

Probate Court (Judicial office, Room A101): will probate petition $45.00; letters of administration $45.00; certified copies $3 each plus $1.00 per page; case information not online3

Business names (DBA)

Since January 1, 2021 domestic corporation filings go to the Alabama Secretary of State, not the Probate Office12

Voter records

Board of Registrars handles voter registration; check registration and polling place at myinfo.alabamavotes.gov16

Historical records

Shelby County Museum and Archives (old 1854 courthouse, Columbiana) holds marriage records before October 1981; phone (205) 669-39129

Good to know about Shelby County records

  • Deeds from 1819 to the present are viewable online through the Probate Office records search.2
  • The first courthouse was a log building at Shelbyville (believed to be within modern Pelham), county seat from 1820; the seat moved in 1826 and was permanently located at Columbiana after an 1832 act.17
  • The 1854 "old courthouse" now houses the Shelby County Museum and Archives (since 1982); the current stone courthouse dates from 1905-1906.17
  • The Circuit Clerk searches computerized court records from 1993 onward at no charge; older paper and microfilm searches cost $20.00, charged even if nothing is found.8
  • Probate Court case information is not available online or through the public inquiry system.15

Office addresses, phones and hours

Shelby County Probate Office, Recording (Judge of Probate)

Address
Shelby County Courthouse, 112 N. Main Street, Room A401, Columbiana, AL 350512
Mail
Shelby County Probate Office, Recording, P.O. Box 825 (Columbiana, AL)2
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:30pm (courthouse hours)2

Shelby County Probate Court (Probate Office, Judicial)

Address
Shelby County Courthouse, 112 N. Main Street, Room A101, Columbiana, AL13
Mail
Shelby County Probate Court, P.O. Box 82513
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:30pm2

Shelby County Property Tax Commissioner (appraisal and assessment)

Address
Shelby County Property Tax Office, 102 Depot St., Columbiana, AL 350514
Mail
P.O. Box 1298 (Columbiana)4
Phone
205-670-6900; fax 205-670-69154
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm14

Shelby County Property Tax Commissioner (collection)

Address
102 Depot St., Columbiana, AL 350514
Mail
P.O. Box 12984
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm14

Shelby County Circuit Clerk (18th Judicial Circuit; circuit and district courts)

Address
Shelby County Courthouse, First Floor, Room 1F, 112 North Main Street, Columbiana, AL 350517
Mail
P.O. Box 1810, Columbiana, AL 350518
Hours
Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. (open during lunch)7

Shelby County Circuit Clerk (circuit civil, district civil, small claims, domestic relations)

Address
Shelby County Courthouse, First Floor, Room 1F, 112 North Main Street, Columbiana, AL 350517
Mail
P.O. Box 1810, Columbiana, AL 350517
Phone
Circuit civil (205) 670-5237; district civil (205) 670-5260; small claims (205) 670-5274; family court (205) 670-523918
Hours
Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.7

Shelby County Health Department (Alabama Department of Public Health)

Address
2000 County Services Drive, Pelham, Alabama 3512419
Hours
7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.11

Shelby County Board of Registrars (voter registration)

Address
202 West College Street, Columbiana, AL 3505116
Mail
P.O. Box 1642, Columbiana, AL 3505116
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm16

Shelby County Sheriff's Office

Mail
P.O. Box 1095, Columbiana, AL 3505121
Phone
205-670-6000; fax 205-669-386521

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Shelby County?

The Shelby County Probate Office, Recording (Judge of Probate) keeps deed records. To order copies: By mail or in person; by mail send the fee with a postage-paid self-addressed envelope and a check payable to the Judge of Probate to P.O. Box 825; in person at the Courthouse, Columbiana; cards accepted with 3.5% or $2.99 minimum service fee. Plain copies: $1.00 per page. Certified copies: $3 for each certified copy plus $1.00 for each page.2133

Where do I get a divorce decree in Shelby County?

Divorce case files: Circuit Clerk (domestic relations); domestic relations docket fee $280.00. Divorce certificates: county health department.10

How do I look up who owns a property in Shelby County?

Use the property search of the Shelby County Property Tax Commissioner (appraisal and assessment): ptc.shelbyal.com4

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Shelby County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Alabama with a full guide: Baldwin County, Calhoun County, Cullman County, Elmore County, Etowah County, Houston County, Jefferson County, Lauderdale County, Lee County, Limestone County, Madison County, Marshall County, Mobile County, St. Clair County, Tuscaloosa County. Every county in the state: Alabama county list. Looking for another Shelby County? Shelby County, Tennessee.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026
  2. Probate CourtShelby County Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  3. Probate Public Fees (PDF)Shelby County Probate Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  4. County Offices/Appraisal and Assessment RecordsAlabama Department of Revenuechecked November 4, 2026
  5. Shelby County, AL - Official Website (home)Shelby County Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  6. CourthouseShelby County Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  7. Shelby County Circuit Clerk's Office (home)Alabama Administrative Office of Courts / Shelby County Circuit Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  8. Request for Record Search and/or Copies of Court Records (PDF, rev 6-08)Shelby County Circuit Clerk (form hosted on eforms.alacourt.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  9. Certified Copy of a Marriage CertificateShelby County Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  10. Domestic Relations Fee ChartShelby County Circuit Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  11. Shelby County Health DepartmentAlabama Department of Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  12. Fees (Probate recording fees)Shelby County Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  13. Certified Copies (Probate Judicial)Shelby County Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  14. Shelby County Property Tax Commissioner Citizen Access PortalShelby County Property Tax Commissioner (E-Ring, Inc. platform)checked November 6, 2026
  15. Judicial (Probate Court)Shelby County Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  16. Board of RegistrarsShelby County Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  17. HistoryShelby County Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  18. Phone Directory for Court SystemShelby County Circuit Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Shelby County Health Department - Contact UsAlabama Department of Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  20. DepartmentsShelby County Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  21. Shelby County Sheriff, AL - Official WebsiteShelby County Sheriff's Officechecked November 4, 2026
  22. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026