Baldwin County Circuit Clerk

The Baldwin County Circuit Clerk's Office

Brenda Ganey serves as the elected Circuit Clerk of the Twenty-Eighth Judicial Circuit of Alabama. Her office operates out of the Baldwin County Courthouse in Bay Minette and is the official record-keeping arm for both Circuit Court and District Court matters in Baldwin County. The clerk files pleadings, maintains dockets, collects filing fees, issues process, manages juror administration, and handles passport applications. She also serves as the Absentee Election Manager for Baldwin County.

The office does not cover Probate Court records, marriage certificates, land recordings, vehicle licensing, or other functions handled by the Baldwin County Judge of Probate. Those are separate offices with separate contact numbers. If you are looking for court files from a felony case, a civil lawsuit, a divorce, a traffic case, a small claims matter, or child support proceedings, the Circuit Clerk is your starting point. For estates, wills, name changes, or marriage certificates, start with the Probate Office instead.

The official Circuit Court page lists six active circuit judges: Hon. J. Clark Stankoski (presiding), Hon. Byron Brackin, Hon. Laurie A. Hoyt, Hon. Karol J. Kemp, Hon. Ashley Siebert, and Hon. Scott P. Taylor. The District Court is served by Hon. William E. Scully Jr. (presiding) and Hon. Michael J. Hoyt. All of these judges' files are maintained by Clerk Ganey's office.

The Bay Minette address is the primary location for record requests, filings, certified copies, and most court business. Mail requests go to the same address. Fax submissions use (251) 937-0277. Allow at least two weeks for a mailed or faxed request to be processed.

What the Baldwin County Clerk Does

The Circuit Clerk's duties span the full life of a court case, from the moment a complaint or charge is filed to the final entry on the docket. The office touches every case type heard in Circuit or District Court. That is a broad workload for one office serving one of Alabama's fastest-growing counties.

The official Twenty-Eighth Judicial Circuit site lists a range of functions, including court costs, juror information, forms, passports, and case-type specific instructions for traffic, small claims, and domestic relations. Here is what the office handles on a routine basis:

• Accept and stamp incoming pleadings, motions, and court filings for Circuit and District Court cases
• Maintain official dockets and case action summaries for all open and closed matters
• Collect filing fees, court costs, and civil fees and route payments through official channels
• Issue process, subpoenas, writs of execution, garnishments, and other court orders
• Manage juror administration including summons, qualification, and reporting instructions
• Process passport applications and accept execution fees at all three courthouse locations
• Serve as Absentee Election Manager for Baldwin County elections

The clerk's office does not provide legal advice. The Circuit Clerk site cites Ala. Code § 34-3-6 and states that only persons who are regularly licensed to practice law have authority to practice law and no legal advice is provided through the website or at the counter. Staff can hand you a form or tell you the fee. They cannot tell you what to file or how to win your case.

The following screenshot is from the official Twenty-Eighth Judicial Circuit home page, which shows the courthouse address, Circuit Clerk name, and links to court divisions, fees, and filing instructions.

The page confirms Brenda Ganey as Circuit Clerk and lists all courthouse locations, court divisions, cost schedules, and passport information available to the public without an account or fee.

Baldwin County Clerk Office Locations

Baldwin County covers a large area, and the clerk's office operates at three courthouse locations to reduce travel for residents on the eastern shore and in south Baldwin County. All three locations accept court filings and passport applications. Hours may vary by location, so call ahead if you are traveling to Fairhope or Foley for a specific service.

The small claims FAQ notes that after an answer is filed, trial may be scheduled in Bay Minette, Fairhope, or Foley, depending on the case. If you receive a notice directing you to a satellite location, go to that address rather than Bay Minette. The clerk's office will note on your paperwork which location handles your matter.

The following screenshot is from the official Circuit Court page, which shows the court's jurisdiction, the six-judge panel, and quick links to clerk services and court costs.

The Circuit Court holds jurisdiction over felonies, civil matters above $20,000, family law, and appeals from District, Probate, and Municipal courts. Every one of those case types generates records maintained by the Circuit Clerk.

How to Request a Certified Copy in Baldwin County

Certified copies carry the clerk's official seal and signature. They are used for court filings in other jurisdictions, immigration petitions, professional licensing applications, employment background checks, and other purposes where an uncertified printout is not accepted. The clerk charges a separate certification fee on top of copy and search fees. Here is the official process from start to finish:

1. Identify your case. Know the case number if possible, or the full name of at least one party and the approximate year. Circuit and District Court records only. Federal cases, municipal court cases, and records from other counties or states are not kept here.
2. Download or pick up the request form. The official record search and copy request form is available at the Circuit Clerk's forms page. You can also pick it up at any of the three courthouse locations. The form asks for the specific information requested, case number if known, identifying details such as date of birth or an alias, whether certification is required, and your contact and delivery information.
3. Complete the form and calculate the fee. A computerized search costs $10.00. If the records are older or on paper, archived, or microfilmed, the search fee is $25.00. Copies of the first 20 pages are $5.00 total. Each additional page is $0.50. Each certification seal is $5.00. The search fee applies even if no records are found. There are no refunds.
4. Submit with payment. Mail or fax the completed form with payment to the Bay Minette office. The fax number is (251) 937-0277. Personal checks are not accepted; use a money order, cashier's check, or another accepted form of payment. You can also deliver in person during business hours.
5. Wait for the response. The official form says to allow two weeks. Online records through Alacourt may be faster for some cases, but the clerk's office handles archived, microfilmed, or certified requests on a separate timeline.
6. Receive your copies. The form lets you choose whether copies should be mailed or emailed. Note that a certified copy with an official seal cannot be emailed; electronic delivery works for uncertified copies only. Request your preference on the form.

Baldwin County Records Request Form Fields

The official record search and copy request form for Baldwin County Circuit and District Court records is published by the Circuit Clerk at baldwin.alacourt.gov. Before you submit, make sure every required field is filled in. A missing phone number or unclear description of records sought can slow the process. The table below shows each field, whether it is required, and what to write:

Once the form is complete, attach payment in the correct amount. Double-check whether your records are computerized or archived, since the search fee is different for each. The clerk's form is blunt: the search fee is charged even when no records are found, and there are no refunds.

Baldwin County Clerk Fee Schedule

The Circuit Clerk publishes its fee schedule on the official court site and includes it on the record request form. Fees cover two categories: search and copy fees for existing records, and filing fees for new cases. The table below shows both. All fees listed come from official Baldwin County court sources. Pay close attention to the small claims brackets; the cost depends on the dollar amount of your claim.

Divorce filing fees are accepted in cash, money order, or cashier's check only. Personal checks are not accepted. Filing fees are nonrefundable. The full civil fee schedule is posted on the clerk's site and covers additional fee brackets for juvenile, contempt, and motion categories not listed here.

Common Baldwin County Clerk Forms

Most forms for Circuit and District Court filings in Baldwin County are available through eForms.alacourt.gov, Alabama's official court forms portal. The Baldwin small claims page specifically directs filers there: choose Form Type "Small Claims" and click Go. Domestic relations forms are listed on the clerk's domestic-relations page.

The forms listed below are the ones most often used by self-represented filers in Baldwin County. The clerk's office can hand you a copy, but staff cannot fill out the forms for you or tell you which one applies to your situation.

• eForms portal (all Alabama court forms) - Starting point for small claims, domestic relations, and most civil forms
• Circuit Clerk Record Search and Copy Request Form - Use this to request existing court records, certified copies, or archived case files
• Form C-25 - Application for Default Judgment in small claims cases where the defendant has not answered
• Form C-27 - Affidavit in support of default judgment for small claims matters
• Affidavit of Substantial Hardship - Request the court delay a filing fee if you cannot afford it; ask the clerk for the current version
• Statement of Claim - The form used to open a small claims case in District Court
• Domestic relations complaint, answer, and supporting affidavit forms - Required for divorce filings with or without children; use the domestic relations page for the full document checklist

For any form not found through eForms, call the clerk at (251) 937-0280 or check the official circuit site. Some older or specialty forms may need to be picked up at the Bay Minette office. Do not use forms from third-party legal websites; always get them from the official Alabama court sources.

Mail, Fax, and Online Filings in Baldwin County

Baldwin County accepts filings and record requests by mail and fax at the Bay Minette office. The mailing address is Baldwin County Circuit Clerk, 312 Courthouse Square, Suite 10, Bay Minette, AL 36507. The fax number for record requests is (251) 937-0277. The clerk's form says to allow two weeks for a mailed or faxed request. If you need something faster, use Alacourt online for records that are available electronically.

For attorneys and some pro se filers, electronic filing through AlaFile is available for certain case types in Alabama's Circuit Court system. AlaFile is part of the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts system and connects to Alacourt's docketing and record system. The public-facing online portal for viewing records without filing is Alacourt ACCESS, which charges $9.99 per name search or case-number search. Document images cost $5.00 for the first 20 pages and $0.50 for each page after that. Case monitoring, which sends email alerts when a case updates, costs $19.99 for a District Court case and $29.99 for a Circuit Court case.

Alacourt covers criminal records, civil records, small claims, state traffic records, domestic relations, and child support matters statewide. For Baldwin County records that are not yet digitized or that require certification, the clerk's mail or fax request process is the right route. Online searches show what is in the electronic system; older or archived cases may not appear there and require the $25.00 paper or microfilm search fee. Payment for court fines and traffic citations can be submitted through AlaPay, the official Alabama judicial payment portal.

Passport Services at the Baldwin County Clerk

The Circuit Clerk's office at all three courthouse locations accepts passport applications as a U.S. Department of State acceptance facility. You can apply for a new passport book or passport card, renew a passport in certain cases, or obtain a passport for a minor child at any of the three Baldwin County clerk locations.

Passport office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is a slightly shorter window than the general clerk hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., so arrive before 4:00 p.m. if you are specifically there for passport services. The clerk's office notes that passport fees were recently updated and that the adult execution fee is cash only. Bring other required items, including your completed DS-11 application, proof of citizenship, and a government-issued photo ID. The clerk's office collects the execution fee; the State Department's passport fee is separate and paid by check or money order to the U.S. Department of State.

The Fairhope and Foley satellite locations offer the same passport acceptance services during their operating hours. If you are traveling from the eastern shore or south Baldwin, using the Fairhope or Foley location avoids the trip to Bay Minette. Call the location ahead of your visit to confirm current wait times and any appointment requirements that may apply.

The Baldwin County Judge of Probate vs the Circuit Clerk

These are two separate elected offices with different records and different contact numbers. Mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes people make when searching for Baldwin County records. The table below shows which office handles what.

The Probate Office is at 220 Courthouse Square in Bay Minette (a different suite from the Circuit Clerk) with call center numbers at (251) 937-0260, (251) 990-4645, (251) 970-4098, and (251) 972-6845. The Probate Office uses the DuProcess iQuery search system, not Alacourt. For Baldwin County probate records, start with the Probate Office and DuProcess. The Circuit Clerk's record request form states the office covers Circuit and District Court records only and cannot supply probate records.

The image below is from the official Probate recording fees page, which shows the recording fee schedule for real estate and other public documents handled by the Probate Recording Office, a function entirely separate from the Circuit Clerk.

Recording fees for deeds, mortgages, and other public instruments are paid to the Probate Office, not the Circuit Clerk. If someone told you to pay a recording fee to the clerk's office, verify whether the document is a court filing (clerk) or a recorded instrument (Probate).

Legal Advice Limits at the Baldwin County Clerk

The Circuit Clerk's official site quotes Ala. Code § 34-3-6 directly and states that only persons who are regularly licensed to practice law have authority to practice law and no legal advice is provided through the clerk's website. The same rule applies at the counter. Clerk staff can accept your filing, give you a fee amount, hand you a form, and stamp your document. They cannot tell you whether to file a claim, how to word a pleading, or what your legal options are.

This is not unique to Baldwin County. It applies to every circuit clerk's office in Alabama and exists because unauthorized legal advice creates real legal risk for the person who receives it and exposes government employees to liability. If you are unsure which form to file, whether you have a valid claim, or what the legal effect of a document is, those questions require a licensed attorney.

Free and low-cost legal resources available to Baldwin County residents include Legal Services Alabama for eligible civil matters, the Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service, and the Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program. For small claims cases in particular, the official FAQ at Baldwin Small Claims FAQ says staff cannot help complete forms or give legal advice; review that page before your filing date. The Affidavit of Substantial Hardship allows eligible filers to ask the judge to delay filing fees when cost is a barrier.

Related Baldwin County Court Resources

The Circuit Clerk is the gateway to most Baldwin County state court records, but it is not the only resource. Depending on what you are looking for, the following pages and portals may be more useful for your specific need.

• Baldwin County court records - Full guide to searching Circuit and District Court records online through Alacourt and in person
• Baldwin County probate records - Estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, and name changes handled by the Judge of Probate
• Baldwin County public records - Broader public records access including Open Baldwin, Archives, and county agency records
• Baldwin County District Court - Detailed guide to misdemeanors, small claims, traffic court, and preliminary felony hearings
• Alacourt ACCESS - Official Alabama public portal for online trial-court record searches, $9.99 per search
• eForms.alacourt.gov - Official Alabama court forms for small claims, domestic relations, and other court filings
• Baldwin civil fee schedule - Full fee chart for civil, domestic relations, juvenile, and related case types
• AlaPay - Official payment portal for Baldwin County traffic fines and court costs

For questions about specific cases, use Alacourt for current electronic records or submit the clerk's record request form for older or archived files. For all other Baldwin County court and public-record needs, the pages above cover the full range of official sources available to the public.