Search Huntsville Family Court Records

Huntsville family court records are filed and kept at the Madison County Circuit Court. As Alabama's most populous city with more than 237,000 residents, Huntsville serves as the county seat of Madison County. Residents have access to comprehensive family law services through the dedicated Family Court Division of the 23rd Judicial Circuit. You can get records of divorce cases, child custody proceedings, child support orders, protection from abuse petitions, and other domestic relations matters. Records are available through the Circuit Clerk's office in downtown Huntsville. Or use the Alacourt online access system.

County Jurisdiction for Huntsville Family Cases

All family court cases for Huntsville residents are filed with the Madison County Circuit Court. Madison County is organized under the 23rd Judicial Circuit, which has established a dedicated Family Court Division per Alabama Code § 12-17-24.1. This specialized division handles all domestic relations matters, providing focused attention to divorce, custody, and family law proceedings.

As the county seat, Huntsville hosts the main courthouse facility where all family court records are kept. The Circuit Clerk, Debra Kizer, oversees the management and public access to these records. Residents benefit from centralized courthouse services located within the city limits.

Madison County Courthouse Information

Location and Contact

The Madison County Courthouse is located at 100 Northside Square, Room 217, Huntsville, AL 35801. The Circuit Clerk's office can be reached by phone at (256) 532-3390. The courthouse is situated in downtown Huntsville, accessible from major highways and with nearby parking facilities.

Family Court Division Services

The Family Court Division of the 23rd Judicial Circuit handles divorces, legal separations, annulments, child custody and visitation cases, child support matters, alimony disputes, paternity determinations, domestic violence protection orders, and modifications of existing family court orders. The division's jurisdiction extends to all domestic relations matters specified in Alabama Code § 12-17-24.2.

Accessing Case Files

In-person records requests can be submitted at the Circuit Clerk's office during work hours. Staff can help with locating case files, providing certified copies, and explaining fee requirements. Standard copy fees and certification charges apply. For basic case status info, telephone inquiries may be accommodated without requiring an office visit.

Online Access to Huntsville Family Court Records

Alacourt Access System

The Alacourt Access portal at https://pa.alacourt.com/ gives subscription-based access to Madison County family court records, including Huntsville cases. Users can search by party name, case number, or other identifiers to locate divorce decrees, custody orders, and related documents. Scanned images of court filings may be available when digitized records have been uploaded to the system.

Madison County Circuit Court Website

The county's online court portal is available at https://madison.alacourt.gov/. The website gives court calendars, contact information, forms, and instructions for filing documents. While the site doesn't offer free public case searches, it serves as a resource for people needing procedural information.

AlaFile Electronic Filing

Attorneys and self-represented litigants in Huntsville family court cases can file documents electronically through the AlaFile system at https://efile.alacourt.gov/. Registered users get electronic service of documents and can access case filings online. You need to register to use this service.

Fees for Huntsville Family Court Records

Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule

The Madison County Circuit Clerk charges fees for records services as authorized by Alabama law. Current fees include:

• Copy Fee: $0.50 per page for standard photocopies
• Certified Copies: $3 to $5 per document plus applicable per-page copy fees
• Search Fee: May apply depending on the scope of research required
• Alacourt Subscription: Monthly or annual fees for online access

Fee amounts might change. Call the Circuit Clerk's office at (256) 532-3390 for current pricing. Payment methods accepted include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards at the courthouse.

Vital Records Fees

Divorce certificates are available from the Alabama Department of Public Health for $15 per search, which includes one certified copy. These certificates prove that a divorce occurred but don't contain detailed case information. Additional copies are $6 each. Requests may be submitted by mail to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625 or online via VitalChek.

Alabama Family Law Statutes

Divorce and Separation

Alabama law establishes grounds for divorce under Alabama Code § 30-2-1, including irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, adultery, abandonment, imprisonment, and other specified grounds. Residency requirements mandate that either party must have lived in Alabama for six months before filing, as stated in § 30-2-4. Legal separation is addressed in § 30-2-40.

Child Custody and Support

Courts find out child custody based on the best interests of the child under Alabama Code § 30-3-1. Joint custody arrangements are governed by § 30-3-160 through § 30-3-169.4. Child support obligations follow state guidelines established in Title 30, Chapter 6. Interstate custody matters fall under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act in Title 30, Chapter 3A.

Protection from Abuse

Domestic violence victims can petition for protection from abuse orders under Alabama Code Title 30, Chapter 5. These orders are issued by the Circuit Court and can cover emergency ex parte orders and final orders following a hearing. No filing fee is usually needed for protection orders in Madison County.

Local Legal Assistance in Huntsville

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama runs an office serving Madison County and gives free civil legal aid to low-income people and families. Services include help with divorce proceedings, child custody disputes, child support enforcement, domestic violence protection orders, and related family law matters. The statewide intake number is 1-866-456-4995. Eligibility is based on income and household size.

Self-Help Resources

The Alabama Legal Help website at https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/ offers forms and instructions for people representing themselves in family court. Resources cover divorce petition templates, custody modification forms, and step-by-step guides for common family law procedures.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service at https://www.alabar.org/for-the-public/get-legal-help/, which can connect Huntsville residents with family law attorneys practicing in the area.

Record Privacy and Confidentiality

Family Court Privacy Rules

effective January 1, 2025, Alabama court-record privacy rules exempt "wholly private family matters" from public access. Child custody records are automatically sealed under this policy. Personal information such as social security numbers, financial account details, and medical records is redacted from publicly on hand documents. Parties seeking access to sealed records must get a court order.

Confidential Case Types

Certain family-related proceedings are confidential by statute and not on hand for public inspection. Adoption records are sealed under the Alabama Adoption Code, Title 26, Chapter 10A. Juvenile court proceedings and records are confidential under the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act, Title 12, Chapter 15. Domestic violence victim addresses and location information are protected in protection from abuse cases.

Secondary Record Sources in Huntsville

Madison County Probate Court

The Madison County Probate Court handles marriage licenses, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, and name changes. Probate Court records are kept separately from Circuit Court family law cases but may be relevant for people researching family history or legal relationships. The Probate Court is located at the Madison County Courthouse in Huntsville.

Child Support Enforcement

The Alabama Department of Human Resources runs a child support enforcement division that keeps payment records, modification history, and enforcement actions for Huntsville residents. Information is available to parties in the case and authorized agencies. The DHR website is https://dhr.alabama.gov/child-support-enforcement-division/.

Vital Records

Marriage and divorce certificates from 1936 forward are available from the Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics. Requests may be submitted to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625, by phone at (334) 206-5418, or online via VitalChek. Madison County Health Department may also process vital records requests.

Nearby Qualifying Cities

Huntsville is located in North Alabama near several other cities with family court record resources. Residents of nearby municipalities file cases in their respective county circuit courts:

• Madison - Also located in Madison County with access to the 23rd Circuit Family Court Division
• Decatur - Morgan County seat, approximately 25 miles west of Huntsville
• Birmingham - Jefferson County, approximately 90 miles south of Huntsville
• Montgomery - State capital in Montgomery County, approximately 165 miles south of Huntsville
• Tuscaloosa - Tuscaloosa County, approximately 125 miles southwest of Huntsville