Pike County residents now have a go-to website for all things court related.

As part of the circuit clerk’s new web page, people are able to find fee and fine information, ways to register for absentee ballots for upcoming elections and what is required of them if they are selected for jury duty.

“With just the volume of people that come through here and the amount of cases that we handle, there was a need to be able to access the courts electronically,” said Circuit Clerk Jamie Scarbrough, noting that between 10,000 and 11,000 people visit the courthouse  monthly. “This will make it easier on everyone.”

The project was a year and a half in the making, Scarbrough said.

“Although it is something that we’ve needed for a while, it took a long time to get the site ready,” Scarbrough said, noting that the state’s legal department and other agencies had to review the website with a fine-toothed comb.

There are also links on the site that will help small business owners and others file claims electronically, or pay fines electronically.

“The site will answer questions and also direct you where you need to go to get the fastest service,” Scarbrough said.

Customers who sign up for AlaFile (through the Administrative Office of Courts) or AlaCourt will even have access to public records online.

“We are real-time scanning,” Scarbrough said. “If we are ever behind a day it’s only because we are short-staffed. Everyone has been very dedicated to keeping our records updated.”

The new clerk of courts website was created for free by the state, but customized for the specific needs of Pike County.

“I am very pleased,” Scarbrough said. “It’s a work in progress and we’ll, of course, be making some suggested changes as we go along to make sure it is successful and user friendly.”

Other features on the site include information about evictions, traffic court, child support and domestic relations. Visit the Pike County Clerk of Courts website at http://pike.alacourt.gov.