Find Public Records in Bradford County

Bradford County public records are kept by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Starke and are open to any person under Florida's Chapter 119. This page explains how to request court documents, official instruments, and other records held by county offices in the 8th Judicial Circuit.

Bradford County Clerk and Comptroller

Denny Thompson is the Bradford County Clerk and Comptroller. His office in Starke handles court records, official recorded documents, and county financial records. Bradford County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit along with Alachua, Baker, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties. The circuit headquarters is in Gainesville, but Bradford County cases are filed and managed locally in Starke.

The Bradford County Clerk's website provides information on court services, official records, and the process for submitting public records requests. The county is small, so online access may be more limited than what larger Florida counties offer. For records not available digitally, contact the office directly to arrange access or request copies by mail.

The image below is from the Bradford County Clerk's official website, showing the main interface for public record access in the county.

The website shown above is the starting point for court case searches, official records lookups, and public records requests in Bradford County.

Note: Bradford County has no branch court locations. All filings and record requests go through the main Starke courthouse.

Bradford County Public Records and Florida Law

Every person has the right to inspect and copy public records in Bradford County under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. This law has been in place for decades and is one of the strongest public records frameworks in the country. It covers records held by every county office, including the Clerk, Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, and Board of County Commissioners.

You do not need to identify yourself to make a request. No reason is required. The agency must acknowledge your request and respond within a reasonable time. What counts as reasonable depends on the complexity and volume of the request. Simple requests for a single document should be fulfilled quickly. Broad requests covering many years of records may take longer, but the agency must communicate that timeline and cannot simply refuse.

When records contain both public and exempt information, the agency must redact only the exempt portions and release the rest. Withholding an entire document because it contains one exempt field is not permitted under the law.

The First Amendment Foundation offers free assistance to Florida residents who have trouble getting records from government agencies. If Bradford County offices fail to respond or improperly deny a request, the Foundation can help you navigate next steps.

Searching Bradford County Court Records

Bradford County court records are created and maintained through the 8th Judicial Circuit. The types of cases filed at the Bradford County Courthouse include civil disputes, criminal charges, family law matters, probate proceedings, and traffic violations. Each case generates a file that becomes a public record once filed, subject to any applicable exemptions.

To search Bradford County cases online, start with the Clerk's website. Some Florida counties of this size use the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal for document submission, which also allows public searching of case information. The myfloridacounty.com platform may also provide access to Bradford County official records. Check both to see what is available without a formal request.

If you need records that aren't online, submit a written request to the Clerk's office. Include the party names and a date range. Case numbers, if known, will speed up the search significantly. Older paper records may require staff retrieval from storage, which can add time to the process.

Official Records in Bradford County

Official records are instruments recorded with the Clerk of Court. They are separate from court case records and serve as the permanent public record of real property transactions and other legal instruments. Deeds, mortgages, assignments, satisfactions, and liens are all recorded this way. Anyone can search these records to verify ownership, check for liens, or trace a property's chain of title.

Bradford County's official records index is searchable through the Clerk's website. Results typically show the document type, recording date, grantor and grantee names, and book and page reference numbers. Images of recorded documents may be available as PDFs for more recent filings. Older instruments may require requesting a paper copy or a certified copy from the Clerk's office.

Note: Certified copies of official recorded documents cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. Plain copies of administrative records cost up to $0.15 per single-sided page.

Other Bradford County Record Sources

Beyond the Clerk's office, Bradford County has several other public record custodians. The Bradford County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and jail booking information. These are subject to Chapter 119 access rules. To request Sheriff records, contact that office directly or check whether Bradford County uses an online request portal.

The Bradford County Property Appraiser's office holds assessment and ownership records for all taxable parcels in the county. This data is public and is often available through the Property Appraiser's website. The Tax Collector maintains tax payment histories and delinquent tax records. County commission meeting minutes and agendas are held by the Board of County Commissioners and are also public.

For requests involving multiple county offices or records that span both Bradford and neighboring counties, the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory can help you identify the right contacts across the state.

The Florida Attorney General's Open Government page has detailed guidance on how to make requests, what fees are allowed, and what to do if a request is denied. The AG mediation program is available at (850) 245-0140 for disputes that can't be resolved directly with the agency.

Bradford County Public Records Fees

Bradford County follows Florida's standard fee structure for public records. Copies of administrative records cost up to $0.15 per single-sided page or $0.20 for double-sided pages. Court records and certified official documents cost $1.00 per page, with certified copies carrying a $5.00 certification fee on top of the per-page charge.

Research fees apply when a request requires significant staff time. The first 30 minutes of research time are not charged. After that, fees are based on the salary of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the work. For large or complex requests, ask for a cost estimate before the work begins.

Most Florida county offices accept payment by cash, check, money order, or credit card. The Bradford County Clerk's office can tell you which payment methods they currently accept when you call to submit your request.

Cities in Bradford County

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

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Bradford County, each with its own Clerk's office and public records access.