Chilton County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Chilton County?

Public records in Chilton County are defined under Alabama Code § 36-12-40 as all written, typed, or printed books, papers, letters, documents, and maps made or received in the transaction of public business by any state agency, county, or municipality. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of these records subject to the exemptions established by state law.

The following categories of public records are currently maintained by various Chilton County offices:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family matters) — maintained by the Chilton County Circuit Court, part of Alabama's Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, located at the Chilton County Courthouse
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments) — maintained by the Chilton County Judge of Probate and the Revenue Commissioner's office
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — issued through the Chilton County Health Department, which provides certified copies to eligible requestors
Business records (licenses, permits, and fictitious business names) — maintained by the Chilton County Probate Office and the Clanton City Clerk
Tax records (property tax assessments and payment histories) — maintained by the Chilton County Revenue Commissioner, accessible through the Alabama Department of Revenue's county appraisal and assessment records portal
Voting and election records — maintained by the Chilton County Board of Registrars and the Probate Judge's office
Meeting minutes and agendas (county commission and boards) — maintained by the Chilton County Commission office
Budget and financial documents — available through the Chilton County Commission
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law) — maintained by the Chilton County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Chilton County Planning and Development office

Is Chilton County an Open Records County?

Chilton County fully operates under Alabama's open records framework, which mandates public access to government documents. Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of the state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute. This provision establishes a broad presumption of openness applicable to all county offices and agencies within Chilton County.

Key provisions of Alabama's open records law currently in effect include:

Any citizen of Alabama is entitled to inspect public writings during regular business hours
Custodians of records must respond to requests within a reasonable time
Agencies may not require requestors to state a reason or purpose for accessing most public records
Fees for copies must be reasonable and may not be used as a barrier to access

Chilton County offices are also subject to Alabama's Open Meetings Act, codified at Alabama Code § 36-25A-1 et seq., which requires that meetings of governmental bodies be open to the public and that agendas and minutes be made available. No county-specific ordinance currently supersedes or restricts the rights granted under state law.

How to Find Public Records in Chilton County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Chilton County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county office maintains the record in question. Court records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk; property and vital records are held by the Probate Office or Health Department; tax records are held by the Revenue Commissioner.
Submit a written or in-person request. Most offices accept requests in person during regular business hours. Written requests submitted by mail or email are also accepted by the majority of Chilton County offices.
Provide identifying information about the record. Requestors should supply the full name of the subject, approximate date range, and record type to facilitate efficient retrieval.
Pay applicable fees. Upon notification that records are available, requestors must pay any applicable copying or certification fees before receiving documents.
Access court records online. Civil and criminal case information for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit may be reviewed through the Chilton County Circuit Court portal. Traffic case records and ticket payment options are available through the Alabama Traffic Service Center.
Access vital records. Certified birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates may be requested through the Chilton County Health Department. Patients and eligible individuals may also access certain health-related records through the Alabama Department of Public Health patient portal.
Access driver license records. Driver license and motor vehicle records for Chilton County residents are processed through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Chilton County driver license office.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Chilton County?

Current fees for public records in Chilton County vary by record type and the office responsible for maintaining the documents. Standard fees applicable across most offices are as follows:

Photocopies: Typically $0.25 to $1.00 per page for standard black-and-white copies, consistent with Alabama's reasonable fee standard
Certified copies of vital records: The Chilton County Health Department currently charges $15.00 for the first certified copy of a birth or death certificate and $6.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time
Certified court documents: The Circuit Court Clerk charges a per-page fee for certified copies, with certification fees assessed separately
Property record copies: The Revenue Commissioner and Probate Office assess standard per-page fees for deed and lien copies
Research fees: Some offices may assess a reasonable research or retrieval fee for requests requiring extensive staff time

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, money order, and personal check. Some offices accept credit or debit card payments. Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, fees must remain reasonable and must not function as a practical barrier to public access. Fee waiver provisions are not broadly codified in Alabama law, though individual offices may exercise discretion in cases of demonstrated financial hardship or requests made in the public interest.

Does Chilton County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect most public records in Chilton County at no charge; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection: Any person may visit the relevant county office during regular business hours and inspect public records without charge
Online court records: Case information for civil, criminal, and traffic matters in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit is available at no cost through the 19th Circuit Court of Alabama's Chilton County portal
Property assessment data: The Chilton County Revenue Commissioner provides free online access to property appraisal and assessment data through the Alabama Department of Revenue's county records directory
Health department services information: General information about available public health services, including vital records access procedures, is published at no cost on the Chilton County Health Department's services page
Traffic records: Members of the public may review traffic case information and court dates through the Alabama Traffic Service Center at no charge

Who Can Request Public Records in Chilton County?

Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, any citizen of Alabama holds the statutory right to inspect and copy public records. In practice, Chilton County offices extend access to all members of the public, including non-residents, consistent with the broad intent of the state's open records framework.

The following eligibility standards currently apply:

Residency: Requestors are not required to be residents of Chilton County or the State of Alabama to access most public records
Identification: Offices may request identification for administrative purposes, but proof of identity is not a prerequisite for accessing general public records
Statement of purpose: Requestors are not required to state a reason or intended use for most public records requests
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as certified vital records, are restricted to the subject of the record, immediate family members, or authorized legal representatives; the Chilton County Health Department applies these eligibility standards when issuing certified birth and death certificates
Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting records pertaining to themselves may be required to provide government-issued identification to verify identity, particularly for vital records and law enforcement records
Requesting records about others: Requests for records pertaining to other individuals are subject to the same general access rights, except where the records fall within a statutory exemption

What Records Are Confidential in Chilton County?

Not all government documents held by Chilton County offices are subject to public disclosure. Alabama law establishes specific categories of exempt records, and custodians are required to withhold or redact information falling within these categories. The following records are currently exempt from public disclosure under Alabama statutes:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or dependency proceedings are confidential under Alabama law
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled during active investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would compromise the investigation
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly disclosed documents
Medical and health records: Patient health information is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute
Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by the Alabama Department of Human Resources relating to child abuse or neglect investigations are confidential
Personnel records: Employee records held by county agencies are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for salary and position information
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting may be withheld
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Documents describing security vulnerabilities or emergency response protocols are exempt from disclosure

Alabama Code § 36-12-40 and related provisions establish the balancing framework under which custodians weigh the public interest in disclosure against the privacy or security interests protected by each exemption. Where a record is partially exempt, agencies are required to redact only the exempt portions and release the remainder.

Chilton County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The principal offices responsible for maintaining and providing access to public records in Chilton County are listed below. Members of the public are advised to confirm current hours directly with each office, as hours may be subject to change.

Chilton County Probate Office (Judge of Probate) 500 2nd Ave. N., Clanton, AL 35045 (205) 755-1555 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Chilton County Circuit Court Clerk — Nineteenth Judicial Circuit 500 2nd Ave. N., Clanton, AL 35045 (205) 755-4275 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Chilton County Circuit Court

Chilton County Revenue Commissioner 500 2nd Ave. N., Clanton, AL 35045 (205) 755-0155 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Alabama Department of Revenue — County Appraisal and Assessment Records

Chilton County Health Department 2006 Lay Dam Rd., Clanton, AL 35045 (205) 755-3671 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Chilton County Health Department

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency — Chilton County Driver License Office 500 2nd Ave. N., Clanton, AL 35045 (205) 755-2059 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ALEA Chilton County Driver License Office

Chilton County Sheriff's Office 75 County Services Dr., Clanton, AL 35045 (205) 755-4211 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.