Courthouse

This guide helps Autauga County residents and visitors efficiently navigate the Autauga County AL Courthouse—from understanding which court handles which matters to preparing for jury service, paying traffic tickets, and locating the right office inside the building. It focuses on practical steps, office functions, hours, and on-site procedures so you can complete your court business in fewer trips and with fewer surprises.

Find the Courthouse, Hours, and the Right Starting Point

The Autauga County Courthouse sits at 134 North Court Street, Prattville, Alabama 36067. The main line is (334) 358-6800. Business hours run 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you are unsure where to begin, the safest starting point is the Circuit Clerk’s Office—also inside the Courthouse—because that office serves as the central point of intake and recordkeeping for most court filings, payments, summonses, and day-to-day case management.

For online orientation, the official Autauga County courts website explains local procedures, divisions, and contacts in one place and provides authoritative links to services used by the Courthouse. Visit the Autauga Circuit Clerk’s Office page to review division-by-division responsibilities, room numbers, and primary phone lines; it is the most direct path to the desk that can process your question or filing.

Use the official Autauga County courts website to confirm local procedures and browse divisions (e.g., Circuit, District, Juvenile, Small Claims).
Link: official Autauga County courts website

Review division responsibilities and clerk desk contacts on the Autauga Circuit Clerk’s Office page before you drive to the Courthouse.
Link: Autauga Circuit Clerk’s Office

Enter Confidently: Security Screening, Check-In, and Courthouse Etiquette

Arrive early enough to clear security and locate your courtroom or service desk before your scheduled time. Security personnel enforce a strict prohibited-items policy drawn from the 19th Judicial Circuit’s rules. Expect screening similar to an airport checkpoint and plan your bag accordingly.

Commonly prohibited items include:

Lighters, matches, or anything used to light a fire
Knives or sharp/pointed objects (including long nail files and scissors)
Pepper spray, mace, tasers, and firearms of any kind
Cell phones or recording devices, per posted local rules

If you are reporting for jury service, you will turn in your completed summons and check in as directed; jurors typically assemble in Courtroom 1. The Courthouse generally opens at 7:30 a.m., which is the earliest time jurors can begin the check-in process.

Work with the Circuit Clerk’s Office: Your First Stop for Records, Filings, and Payments

The Circuit Clerk is the courts’ official recordkeeper and business manager for proceedings in the Autauga County District and Circuit Courts. While the Clerk’s team interacts with the public daily—accepting pleadings, issuing subpoenas, coordinating jury management, and disbursing court funds—state law prohibits the Clerk’s Office from giving legal advice. If you are unsure which form you need or how a law applies to your facts, consult an attorney.

What the Clerk’s Office does for the public:

Receives civil, criminal, domestic relations, child support, traffic, juvenile, small-claims, and warrant filings

Issues subpoenas, court notices, and garnishment paperwork

Collects court costs, fines, and fees; manages bookkeeping and payments

Administers jury management tasks (summonses, check-in, certificates of service)

Serves as Absentee Election Manager for county, state, and federal elections in Autauga County

For room-by-room desk lines (e.g., Circuit Civil, District Criminal & Traffic, Small Claims, Juvenile, Payments, Bookkeeping), review the contact panel on the Autauga Circuit Clerk’s Office page. Link: Autauga Circuit Clerk’s Office

Understand Court Jurisdiction: Which Court Handles Your Matter?

Circuit Court: General Jurisdiction and Appeals

Alabama’s Circuit Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. In Autauga County, Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over:

Civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $20,000
Felony criminal prosecutions
Family court matters
Certain civil cases between $6,000 and $20,000 (concurrent with District Court)
Appeals from District Court, Probate Court, municipal courts, and certain boards

Meet the bench and review jurisdictional details on the Circuit Court page; it also links to judge-specific docket information.
Link: Circuit Court

Circuit Judges serving Autauga County (19th Judicial Circuit):
Presiding Circuit Judge Amanda Baxley; Circuit Judges Joy Booth, DeAnne “Dee Dee” Calhoon, and Patrick Pinkston.

District Court: Misdemeanors, Preliminary Hearings, and Lower-Amount Civil Claims

District Court handles:

Original jurisdiction in criminal misdemeanors

Preliminary hearings in felony prosecutions; guilty pleas in non-capital felony cases

Juvenile court actions in the 19th Circuit

Concurrent civil jurisdiction up to $20,000, and exclusive jurisdiction for civil claims $6,000 or less (excluding interest and costs)

See the District Court overview for the court’s civil and criminal scope and the assigned District Judge.
Link: District Court

District Judge serving Autauga County: Honorable Jessica Sanders.

Prepare for Jury Service: Registration, Reporting, Pay, and Responsibilities

If you received a jury summons, register promptly online. The 19th Judicial Circuit schedules multiple jury terms each year, and jurors support both civil and criminal trials.

Register online at the statewide jury registration portal and follow instructions on your summons.
Link: jury registration portal

What to expect:

When to report: Report on the date listed on your summons. You will assemble in Courtroom 1 of the Autauga County Courthouse for orientation and qualification.

Hours and check-in: The Courthouse opens at 7:30 a.m., giving you time to clear security and complete check-in.

Term length: Jury service typically runs for a one-week term depending on the case load.

Attendance updates: After day one, jurors receive a panel number. You will call the nightly recorded message after 5:00 p.m. to learn whether your panel must report the next day.

Compensation: Jurors receive a daily expense allowance and mileage reimbursement under state law. Full-time employees are entitled to normal wages during service; obtain a certificate of jury service from the Clerk for your employer.

Dress and conduct: Wear comfortable, respectful clothing; bring a jacket due to temperature fluctuations in the historic building. Be prepared for waiting periods and avoid discussing the case or researching it outside the courtroom.

Trial flow: Expect opening statements, witness testimony, cross-examination, closing arguments, and the judge’s instructions before deliberations.

For additional local guidance—parking, prohibited items, and day-of procedures—consult the Jury content on the Courthouse site via the homepage menus linked above.

Handle Traffic Citations: Court Dates, Dismissals, and Online Payments

A traffic citation lists a court date for the Autauga County District Court. If you do not resolve your citation by or before that date and you fail to appear, a warrant may issue, your license may be suspended by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and costs can increase.

Ways to resolve a traffic ticket:

Eligible tickets and direct payment: Certain listed offenses can be paid without a court appearance by entering a guilty plea and paying the listed fine and costs. The chart is maintained by the Court, and eligibility depends on your record (e.g., not having two or more traffic convictions in the preceding 12 months).

Proof-based dismissals: For “no insurance” and similar compliance-related citations, providing acceptable proof by the court date can result in dismissal; later proof may incur court costs.

Not guilty pleas: If you want a trial, appear on your court date to request one.

Driving school: Available only at the judge’s discretion; you must appear or write the judge in advance for consideration.

To review local expectations and the offense list, check the Traffic Court page, then use the statewide portal to pay online if your citation qualifies.

Local procedures and offense information: Traffic Court
Secure online payment (statewide): online payment portal

If you have questions about statewide traffic processing, the Alabama Traffic Service Center maintains additional guidance through the state courts’ website.

File Civil Actions Efficiently: Where to File, Fees, and Service of Process

The dollar amount and subject matter determine where you file:

District Civil: Civil claims up to $20,000, with exclusive jurisdiction for claims $6,000 or less (not including interest and costs).

Circuit Civil: Claims over $20,000; concurrent jurisdiction with District Civil for matters exceeding $6,000 up to $20,000.

Before filing, review the Autauga County court cost schedules and bring the correct payment method (cash, cashier’s check, or money order; due at filing). Subpoena, garnishment, writ, and service fees align with who serves process (Autauga County Sheriff, other county Sheriff, certified mail, or a process server).

Fee schedules and filing-cost breakdowns: Court Costs

Unlawful Detainer (Eviction): Step-by-Step Overview

The Courthouse provides a clear procedure outline for unlawful detainer cases filed in District Civil. While each case varies, the Courthouse guidance explains the standard path:

Provide written notice to the tenant (seven-day notice for a yearly lease; thirty-day notice for month-to-month, expired, or no lease). Notice may be hand-delivered, posted on the premises, or sent certified mail.

File a Statement of Claim (Unlawful Detainer) with the required fee, plus a copy of your notice and lease. If oral, include a written statement of the terms.

Service and response: After service, the tenant has seven business days to answer. If an answer is filed, the judge reviews for trial setting.

Default judgment: If no answer arrives within seven business days, the plaintiff can request a default judgment (fee required). A money judgment requires personal service on the Statement of Claim.

Appeal window: The tenant has seven consecutive days after judgment to appeal to Circuit Court.

Writ of Possession: If no appeal is filed and the tenant remains, the plaintiff can request a writ of possession (fee required) seven consecutive days after judgment. Once signed, the writ goes to the Sheriff for execution.

Collecting money judgments: Fourteen consecutive days after a money judgment, a garnishment process (fee required) may be pursued if you have current address and garnishee information.

File in Room 114 (District Civil / Small Claims desk) and bring all supporting documents to prevent delays. Remember that the Clerk’s Office cannot tell you what to file or how to argue your case.

Domestic Relations and Child Support: How Services Are Organized at the Courthouse

Child support services connected to establishing paternity, obtaining orders, income withholding, and enforcement operate under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act and Alabama law. In Autauga County, the District Attorney’s Child Support Unit serves as legal counsel for the Department of Human Resources (DHR) in court actions related to paternity and child support. That Unit represents the State of Alabama—not individual parents—in these actions, including referrals involving parents residing outside Alabama.

Key points:

Services include paternity actions, child support establishment, and enforcement (including income withholding and contempt).

These services are available regardless of financial need, but the Unit does not handle custody and visitation representation; it is limited by contract to IV-D matters.

The Child Support Unit is located in the Autauga County Courthouse; the Domestic Relations/Child Support Clerk desk sits in Room 108 for filings and case-related inquiries.

Background and office coordination details are summarized on the Courthouse’s Child Support page.
Link: Child Support

Juvenile Court: Petitions, Truancy, and Where to Go in the Building

Autauga County’s Juvenile Court accepts and processes:

Delinquency petitions (alleging a child committed a violation, misdemeanor, or felony)

Dependency petitions (alleging abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a parent/guardian unable or unwilling to discharge responsibilities, among other statutory grounds)

CHINS (Child in Need of Supervision) petitions (habitual truancy, disobedience to lawful demands of a parent/guardian, runaway behavior, and status offenses)

Where to start: For intake and filings, go to the Juvenile Probation Office (Room 102) or the Juvenile Clerk’s Office (Room 103) inside the Courthouse at 134 North Court Street, Prattville. The Court also addresses compulsory school attendance (truancy) with Early Warning Truancy sessions conducted in partnership with local Boards of Education. Parents and guardians are briefed on responsibilities and potential legal consequences when children reach legally defined truancy thresholds.

Because juvenile records and proceedings carry special confidentiality considerations, call ahead to the Juvenile desk in Room 107 if you are unsure which window should receive your paperwork. Bring photo identification and any school or agency documentation that supports your filing.

Meet the Bench and Core Administrative Contacts

If your case is set for hearing or trial, consult the judge’s docket information and the Judiciary Directory for current chambers lines and staff points of contact (e.g., judicial assistants and court reporter contacts).
Link: Judiciary Directory

Judicial officers serving Autauga County:

Circuit Court: Presiding Circuit Judge Amanda Baxley; Circuit Judges Joy Booth, DeAnne “Dee Dee” Calhoon, and Patrick Pinkston

District Court / Juvenile: District Judge Jessica Sanders

When in doubt about courtroom assignments or time changes, call the number listed on your notice or the directory entry for the assigned judge and have your case number ready. Courtrooms shift based on the weekly docket load and trial term scheduling.

Costs, Payment Methods, and After-Judgment Enforcement

Court cost schedules are published by the Clerk and list filing fees for Circuit Civil (including expungement petitions), District Civil (including unlawful detainer), and add-ons such as subpoena service and writ issuance. Fees vary depending on whether service is through the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, another county’s Sheriff, certified mail, or a private process server. Some fees apply only upon certain filings (e.g., default judgment motions, garnishments, writs of possession). Payment is generally due at filing and accepted as cash, cashier’s check, or money order.

Review current fee tables before you file to ensure you bring the correct amount and cover all parties to be served: Court Costs

Collections after judgment: If your judgment includes money damages, speak with the civil desk about garnishment procedures, forms, and service requirements. The Clerk’s staff can provide the procedural steps and cost schedule; they cannot advise on strategy or likelihood of collection.

Practical Tips for a Smooth Courthouse Visit

Bring the Right Documents the First Time

Traffic: Proof of compliance (insurance, registration, driver’s license, repair receipts) can affect outcomes and may qualify you for dismissal or reduced fines under specific scenarios described by the Court.

Civil filings: Include copies of notices, contracts or leases, affidavits, and addresses for service. If you are filing an eviction without a written lease, attach a written statement of the terms of your oral agreement.

Jury duty: Bring your summons, a government-issued ID, and attire suitable for a courtroom. Plan for downtime between panels and bring reading material that complies with security rules.

Verify Room and Desk Before You Queue

The Clerk’s Office divides public counters by case type to route you to the right staff (e.g., Circuit Civil/District Civil in Room 114; Juvenile in Room 107; Domestic Relations/Child Support in Room 108; District Criminal/Traffic in Room 117). Checking the Autauga Circuit Clerk’s Office page in advance can prevent waiting in the wrong line.
Link: Autauga Circuit Clerk’s Office

Use Official Online Services When Available

Jury registration and updates flow through the statewide portal.
Link: jury registration portal

Eligible traffic tickets can be paid securely online.
Link: online payment portal

Substantive jurisdiction and judge rosters are kept current on the Courthouse site:
Circuit Court, District Court, Judiciary Directory

Always double-check your case number, UTC number (for traffic), and the exact spelling of party names when using online services—accurate inputs save time at the counter and reduce the risk of misapplied payments.

Key Reminders About Forms and Legal Guidance

The Courthouse website is designed to provide instructions about local procedures and links to statewide resources. Staff members must remain neutral and cannot tell you which legal forms to use or how to complete them for your circumstances. If you need advice about what to file or the consequences of a filing, speak with an attorney. Some court-related forms are available through statewide resources linked from the Courthouse site menus. If a form needs to be served, confirm service method and fees in advance with the Clerk desk that handles your case type.

Departments, Addresses, and Phone Numbers

Autauga County Courthouse — 134 North Court Street, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6800

Circuit Clerk’s Office (General) — 134 North Court Street, Room 114, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6801

Circuit Civil / District Civil — 134 North Court Street, Room 114, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6806

Small Claims / Unlawful Detainers — 134 North Court Street, Room 114, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6805

Domestic Relations / Child Support (Clerk Desk) — 134 North Court Street, Room 108, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6809

District Criminal & Traffic — 134 North Court Street, Room 117, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6802

Circuit Criminal — 134 North Court Street, Room 117, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6807

Juvenile Division (Clerk/Intake) — 134 North Court Street, Room 107, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6803

Payments — 134 North Court Street, Room 116, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6804

Bookkeeping — 134 North Court Street, Room 116, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6810

District Court (Judicial Office) — 134 North Court Street, Room 110, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6820

Circuit Court (Judicial Office) — 134 North Court Street, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6840

District Attorney’s Office — 134 North Court Street, Room 106, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 365-5715

Absentee Voting (Absentee Election Manager) — 165 W. Fifth Street, Prattville, AL 36067 — (334) 358-6718

Autauga County Courthouse FAQs

Which court will hear my case, and where can I confirm jurisdiction details?

In Autauga County, the Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over civil actions exceeding $20,000, felony criminal cases, and family matters; it also hears appeals from District Court, Probate Court, municipal courts, and certain boards. The District Court handles misdemeanors, preliminary felony hearings, and civil actions up to $20,000 (with exclusive jurisdiction at $6,000 and below); in the 19th Circuit, District Judges also exercise original jurisdiction in Juvenile Court actions. For judge-specific dockets and the full jurisdiction breakdown, review Circuit Court and District Court.

How do I register and report for jury service, and what should I expect on arrival?

If you receive a summons, register promptly through the statewide portal linked from the county’s Jury Information page. On your report date, you’ll check in and assemble as directed for orientation; panels are assigned and you’ll follow daily instructions by calling the recorded message after 5:00 p.m. Jurors receive a statutory expense allowance and mileage reimbursement under Alabama law. Security screening is enforced; prohibited items include lighters, knives or sharp objects, pepper spray or tasers, firearms, and cell phones/recording devices—plan accordingly.

Can I resolve a traffic ticket without appearing in court?

Many listed traffic offenses are payable without a court appearance by entering a guilty plea and paying the prescribed fine and costs; eligibility depends on your recent record. Certain compliance matters (e.g., proof of insurance) may be dismissed if acceptable proof is provided by the deadline, with different outcomes if submitted later. Full instructions, offense lists, and the secure online payment pathway are provided on Traffic Court.

What steps are required to file an unlawful detainer (eviction) case?

Begin by serving the required notice period based on the tenancy type. If the tenant remains, file a Statement of Claim with supporting documents and the fee. After service, the tenant has seven business days to answer; absent an answer, you may seek default judgment (additional requirements apply for a money judgment). Appeals must be filed within seven consecutive days; a writ of possession may be requested seven days after judgment if no appeal is taken. Post-judgment garnishment is available 14 consecutive days after a money judgment. See procedures and forms via District Civil.