Search Madison County Divorce Records
Divorce records in Madison County are at the Circuit Court Clerk's office. That's in downtown Huntsville. The 23rd Judicial Circuit handles all domestic cases for the county. About 380,000 people live here. Madison County is the third largest in Alabama. It sees a lot of family law cases each year. The clerk keeps divorce petitions, final decrees, and property agreements. Child custody orders are in there too. You can search cases online through Alacourt ACCESS. Or visit the courthouse to get copies. The Family Division handles divorce and custody stuff. They have their own forms and procedures.
Madison County Quick Facts
Madison County Circuit Court Clerk
This is where you file for divorce or get old records. Debra Kizer runs the office. Her staff keeps all court files going back years. They can help you find a case, get copies, or answer basic questions. But they can't tell you what to do. That's legal advice, and clerks don't do that.
| Circuit Clerk | Debra Kizer |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 North Side Square, Room 217 Huntsville, AL 35801 |
| Phone | (256) 532-3390 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | madison.alacourt.gov |
Family Division
Madison County has its own Family Division. It handles divorce, custody, and child support. Other domestic cases go here too. The judges specialize in family law. The division runs separate from criminal and other civil cases. They have their own docket and rules.
How to Search Madison County Divorce Records
Online Search
The fastest way to look up cases is through Alacourt ACCESS at pa.alacourt.com. This is the state's official system. It costs $9.99 per search. Look up by name or case number. You'll see party names, case type, and filing dates. Case status shows too. Want actual documents? That's $5 more for the first 20 pages. The system works well for recent cases. Older ones may not have images online.
Sometimes basic info is all you need. Want to know if a divorce went through? The search shows that. It gives the date too. But if you need the actual decree, you pay for documents. Or get paper copies from the clerk.
In-Person Request
Go to the clerk's office on the second floor of the courthouse. It's at 100 North Side Square in Huntsville. Bring whatever info you have. The names of both spouses help. So does the year. If you have a case number, even better. Staff can search while you wait.
For recent cases, the clerk can print copies on the spot. Older cases are in storage. Those take longer. Sometimes you get them the same day. Sometimes you come back. Call ahead for old cases. They can check if files are ready to pull.
Mail Request
Can't come to Huntsville? Send a letter. Put in both names from the divorce. Add the date or at least the year. Tell them what you need. Just the decree? The whole file? Be clear. Include your phone number and address. Drop in a check or money order for the fees.
Mail requests to:
Madison County Circuit Clerk
100 North Side Square, Room 217
Huntsville, AL 35801
Fees for Madison County Divorce Records
Madison County charges different amounts. It depends on where the records are stored.
- Archived records: $25.00 - Older cases in storage
- Computerized records: $10.00 - Cases in the digital system
- Paper records: $20.00 - Physical files not yet digitized
These fees cover the search and basic copies. Certified copies cost more. You need certified copies for legal stuff. Things like proving you're divorced to remarry. Or changing your name on documents. They take cash, check, and money order. Call the clerk at (256) 532-3390 to check current fees.
What's in Madison County Divorce Records
A divorce file has all the paperwork from start to finish. Here's what's in there.
Divorce Petition
This starts the case. It has basic info about the marriage. Grounds for divorce. What the filing spouse wants. Property split, custody, support. It shows when the case started. And who filed first.
Final Divorce Decree
The decree is what most people want. It's the judge's final order. It ends the marriage officially. The decree has all the court's decisions. Property split, alimony, custody, visitation, child support. You need this to prove you're divorced. Most record requests are for this document.
Property Settlement Agreement
In many divorces, people agree on how to split things. They put it in writing. The settlement covers the house, cars, and bank accounts. Retirement funds and debts too. Personal property as well. In uncontested divorces, this goes into the final decree.
Child Custody and Support Orders
When kids are involved, the file has custody and support documents. Physical custody arrangements. Visitation schedules. Who makes decisions about school and doctors. Child support amounts. Madison County uses Alabama's guidelines for support.
Motions and Other Filings
Contested divorces make a lot of paperwork. Motions, responses, discovery requests. Subpoenas and hearing transcripts. Temporary orders from when the case was open. All of this stays in the permanent record.
Free Legal Help in Madison County
Need help with a divorce? Want to understand records you've found? Free legal help is out there for Madison County folks.
Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program
The local bar runs a volunteer program. Attorneys help for free. They do family law cases. Divorce and custody matters. You have to meet income limits to qualify.
| Phone | (256) 539-2275 |
|---|---|
| Services | Free legal consultations, limited representation for qualifying individuals |
| Eligibility | Income-based - call to check if you qualify |
Legal Services Alabama - Huntsville Office
Legal Services Alabama helps low-income folks for free. They do family law stuff. Divorce, custody, and protective orders. The Huntsville office serves Madison County.
Phone: (256) 536-9645
Intake Line: (866) 456-4995
Crisis Services of North Alabama
Is your divorce tied to domestic violence? Crisis Services can help. They do emergency help and advocacy. They have court advocates to guide you through the system. They help with protective orders too.
24-Hour Crisis Line: (256) 716-1000
Madison County Divorce Certificates
Divorce certificates are not the same as divorce records. A certificate is a short document. It just confirms a divorce happened. Shows both names, the date, and the county. No property details. No custody info. No other terms.
The Alabama Department of Public Health issues certificates. Not the court. They have divorce records from 1950 to now. You can get a certificate from the state office. Or from the Madison County Health Department.
Madison County Health Department
The local health department can issue divorce certificates. They can get certificates for divorces from anywhere in Alabama. Not just Madison County.
| Address | 301 Max Luther Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35811 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (256) 539-3711 |
| Fee | $15 (includes one certified copy) |
When to Get a Certificate vs. Court Records
Get a certificate if you just need to prove you're divorced. Good for remarriage or name changes. Basic verification too. Get court records if you need details. Property split, custody terms, or support amounts. The certificate is faster and cheaper. But it has less info.
Cities in Madison County
Madison County has several cities and towns. All divorce records go through the Madison County Circuit Court Clerk. That's in Huntsville. Huntsville is the county seat. It's the only city over 100,000 people here.
Other places in Madison County include the city of Madison, Harvest, and Hazel Green. There's also Meridianville, New Hope, Owens Cross Roads, and Triana. The city of Madison is big, but divorces still file at the county level.
Nearby Counties
Need records from a neighboring county? Madison County borders these Alabama counties.
Divorces are filed where at least one spouse lives. Not sure which county? You may need to check a few. Or use Alacourt ACCESS. It searches all Alabama courts at once.