Established in 1808, Madison County was named after James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. As of the 2020 Census, the county had a population of 388,153 residents, making it the second-most populous county in the state. Its county seat, Huntsville City, is the most populous city in the state.

Courts in Madison County

Madison County’s court system is part of the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Alabama. It consists of the Circuit Court, District Court, Probate Court, and Municipal Courts.

The Madison Circuit Court has the authority to hear a wide range of matters arising from the county. The court has exclusive jurisdiction over civil claims of more than $20,000. It, however, shares jurisdiction with the District Court over unlawful detainer cases and civil matters involving claims exceeding $6,000. The court’s criminal jurisdiction covers felony and capital murder cases. In addition to its original jurisdiction, the Circuit Court also hears appeals to judgments made by the District Court, Probate Court, and Municipal Courts. The court also hears domestic relations cases such as divorce, child custody, and paternity cases.

The District Court has civil jurisdiction over matters in which the parties’ claims do not exceed $20,000. It also hears small claims of $6,000 or less to the exclusion of other courts. The court’s criminal jurisdiction covers felonies not punishable by death, misdemeanors, traffic cases, and preliminary hearings of other felony cases. Criminal matters involving minors and other juvenile matters fall within the authority of the court’s juvenile division. 

The Madison County Probate Court has authority over matters relating to name changes, mental health, wills, estate administration, and guardianships.

Finally, cities in Madison County are home to Municipal Courts that have jurisdiction over municipal ordinance violations and lesser-included offenses.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Madison County

The Madison Circuit Clerk is responsible for maintaining records of the county’s Circuit and District Court. Interested residents can obtain these records by submitting a completed records request form to the Clerk’s office either in person or via mail. Municipal Court records are available at the court where the case was heard. Similarly, records of the Probate Court are available at the courthouse or upon request made via email or by phone call. Note that for physical visits at the Probate Court, requesters have to book an appointment at least one business day before the proposed visit.

Types of Public Court Records in Madison County

Madison County court records are information and materials relating to court cases in the county. They include:

• Civil case records
• Criminal case records
• Small claims records
• Probate records

Interested members of the public can view these records without any legal limitations.

Confidential Court Records in Madison County

Madison County confidential court records are case information and materials that are not open to the public. Such records are either made confidential by law or by court order. They include:

• Juvenile case records
• Welfare case records
• Records of mental evaluation
• Personal information assault victims

Juvenile Delinquency in Madison, AL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Madison County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Alabama often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1276 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Madison County. Of that total, 66% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 839 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Madison County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Madison County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Madison County, AL

http://www.alabama.gov/

County Seat:	Huntsville
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1808
Total Square Miles:	813
2019 Population:	361,046
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Madison County, AL Courts