Look Up Crestview Records

Crestview public records are held by the Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts and local city offices, giving residents and the public a path to court filings, official documents, and government records tied to this northwest Florida city. Florida's open records law under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes means anyone can ask for these records, and no reason is required.

Okaloosa County Clerk and Crestview Records

Crestview sits in Okaloosa County, and the Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts is the main records office for court cases, official documents, and county government records that touch Crestview residents. The clerk's office handles everything from civil and criminal court files to deeds, mortgages, liens, and marriage licenses. Clerk Brad E. Embry oversees the office, which is located at 101 E James Lee Blvd, Crestview, FL 32536. That address puts the main courthouse right in Crestview itself, so you can walk in to search records or make a request in person.

The main phone number is (850) 689-5000, extension 4000. You can also reach the office through the clerk's website at okaloosaclerk.com, which offers online tools for searching court records and official records without a trip downtown. Most case index searches are free. Copies carry a per-page fee under state law.

The Okaloosa County Clerk's website is the starting point for any records search tied to Crestview. Court cases, official records, and document filings are all managed from this office and searchable online.

Types of Public Records in Crestview

Public records in Crestview span a wide range of documents. Court records are the most searched category. These include civil case files, family court filings, probate records, criminal case dockets, and small claims matters. All of these are maintained by the Okaloosa County Clerk in the 1st Judicial Circuit.

Official records are another big category. Deeds and warranty deeds filed when property changes hands, mortgages and satisfactions, lis pendens filings, judgments of record, and UCC filings all go through the clerk's office and are searchable online. If you need to check whether a property has liens against it or trace ownership history, this is where you look.

The City of Crestview also creates records. City commission minutes, building permits, code enforcement records, and records from city departments are public under the same state law. Contact city hall for those types of documents.

Note: Military records and personnel files held by the U.S. government are federal records and are not accessible through county or city offices.

How to Request Crestview Public Records

You do not need to identify yourself to ask for a public record. Florida law is clear on that point. You can make requests by phone, email, mail, or in person. The agency must respond promptly. If the request is complex or large, staff may ask for an estimate of time and cost before they start pulling files.

For records at the Okaloosa County Clerk, you can visit the office at 101 E James Lee Blvd in Crestview or use the online portal at okaloosaclerk.com. For city records, go through Crestview city hall. State agencies like the Florida Department of Law Enforcement handle their own requests separately, and you can contact FDLE directly for criminal history information at the state level.

Copy fees under Chapter 119 are $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. If a request takes more than 30 minutes of staff time to fill, the agency may charge for that time at the rate of the lowest-paid person capable of doing the work.

Court Records for Crestview Cases

The 1st Judicial Circuit covers Okaloosa County along with Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties. Crestview cases are filed in Okaloosa County. Circuit court cases include felony criminal matters, civil disputes over $30,000, family law cases such as divorce and custody, and probate proceedings. County court handles misdemeanors, civil claims up to $30,000, and traffic infractions.

The online search at the clerk's website lets you look up cases by name or case number. Many documents are posted online and free to view. Physical copies require the standard per-page fee. If you need certified copies, those cost extra and must be ordered through the clerk's office.

For questions about specific cases or help locating records, call the Okaloosa Clerk at (850) 689-5000 ext. 4000 or visit the Crestview courthouse during business hours.

State Resources for Crestview Residents

Several state-level tools are useful for Crestview residents who need to find public records. The Florida Attorney General's open government page explains your rights and offers free mediation if you are denied access to records. The mediation program can be reached at (850) 245-0140.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory lists every county clerk in the state with contact info and links to local search tools. For a statewide search of official records across multiple counties, MyFloridaCounty.com offers a central portal run by Florida's clerks. If you need records from a state agency rather than a local one, the Florida Department of State public records page handles those requests.

The First Amendment Foundation also runs a public records hotline at (850) 222-3518 or toll-free at (800) 337-3518 that anyone can call for help with access issues. Their annual Sunshine Manual is a plain-language guide to Florida open government laws.

Crestview Records Contact Summary

Nearby Cities

Other cities in the Florida Panhandle share the same open records laws and are served by the same state system.

Fort Walton Beach is nearby but does not have its own city page. Residents there access the same Okaloosa County Clerk records at the same address.

Okaloosa County Records

All Crestview public records filed in court or as official documents are maintained by the Okaloosa County Clerk of Court. Visit the county page for more detail on search tools and office resources.