Circuit Clerk
The Autauga County Circuit Clerk’s Office is the administrative center for court records and many day-to-day court transactions in the county’s District and Circuit Courts. Residents may deal with the clerk when filing civil documents, responding to a court case, paying certain court costs, handling traffic matters, obtaining or filing documents in domestic relations or juvenile cases, dealing with small claims, requesting warrants through the required process, or reporting for jury service. This article explains the clerk’s responsibilities, how the office organizes different case types, what information to have ready, where specific procedures differ, and common mistakes that can delay court business.
Circuit Clerk Duties
The Circuit Clerk functions as the courts’ official record keeper and business manager for proceedings held in the District and Circuit Courts. According to the official Circuit Clerk duties page, the office maintains court records and manages the collection and disbursement of court funds for the court system.
Daily responsibilities include receiving and maintaining court pleadings, collecting fines and fees, preparing subpoenas, and issuing notices for scheduled trials and hearings. The clerk’s responsibilities therefore extend beyond simply providing copies of records. The office supports the administrative processing of cases from filing through later court activity and maintains the records associated with those proceedings.
The clerk also has jury-management responsibilities. In addition, the Circuit Clerk serves as the Absentee Election Manager for county, state, and federal elections in Autauga County. These responsibilities are separate from the clerk’s ordinary court-case divisions, so residents should identify the purpose of their visit before contacting or going to the office.
How The Office Is Organized
The Autauga County Circuit Clerk’s Office directory separates court business into divisions. Knowing the division associated with a case is one of the easiest ways to avoid being directed to the wrong staff member or courthouse room.
The office lists the following case and administrative divisions:
Circuit Criminal (CC): Room 117.
District Criminal (DC) and Traffic (TR): Room 117.
Domestic Relations (DR) and Child Support (CS): Room 108.
Circuit Civil (CV) and District Civil (DV): Room 114.
Small Claims (SM) and Unlawful Detainers/Evictions: Room 114.
Juvenile (JU): listed on the Circuit Clerk contact page in Room 107.
Payments: Room 116.
Bookkeeping: Room 116.
These abbreviations are useful when reading case numbers, notices, or other court paperwork. For example, CV and DV identify different civil divisions, while SM identifies small claims. A person asking about a traffic citation should not begin with the civil division simply because money is owed, and someone dealing with an eviction should use the small claims/unlawful detainer area rather than the domestic relations division.
The official juvenile information page gives a different room location for the Juvenile Clerk’s Office, directing visitors to Room 103, while the Circuit Clerk contact directory lists the juvenile division in Room 107. Because the official pages contain different room information, visitors handling juvenile matters should rely on their current court documents and courthouse directions when they arrive.
Circuit And District Court Differences
The clerk serves cases handled through both Circuit Court and District Court, but those courts do not have identical jurisdiction. Knowing which court is handling a matter helps users select the correct filing category and understand the paperwork they receive.
Circuit Court Jurisdiction
Under the Circuit Court jurisdiction information, Alabama Circuit Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over civil matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $20,000, felony criminal prosecutions, and family court matters.
Circuit Court also shares jurisdiction with District Court in civil matters where the amount in controversy is more than $6,000 but does not exceed $20,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Circuit Courts also exercise appellate jurisdiction over certain cases appealed from District Courts, Probate Court, municipal courts, and specified administrative and municipal boards.
This distinction matters when filing or asking the clerk about a case. A civil dispute may belong in Circuit Court, District Court, or small claims depending on the type and amount of the claim and other applicable requirements.
District Court Jurisdiction
The District Court information page states that Alabama District Courts generally have original jurisdiction over criminal misdemeanors. They also conduct preliminary hearings in felony prosecutions and can receive guilty pleas in felony cases that are not punishable by death.
In the 19th Judicial Circuit, District Judges also have original jurisdiction in Juvenile Court actions. For civil cases, District Court shares jurisdiction with Circuit Court where the amount in controversy does not exceed $20,000 and has exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions where the amount in controversy, excluding interest and costs, does not exceed $6,000.
Civil Filings And Court Costs
People filing civil documents should identify both the type of case and the service method before calculating what must be paid. The official court costs page separates Circuit Civil fees from District Civil fees and shows that additional charges can depend on the number of parties and how documents are served.
Circuit Civil Fees
The published Circuit Civil schedule states that filing fees are payable by cash, cashier’s check, or money order and are due at filing. The page lists a base fee of $296 for a non-jury complaint up to $50,000 and $396 for a jury complaint over $50,000. It also lists separate charges for matters such as petitions for expungement, interpleader complaints, certain counterclaims and third-party filings, dispositive motions, additional parties, jury demands, subpoenas, garnishments, executions, attachments, and writs of possession.
Service can change the total amount due. The published schedule distinguishes service by certified mail or process server from service by the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office or another county sheriff’s office. A filer therefore should not assume that the base filing amount is the entire amount required.
District Civil Fees
The District Civil schedule covers unlawful detainers and claims from $6,000.01 through $20,000. It also states that the filing amount varies depending on how the defendant is served. Additional plaintiffs, additional defendants, reissued service, subpoenas, garnishments, executions, judgments, interrogatories, and other procedures may carry separate charges.
Because several amounts depend on service arrangements and the number of parties, filers should review the applicable schedule for their particular filing rather than relying on a fee remembered from another case.
Small Claims Matters
Small claims cases are handled separately from higher-value District or Circuit civil actions. The published small claims schedule divides statement-of-claim filing fees according to the amount sought: $1 through $1,500, $1,500.01 through $3,000, and $3,000.01 through $6,000.
The official information also advises that a plaintiff may want to file in the county where the defendant resides. If a case is later transferred to that county, the plaintiff is responsible for the transfer fees. Service in Autauga County by the Sheriff’s Office adds charges under the published schedule, while the page states that there is no sheriff service fee when a party is served outside Autauga County.
Additional defendants and plaintiffs can change filing costs. Counterclaims, default judgments in qualifying cases, garnishments, executions, reissued service, subpoenas, appeals, and certain post-judgment procedures also have separate charges. Anyone preparing a small claims filing should therefore know the amount being claimed, the number of plaintiffs and defendants, and how each defendant will be served.
Evictions And Unlawful Detainers
Eviction-related filings are handled through District Civil. The District Civil unlawful detainer instructions specifically state that the Clerk’s Office is prohibited from giving legal advice. The office can process filings and court records, but it does not decide what legal strategy a landlord or tenant should use.
The published procedure instructs a landlord to provide the required notice before filing an unlawful detainer claim. The page identifies a seven-day notice for a yearly lease and a 30-day notice for a month-to-month, expired, or no-lease situation. It also states that the initial notice must be prepared by the person filing because the state does not provide an initial notice to vacate, move, or evict.
If the tenant has not moved after notice, the filer may submit an Unlawful Detainer Statement of Claim with the required fee, a copy of the notice, and the lease agreement. If the agreement was oral and there is no written lease, the page requires a written statement describing the agreement.
Deadlines After Service
Once served, the defendant has seven business days to file an answer. If an answer is received, the matter is submitted to the judge for review and the setting of a trial. If no answer is filed within the stated period, the plaintiff can file an application for default judgment and pay the applicable fee.
After judgment, the defendant has seven consecutive days to appeal to Circuit Court. If no appeal is filed and the tenant has not vacated, the plaintiff can request a writ of possession after seven consecutive days from judgment. The request goes to the judge, and an approved writ is then submitted to the Sheriff’s Office.
For collection of a money judgment, the published instructions state that garnishment may be filed 14 consecutive days after a money judgment is obtained. The filer must have a current address for the defendant and current garnishee information.
Traffic Cases And Payments
Traffic citations are District Court matters. The official Traffic Court page explains that the date printed on a ticket is a court date, not a trial date. A defendant who wants to plead not guilty and request a trial must appear on the assigned court date to request the trial.
Some listed traffic offenses may be resolved by entering a guilty plea and paying without appearing in court, provided the defendant has not been convicted of two or more traffic offenses during the preceding 12 months. Violations that do not appear on the court’s payable-offense list cannot be handled that way and require a court appearance.
The traffic instructions warn that failing to pay or otherwise dispose of a case before the court date and then failing to appear may result in a failure-to-appear warrant, possible driver’s-license suspension by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, increased costs, and forfeiture of any posted bond.
Information With A Payment
For a payment sent under the procedures described on the court page, the clerk asks the defendant to include the UTC number and/or case number. That identifying information is significant because it connects the payment with the correct traffic case. Sending money without the identifying case information can create avoidable processing problems.
The page states that personal checks are not accepted for the described mail-payment procedure and warns that a personal check will be returned, causing a delay. The stated mail-payment method uses a money order or cashier’s check.
No-Insurance Citations
The traffic page contains separate instructions for certain no-insurance cases. A defendant is not required to appear if proof is provided by the court date showing insurance on the vehicle driven at the time of the citation. The page says month-to-month policies are not accepted for this process.
Proof may be provided in person or by mail before the court date for an out-of-court disposition described by the court. Proof submitted within 30 days after the court date results in dismissal upon payment of court costs. The page states that proof cannot be provided more than six months after the court date; at that point, the ticket must be paid in full. Similar processing is stated for certain license, tag, tint, equipment, and medical-card citations.
Domestic Relations And Child Support
The Circuit Clerk’s Domestic Relations division handles court records and filings associated with domestic relations cases. The published domestic relations fee schedule includes divorce filings, modification or contempt matters, certain dispositive motions, subpoenas, garnishment or execution procedures, income withholding orders, and copies or certified copies.
Child support matters can involve multiple government offices. The Circuit Clerk maintains the court-side records and filings, while the Department of Human Resources provides child support services under the process described by the court. The referenced child support program can initiate court actions concerning paternity, establish child support orders, collect and enforce support through income withholding, and initiate contempt proceedings for failure to comply with court orders.
The court’s information states that an application for those services is made through the Department of Human Resources. The case may then be referred to the District Attorney’s Child Support Unit. That unit’s representation does not extend to custody and visitation matters. This division of responsibilities is useful to recognize because the Circuit Clerk, Department of Human Resources, and District Attorney’s Child Support Unit do not perform the same functions.
Juvenile Court Records
A juvenile court clerk serves under the authority of the Autauga County Circuit Clerk. The Juvenile Court accepts petitions involving delinquency, dependency, and a child in need of supervision. Juvenile Probation is a separate office, even though both may be involved in juvenile proceedings.
Someone going to the courthouse for a juvenile matter should distinguish between the Juvenile Clerk’s Office and Juvenile Probation. The Juvenile Court page says a person seeking assistance may begin with either the Juvenile Probation Office or the Juvenile Clerk’s Office depending on the matter.
Because juvenile cases involve their own court division, documents or questions about a juvenile proceeding should not automatically be directed to the general criminal or domestic relations desks.
Warrant Request Procedures
The Circuit Clerk’s Office also has a defined role in the warrant process. According to the official warrant instructions, a person seeking to obtain a warrant on an individual must first have an Autauga County deputy sheriff complete an Incident/Offense Report. That report must then be brought to the Circuit Clerk’s Office.
This order of steps matters. Going directly to the clerk without the required deputy sheriff’s report does not follow the procedure published by the court. The clerk processes the court-related portion after the required incident or offense report has been prepared.
Jury Service And The Clerk
Jury management is another major responsibility of the Circuit Clerk. The official jury information page instructs people who receive a jury summons to register online immediately using the state juror system identified on that page.
Summoned jurors are instructed to report as required to Courtroom 1 at the Autauga County Courthouse. The courthouse normally opens at 7:30 a.m. to begin check-in. Jurors should bring the summons with its requested information completed.
After the first day, jurors may receive a panel number and instructions for checking whether their panel must return the following day. The published process includes a recorded message from the Circuit Clerk after 5:00 p.m. advising which panels are required to report and when.
Juror Pay And Employment
The jury page states that a juror is entitled to an expense allowance of $10 for each required service day plus a mileage allowance of $0.05 for each mile traveled to and from the juror’s residence. A summoned juror may still be entitled to the stated expense and mileage allowance even if not selected for a jury that day, subject to the exceptions explained by the court.
The Circuit Clerk can also provide a Certificate of Jury Service for an employer. The court states that full-time employees are entitled to their usual wages during jury service under the cited Alabama law.
Courthouse Restrictions
Jurors and other courthouse visitors should also pay attention to prohibited-item rules. The court’s published list prohibits items including guns, knives, pepper spray, mace, tasers, lighters, matches, certain sharp objects, cellphones, and recording devices. Local rules can change, so courthouse instructions supplied with a summons or case notice should be followed.
Preparing For Clerk Business
Many delays can be avoided by identifying the case and transaction before approaching the clerk. The exact documents required depend on the type of matter, but the official procedures repeatedly rely on information that connects a filing, payment, or request to the correct proceeding.
Depending on the matter, useful information may include:
The court division shown on the case paperwork, such as CC, DC, TR, DR, CS, CV, DV, SM, or JU.
The case number shown on notices or other court documents.
The UTC number for a traffic citation when applicable.
The names of the parties as they appear in the case.
The amount being claimed in a civil or small claims filing.
The number of plaintiffs and defendants when fees depend on the number of parties.
The intended service method when filing fees depend on sheriff service, certified mail, or another permitted method.
Required supporting documents, such as an eviction notice and lease for an unlawful detainer filing.
An Incident/Offense Report prepared by an Autauga County deputy sheriff when beginning the published warrant procedure.
Bringing the wrong case number, confusing a traffic citation with a criminal case, or using a small claims fee for a District Civil filing can result in unnecessary delays. Court notices and existing case papers should be used to identify the division and case before filing or paying.
Common Clerk Office Mistakes
Choosing The Wrong Division
The clerk’s office handles several types of court business in different divisions. Domestic relations, child support, criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, evictions, and juvenile matters are not interchangeable. Using the abbreviation or case type shown on the paperwork helps direct the question to the appropriate division.
Using An Incorrect Fee
Published civil fees vary based on factors such as claim amount, jury demand, number of parties, service method, and the specific document being filed. Older paperwork or the fee from a previous case should not be assumed to apply to a new filing.
Ignoring Service Charges
A base filing fee may not include every required service charge. The court schedules distinguish between service by the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, another county sheriff, certified mail, and process servers in several types of cases.
Missing Court Deadlines
Several clerk-related procedures use specific deadlines. The District Civil eviction instructions include seven-business-day and seven-consecutive-day periods for different stages. Traffic cases are tied to the court date printed on the citation. A person should distinguish business days from consecutive days whenever the official procedure makes that distinction.
Expecting Legal Advice
The Circuit Clerk is an administrative court officer and record keeper. The District Civil instructions expressly state that the Clerk’s Office is prohibited from giving legal advice. Staff can process court documents, payments, records, notices, and other clerk functions, but users should not expect clerk personnel to tell them which legal claim to file or what position to take in a case.
Relevant Court Offices
Autauga County District Civil Court
134 North Court Street, Prattville, AL 36067
(334) 358-6800
Autauga County Small Claims Court
134 North Court Street, Prattville, AL 36067
(334) 358-6800
Juvenile Clerk’s Office
Autauga County Courthouse, 134 North Court Street, Prattville, AL
(334) 358-6803
Absentee Voting
165 W. Fifth Street, Prattville, AL 36067
P.O. Box 681864, Prattville, AL 36068
334-358-6718
Circuit Clerk FAQs
Can I get a passport through the Circuit Clerk?
No. The official Autauga County judiciary directory states that passport services are not currently provided through the local court offices. Because service availability can change, check the official Autauga County Judiciary Directory before planning a courthouse visit for passport-related business.
Where can I find published garnishment notices?
Autauga County maintains an official online page for certain garnishment notices. Entries may identify the person involved, the court case number, a notice of garnishment, a written court order, and the publication date. If you are checking whether a notice has been published for a particular case, use the official Notice of Garnishments page and compare the case number carefully with your court paperwork. Similar names can appear in court records, so the case number is the more reliable identifier.
How do I check a Circuit Court trial docket?
The official Autauga County Circuit Court page provides access to trial docket information through the individual Circuit Judge listings. If your paperwork identifies the judge assigned to your case, use that judge’s listing when checking the scheduled docket. A docket listing should not be treated as a substitute for a court notice or an order issued in your specific case.
Can jury service be postponed?
Possibly. The court states that jurors are not excused merely because service is inconvenient. An excuse may be considered when jury service would create undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, or when public necessity applies. The court may postpone service to a later date instead of excusing it entirely. Jurors seeking a change should follow the instructions on their summons and review the official jury information before the reporting date.
Where are court job applications submitted?
Applications for Alabama court-system employment are submitted through the Administrative Office of Courts rather than directly through an individual Autauga County court division. The county judiciary directory directs applicants to the Alabama court system’s human-resources website for current application information and employment procedures.