Answers verified against official agency websites and state statutes.
❓How do I locate someone using public records in Dothan?▼
Public records in Dothan can give you addresses, court history, and ownership info — but each source covers a different angle.
**1. Property records — best for current addresses of homeowners**
- Houston County Revenue Commissioner: Greg Holland
- Office: 114 N. Oates St., Dothan, AL 36303 (the County Courthouse)
- Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Houston County uses 4-day weeks for some departments)
- Free property search portal: houstoncountyal.gov/revenue/property_record_search
- Alternate property search: ingproperty.com/Houston_Revenue/property.aspx — search by name or parcel
- GIS map search: isv.kcsgis.com/al.houston_revenue — useful when you have a rough address but no exact street number
**2. Court records — recent addresses from filings**
- Statewide search: alacourt.gov — free name search across all Alabama trial courts
- Houston County Circuit Clerk handles full case files
- Court filings often include the person's address at the time of the case — particularly useful for civil suits, divorces, and creditor judgments
**3. Voter registration — public in Alabama**
- Alabama Secretary of State VoterView: myinfo.alabamavotes.gov
- Confirm registration status, polling location, and address — but you typically need name + DOB
**4. Police-related records (City of Dothan)**
- Public records request through the City Clerk: dothan.org/210/Records-Searches
- Up to a week to process
**Honest take:** for finding someone you've lost touch with personally, social media usually beats public records. Public records work best when you need a verified address (legal service, debt collection, custody filing) — not for casual reconnection.
**What's NOT a public record:** utility account info, current cell phone numbers, employment history.
🚔How do I look up an arrest in Dothan?▼
Dothan is the Houston County seat in southeast Alabama. Arrests there involve up to three agencies depending on jurisdiction.
**Houston County Sheriff's Office (the main one):**
- Address: 411 N Foster Street, Dothan, AL 36303
- Phone: 334-677-4882 / 334-677-4808
- Houston County Jail: 334-712-0762 (jail location: 901 E. Main St., Dothan, AL 36301)
- Sheriff: Donald Valenza (elected, in office since 2014)
- Online inmate listing: houstoncosoal.gov/inmate-listing
- Booking search portal: cc.southernsoftware.com/bookingsearch
- Email: info@houstoncountysheriff.org
- Coverage: 587 square miles, ~109,000 residents
**Dothan Police Department (for city-level arrests):**
- Phone: 334-615-3000 (general)
- Records: 334-615-3632
- News/arrests page: dothanpd.org/news/arrests — they post regular arrest reports
- For a public records request, the **City Clerk** handles it under Alabama's Open Records Act
- Records request form at dothan.org/210/Records-Searches — typical turnaround is up to a week
- Crash reports: $15.00 each (cash, check, or credit card)
**Dothan City Jail (separate from County Jail):**
- 210 N St Andrews St, Dothan, AL 36301
- Holds short-term/city-court arrests separately from the Houston County Jail
**For older arrests or court history:**
- Alabama Unified Judicial System: alacourt.gov — free statewide search
- Houston County Circuit Clerk for case files
**Practical tip:** if you saw someone get arrested but they're not on the Houston County roster, check the Dothan City Jail — minor city offenses often go there first before being transferred. The City Jail roster isn't online; you'd need to call.
❓How do I locate someone using public records in Dothan?▼
Public records in Dothan can give you addresses, court history, and ownership info — but each source covers a different angle.
**1. Property records — best for current addresses of homeowners**
- Houston County Revenue Commissioner: Greg Holland
- Office: 114 N. Oates St., Dothan, AL 36303 (the County Courthouse)
- Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Houston County uses 4-day weeks for some departments)
- Free property search portal: houstoncountyal.gov/revenue/property_record_search
- Alternate property search: ingproperty.com/Houston_Revenue/property.aspx — search by name or parcel
- GIS map search: isv.kcsgis.com/al.houston_revenue — useful when you have a rough address but no exact street number
**2. Court records — recent addresses from filings**
- Statewide search: alacourt.gov — free name search across all Alabama trial courts
- Houston County Circuit Clerk handles full case files
- Court filings often include the person's address at the time of the case — particularly useful for civil suits, divorces, and creditor judgments
**3. Voter registration — public in Alabama**
- Alabama Secretary of State VoterView: myinfo.alabamavotes.gov
- Confirm registration status, polling location, and address — but you typically need name + DOB
**4. Police-related records (City of Dothan)**
- Public records request through the City Clerk: dothan.org/210/Records-Searches
- Up to a week to process
**Honest take:** for finding someone you've lost touch with personally, social media usually beats public records. Public records work best when you need a verified address (legal service, debt collection, custody filing) — not for casual reconnection.
**What's NOT a public record:** utility account info, current cell phone numbers, employment history.
🚔How do I look up an arrest in Dothan?▼
Dothan is the Houston County seat in southeast Alabama. Arrests there involve up to three agencies depending on jurisdiction.
**Houston County Sheriff's Office (the main one):**
- Address: 411 N Foster Street, Dothan, AL 36303
- Phone: 334-677-4882 / 334-677-4808
- Houston County Jail: 334-712-0762 (jail location: 901 E. Main St., Dothan, AL 36301)
- Sheriff: Donald Valenza (elected, in office since 2014)
- Online inmate listing: houstoncosoal.gov/inmate-listing
- Booking search portal: cc.southernsoftware.com/bookingsearch
- Email: info@houstoncountysheriff.org
- Coverage: 587 square miles, ~109,000 residents
**Dothan Police Department (for city-level arrests):**
- Phone: 334-615-3000 (general)
- Records: 334-615-3632
- News/arrests page: dothanpd.org/news/arrests — they post regular arrest reports
- For a public records request, the **City Clerk** handles it under Alabama's Open Records Act
- Records request form at dothan.org/210/Records-Searches — typical turnaround is up to a week
- Crash reports: $15.00 each (cash, check, or credit card)
**Dothan City Jail (separate from County Jail):**
- 210 N St Andrews St, Dothan, AL 36301
- Holds short-term/city-court arrests separately from the Houston County Jail
**For older arrests or court history:**
- Alabama Unified Judicial System: alacourt.gov — free statewide search
- Houston County Circuit Clerk for case files
**Practical tip:** if you saw someone get arrested but they're not on the Houston County roster, check the Dothan City Jail — minor city offenses often go there first before being transferred. The City Jail roster isn't online; you'd need to call.
❓How can I find out if someone has an outstanding warrant in Opelika?▼
Opelika is the Lee County seat. Warrants here come from one of two places: the Opelika Police Department (city-level) or the Lee County Sheriff (county-level and unincorporated). Verified live today.
**Lee County Sheriff's Office**
- Address: 1900 Frederick Rd, Opelika, AL 36801
- Mailing: PO Box 688, Opelika, AL 36803-0688
- Phone: 334-749-5651 (main), 334-737-7022 (alt)
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST
- Records request: leecosheriffal.gov/recordsrequest (downloadable form)
**Opelika Police Department**
- Address: 501 South 10th Street, Opelika, AL 36801 (mail to 36803)
- Records Division: 334-705-5295
- Public records request line: 334-705-5110
- Email: rjones@opelika-al.gov
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
**The Alabama-specific reality:** the Lee County Sheriff's Office takes a slightly different approach than most Alabama agencies. Per the Sheriff's policy and the county magistrate office: **if someone suspects a warrant has been issued against them, they must appear in person at the Lee County Sheriff's Department.** They will not confirm warrants by phone for privacy and operational reasons.
**For a court-level confirmation:** the Lee County Circuit Clerk can verify whether a specific warrant tied to a known case is still active. Statewide docket: alacourt.gov
**Watch out for scams:** Lee County has actively warned about scammers calling residents claiming to be deputies and saying there's a warrant for missing jury duty. **Real deputies do not collect fines or warrant payments by phone.** If you get such a call, hang up and contact the Sheriff's office directly.
**If the warrant is on you:** consult a Lee County defense attorney before walking into the Sheriff's department. The 30-minute consult is cheaper than getting booked without representation.
🏠Where do I find a deed or property record in Alabama?▼
In Alabama, deeds and recorded property documents are filed at the **county Probate Office** (the office that doubles as the recorder), and assessment/tax data is at the **county Revenue Commissioner** or Tax Assessor (in Mobile, Jefferson, and a few others, separate Tax Assessor and Tax Collector offices). Most counties have free online search portals: Jefferson (jeffcoprobatecourt.com — fees $84.50 first copy, $28 standard recording), Mobile (probate.mobilecountyal.gov — deed tax $0.50 per $500 value), Baldwin (baldwincountyal.gov/government/probate-office/recording — $5 archive fee, $1 per name after two), Madison, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa (tuscco.com — $5 minimum filing). Statewide deed tax is $1.00 per $1,000 of value, rounded up. Bring an Alabama Real Estate Sales Validation form when filing a new deed — recording without it is rejected. Certified copies typically run $1–$3 per page. Online deed images normally go back to the 1990s; older books (often handwritten) require an in-person visit to the courthouse. Sources: Jefferson Probate (jeffcoprobatecourt.com), Mobile Probate, Baldwin County, Tuscaloosa County, Limestone County.