Duval County Public Records

Duval County public records are managed by the Duval County Clerk of Courts in Jacksonville, one of Florida's largest and most active court systems, serving a consolidated city-county government with roughly one million residents. The clerk handles court filings, official records, and public information requests under Florida's open records law, and the public records division can be reached at (904) 255-1828. This guide explains the main ways to find, access, and request Duval County records.

Duval County Clerk of Courts

The Duval County Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of public records for the county. Jacksonville and Duval County operate as a consolidated city-county government, which means the clerk's office serves both the city and the county as one entity. The clerk's website at duvalclerk.com provides online search tools, forms, and detailed information about how to access different types of records. For public records requests specifically, the dedicated public information line is (904) 255-1828.

The clerk maintains records for the 4th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Clay and Nassau counties. However, Duval County records are filed and searched through the Duval office. The volume of filings in Duval County is among the highest in Florida, and the clerk's system is well-developed for online access. Most recent civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases are searchable online without needing to visit the courthouse.

Florida Open Records Law and Duval County

Florida's Chapter 119 public records law applies to all Duval County government offices, including the clerk, the consolidated city-county agencies, the Sheriff's Office, and the city of Jacksonville. The law's basic rule is that government records are public. You do not need to give your name, sign a form, or explain your reason for requesting records. If an agency wants to withhold a document, it must identify the specific exemption that covers it.

The Duval County Clerk's main website is the primary gateway for online case searches and public records requests.

The site provides access to case searches, official records, forms, and the public information services division.

Fees for copies follow the state schedule. Standard administrative copies cost up to $0.15 per one-sided page. Certified copies are $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee. Staff research time is free for the first 30 minutes and may be billed after that. Agencies cannot destroy records that are the subject of a pending public records request for at least 30 days from the time the request was received. If you run into trouble getting records, the Florida Attorney General's mediation line is (850) 245-0140, and more information is at the AG's open government page.

Duval County Public Information Services

The Duval County Clerk operates a dedicated public information services division for handling records requests. This is separate from the general clerk functions and is the right contact point for requests that do not fit neatly into the online case search or official records search tools.

The public information page on the Duval Clerk's website walks through how to submit a request and what to expect.

The page covers the types of records the clerk maintains and explains the process for requests that require staff assistance.

For broad or complex requests, it helps to be as specific as possible when describing what you need. Giving a date range, case number, or party names reduces the research time and can lower or eliminate any fees. The public information staff can also help identify which county office holds the records you are looking for if it turns out they are not held by the clerk.

Searching Duval County Court Records Online

Duval County's online case search is one of the more robust tools in Florida. You can search civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases by party name, case number, or attorney name. The system shows case status, scheduled hearings, and docket entries. Many documents are available to view online for free. Some older or sealed records require a court order or in-person access.

For cross-county searches, the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory links to all 67 county clerk portals. If you need to search official records like deeds and liens across multiple Florida counties, myFloridaCounty.com is a useful resource. For federal cases involving Duval County parties, PACER provides access to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Duval County Official Records

Official records in Duval County include property deeds, mortgage documents, liens, satisfactions, easements, plat maps, and other recorded instruments. The clerk's official records index goes back many years and is searchable by grantor or grantee name, document type, and recording date. Title searches, lien checks, and ownership histories all rely on this index.

Because Jacksonville is a major city, the volume of official records in Duval County is large. The online system handles most searches efficiently. If you need a certified copy of a recorded document, you can order it through the clerk's website or pick it up at the courthouse. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and are accepted as legal evidence of the recorded instrument.

Criminal Records in Duval County

Criminal court records from Duval County cases are available through the clerk's online case search. These include all filings from the 4th Circuit in Jacksonville, covering felony and misdemeanor cases. Arrest records and booking information are held by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, which serves as both the city police department and the county sheriff due to the consolidated government structure.

Both the clerk and the JSO are subject to Chapter 119. Most arrest records are public. Active investigations, juvenile records, and certain victim information are among the standard exemptions. Requests to the JSO for booking records or arrest reports go directly to that agency, not the clerk. The Florida AG's open government resources explain your rights in both contexts.

Vital Records and Related Duval County Documents

Birth and death certificates from events in Duval County are state records held by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Certified copies can be ordered online through VitalChek or by mail to the state office. The Duval County Health Department can provide guidance for local requests. Marriage licenses are issued by the Duval County Clerk and are part of the public record here at the county level.

Property tax records, vehicle registrations, and voter registration data are held by separate county offices: the Tax Collector, the Property Appraiser, and the Supervisor of Elections. Each of those agencies maintains its own public records division and handles requests under Chapter 119 independently. If you are unsure which office holds the records you need, the clerk's public information staff can often point you in the right direction.

Cities in Duval County

Duval County operates as a consolidated city-county government, with Jacksonville as the primary municipality encompassing most of the county.

Nearby Counties

Duval County is located in northeast Florida and borders several counties in the same region.