Courthouse
The Autauga County Courthouse is the main location for many court services handled through Alabama’s 19th Judicial Circuit, including Circuit Court, District Court, traffic matters, small claims, civil cases, domestic relations, juvenile matters, jury service, and Circuit Clerk functions. This article explains how the courthouse is organized, which court or clerk division handles common matters, what information or documents may be needed before a visit, how several official online systems work, and which courthouse procedures can cause delays or problems when they are overlooked.
Courthouse Services and Hours
The official Autauga County court website is operated as part of the Alabama judicial system and provides procedural information for the courts of the 19th Judicial Circuit and the Circuit Clerk’s Office. The site is intended to explain court procedures rather than provide legal advice. Court employees, including the Circuit Clerk, cannot tell a person which legal forms to use or advise someone how to handle a case.
The courthouse page lists regular hours as 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. People planning an in-person visit should pay attention to the midday closure and determine the correct division before arriving. Several courthouse services are separated by case type and room number, so going directly to the proper clerk division can prevent unnecessary delays.
The Circuit Clerk plays a central administrative role in courthouse operations. According to the court’s jury information, the clerk is responsible for court records, summonses and subpoenas, collection of court-ordered money, and other court business. Those responsibilities are separate from the work performed by judges, prosecutors, juvenile probation officers, and law enforcement.
Circuit Clerk Divisions
The Circuit Clerk’s Office directory separates courthouse business by case category. Using the case type or case prefix before contacting or visiting the courthouse can help identify the correct division.
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): Room 107 in the Circuit Clerk contact directory.
Payments: Room 116.
Bookkeeping: Room 116.
These categories matter because similarly named court services can follow different procedures. A Circuit Civil case is not handled in the same jurisdictional category as a District Civil or Small Claims matter. Likewise, District Criminal and traffic matters are distinct from Circuit Criminal felony proceedings, even though clerk functions for those categories may be located in the same room.
Before contacting the clerk, have the identifying information connected with the matter when available, such as the case number, traffic citation information, party names, or other documents received from the court. For traffic payments sent by mail, the court specifically instructs defendants to include the UTC number and/or case number.
Circuit Court Jurisdiction
The Circuit Court information page describes Alabama Circuit Courts as trial courts of general jurisdiction. In Autauga County, Circuit Court handles several major categories of cases that courthouse visitors may encounter.
Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over civil matters in which the amount in controversy exceeds $20,000. It also has jurisdiction over felony criminal prosecutions and family court matters. For civil disputes involving more than $6,000 but no more than $20,000, Circuit Court shares jurisdiction with District Court.
Circuit Court also exercises appellate jurisdiction over certain matters that originate elsewhere. The official court information identifies appeals from District Courts, Probate Court, municipal courts within the county, and certain administrative and municipal boards.
This distinction is useful when someone has paperwork from another court or is trying to determine why a case is before a Circuit Judge rather than a District Judge. The court level depends on the nature of the case, the amount involved in a civil dispute, or the procedural stage of the matter.
Circuit Court Judges
The official Circuit Court page identifies Amanda Baxley as Presiding Circuit Judge and also lists Circuit Judges Joy Booth, DeAnne “Dee Dee” Calhoon, and Patrick Pinkston. The website directs users to individual judge information for trial docket schedules. A party should rely on the assigned judge and case paperwork rather than assuming that every Circuit Judge follows the same docket schedule.
District Court Jurisdiction
The District Court page explains that Alabama District Courts generally have original jurisdiction over criminal misdemeanors. They also conduct preliminary hearings in felony prosecutions and may 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 matters, District Court shares jurisdiction with Circuit Court when the amount in controversy does not exceed $20,000. District Judges have exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions in which the amount in controversy, excluding interest and costs, does not exceed $6,000.
The amount involved in a civil claim therefore affects which court category applies. A claim within the District Court limit should not automatically be treated as a Circuit Civil filing, and small claims procedures may apply to claims within the smaller monetary range established for that court.
Traffic Tickets and Payments
Traffic matters are handled through District Court, and the official Traffic Court page contains detailed instructions for citations, payments, court appearances, insurance documentation, and driving school requests.
A traffic citation directs the defendant to appear before Autauga County District Court. The date printed on the ticket is not automatically a trial date. A defendant who wants to plead not guilty and request a trial must appear on the assigned court date to make that request.
Certain traffic tickets listed by the court may be paid through a guilty plea without a required appearance, provided the defendant has not been convicted of two or more traffic offenses during the preceding 12 months. Traffic violations that do not appear in the court’s payable-offense chart cannot be disposed of without a court appearance under that procedure.
Payment Methods and Case Numbers
The court permits qualifying traffic cases to be paid online through Alapay. The courthouse website also states that traffic tickets and District Criminal cases can be paid online through that system. For mailed traffic payments, the court instructs defendants using the guilty-plea option to sign the plea on the back of the ticket and submit a money order or cashier’s check. Personal checks are not accepted and are returned, which can delay processing.
When mailing a qualifying traffic payment, include the UTC number and/or case number. These numbers help the clerk identify the correct citation or court case. A person should not substitute unrelated numbers from other paperwork, such as a driver’s license number, for a court case or UTC identifier unless instructed by the court.
Missing a Court Date
The Traffic Court page warns that failing to pay or otherwise dispose of a case before the court date and then failing to appear can have serious consequences. A failure-to-appear warrant may be issued, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency may suspend the person’s driver’s license, costs may increase, and a posted bond may be forfeited.
Court dates may be moved only in extreme emergencies by order of the judge assigned to the case. A defendant should not assume that contacting the clerk, submitting a payment after the deadline, or deciding not to attend automatically changes the scheduled appearance.
Insurance and Correctable Violations
The court provides a specific process for some no-insurance citations. A defendant is not required to appear if the defendant can provide proof by the court date that the vehicle being driven at the time of the ticket was insured. The court states that month-to-month policies are not accepted for this procedure.
Proof may be provided in person or by mail before the court date for an out-of-court settlement. The court also describes time limits and different consequences when proof is provided after the scheduled court date. Similar processing rules are identified for certain license, tint, tag, equipment, and medical-card violations.
Defendants appearing in court should bring relevant documentation the first time. The court specifically gives examples involving insurance obtained after a citation, coverage on another vehicle, and documentation showing that a newly purchased vehicle was covered at the time of the ticket.
Small Claims Court
The Small Claims Court page addresses claims up to $6,000 and provides filing-fee information, service charges, counterclaim costs, default judgment fees, garnishment costs, execution fees, subpoenas, and Circuit Court appeal fees.
The page advises that a plaintiff may want to file in the county where the defendant resides. If a case is transferred to another county, the plaintiff is responsible for the transfer fees. Service arrangements can also affect the total amount due at filing, particularly when the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office is serving one or more defendants.
The fee schedule on the official page is expressly identified as effective August 1, 2015. Because the amount due depends on the size of the claim, the number of parties, service requirements, and the type of filing, users should identify the exact filing they are making rather than relying on the cost of a different small claims procedure.
The page states that accepted filing-fee payment methods are cash, cashier’s check, or money order and that payment is due when the case is filed. Filing costs can increase when additional defendants or plaintiffs are included or when sheriff service is required.
District Civil and Evictions
The District Civil page includes procedures for unlawful detainer cases. The Clerk’s Office specifically states that it cannot provide legal advice, and the procedures vary according to the circumstances of each case.
The court’s published procedure begins with notice to the tenant. It states a seven-day notice for a yearly lease and a 30-day notice for a month-to-month, expired, or no-lease situation. The notice may be hand delivered, posted at the premises, or sent by certified mail. The court does not provide the initial notice to vacate, move, or evict; the person initiating the process must prepare it.
If the tenant has not moved after the notice, the plaintiff may file an Unlawful Detainer Statement of Claim with the clerk, along with the required fee, a copy of the notice, and the lease agreement. If there is no written lease because the agreement was oral, the court requires a written statement describing the agreement.
Answer and Default Procedures
After service, 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 for the setting of a trial. If no answer is received within seven business days after service, the plaintiff may file an application for default judgment with the required fee.
The manner of service is particularly important if the plaintiff seeks a money judgment through default. According to the published procedure, the defendant must have been personally served with the statement of claim rather than served only by posting or mailing. A plaintiff may seek a property judgment first and a money judgment later.
After judgment, the defendant has seven consecutive days to appeal to Circuit Court. If there is no appeal and the defendant has not vacated, the plaintiff may request a writ of possession after seven consecutive days from the judgment. The request is submitted to the judge, and an issued writ is then sent to the sheriff’s office for the final possession process.
For collection of a money judgment, the court states that a garnishment process may be filed 14 consecutive days after the money judgment is obtained. The filer must have a current address for the defendant and current garnishee information.
Domestic Relations Matters
Domestic relations cases are handled through the Circuit Clerk’s domestic relations division, and the official court website maintains a separate domestic relations fee schedule. The published categories include divorce filings, modification or contempt matters, certain dispositive motions, subpoenas, garnishment or execution procedures, income withholding orders, copies, and certified copies.
Because domestic relations matters fall within Circuit Court jurisdiction, parties should distinguish a domestic relations case from District Civil, Small Claims, or Juvenile Court filings. The case type shown on court papers and the division identified by the clerk should be used to determine where documents and payments belong.
Juvenile Court Services
The Juvenile Court page explains that the court includes a judge, judicial assistant, probation officers, and a juvenile court clerk who serves under the authority of the Circuit Clerk. The page directs people seeking Juvenile Court assistance first to the Juvenile Probation Office in Room 102 or the Juvenile Clerk’s Office in Room 103.
The Juvenile Court Office accepts petitions involving delinquency, dependency, and a child in need of supervision, commonly identified as CHINS. These categories have different purposes and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Juvenile Petition Categories
Delinquency: allegations that a child committed a violation, misdemeanor, or felony offense.
Dependency: allegations involving circumstances such as abuse, neglect, abandonment, lack of proper care or support, failure to provide necessary medical care or schooling, or other circumstances requiring state care and protection.
Child in Need of Supervision: allegations involving conduct such as habitual truancy, disobedience of reasonable and lawful parental demands, leaving home without permission, or committing an offense that is not classified as criminal.
The court also handles truancy matters. The published Juvenile Court information states that a child is legally truant at seven unexcused absences during a school year. The court participates in Early Warning Truancy sessions with local boards of education to address attendance problems and explain possible consequences to parents, guardians, and students.
Jury Service at Courthouse
People who receive a jury summons should use the official jury information page and register through the Alabama juror system as instructed on that page. Summoned jurors are directed to report on the required day to Courtroom 1 at the courthouse.
Jurors should arrive early enough to complete check-in and should bring the jury summons with the requested information completed. The courthouse normally opens at 7:30 a.m. for the check-in process. After check-in, prospective jurors go through qualification, receive instructions, and may be divided into panels.
Length of Jury Service
The court explains that the 19th Judicial Circuit uses one-week jury terms, although most jurors will not serve every day. After the first day, jurors may receive a panel card and instructions to call a recorded information line after 5:00 p.m. to learn whether their panel must return the next day and, if so, when to report.
If a juror is selected for a trial, the juror follows the judge’s instructions until the case ends. Afterward, the juror returns to the panel instructions provided through the court’s recorded message.
Juror Pay and Employment
For each required service day, the court states that jurors are entitled to a $10 expense allowance plus a mileage allowance of five cents per mile for travel to and from court. A juror may waive those payments by obtaining and completing the court’s waiver form.
The court also explains that a full-time employee is entitled under Alabama law to usual wages while serving as a juror. Jurors may obtain a Certificate of Jury Service from the Circuit Clerk as proof for an employer. A person summoned for jury service should present the summons to the employer for the days the person is required to serve.
Excuses and Postponements
Jury service is not excused simply because it is inconvenient. The court states that an excuse may be considered when service would create undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, or when public necessity requires it. A person seeking an excuse should notify the court in advance. The court may postpone service to a later date rather than excuse the person entirely.
The judiciary directory identifies a specific juror information contact for requests to be excused. Jurors should follow the summons and court instructions rather than assuming that failure to report will be treated as a request for an excuse.
Courthouse Security Rules
The jury information published for the 19th Judicial Circuit lists several categories of prohibited items. Security rules apply to courthouse visitors as well as jurors, and the list may be changed because individual courts can have local rules.
No lighters, matches, or other items used to start a fire.
No knives or sharp, pointed, or edged items, including knitting needles.
No fingernail files three inches or longer.
No scissors of any type or length.
No pepper spray, mace, or tasers.
No guns of any type.
No cellphones or recording devices.
Visitors should review what they are carrying before entering the courthouse. Bringing prohibited property can create delays and may prevent a person from completing security screening on time for a required appearance.
Preparing for a Courthouse Visit
The most useful preparation depends on the reason for the visit. Court paperwork generally identifies the case category, assigned date, and other information needed to reach the correct clerk division or courtroom. A person with a traffic citation should bring the ticket and any documents relevant to the violation. Someone reporting for jury service should bring the completed summons. A party filing an unlawful detainer should follow the court’s document requirements for the notice, lease, or written description of an oral agreement.
Payment methods also differ by transaction. Traffic payments made by mail under the court’s qualifying guilty-plea procedure require a money order or cashier’s check rather than a personal check. Small claims filing fees are listed as payable by cash, cashier’s check, or money order. Court users should therefore follow the payment instructions for the specific division instead of assuming that every courthouse transaction accepts the same form of payment.
Common Courthouse Mistakes
Several problems described in the court’s own instructions can be avoided with basic preparation. Traffic defendants should not assume the date printed on a ticket is a trial date, and they should not miss the appearance date when a court appearance is required. Mailed traffic payments should include the proper UTC or case number and should not be sent using a personal check.
Civil litigants should identify the correct court category before filing because Circuit Civil, District Civil, and Small Claims jurisdiction are based partly on the amount in controversy. In an eviction case, the timing and type of service can affect later procedures, including whether a money judgment can be requested by default.
Jurors should not bring prohibited items, arrive without a completed summons, or disregard later panel instructions because they assume jury service is finished after the first day. People dealing with the clerk should also remember that court employees may explain established procedures but cannot recommend legal strategy or select legal forms for a party.
Courthouse Offices and Contacts
Autauga County Courthouse
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
Courthouse FAQs
Who is eligible for jury service in Autauga County?
According to the official Autauga County jury information, a prospective juror generally must be a United States citizen, be over age 19, have lived in the county for at least 12 months, and be able to read, speak, and understand English. A juror must also be physically and mentally capable of serving. Certain convictions involving moral turpitude that resulted in suspension of voting rights may affect eligibility. Qualification is reviewed as part of the jury process after summoned jurors report.
Can my employer penalize me for jury duty?
Alabama court guidance states that a prospective juror should present the jury summons to an employer for the days the person is required to serve. A full-time employee is generally entitled to usual wages during jury service under Alabama law, and state law prohibits an employer from dismissing an employee because the employee was summoned for jury duty. Employees who are released earlier than expected are instructed to return to work. Rules can differ when the employer is located outside Alabama because another state's employment laws may apply.
Could jurors have to stay overnight?
Yes, although it is not routine. A judge may order a jury to be sequestered, meaning jurors are temporarily isolated from public contact during a trial. In that situation, jurors may need to stay overnight away from home. The court states that meals and lodging are provided, and a bailiff or deputy sheriff supervises the sequestered jury. Jurors may arrange for a relative or friend to bring necessary personal items.
Can jurors research or discuss a case?
No. Jurors must base their decisions only on evidence presented in court. The court instructs jurors not to research a case, conduct their own experiments, follow news coverage about the trial, or discuss the case with relatives, friends, witnesses, attorneys, or other people. Once deliberations begin, discussion is limited to fellow jurors. Anyone who attempts to discuss the case improperly with a juror should be reported to the judge.
Does the courthouse process passport applications?
No. The official judiciary directory states that passport services are not provided there at this time. Visitors looking for passport acceptance should therefore use an authorized government passport acceptance location rather than going to the courthouse for that service.