Find Civil Court Records in Huntsville

Civil court records for Huntsville go through the Madison County Circuit Clerk. Huntsville is the biggest city in Alabama. The population sits at 230,402, and it serves as the county seat of Madison County. The Madison County Courthouse in downtown Huntsville holds the Circuit Clerk office. This office handles all civil case filings for the 23rd Judicial Circuit. You can search civil court records online through the Alacourt system. Or you can visit the courthouse in person to get copies. The Circuit Clerk keeps records of lawsuits, judgments, liens, and other civil matters filed in both Circuit Court and District Court.

Where to File and Search Civil Cases

Civil court cases for Huntsville are dealt with at the Madison County Courthouse. It sits in the heart of downtown Huntsville. The Circuit Clerk office handles all civil filings and keeps case records. Need to file a new lawsuit? Want to respond to a complaint? Looking to search old case files? This is where you go. The courthouse has been serving the area for years, and the staff there know how to help people find what they need. You can walk in during business hours and talk to someone at the front desk who will point you in the right direction.

Madison County Circuit Clerk

Debra Kizer is the Circuit Clerk for Madison County. The clerk's office sits on the second floor of the courthouse. They handle both circuit court and district court civil matters. Staff can help you find case info, get copies of docs, and learn how to file. The office deals with hundreds of requests each week, so bring what info you have to speed things up. If you know the case number or at least the names of the people involved, that helps a lot.

Records Request by Email

The Madison County Probate Office takes record requests by email. The Probate Office mainly handles estate and property matters. But they can point civil court questions to the right spot. For records requests, email probate@madisoncountyal.gov or call (256) 532-3330. Make sure to include the case number if you have it, plus the names of all people in the case. This helps them find what you need fast.

Types of Civil Cases Filed in Huntsville

Civil court records in Huntsville cover many types of legal fights between people. The type of court depends on how much money is at stake. Smaller claims go to district court or small claims court. Bigger cases end up in circuit court. Each court has its own rules and forms, so knowing which one applies to your case matters a lot. The staff at the clerk's office can tell you which court handles your type of case if you are not sure.

Circuit Court Civil Cases

Madison County Circuit Court handles civil cases over $20,000. Under Alabama Code Section 12-11-30, circuit courts have general trial power. Cases filed here include injury lawsuits, big contract fights, business suits, real property disputes, and malpractice claims. Circuit court also handles equity matters like injunctions. Huntsville has a lot of aerospace and defense work, so many of those business lawsuits end up here in Madison County Circuit Court.

District Court Civil Cases

District court deals with civil matters from $6,000 to $20,000. This comes from Alabama Code Section 12-12-30. Common cases here include contract fights, property damage claims, landlord-tenant issues, and debt collection. District court cases tend to move faster than circuit court. You can often get a hearing date within a few months rather than waiting a year or more.

Small Claims Court

Small claims court in Madison County takes disputes under $6,000. See Alabama Code Section 12-12-31 for the details. This court uses simple steps so you can go without a lawyer. Huntsville folks often use small claims for minor contract fights, security deposit claims, and small debt collection. The process is meant to be quick and cheap. Filing fees are lower too, which helps when you are only trying to get back a few thousand dollars.

How to Search Huntsville Civil Court Records

Online Through Alacourt

The fastest way to search civil court records is through the Alacourt Public Access portal. This statewide system lets you search Madison County civil cases by name or case number. You need to make an account and pay a fee to view case details. District court lookups cost $19.99. Circuit court lookups cost $29.99. The system shows case filings, court dates, who is involved, and case status.

In-Person at the Courthouse

Go to the Circuit Clerk's office at 100 Northside Square in downtown Huntsville. Bring valid ID. Give staff as much info as you can about the case. If you know the case number, that helps a lot. If not, give party names and a rough date range. Staff can search the system and pull case files for you to look at. You can ask for copies of any public docs in the file. The office has public computer terminals too, where you can search records yourself if you prefer.

Written Requests

Send a written request to the Madison County Circuit Clerk at 100 Northside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801. List the names of all parties. Include case type and approximate filing dates. Add your contact info. Put in a check or money order for fees. Call ahead to confirm the amounts. Response time runs about 5 to 10 business days. It depends on how busy they are.

Copy and Search Fees

Madison County charges fees for copies of civil court docs. Fees help cover the cost of keeping court records and staff time. Here are the current fees at the Madison County Circuit Clerk:

Pay by cash, check, or money order at the courthouse. Some online services take credit cards. Fees are set by state law and may change. So check current amounts before you visit. The clerk's office can tell you exact fees over the phone if you call ahead. This way you know how much to bring and can avoid a second trip.

Alabama Laws Governing Civil Court Records

Public Records Access

Alabama Code Section 36-12-40 gives state residents the right to see and copy public records. Court records are mostly public unless sealed by court order. Some records are kept private by specific laws. The law says to read access rights broadly, in favor of the public. If an agency says no, they must prove an exemption applies.

Court Record Privacy Rules

As of January 1, 2025, the Alabama Rules of Court-Record Privacy control what info in court records can be seen. Rule 104(A) says court records are open unless a law or court order says no. The rules list 91 types of info that may be sealed or cut out. This includes Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and minor children's names in some cases.

Statutes of Limitations

Civil lawsuits must be filed within time limits set by state law. Under Alabama Code Section 6-2-34, you get six years to sue on a written contract. Injury and property damage claims have a two-year limit per Section 6-2-38. Medical malpractice has a two-year limit with a four-year cap under Section 6-5-482. Miss these deadlines and your case gets tossed out.

Judgment Liens

Civil judgments can be put on record as liens against property. Under Alabama Code Section 6-9-190, a judgment lien attaches to real property in the county where it is filed. Judgment liens last ten years. You can renew them after that. Property records at the Madison County Probate Office show any recorded judgment liens.

Federal Court in Huntsville

Some civil cases end up in federal court instead of state court. Federal courts handle cases that deal with federal law. They also take disputes between people from different states when the amount is over $75,000. Plus they deal with all bankruptcy matters. If your case fits one of these, it will go to the U.S. District Court instead of Madison County Circuit Court. The rules and fees are different in federal court, so make sure you know which system your case falls under.

U.S. District Court - Northern District of Alabama, Huntsville Division

Huntsville falls under the Huntsville Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Federal civil cases from Madison County and nearby counties are heard here.

Federal court records are on PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). PACER costs $0.10 per page with a cap of $3.00 per doc. You can also go to the courthouse in person to use their public computer terminals.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court

Bankruptcy cases for Huntsville residents are filed in the Northern District of Alabama Bankruptcy Court. Bankruptcy filings are public record. They may affect civil cases in progress. They can also show if a judgment debtor has filed for protection. This info matters when you are trying to collect on a judgment or check someone's financial background before doing business with them.

Legal Help for Huntsville Residents

If you cannot pay for a lawyer for your civil court matter, several groups provide free or low-cost legal help. These services are for qualifying Huntsville residents who meet income requirements. Most have income limits based on the federal poverty guidelines. Call ahead to see if you qualify before making a trip.

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama gives free civil legal aid to low-income families in all 67 Alabama counties. Madison County is included. They help with housing fights, consumer issues, family law, and public benefits cases. Call the intake line at 1-866-456-4995 to see if you qualify.

Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program

The Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program links low-income residents with local lawyers who give their time for free cases. The program handles various civil matters. They can help with court proceedings. Call them at (256) 539-2275 to learn more.

Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association

The local bar group can send you to lawyers who do civil law in Huntsville. This is not a free service. But talks with referred lawyers may cost less than normal rates. The bar keeps a list of lawyers by what type of law they do.

Alabama Legal Help

Alabama Legal Help has free self-help tools for people handling civil matters on their own. The site has court forms, legal info, and step-by-step guides. Legal Services Alabama and the Alabama Access to Justice Commission run it.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral

The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral line at 1-800-392-5660. You can get a first 30-minute talk for up to $50. The line is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Related Record Sources in Huntsville

Property Records

Civil judgments can turn into liens on real estate. Property records at the Madison County Probate Court show filed liens. This includes judgment liens from civil cases. Property records also show any pending suits affecting title through lis pendens filings. If you want to know if someone has a judgment against them, the property records can tell you.

Business Entity Records

For civil cases with businesses, the Alabama Secretary of State keeps business filings. You can look up agent info for service of process. You can check if a business is in good standing. You can find who the corporate officers are. This helps when you need to sue a company or verify who you are doing business with.

UCC Filings

UCC filings show who has claims on personal property. These records may matter in business suits or collection cases. The Alabama Secretary of State keeps UCC filings. Check these if you want to know if property has liens on it before you buy or lend against it.

Start Your Civil Records Search

Use our search tool to find civil court records from Huntsville, Madison County, and throughout Alabama.

Madison County Civil Court Records

Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. All civil court records for Huntsville residents are kept at the county level. The Madison County Circuit Clerk handles these records. For more info about court records throughout Madison County, see the county page.

View Madison County Civil Court Records

Nearby Counties

Cases may be filed in nearby counties. It depends on where events took place or where defendants live. Here are counties next to Madison County.