How to Find Out If a Business License Is Valid in Alabama
In Alabama, business licenses are issued by each county's probate court. The office of the probate court is in each county's circuit courthouse, in the office of the clerk of court. A business license can be verified, either in person or over the phone, only by the probate court of the county in which the license was issued.
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Instructions
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Call the clerk of court of the county in which the business operates (see Resources section).
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Select the option for the probate court from the automated menu, or ask the operator to transfer you to the probate court.
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Ask the probate court representative to verify a business license for you. Provide the business license number and business name. If you do not have the business license number, you might be able to search by the business name, depending on the county's record-keeping system. Once the representative finds the business, she will be able to verify the validity of the business license.
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Ask the representative for more information if a business license is found to be invalid. Although verifying the validity of a business license is a good way to protect yourself against a fraudulent individual posing as a legitimate business, there might be an explanation for the license becoming invalid. The most common reason a business license becomes invalid or is suspended is that the owner failed to file his annual reports. A business's annual report must be filed each year. That allows the county and state to ensure that their records of the business are accurate.
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Tips & Warnings
As of June 2010, no reliable online directory of Alabama businesses exists.
If a the probate court representative informs you that a business license is invalid, it does not necessarily mean you cannot do business with the company. Because each case is different, the probate court representative can advise you on the severity of the suspension and whether it is acceptable to do business with the company.
If it is found that a business license never existed, then there is cause for concern, and any dealings with the company should be handled with extreme caution.
