The Madison County Court Docket is the official public list of every court case handled in Madison County, Florida. It shows the case number, the names of the people involved, the case type, the judge, the next hearing date, and a log of every paper filed.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court writes to this docket each business day. Florida law lets any person view these records at no cost.
Madison County sits in the 3rd Judicial Circuit of Florida. The circuit covers Madison, Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Suwannee, and Taylor Counties. The county seat is the city of Madison. The courthouse at 125 SW Range Avenue handles every local case, from traffic tickets to felonies.
What the Madison County Court Docket Shows
Each entry on the Madison County Court Docket tells you six key facts. You see the case number, the full party names, the case type, the judge assigned, the next hearing date, and a list of every paper filed. The clerk adds a new line for every motion, order, and notice in the case.
The docket runs in time order from the first filing to the most recent action. Closed cases stay on the docket for the time set by state law. You can pull an old case from the clerk’s storage if you need it.
Key Items You Will See on Each Entry
- Case number (a unique code, e.g., 2024-CA-000123)
- Plaintiff and defendant names
- Attorney of record for each side
- Case type (civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic)
- Filing dates for every paper
- Hearing and trial dates
- Judge name
- Final judgment or current case status
Madison County Clerk of Court
The Madison County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the official keeper of the docket. The clerk is an elected officer under the Florida Constitution. The office records all filings, stores all court papers, and runs the public search tools. The clerk also handles marriage licenses, passports, tax payments, and county financial records.
The clerk’s office sits on the first floor of the Madison County Courthouse. You can walk in, ask for a case, and view the docket on a public terminal. Staff will help you locate the right case by name or number. You can also print copies for a small fee per page.
| Office | Madison County Courthouse 125 SW Range Avenue Madison, FL 32340 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (850) 973-1500 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | madisonclerk.com |
How to Search the Madison County Court Docket Online
You can search the Madison County Court Docket from your phone, tablet, or computer. The clerk’s website has a free search tool. Statewide portals give you more ways to look up cases across Florida. All searches are free for basic public view.
1. Open the Clerk Website
Go to madisonclerk.com and click the court records search link. You do not need an account. Type the last name of a party or the full case number to start your search.
2. Pick a Search Method
The clerk site lets you search by party name, case number, or filing date range. Name search works best when you know the full legal name. Case number search is the fastest and most exact method. Date search helps when you need a list of cases filed in a given time window.
3. Read the Results
The results page shows a list of cases that match your search. Click a case to see the full docket. Each line shows the date, the document type, and the party who filed it. You can click most entries to view the actual paper.
Statewide Search Tools You Can Use
The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com tracks every paper filed in all 67 Florida counties. The ACIS portal at acis.flcourts.gov covers appellate cases from the Florida Supreme Court and District Courts of Appeal. MyFloridaCounty covers deeds, liens, mortgages, and other official records.
Madison County Court Docket Access Rules
Florida law makes court docket records open to the public. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives you the right to view and copy them. You do not need to give a reason or pay a fee to view records in person.
Some records stay sealed. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 lists what stays off limits. Sealed cases, expunged cases, juvenile records, and adoption records are not open. Personal data like Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and medical records get redacted from public view.
You can see basic case data without an account. This includes case numbers, party names, attorney names, filing dates, and docket entries. To see sealed or restricted papers, you must ask the court and show a legal reason in a written motion.
Types of Cases on the Madison County Court Docket
Madison County hears cases in two main courts. Circuit Court handles the bigger cases. County Court handles the smaller ones. Each one creates its own docket entry, but the clerk logs all of them in the same system.
Madison County Circuit Court Docket
The Circuit Court hears felonies, family law, divorce, probate, guardianship, and civil cases over $50,000. It also hears appeals from County Court. The circuit clerk logs every case in the same docket system used statewide. Circuit civil cases carry a “CA” code. Circuit criminal cases carry a “CF” code.
Madison County County Court Docket
County Court hears misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims up to $8,000, and civil cases up to $50,000. It also handles landlord-tenant disputes and county ordinance cases. County civil cases carry a “CC” code. County criminal cases carry a “MM” code. Traffic cases carry a “TR” code.
Madison County Civil Docket
The civil docket covers disputes between people or businesses. It includes contract cases, property fights, personal injury claims, insurance claims, and debt collection. You can search civil cases by case number, party name, or filing date. Civil cases often take many months to resolve. The docket shows every motion, hearing, and order along the way.
Small claims cases (under $8,000) also sit on the civil docket. They follow a faster track and often get a hearing within 60 to 90 days of filing.
Madison County Criminal Docket
The criminal docket covers felonies and misdemeanors. It lists the defendant, the charges, the arresting agency, the defense attorney, the State Attorney, and the next court date. You can see bond hearings, arraignments, plea dates, pretrial conferences, and trial dates on the criminal docket.
Sealed criminal cases stay off the public docket. Expunged cases get removed from public view under Florida law. Juvenile criminal cases stay confidential and do not appear on the public docket at all.
Madison County Traffic Docket
The traffic docket covers citations issued by local police, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Madison County Sheriff, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. You can look up a traffic ticket by the citation number or the driver’s last name. The docket shows the charge, the fine, the court date, and the final outcome.
You can pay most traffic tickets online, by mail, or in person at the clerk’s office. If you want to fight a ticket, the docket tells you the date, time, and judge for your hearing.
Madison County Probate Docket
The probate docket covers wills, estates, and guardianships. It lists the name of the person who died or needs a guardian, the personal representative, the attorney, and the key court dates. The docket tracks the filing of the will, the order admitting it to probate, the inventory of assets, and the final discharge of the personal representative.
Probate records are public, but some personal data stays sealed. You can see the case number, the estate name, the representative name, and the dates of the main filings.
Madison County Family Court Docket
The family court docket covers divorce, custody, child support, adoption, paternity, and domestic violence cases. It lists the names of both parents or spouses, the attorney for each side, and every hearing date. Family cases often run for months and include many status hearings.
Adoption records stay sealed. Domestic violence petitions may have parts sealed to protect the victim. The rest of the family docket is open to the public.
Madison County Daily Docket and Hearing Schedule
The daily docket is the list of cases set for court on a given day. It shows the case name, the case number, the time, the courtroom, and the type of hearing. The clerk posts the daily docket on the website and on the courthouse door the morning of court.
You can view the daily docket online or at the courthouse. Press and the public can attend hearings, but the judge may clear the room for sealed matters. Many hearings in Madison County run on a set weekly schedule, with criminal court on Mondays, civil court on Tuesdays, and family court on Wednesdays.
Madison County Court Calendar Docket
The court calendar is the full schedule of hearings, trials, and motions for each division. It runs on a monthly basis. The clerk posts the calendar on madisonclerk.com. You can search it by judge, by case type, or by date range.
Madison County Docket Search by Name
To search by name, open the clerk’s website and click the name search option. Type the last name first, then the first name. You can narrow the search by case type or year. The system pulls every case where that person is a plaintiff, defendant, or party.
Common names return many results. Add a middle name, a date of birth, or a case type to narrow the list. The system does not return sealed or expunged cases, even by name.
Madison County Docket Search by Case Number
Case number search is the fastest way to locate a specific case. The case number has the year, the case type code, and a sequence number. For example, 2024-CA-000123 means a 2024 circuit civil case, number 123. Another example: 2024-CF-000045 means a 2024 circuit felony case, number 45.
Type the full case number in the search box. The system shows the full docket right away. You can see every filing, hearing, and order in the case from start to current date.
Madison County Docket Search by Date
Date search lets you see all cases filed or set for hearing on a given day. Pick a start date and an end date. The system returns every case filed in that window. You can then click any case to see its full docket. Date search works well for tracking new filings or checking a specific day’s court schedule.
Madison County Docket Status and Updates
Docket status tells you where a case stands right now. It might say open, closed, pending, on appeal, disposed, or dismissed. The clerk updates the status each time a new paper goes in or a judge issues an order.
You can check status from the clerk’s website at any time. The status line on the docket shows the most recent action. For a sealed case, the system only shows the case number and a sealed marker.
Madison County Court Docket Archive
Closed cases move to the docket archive. The archive stores cases from past years. Most records go back to the founding of the county in 1827. Old paper files may sit in off-site storage. Newer cases stay on the online system and are easy to view from home.
To see a closed case, call the clerk at (850) 973-1500. Staff will pull the file from storage. There may be a small fee for copies and lookup time. Older records may take a few days to retrieve.
Madison County Court Docket System and E-Filing
The clerk uses the state e-filing system called Florida Courts E-Filing. Lawyers and self-filers can submit papers through the portal at myflcourtaccess.com. Each filing gets a time stamp and goes on the docket the same day the clerk processes it.
The system runs on the Odyssey platform. Odyssey tracks cases across all 67 Florida counties. The clerk office trains local lawyers and self-filers on how to use the portal. You can call (850) 577-4609 for e-filing help during business hours.
Madison County Court Docket List and Index
The docket index is a master list of every case on file. It runs in case number order. The clerk updates the index each day. You can view the index online or ask for a printed copy at the clerk’s office.
Indexes also run by party name and by case type. The name index shows every case where a person is a plaintiff or defendant. The type index groups cases by civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic. Each index helps you locate cases faster.
Madison County Court Docket Entries
Each docket entry is one line on the docket. It shows the date, the document name, the party who filed it, and a short note. Common entries include “Motion to Compel,” “Notice of Hearing,” “Order on Motion,” “Subpoena Issued,” and “Final Judgment.”
You can click on most entries to view the actual paper. Sealed and restricted papers do not show on the public view. The clerk charges a small fee per page for printed copies. Certified copies carry an extra fee but work as legal proof.
Other Court Terms You May See in Your Search
Some people search for “Madison County superior court docket” or “Madison County district court docket.” Florida does not use those terms at the trial level. The state has Circuit Court and County Court. A superior court in other states plays the same role as a circuit court in Florida. A district court in Florida is an appeals court, not a trial court.
“General sessions court” and “chancery court” are terms from other states. Florida does not have those courts. If you are looking for a Madison County trial docket, use the circuit court or county court search tools on the clerk website.
Common Court Docket Tasks in Madison County
Looking Up a Hearing Date
Search by case number on the clerk’s site. The next hearing date sits at the top of the docket sheet. You can also see the courtroom and the judge assigned. The clerk updates hearing dates as soon as the judge sets them.
Getting a Copy of a Court Order
Search the case, locate the order in the docket list, and click the entry. You can view and print the order. The clerk charges a fee for certified copies. A certified copy carries the clerk’s seal and works as proof in other courts and government agencies.
Checking If a Case Is Sealed
Search the case by name or number. If the docket shows only a case number and a sealed marker, the case is closed to public view. You can file a written motion to unseal with the court. A judge reviews the motion and decides based on the facts.
Watching a Hearing in Person
Most hearings in Madison County are open to the public. Check the daily docket for the time and courtroom. Show up a few minutes early and take a seat in the gallery. The judge may ask you to stand when the court opens and closes.
Madison County Courthouse Location and Map
The Madison County Courthouse stands at 125 SW Range Avenue, Madison, FL 32340. You can reach the clerk’s office at (850) 973-1500. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The official website is madisonclerk.com. The courthouse is in downtown Madison, with public parking on the street and in the lot behind the building.
The Madison County Court Docket is one of the most asked-for public records in the county. It covers traffic tickets, civil suits, criminal cases, family law matters, probate filings, and more. The clerk keeps it open to the public under Florida law, and the online tools make it easy to search from home. If you have questions, call the clerk at (850) 973-1500 during business hours. You can also visit the courthouse in person to use the public terminals. The docket is a free public service paid for by the people of Madison County.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Madison County Court Docket
The Madison County Court Docket raises many questions from residents, lawyers, journalists, and people who need to check on a case. The answers below cover the most common questions about how the docket works, who can see it, and how to use the search tools. Each answer is based on current Florida law and the rules of the Madison County Clerk of Court.
How do I search the Madison County court docket for free?
You can search the Madison County court docket for free at madisonclerk.com. The clerk’s website lets you search by party name, case number, or filing date. No account is needed for basic public searches. The statewide portal at myflcourtaccess.com also gives you free access to filed papers in Madison County and the rest of Florida. You can also visit the courthouse and use the public terminals at no cost. The clerk charges a small fee only for printed or certified copies of docket pages and attached documents.
Can I see sealed cases on the Madison County docket?
No. Sealed cases do not show on the public docket. The system only shows the case number and a sealed marker. To view a sealed case, you must file a written motion with the court and show a legal reason. A judge reviews the motion and decides if the seal should stay or be lifted. Expunged cases get removed from the public docket under Florida law and are not visible by name or number. Juvenile records and adoption records also stay confidential and never appear on the public docket view.
How current is the Madison County online docket?
The Madison County online docket updates each business day. New filings show up the same day the clerk logs them into the system. Hearing dates and orders show up once the judge signs them and the clerk scans the paper into Odyssey. Daily docket sheets post on the website the morning of court. If you do not see a paper you just filed, call the clerk at (850) 973-1500 to confirm it has been scanned and indexed. Most filings appear in the system within a few hours of receipt during business hours.
What is the difference between the circuit court docket and the county court docket?
Circuit Court hears felonies, family law, divorce, probate, guardianship, and civil cases over $50,000. County Court hears misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims up to $8,000, and civil cases up to $50,000. Both courts use the same docket system at the Madison County clerk’s office. You can search both types of cases on the same website. The case number code tells you which court: CA, CF, DR, and PR for circuit; CC, MM, TR, and SC for county.
How do I locate a person’s criminal record on the Madison County docket?
Search by the person’s full legal name on the clerk’s website. The system returns every case where that person is a defendant. Click each case to view the charges, the plea, and the sentence. You can also see if the case is open, closed, or on appeal. Statewide criminal history checks run through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at fdle.state.fl.us for a small fee. The Madison County docket only shows cases filed in this county, not cases from other Florida counties or other states.
Are Madison County court docket records official?
Yes. The clerk of court is the official keeper of the docket under Florida law. The docket entries are the same records the judge uses in court. You can ask the clerk for a certified copy of any docket page. A certified copy carries the clerk’s seal and signature. It works as proof in other courts, government agencies, and most legal matters. The clerk charges a fee set by Florida statute for each certified copy.
Can I get a daily docket list for a specific judge?
Yes. The clerk posts daily docket lists on the website and on the courthouse door. You can also call the clerk at (850) 973-1500 and ask for the schedule of a specific judge. The clerk can mail or email you the list if you ask in advance. The daily docket shows the time, the case number, the case type, and the type of hearing for every case on the court’s schedule. Some judges also post their weekly schedules on the Florida Courts website at flcourts.gov.