Marion County Clerk of Court
Denise L. Mixon is the Marion County Circuit Clerk, the unified local clerk for Circuit and District Court administration. She began work in the office on August 30, 2004, became District Court Magistrate and Deputy Clerk in January 2007, and worked throughout the office for 11 years. Retired Judge John Bentley appointed her Interim Circuit Clerk on July 20, 2015. She then ran for and won election as Circuit Clerk in 2018.
The official Circuit Clerk profile emphasizes professional and courteous public service. The office is on the second floor of Marion County Courthouse. Sheriff Williams operates from the separate Sheriff's Office and jail, so custody questions go to 205-921-7433 rather than the clerk. Probate estate and marriage files also use the separate Probate Office.
Marion County Circuit Clerk's Office
Clerk: Denise L. Mixon
132 Military Street South, Second Floor
Hamilton, AL 35570
Mail: P.O. Box 1595, Hamilton, AL 35570
205-921-7451
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; closed noon-1:00 p.m.
Marion County Clerk Record Duties
The Clerk of Court receives and maintains filings for Circuit civil, District civil, small claims, domestic relations, Circuit criminal, District criminal, and District Court traffic matters. The office collects filing fees, keeps case action and financial records, accepts eligible fine and cost payments, provides a public search terminal, issues public copies, and certifies court documents. Juvenile matters use a confidential intake and records process and are not open to general public discussion.
- Circuit civil matters over $20,000, district appeals, administrative appeals, workers compensation, and probate appeals.
- District civil claims from $6,000.01 through $20,000, evictions, and unlawful detainers.
- Small claims up to $6,000, with no jury and an appeal route to Circuit Court.
- Divorce and child-support filings, criminal case administration, and traffic citation records.
- Public inspection, written copy requests, certifications, filing payments, and electronic filing support.
The office cannot give legal advice, tell a person which form to use, or evaluate a claim. Official forms are available through Alabama court eForms, but selecting and completing them remains the filer's responsibility.
Request Certified Marion Clerk Copies
A certified copy bears the clerk's certification and may be required when a receiving court, agency, school, employer, or other institution needs proof that the document matches the court file. Begin by identifying the exact order, pleading, judgment, decree, or other item. The office says written requests may take up to 30 days because of minimal staffing, so a time-sensitive request should be made early.
- Use the office terminal or Alacourt ACCESS to identify the case number, party names, case style, and document.
- Obtain a record request form from the Clerk's Office, or prepare a written request with every published required item.
- State which document is needed and plainly request certification.
- For mail, include a money order and self-addressed stamped envelope. Personal checks are not accepted.
- For pickup, include a working phone number so staff can contact the requester when the copy is ready.
Orders are forwarded to parties or their attorneys when filed. A later request for another Circuit or District Court pleading, filing, or order follows the written request and fee process.
Marion County Clerk Request Fields
The Circuit Clerk records and copies instructions publish the information needed for a written request, although no downloadable request PDF was located. Required contact information lets staff clarify the request or arrange pickup. Recommended case details reduce the chance of selecting the wrong person or file.
| Field or Item | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Requester name and address | Yes | Identifies the requester and return destination. |
| Contact phone | Yes | Required for pickup and contact. |
| Documents needed | Yes | Name each filing, pleading, order, or copy. |
| Certification required | Conditional | State yes when a certified copy is needed. |
| Case number and party names | Recommended | Improves identification. |
| Case style, birth date, aliases, charges | Recommended | Helps distinguish similar records. |
| Case type | Recommended | Civil, criminal, domestic, traffic, or another division. |
| Stamped envelope and money order | For mail | Both are needed for mailed records. |
Note: The clerk can search the court index and provide records, but cannot interpret a case or advise how a document should be used.
Marion County Clerk Fees
Copy charges are based on the document page count, with a separate certification charge. Filing fees depend on the case division and amount in dispute. The following schedule uses local amounts published by the Clerk's Office. Service, motions, extra parties, and later collection steps may add costs.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Copies up to 20 pages | $5.00 |
| Each page after 20 | $0.50 |
| Clerk certification | $5.00 |
| Circuit civil, $20,000.01-$50,000 | $244.00 |
| Circuit civil, over $50,000 or unspecified | $344.00 |
| Workers compensation filing | $192.00 |
| District civil, one defendant | $245.00 |
| Small claims up to $1,500 | $50.00 |
| Small claims $1,500.01-$3,000 | $124.00 |
| Small claims $3,000.01-$6,000 | $213.00 |
| Domestic relations docket | $192.00 |
Common add-ons include $10 for an additional defendant served by the sheriff, $12 for a subpoena, $30 for garnishment or execution, and $50 for a default or summary judgment motion. A Circuit civil jury demand is $100. Additional plaintiffs cost $100 each, capped at $500. Confirm the total with the division because the right amount depends on the filing.
Marion County Clerk Forms and Divisions
Forms differ by division. Circuit civil records can include complaints, answers, motions, jury demands, subpoenas, and appeals. District civil adds eviction and unlawful-detainer papers. Small claims uses statements of claim and related answer, judgment, garnishment, or execution records. Domestic relations filings may include divorce, child support, withholding, modification, and enforcement forms.
- Circuit civil procedures for higher-value civil matters and appeals.
- District civil procedures for civil claims and evictions.
- Small claims procedures for claims up to $6,000.
- Domestic relations procedures for divorce and support matters.
Forms should be filed with the correct division. Juvenile files are confidential, and a party requesting a juvenile custody order must appear in person with valid photo identification before a copy may be distributed.
Marion County Clerk Search Channels
A public access terminal inside the Clerk's Office provides free name searching during regular hours. After locating a case, a visitor can request copies at the counter. Alacourt ACCESS is the paid remote path for criminal, civil, small claims, traffic, domestic relations, and child-support records. A name or case-number search costs $9.99. Reports can include status, settings, parties, court actions, financial history, and a case action summary. Document images cost $5 for the first 20 pages and 50 cents per page after that.
AlaFile is the electronic filing and service portal. The Circuit civil page encourages attorneys to use Alacourt and self-represented litigants to register for AlaFile to file pleadings and receive notices by email. AlaFile is for filings and service, while Alacourt ACCESS is for record retrieval. Neither replaces the clerk's certified-copy process.
Written mail requests go to Marion County Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 1595, Hamilton, AL 35570. The physical courthouse address is for in-person service. When a portal fails, the office terminal, mail request, and phone are the documented fallback chain.