Alabama, Sumter County Circuit Court Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of circuit court civil case files for the years 1840 to 1950 from the courthouse in Livingston, Alabama. The files include some records from the Chancery Court. The court cases include divorces and disputed estates. This collection is being published as images become available.

Sumter County, Alabama, was created on December 18, 1832 from the former Choctaw Indian territory. Court Records have been kept since 1840. The Circuit court has jurisdiction in cases of more than $5,000.00 but less than $15,000.00. The records were created as a permanent copy of the court's proceedings.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * The names of interested parties
 * The date of the court proceeding or transaction
 * Details of the case
 * The amount of monies exchanged or paid
 * The names of witnesses

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * The date of the event or the name of a parent or spouse

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use a probate record to identify adoptions, guardians, heirs and relatives
 * Use a will to approximate a death date, then find a death certificate
 * Use the information in the probate record to substitute for civil birth and death records for earlier years
 * Use the information found in court files to locate census, christenings, marriage and land records
 * Use the occupations to find employment or military records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Alabama.
 * Alabama Guided Research
 * Alabama Record Finder
 * Alabama Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Alabama Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Civil case files, ca. 1840-1950
 * Divorce records, 1840-1950
 * Estate case files, ca. 1840-1950
 * The heritage of Sumter County, Alabama. Clanton, Alabama : Heritage Publishing Consultants, c2005. FHL 976.141 H2s

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Alabama, Condado de Sumter, archivos de la corte de circuito (Registros históricos de FamilySearch)