Morgan County, AL

Decatur warrants come from one of three places: Morgan County Sheriff (county-level), Decatur Police (city-level), or directly from the Eighth Circuit Court magistrates. Verified live today. **Morgan County Sheriff's Office — the primary place to look** - **Active warrants list (publicly published online):** morgancountysheriffal.gov/warrants - This is uncommon for Alabama — most counties don't publish warrant lists at all - The list shows names, charges, and warrant details - Sheriff's Office address: 119 Lee Street, Decatur, AL 35601 - Phone: 256-351-4800 - Hours: 24/7 dispatch; office hours weekdays 8 AM – 5 PM **Decatur Police Department (city-level warrants)** - Phone: 256-341-4610 - Records request portal: cityofdecatural.justfoia.com/publicportal - Decatur PD arrestees go to Morgan County Jail, so checking the County roster covers most cases **Morgan County Magistrates Office (where warrants are issued)** - Eighth Circuit Court, Morgan County: morgan.alacourt.gov/magistrates - Magistrates exercise independent judgment in issuing arrest warrants - For a court-level confirmation on a specific case, contact the Morgan County Circuit Clerk **Step-by-step search process:** 1. **Check the public Morgan County Sheriff warrants list first** at morgancountysheriffal.gov/warrants. If your name (or the person you're looking for) is on it, that's confirmed. 2. **Statewide docket search at alacourt.gov** — shows active cases with bench warrants. Free, name-based. 3. **Statewide fugitive search at app.alea.gov/community/wfSearch.aspx?Type=25** — for Alabama-wide fugitive warrants. 4. **City-level only:** call Decatur PD Records at 256-341-4610 if you suspect a Decatur city ordinance warrant. 5. **Court-clerk verification:** if you know the case number, the Morgan County Circuit Clerk can confirm whether the warrant is still active. **Other Morgan County Sheriff features:** - Sex Offender Registry (icrimewatch.net link) - Conceal Carry Permits division - Fingerprinting service for background checks - VINE (Victim Information and Notification) — track when someone is released **Watch out for scams:** Morgan County actively warns about scammers calling residents pretending to be deputies, threatening arrest for missed jury duty, and demanding payment by gift card or wire transfer. **Real deputies will never demand payment by phone.** **If the warrant is on you:** Morgan County is more transparent than most Alabama counties about warrants, but you should still consult a Decatur defense attorney before walking into the Sheriff's office. The 30-minute consult is much cheaper than getting booked unrepresented.

Property records in Morgan County (where Decatur sits) are split across two offices in the Morgan County Courthouse — both verified live today. **For ownership, parcel maps, assessed values, and tax info — use the Revenue Commissioner:** - Revenue Commissioner: **Amanda G. Scott** (in office since 1996) - Address: Morgan County Courthouse, 302 Lee Street N.E., Decatur, AL 35601 - Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM - **Online property search (free, no login):** morgancountyrevenue.com/property-search - Citizen Access Portal (alternative search): morgan.capturecama.com - Annual revenue collected: ~$62 million in ad valorem taxes **For deeds, mortgages, liens, marriage certificates, and recorded documents — use the Probate Office:** - Judge: **Greg Cain** (Probate Judge since 2019) - Address: Morgan County Courthouse, 302 Lee Street N.E., Decatur, AL 35601 (relocated back to Courthouse on April 4, 2026) - Mailing: PO Box 848, Decatur, AL 35602 - Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM - Site: morgancountyprobate.com - Online document search available — but **requires username and password** (free application: morgancountyprobate.com/media/129797/website-username-and-password-application-fillable-.pdf) - Mobile app available via apps.myocv.com/share/a95335602 **Recording Fees (effective October 1, 2025):** - Updated fee schedule on morgancountyprobate.com — exact amounts depend on document type - Real Estate Transfer Tax (RT-1) form required on all deeds - Per Alabama law, deeds must include preparer name & address (§35-4-110) and grantor's marital status (§35-4-73) **For E-Recording (electronic deed submission):** Morgan County accepts e-recording through approved vendors: - Simplifile: 1-800-460-5657 · simplifile.com - CSC: 302-421-6100 · cscglobal.com/service/erecording **For 2026 Tax Lien Sale (delinquent property auction):** - Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM - Conducted online at govease.com - **Important:** these are tax LIEN auctions, not property auctions. You're buying a lien against the property, not the property itself, per Alabama Code 40-10-191. - Bidder training: govease.com/bidder-help-and-training **For historical Morgan County records (1820–1930):** - Original records housed at Morgan County Archives in Decatur - Microfilm available through FamilySearch — useful for genealogy and pre-1930 deed research **Practical note:** the Morgan County Courthouse is being renovated (announced February 2026). The Probate Office relocated back to the Courthouse on April 4, 2026, so confirm location before visiting in person.

Decatur is the Morgan County seat in north Alabama. Warrants here come from the **Morgan County Sheriff's Office**, the **Decatur Police Department**, or the issuing court. Verified live today. **Morgan County Sheriff's Office (the primary source — "To protect and serve since 1818")** - Address: 119 Lee Street, Decatur, AL 35601 - Phone: 256-351-4800 - Site: morgancountysheriffal.gov - **Active warrants list: morgancountysheriffal.gov/warrants** — yes, Morgan County actually publishes warrants online (this is uncommon in Alabama) - Inmate roster: morgancountysheriffal.gov/roster-choose - Records division: dedicated section on the site **Decatur Police Department (for city-level warrants)** - Phone: 256-341-4610 (Property/Records inquiries) - The Decatur PD operates under the City of Decatur - Public records request: cityofdecatural.justfoia.com/publicportal - Municipal Court record requests: cityofdecatural.com/departments/municipal-court/record-requests - Note: Decatur arrestees are typically booked into the Morgan County Jail, so even a Decatur PD arrest may show up on the County roster **Magistrates Office (issues warrants):** - Eighth Circuit Court of Alabama (Morgan County) - Site: morgan.alacourt.gov/magistrates - Magistrates exercise independent judgment in issuing arrest warrants under federal due process standards **To search for warrants:** 1. **Best first step:** the Morgan County Sheriff's online warrants page — actually publicly listed (rare in Alabama). Names, charges, booking info. 2. **Court-level docket search:** alacourt.gov — see if there's an active case with a bench warrant. 3. **Statewide fugitive search:** app.alea.gov/community/wfSearch.aspx?Type=25 — Alabama-wide fugitives. 4. **Direct phone call:** 256-351-4800 to ask if a specific person has a warrant. Like most Alabama agencies, the Sheriff may not confirm by phone — but Morgan County is one of the more transparent ones. **Other Morgan County Sheriff resources:** - Sex Offenders database: icrimewatch.net (linked from Sheriff site) - Conceal Carry Permits - Fingerprinting Service - VINE (Victim Information and Notification): track when someone is released from jail **If the warrant is on you:** Morgan County actively warns about scammers calling residents pretending to be deputies and demanding payment for missed jury duty. **Real deputies don't collect fines or warrant fees by phone.** Talk to a Decatur defense attorney first.

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.

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.

Same August 2019 rule change applies here. There are no marriage *licenses* in Alabama anymore — only marriage *certificates* filed with the Probate Office. **For a current marriage filing (post-August 2019):** Barbour County has two probate locations. The Eufaula office handles the southern half of the county: - **Eufaula Probate Office** — 405 E Barbour Street, Eufaula, AL 36027 · 334-687-1530 - Mailing address: PO Box 758, Eufaula, AL 36072 To file: complete the Alabama Marriage Certificate form, get it notarized, and file with payment within 30 days. Form available at alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-certificates.html **For a search of existing records:** - Online search through the Barbour County system: ingprobate.com/barbour_probate — has both probate case records and marriage records - For a certified copy from the state: Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics — $15.00 first copy (records back to August 1936) · 334-206-5418 **Pre-1936 marriages:** must come from the Barbour County Probate Office directly — the state didn't centralize records before then. **Note on what's actually in the index:** the online search returns names and dates. For legal use (name change, immigration, estate work), you need the certified copy with the seal — that comes from either Probate or ADPH, not the online index.