Madison County Court Records

Madison County court records refer to documents that provide a comprehensive account of legal proceedings in the county courts. These records typically document everything from when a case is filed to when a judge decides it. They contain information about the parties involved, their claims, defenses, allegations, the dispute's subject matter, and the relief sought from the court.

Court records play a vital role in the justice system. They serve as a source of notice to judges about their previous judgments, which helps them maintain consistency in their decisions and uphold the standard of justice.

Are Court Records Public in Madison County?

Under the State Public Records Law (Al. Code §36-25A-1 et seq.), court records are open and generally accessible to interested members of the public. Citizens are entitled to review or copy these records upon request. However, this right is not absolute; certain court records are prohibited from public disclosure. This includes juvenile, adoption, sealed, expunged, and other confidential records.

Consequently, individuals may need to meet specific eligibility criteria to access restricted records. Alternatively, they may obtain a court order directing the issuance of the relevant court record.

Madison County Court Records Search

Madison County Court Records are accessible through several methods. One option is to submit an in-person request to the courthouse where the case was filed or heard. This requires visiting the relevant courthouse clerk’s office to complete, sign, and submit a record request form. You may also mail your request or use one of the online search options provided by the custodians of these records. Alternatively, you may utilize free online search tools operated by government entities or third-party sites.

Madison County Court Records Search by Name

To obtain some records, requesters may need to provide information such as the name of the parties involved, the case number, the hearing date, and other details that help identify the specific record you seek.

For in-person and mail requests, this involves filling out the request form by writing the name of the parties involved and other relevant information in the appropriate sections. For online searches, you will enter the required information in the search fields to facilitate a database query.

Madison County Courts

Adjudication in Madison County is managed by the State court system, which consists of the Circuit courts, District courts, Probate Courts, and Municipal Courts. These courts handle various legal proceedings between individuals and law enforcement agencies, ranging from criminal trials to civil cases such as family disputes, probate issues, property matters, and other legal matters related to monetary claims.

You may find Madison County courts at these addresses:

Circuit Courts in Madison County
Madison County Circuit Court
Madison County Courthouse
100 NorthSide Sq, Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 532-3380

District Courts in Madison County
Madison County District Court
Madison County Courthouse
100 NorthSide Sq, Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 532-3380

Probate Courts in Madison County
Madison County Probate Court
Madison County Courthouse
100 NorthSide Sq, #101, Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 532-3330

Municipal Courts in Madison County
Gurley Municipal Court
235 Walker St, P.O. Box 128, Gurley, AL 35748
Phone: (256) 776-3313

Huntsville Municipal Court
815 Wheeler Ave, P.O. Box 2829, Huntsville, AL 35804
Phone: (256) 427-7800

Madison Municipal Court
Madison Municipal Complex
100 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL 35758
Phone: (256) 772-5617

New Hope Municipal Court
5496 Main Dr, P.O. Box 419, New Hope, AL 35760
Phone: (256) 723-2616

Owens Cross Roads Municipal Court
2965 Hwy 431 S, P.O. Box 158, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763
Phone: (256) 725-4163

Triana Municipal Court
640 6th St, Madison, AL 35756
Phone: (256) 772-0151

Madison County District Court Records

District Courts are crucial to justice administration in Madison County due to the significant number of cases these courts handle yearly. District Courts have limited jurisdiction over criminal cases, allowing them to hear most misdemeanors, some ordinance violations, preliminary hearings for felony cases, and guilty pleas in felony cases that do not include the death penalty. For civil cases, District Courts also have limited jurisdiction. Their judges may decide matters involving claims up to $10,000 (excluding interests and costs).

Furthermore, they share jurisdiction over juvenile cases with Circuit Courts and may receive certain cases, such as adoptions, from Probate Courts if a proper request is made and granted.

If you need to access Madison County District Court records, you may mail a request or visit the District courthouse clerk’s office in person to make an over-the-counter request. Alternatively, online search tools operated by the government and aggregate third-party sites offer convenience that enables interested individuals to access District Court records from the comfort of their homes.

Madison County Criminal Records

Madison criminal records document incidents of state law violations by an individual and their subsequent interaction with the justice system after apprehension. The Sheriff’s office is responsible for processing suspects into the justice system and maintains records of every development in the justice administration, from arrest to incarceration.

The Record Division of the Sheriff’s Office accepts walk-in requests for incident and arrest reports on Mondays through Fridays between 8 am - 4 pm from interested members of the public at:

715 Wheeler Avenue
Huntsville, Al. 35801

However, note that only the victim who filed the report may obtain incident report copies, and a $2 fee typically applies.

In addition, incarceration records are also accessible electronically via the Madison County Sheriff’s Department website. You may view inmates currently in detention by visiting the website and clicking on the “inmate roster" option. This allows you to navigate to “current inmates” or “48 hours release” to see all individuals released from the Madison County Detention Center within the last 48 hours.

Note: Public access to Madison County Arrest records may vary depending on local laws

Madison County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Law enforcement agencies in Madison County, such as the Sheriff's Office, have broad discretion to decide whether to prosecute an offense. However, the courts determine whether an offender will serve time in the county jail.

In Madison, the Circuit Courts and the District Courts have jurisdiction to hear criminal cases, and the clerks maintain records for every criminal case the judges decide.

If you wish to review or obtain copies of criminal court case information, you may mail a request or use the online search option available on the official website of Madison County Court. Alternatively, you may visit the clerk’s office of the relevant courthouse to request the specific record you need.

Get Madison County Civil Court Records

Civil Court Records are documentation of legal proceedings between individuals that do not involve state law violations or potential punishment by the justice system in Madison County.

If you wish to access Madison County civil court records, you may do so through the official website of Madison County Court. Alternatively, you may visit the courthouse where the case was heard to request the record from the court clerk in person. The Circuit Courthouse is open to in-person visits anytime between 8 am - 4 pm, Mondays through Fridays, at:

Madison County Courthouse
100 NorthSide Square
Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 532-3380

It is advisable to call the office ahead before visiting. Whether you choose to access court records online or in person, you typically have to provide the names of the plaintiff or defendant, the hearing date, case number, and any other information that may be required to locate the record you wish to find.

Madison County Family Court Records

Madison County does not have a dedicated family court; instead, the Family Division of the Circuit Court manages family-related legal matters in Madison. Therefore, the Circuit Court is the go-to source for Madison Family Court Records. These records include divorce, child custody and visitation, emancipation, child support, orders of protection, juvenile neglect and abuse, juvenile delinquency, and other related cases.

You may access family court records on the Madison County Court official website or in person at the Circuit Clerk’s Office, depending on which method is most convenient for you.

Most family court records are public and may be accessed by anyone. However, certain records, such as those involving minors or sensitive information, may be restricted. You may need to provide identification and a reason for your request, especially for restricted records.

Family court records may be extremely useful to individuals who trace their ancestry or locate their place of origin.

Madison County Marriage and Divorce Records

According to state law, Madison County marriage and divorce records fall under the vital records category. As a result, these records are not available to anyone; you must be an immediate family member or demonstrate a legal right to the record to obtain copies.

Marriage and divorce certificates are electronically accessible on the Madison County Health Department website. If you cannot locate the record you need online, you may mail a request form or print out the request form, complete and sign it, and then take the form to:

Madison County Health Department
301 Max Luther Drive NW
Huntsville, Alabama 35811
Phone: (256) 539-3711

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 17708
Huntsville, Alabama 35810

The Health Department charges a non-refundable $15 fee for marriage and divorce record searches. If the record is not found, the Department will issue a Certificate of Failure to Find.

Alternatively, the Probate Court also maintains marriage records and other related information. You may visit the court at:

Probate Court
Madison County Service Center
1918 Memorial Parkway NW
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 532-3330

Madison Birth and Death Records

Madison County birth and death records also fall under the vital records category. Consequently, a section of the records has been restricted from public access under state law. For birth records, those less than 125 years old are generally not accessible, while for death records, the public exclusion period is 25 years. Therefore, to obtain copies of restricted records, you need to show that you are an immediate family member or demonstrate a legal right to the record.

Marriage and divorce certificates are electronically accessible on the Madison County Health Department website. If you cannot locate the record you need online, you may mail a request form or print out the request form, complete and sign it, and then take the form to the Madison County Health Department Office.

Madison County Probate Court Records

Probate Courts have original and general jurisdiction to hear and determine cases involving the validation of wills, the administration of estates, guardianships, conservatorships, involuntary mental health commitments, adoptions, and name changes. The Probate Court maintains a record of all of the cases it decides. You may access records of these cases free of charge on the Madison County, Alabama website. However, you may need to create an account to inspect the available probate records. Alternatively, you may visit the Probate Court Office to access the records directly. The office is located at:

Probate Court
Madison County Service Center
1918 Memorial Parkway NW
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 532-3330

Madison County Property Records

You have several options to access property records in Madison County. You may access recorded documents electronically through the County’s online portal. Record search on the portal is free. However, you need to create an account to inspect recorded information.

You may also access Madison County property tax records through Madison County’s online tax record search portal. Alternatively, you may visit the Probate Court Office to access the documents directly.

Madison County Court Records Online

Madison court records may be accessible online using third-party platforms. Operating independently of government agencies, third-party sites such as alabamacourtrecords.us collect information on Madison County court records to reproduce the aggregate in a simple and easy-to-read form. However, although they try to provide current and error-free information, they do not guarantee that it is updated or available. Accuracy cannot be guaranteed.