Mobile County, officially established in 1812, is located in southwestern Alabama. The county has a population of over 414,000 residents and covers an area of about 1,644 square miles. Mobile County, having its county seat in Mobile City, is known for its shipping and maritime industries, having one of the busiest ports in the United States, the Port of Mobile in the county.

Courts in Mobile County

The hierarchy of the judicial system for Mobile County comprises Circuit, District, Probate, and Municipal Courts. The Mobile County Circuit Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction, handling felonies and civil disputes for more than $50,000. The Circuit Court handles juvenile cases, such as truancy and juvenile delinquencies. It presides over family law cases, including divorce and child custody, and probate cases, such as wills and estates.

The District Court in Mobile County handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and civil claims for amounts below $50,000. The Probate Court has exclusive rights over cases involving the administration of deceased estates, including guardianships, conservatorships, and wills. The Municipal courts preside over most municipal ordinance violations. Mobile County Municipal Courts handle violations of city ordinances, including traffic offenses, minor criminal matters, and local code violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Mobile County

Public court records are legal documents open to the public for inspection, viewing, and copying in Mobile County. The Clerk of Court is the record custodian for public court records in Mobile County. Record seekers may view and obtain public court documents by visiting the Clerk’s Office. The office also permits residents to request public court records by mail. Public court records from the Probate Court are accessible online using the Public Record Search tool.

Types of Public Court Records in Mobile County

Access to public court records helps citizens educate themselves about the legal process. It also helps them know their rights and responsibilities under the law. The following court records are open to Mobile County residents:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies such as aggravated assaults and arson cases. Misdemeanor, including petty theft and vandalism
• Civil Court Records: Business litigations, boundary disputes, foreclosures, personal injury claims, and small claims
• Probate Records: Guardianships, conservatorship, trusts, wills, name changes, and estates administration
• Family Court Records: Marriage dissolution, legal separation, alimony, child custody, and child support
• Traffic Records: Speeding tickets, illegal parking, driving under the influence, and driving history records

Confidential Court Records in Mobile County

Confidential court records in Mobile County are legal documents not publicly available. Confidential records are sealed or restricted by state or federal law to protect sensitive information while maintaining the privacy of the individual named on the court document. Confidential court records in Mobile County include:

• Juvenile Court records
• Domestic violence protection orders
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Sexual assault victim records
• Mental health commitment records

Furthermore, personal data in court records are confidential and exempt from disclosure to the public. Personal identifiers uniquely identify individuals, including Social Security numbers, medical records, driver’s license numbers, phone numbers, birthdates, and tax identification numbers. Personal information on public court records is redacted to protect privacy, prevent harm or harassment, and minimize the risks of financial fraud.

Juvenile Delinquency in Mobile, AL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Mobile County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Alabama often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1429 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Mobile County. Of that total, 79% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1133 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 5 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Mobile County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Mobile County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Mobile County, AL

http://www.alabama.gov/

County Seat:	Mobile
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1812
Total Square Miles:	1,644
2019 Population:	413,955
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Mobile County, AL Courts