Putnam County Public Records

Putnam County public records are kept by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Palatka, and Florida's open records law gives every person the right to view or copy them without needing to state a reason. This page covers how to access court filings, recorded official documents, and government records held by Putnam County offices, along with practical details about fees, timelines, and online tools.

Florida Open Records Law and Putnam County

Florida's public records statute, found in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, makes all records created or received by a public agency open to the public by default. Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution elevates this to a constitutional right. Every county office in Florida, including those in Putnam County, operates under these rules. There is no requirement to explain why you want a record or to identify yourself when making a request.

The law requires agencies to respond promptly. A simple request for a document that is readily available should be honored the same day or the next business day. If a request is complex or involves a large volume of records, the agency can take more time, but it must acknowledge the request and give you a reasonable timeline. Agencies cannot simply ignore a request or ask for documentation about who you are before they will begin searching.

Putnam County is served by the 7th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Flagler, St. Johns, and Volusia counties. Court records from cases filed in Putnam County fall under the circuit court system and are maintained by the Putnam County Clerk's office. Exemptions to public access under Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes apply the same way here as elsewhere in Florida. If a record is withheld, the agency must cite the specific provision that applies. Disputes can be referred to the Florida Attorney General for mediation at (850) 245-0140.

Putnam County Clerk and Comptroller

Matt Reynolds serves as the Clerk and Comptroller for Putnam County. His office in Palatka is the central repository for court records filed in Putnam County and for official recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments. It is the main point of contact for anyone looking for court case information or property records in Putnam County.

The Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Putnam is a smaller county, so staff at the main Palatka location can usually direct you to what you need fairly quickly. The office handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic court records for the county and also maintains official records for real estate and other instruments recorded in Putnam County.

The image below is a screenshot from the Putnam County Clerk and Comptroller's official website.

The Clerk's site shown above provides access to the online records search and other services available through the Putnam County Clerk and Comptroller's office in Palatka.

Searching Putnam County Records Online

The Putnam County Clerk's website at putnamclerk.com offers online access to court records and official recorded documents. You can search by party name or case number to find court filings, case status, and scanned documents for cases handled in Putnam County's 7th Judicial Circuit division. Official records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens are also searchable through the portal.

Because Putnam is a smaller county, not every record may be in the online system. Older documents, particularly those from earlier decades, may exist only in physical form at the courthouse. For those, a written request or an in-person visit is necessary. Call the Clerk's office at (386) 326-7600 before visiting to confirm that a particular record is available and whether it has been digitized.

If you are looking for court records from other counties in the 7th Judicial Circuit, such as St. Johns, Flagler, or Volusia, those records are held by the respective county's clerk and are not in the Putnam County system. The myfloridacounty.com portal provides a multi-county search option for official records that may help when you are not sure which county holds what you need.

Fees and Copies in Putnam County

Copy fees in Putnam County follow the statewide standard set by Chapter 119. Standard paper copies are $0.15 per one-sided page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification statement. The first 30 minutes of staff research time is provided at no charge. Beyond that, agencies may bill at a reasonable hourly rate for the time needed to locate, review, and prepare records.

For records available online, downloading directly from the Clerk's system is free in most cases and avoids the copy fee entirely. Certified copies for legal use still require a formal request to the Clerk's office either in person or by mail. When mailing a request, prepay the estimated fee using an approved payment method listed on the Clerk's website.

Other Putnam County Records Sources

In addition to the Clerk's court and official records, other Putnam County agencies hold public records you can request. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and incident reports for areas outside city limits. The Property Appraiser's office maintains assessment records for all parcels in the county. Municipal police departments in Palatka and other incorporated areas handle their own incident reports separately.

For a complete statewide criminal history search, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the best source. Their central repository covers records from all Florida counties, which gives you a more complete picture than a single-county search. The Florida Clerks directory can help you locate any county clerk statewide when you need records from multiple jurisdictions.

Residents who need help understanding their rights or navigating a records request can contact Three Rivers Legal Services, which serves Putnam County among other northeast Florida counties. The Florida First Amendment Foundation also provides resources for legal aid referrals and guidance when records requests are improperly denied.

Cities in Putnam County

Putnam County's incorporated cities, including Palatka, Crescent City, and Interlachen, do not meet the population threshold for dedicated city records pages on this site. For records in these communities, contact the Putnam County Clerk and Comptroller's office directly in Palatka.

Nearby Counties

Putnam County borders six counties. Each has its own clerk's office and records access system.