Search Baker County Public Records

Baker County public records are managed by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Macclenny and are available to any person under Florida's open records law. This page covers how to request court documents, official records, and other county files, whether you prefer to search online, call, or visit the courthouse in person.

Baker County Clerk and Comptroller

Stacie D. Harvey serves as the Baker County Clerk and Comptroller. The Clerk's office in Macclenny is the main records custodian for court filings, official records, and financial documents. It sits within the 8th Judicial Circuit, which Baker County shares with Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties. That shared circuit means some appellate and administrative matters may involve offices in Gainesville as well.

The Clerk's office handles several record categories. Court records include civil, criminal, family, and traffic case filings. Official records cover instruments recorded with the county, including deeds, mortgages, and liens. The Clerk also serves as ex-officio auditor, recorder, and custodian of county funds.

Baker County is one of Florida's smaller counties, which means the office is less likely to have the same level of online access as larger metro counties. If you don't find what you need online, a direct call to the Macclenny office is often the fastest way to get an answer.

The screenshot below is from the Florida Chapter 119 statutes page, which defines public records access rights for all counties including Baker.

Chapter 119 establishes that all county and municipal records are presumed open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Note: Baker County's courthouse is in Macclenny, which is also the county seat. All filings and in-person record requests go through that location.

Baker County Public Records Law and Your Rights

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records held by Florida agencies. That includes Baker County and all of its offices. The law requires agencies to respond promptly. You do not have to give your name, and you do not have to say why you want the records. No identification is required.

The Florida Constitution reinforces this in Article I, Section 24. It says every person has the right to inspect or copy any public record made or received in connection with the official business of any public body. That right cannot be waived by local ordinance or county policy. If Baker County officials refuse a request without citing a valid exemption under Section 119.071, you have recourse.

If a request is improperly denied, the Florida Attorney General's Office can help through its mediation program. Call (850) 245-0140 or visit the AG's Open Government page to file a complaint or request assistance. The First Amendment Foundation also provides free guidance when agencies in smaller counties fail to respond within a reasonable time.

Note: Agencies may charge fees for copies but cannot require prepayment unless a deposit is justified by the size or nature of the request.

Searching Baker County Court Records

Baker County court records are part of the 8th Judicial Circuit system. Circuit and County Court cases filed in Baker County include civil disputes, criminal matters, family law cases, and small claims. The Clerk's office in Macclenny maintains these records and can provide access to case files, judgments, and court orders.

For online access, Baker County may participate in the statewide myfloridacounty.com platform, which provides access to official records across many Florida counties. Check the Baker County Clerk's website for direct links to any available online search tools. Smaller counties sometimes have limited digital records, particularly for older case files that have not been scanned.

To request court records by mail or in person, contact the Clerk's office at the Macclenny address. Be specific about the case number, party names, or date range when you submit your request. That makes the search faster and may reduce any research fees.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory lists contact information for all 67 Florida counties, which is helpful if your search involves records from multiple jurisdictions.

Copy Fees for Baker County Public Records

Florida law sets standard copy fees that apply to Baker County records. Administrative records cost up to $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page. These rates apply to most county department records. Court records and official records typically cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies of official documents carry an additional $5.00 certification fee.

If fulfilling a request requires significant staff time for research or redaction, the county can charge for that time after the first 30 minutes. Large requests may require a cost estimate and partial payment before work begins. Asking for an estimate upfront can help you plan. Payment methods accepted by most Florida county offices include cash, check, money order, and in many cases credit or debit card.

Baker County Official Records Search

Official records in Baker County include real property instruments such as deeds, mortgages, satisfactions of mortgage, liens, and judgments recorded with the Clerk. These are distinct from court case records and are searched through a different system. If you are researching a property title, a lien, or a recorded agreement, the official records index is where to start.

The Clerk's website at bakerclerk.com should have the most current information on what is searchable online versus what requires an in-person or mail request. For counties that have migrated to newer systems, document images are often available as PDFs directly through the search portal without any fee for viewing.

Property records related to appraisal and assessed value are held by the Baker County Property Appraiser, a separate office from the Clerk. Tax records and payment history are maintained by the Baker County Tax Collector. Each of these offices has its own contact information and request process.

Note: If the records you need are very old, they may be stored in a format that requires microfilm or physical file retrieval. The Clerk's staff can tell you which years are available digitally.

Types of Records Available in Baker County

Baker County's public record holdings span several categories maintained by different offices. The Clerk's office is the starting point for most requests, but other county offices hold specific record types.

• Circuit and County Court civil case records
• Criminal court records and case dispositions
• Family court filings including domestic relations cases
• Recorded deeds, mortgages, and liens
• County commission minutes and official meeting records
• Sheriff's office incident and arrest records
• Property appraisal records from the Property Appraiser's office

Each of these categories is subject to Chapter 119 access rules. Some individual records within these categories may be exempt or partially redacted if they fall under a listed exemption in Section 119.071.

Cities in Baker County

Baker County has no cities with pages on this site. All residents file requests through the county clerk.

Nearby Counties

The following counties border Baker County and each has its own Clerk's office and public records resources.