Madison County
Madison County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Alabama, with about 400,000 residents. Its growth is largely due to the presence of the U.S. Army's Redstone Arsenal and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. The county was named in honor of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States.
The highest court in the Madison County court system is the 23rd Judicial Circuit. It has the authority to conduct both bench and jury trials to determine the outcome of civil and criminal cases. All felony cases, personal injury claims, contract disputes, and property disputes are handled in this court.
The District Court of Madison County addresses certain types of cases owing to its limited jurisdiction. It presides over all misdemeanor cases punishable by up to a year in jail, civil matters where the amount in controversy is between $3,000 and $10,000, and preliminary hearings held in felony cases.
The Probate Court plays a crucial role in resolving important matters involving mental health issues, wills, estates, real property, and adoption. It also has the jurisdiction to condemn privately owned land, appoint conservators for minors and incapacitated persons, record marriage certificates, and conduct hearings to commit persons to mental health institutions.
Madison County is also home to six Municipal Courts located in Gurley, Madison, New Hope, Huntsville, Owens Cross Roads, and Triana. These courts do not conduct trials; instead, rulings are made based on the evidence presented. They deal with misdemeanor cases occurring within city limits, municipal ordinance violations, and traffic violations.
Public court records in Madison County are files that contain information related to judicial proceedings in the county. These records are stored both electronically and on paper by the Madison County Circuit Clerk. In Madison County, court records generated from case types such as domestic relations, civil, criminal, traffic, and small claims are regarded as publicly accessible.
To view or search publicly available court records online, anyone can visit the On-Demand Access to Alabama State Trial Court Records website. For a fee, this resource permits access to case details by entering a case number or party name. Members of the public can also request copies of court records by submitting a completed records request form along with a money order or check by mail to the Clerk's Office.
