Public Records in Jackson County

Jackson County public records are held by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Marianna and are open to any person under Florida law. This guide covers how to find court filings, official records, property documents, and other county records, whether you prefer to search online, request by mail, or visit the courthouse on Lafayette Street in person.

Florida Public Records Law in Jackson County

Florida's Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes is the foundation for every public records request in the state. The law says that all state, county, and local records are open to the public by default. Exemptions exist, but they must be specific and written into law. The burden falls on the agency to justify withholding a record, not on you to justify asking for it.

You do not have to give your name to make a request. You don't need to say why you want the records. That applies in Jackson County just as it does in every Florida county. The right to inspect and copy records is also protected under Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution, which means it is a constitutional right, not just a statutory one. That matters. It is harder for an agency to limit a right that sits in the state constitution.

Section 119.07 of the statute requires custodians to permit inspection at any reasonable time. If a request is denied and you believe it was improper, the Florida Attorney General's Office offers a mediation program. You can reach that office at (850) 245-0140. The AG's Open Government page explains the process in plain language.

Agencies cannot require you to fill out a form or use a specific format to make a request. A simple written note, email, or phone call is sufficient.

Jackson County Clerk and Comptroller

Clayton O. Rooks III, CPA, serves as the Clerk and Comptroller for Jackson County. His office is the primary custodian of court records, official records, and county financial documents. Most public records requests in Jackson County start here.

The Clerk's office handles filings for the 14th Judicial Circuit, which serves Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, and Washington counties. All five counties share a circuit court, though each county has its own Clerk managing local records. For Jackson County specifically, the Marianna courthouse is the place to go for in-person records access.

The office is open during regular business hours on weekdays. Call ahead if you plan to visit, since some records divisions have specific windows for public access. Staff can point you to the right department once you describe the type of record you need.

The screenshot below comes from the Jackson County Clerk's official website, where you can find links to the online search portal, forms, and contact information for each division.

The page shown above provides access to court records, official records, and the public records request process for Jackson County.

Searching Jackson County Records Online

The Jackson County Clerk's website at jacksonclerk.com offers online access to court case information and official records. You can search by party name, case number, or document type without creating an account. The portal covers civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in county and circuit court.

Official records, including deeds, mortgages, and liens, are also searchable online. These are the instruments that affect real property and are recorded with the Clerk as they come in. If you are researching a piece of land or checking for liens on a property in Jackson County, the official records search is the right starting point.

For a broader search across Florida counties, myfloridacounty.com provides access to official records from many county clerks in one place. Jackson County participates in this statewide system. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory can also help when a record might be held by a neighboring county or a state-level office.

Not every record has been digitized. Older court files and some pre-digital official records may only exist in paper form at the courthouse. If the online search comes up empty, contact the Clerk's office directly to confirm whether the record exists and how to get a copy.

Fees for Jackson County Public Records

Florida law sets a standard fee structure that applies across all counties. For administrative records held by county agencies, copies cost $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 for double-sided pages. Court records and official records from the Clerk's office cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies of official records carry a $5.00 certification fee in addition to the per-page cost.

Research fees can apply when a request requires significant staff time to locate or prepare records. The first 30 minutes of research time are not charged to the requester. After that, the agency may bill at the pay rate of the lowest-paid employee who can do the work. For any request that seems like it might involve a lot of staff time, ask for a cost estimate before work begins. Agencies are required to provide a good-faith estimate on request.

Payment methods accepted at the Jackson County Clerk's office include cash, check, and credit card for most services. Confirm with the specific division before you visit if you plan to pay by a specific method.

Types of Records the Clerk Maintains

The Jackson County Clerk and Comptroller handles a wide range of document types. Court records cover every case filed in the 14th Judicial Circuit that originates in Jackson County. That includes civil cases, criminal cases, family law matters, and probate filings. Official records cover instruments filed for the real property record, including deeds, mortgages, judgments, and notices of commencement for construction projects.

The Clerk also serves as the county's financial officer, keeping records of county expenditures, budgets, and audits. Board of County Commissioners minutes and agendas are public records maintained through this office as well. Tax deeds, which result from unpaid property taxes, are processed by the Clerk. Jury management records, marriage license applications, and passport acceptance services round out the services offered.

Common categories people request include:

• Civil court case filings and judgments
• Criminal case records and disposition reports
• Family law filings including dissolution of marriage cases
• Recorded deeds and mortgage documents
• Liens, satisfactions, and notices of commencement
• Probate and guardianship filings
• County commission minutes and public meeting records

Some records are exempt from disclosure under Section 119.071. Active criminal investigation records, certain law enforcement materials, and medical information are among the most common exemptions. If a record is withheld, the custodian should tell you which specific exemption applies.

Other Jackson County Record Sources

Beyond the Clerk's office, several other offices in Jackson County maintain public records. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records, offense reports, and jail records. The Property Appraiser's office maintains property assessment data, parcel maps, and ownership records. The Tax Collector holds records related to property tax payments and vehicle registrations.

For statewide criminal history checks, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs a public access portal. You can find that at fdle.state.fl.us. FDLE handles state-level background records and maintains the Florida Crime Information Center database. County-level arrest records come from the Sheriff's office, while court dispositions come from the Clerk. These are separate systems and you may need to check both for a complete picture.

The Jackson County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector each have their own websites with searchable databases. Property ownership and value records are public and generally available online at no cost.

Cities in Jackson County

Marianna is the county seat and the largest city in Jackson County, though no cities in the county meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Jackson County and each has its own Clerk's office and records access options.