To get a certified copy of a felony record in Alabama, contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the conviction was entered. The clerk’s office issues the document with the court’s official seal and the clerk’s signature, which is what makes it legally valid for expungement petitions, rights restoration, professional licensing, and background checks. A regular printout or photocopy will not be accepted for any of those purposes.
What Counts as Certified
A certified copy carries two markings a plain copy does not: the official seal of the issuing court and the signature of the Clerk of the Circuit Court or another authorized certifier. Together they confirm the document matches what sits in the court’s file.
Because of that certification, the document is self-authenticating under Rule 902 of the Alabama Rules of Evidence. A judge or hearing officer can accept it on its face, with no witness required to vouch for it.1Alabama Judicial System. Alabama Rules of Evidence – Rule 902 Without the seal and signature, the paper is informational only, and courts, state agencies, and licensing boards will turn it away.
How to Request One
Alabama court records are generally public and open for inspection.2Etowah County Circuit Court. Record Request and Copies You submit the request to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the case was decided. There are three practical routes.
In Person
Walking into the clerk’s office is the fastest option. Bring valid photo ID and as much case detail as you have: full legal name of the defendant, date of birth, case number, and approximate date of conviction. If you don’t know the case number, the clerk can search by name and date, though that takes longer. You pay at the counter and usually receive the certified document the same day or within a few business days.
By Mail
If you can’t visit, send a written request to the appropriate clerk’s office with the defendant’s full name, date of birth, case details, and your return address. Enclose a money order or cashier’s check payable to the clerk’s office; personal checks are frequently rejected. Mail requests typically take one to three weeks, though some counties move faster than others.
Through Alacourt ACCESS
Alabama’s court system runs an online portal at pa.alacourt.com where you can search criminal, civil, traffic, and domestic relations records.3Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. Alacourt ACCESS V2.0 The portal is where you look up case numbers and confirm which county holds the record, but the physically certified copy with the court seal still comes from the clerk’s office. Use the portal to prepare your request, then submit it in person or by mail.
What It Costs
Certification fees vary by county. Plan on roughly $1.00 to $5.00 per page, and some counties add a flat certification fee on top of per-page charges. Each case you need certified generates its own separate fee, so multiple convictions mean multiple charges. Call the specific clerk’s office before submitting anything to confirm the amount and which payment methods they accept, so your request doesn’t come back unfulfilled.
What People Use It For
The certified copy is the piece of paper that unlocks several formal processes. Knowing which one you’re heading into helps you decide how many copies to order.
Expungement
Alabama law requires that an expungement petition include an official certified criminal record obtained from the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC). Without it, the court will not process the petition.4Shelby County Circuit Court. Information for Filing an Expungement Petition
Alabama treats dismissed charges very differently from actual convictions. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and cases that were never indicted become eligible after a 90-day waiting period. Charges dismissed following completion of a drug court, mental health court, or other diversion program also qualify.5Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 15 Criminal Procedure 15-27-2
A felony conviction is harder to clear. You first need a certificate of pardon with restoration of civil and political rights from the Board of Pardons and Paroles, then must wait 180 days after that certificate issues. Even then, the conviction cannot be for a violent offense, a sex offense, a crime involving moral turpitude, or a serious traffic offense.5Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 15 Criminal Procedure 15-27-2 The petition is filed in the circuit court of the county where the original charges were brought.4Shelby County Circuit Court. Information for Filing an Expungement Petition
Moral turpitude offenses are specifically enumerated by statute and include murder, assault, kidnapping, domestic violence, human trafficking, and dozens of others.6Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 17-3-30.1 – Disqualification of Electors for Conviction of Felony Involving Moral Turpitude If your conviction falls in any excluded category, expungement of the conviction itself is not available regardless of how much time has passed.
Restoring Civil Rights
A felony conviction in Alabama can cost you the right to vote, hold public office, sit on a jury, and possess firearms. The Board of Pardons and Paroles investigates an applicant’s criminal record as part of any pardon or rights-restoration application, so your own certified copy lets you see what the state has on file before you apply.7Justia Law. Alabama Code 15-22-36 – Authority to Grant Pardons and Paroles, Remit Fines and Forfeitures
Only felonies classified as involving moral turpitude disqualify you from voting.6Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 17-3-30.1 – Disqualification of Electors for Conviction of Felony Involving Moral Turpitude If your felony isn’t on that list, you may not have lost the right at all. If it is on the list, you can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote (CERV) through the Board of Pardons and Paroles once you have completed your sentence, probation, or parole, and paid all fines, court costs, and victim restitution ordered at sentencing. You also cannot have any pending felony charges. Murder, rape, sexual abuse, incest, and treason are permanently excluded from the CERV process.8Legal Information Institute. Alabama Admin Code R 640-X-7-.02 – Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote
A full pardon is a separate application. It does not automatically restore civil and political rights unless the pardon document specifically says so, and eligibility generally requires successful completion of at least three years of permanent parole, or the entire sentence if it was shorter.7Justia Law. Alabama Code 15-22-36 – Authority to Grant Pardons and Paroles, Remit Fines and Forfeitures
Licensing and Employment
Employers and professional licensing boards often require certified conviction records during background screening. Careers in healthcare, education, law enforcement, and finance commonly demand proof of your exact criminal history before a license issues or a hire is cleared. A self-printed record from a public database will not satisfy those requirements.
Check the Record Before You Use It
Review the certified copy carefully before you file it anywhere. Court record errors happen more often than people expect: wrong charges listed, incorrect disposition dates, or a conviction attributed to someone with a similar name. An inaccurate record can derail an expungement petition, delay a pardon application, or trigger a false hit on a background check.
If you find an error, contact the Circuit Clerk’s office that issued the document. Correcting a court record typically requires filing a motion with the court, and depending on the nature of the mistake you may want an attorney’s help. Fixing the record before you submit it saves substantial time compared to discovering the problem after a denial.