Access Suwannee County Public Records

Suwannee County public records are maintained by the Clerk and Comptroller in Live Oak and are open to any person under Florida law. This guide explains how to find court case files, recorded property documents, and other official records in Suwannee County, whether you search online, send a written request, or come to the courthouse on South Ohio Avenue.

Florida Public Records Law and Suwannee County

Florida's open records law, found in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, applies to every government agency in the state, including all Suwannee County offices. The law starts from a simple premise: records made or received by a public agency are public. You do not need to give your name. You do not need to explain your reason for asking. The right to inspect and copy public records is also protected by Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

The Clerk and Comptroller is the primary custodian for court records and official records in Suwannee County. Other county offices, like the Sheriff's Office and the Board of County Commissioners, hold records under their own authority. Each is subject to Chapter 119 equally. If you are not sure which office holds the records you need, start with the Clerk's office -- staff can often point you in the right direction.

Exemptions do exist. Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes lists categories of records that are confidential or exempt from public disclosure. These include certain law enforcement investigative files, personal identifying details like Social Security numbers, and some medical and financial records. If a request is denied, the agency must tell you which exemption applies. You can get free help navigating a dispute from the Florida Attorney General's open government office at (850) 245-0140.

Suwannee County Clerk and Comptroller

Barry Baker serves as the Clerk and Comptroller for Suwannee County. His office in Live Oak is the central repository for court case records, recorded official documents, marriage licenses, and county financial records. The Clerk handles filings for both circuit court and county court cases.

The office is open on weekdays during regular business hours. You can call the main line to confirm record availability or ask about the right process before you make a trip to Live Oak. Staff can tell you what records are available online and what needs an in-person visit or a written request.

The image below comes from the Suwannee County Clerk's website, which is the starting point for accessing records online.

The site provides contact details for the office, links to online record search tools, and information on how to submit records requests for documents not available online.

Court Records in Suwannee County

Suwannee County is part of the 3rd Judicial Circuit, one of Florida's larger rural circuits. The 3rd Circuit also covers Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, and Taylor counties. Circuit court in Suwannee County handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $50,000 (formerly $8,000 before the 2023 threshold change), family law matters including divorce and paternity, juvenile cases, and probate. County court takes misdemeanors, civil claims under $8,000, small claims, and traffic offenses.

Most court records in Suwannee County are public under Chapter 119 and Florida Supreme Court rules. Some records are not. Juvenile records are sealed by statute. Records expunged or sealed by court order are off limits to the general public. Certain domestic relations records may also have restricted access. When you are not sure whether a case file is open, the Clerk's office can tell you before you spend time making a formal request.

For a list of all 67 Florida county clerks, including Suwannee, the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory provides current contact details in one place. That is useful if your research touches records in more than one county.

Official and Property Records

The Suwannee County Clerk records and indexes all official documents affecting real property in the county. Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and releases are filed through the Clerk's office and indexed by name and document type. These records are public and are the definitive source for the chain of title on any parcel in Suwannee County.

Standard fees for copies of public records apply. For administrative records, the copy fee is 15 cents per page. For documents recorded in the official records, the copy fee is up to $1.00 per page, with a $5.00 certification charge if you need a certified copy for legal use. The first 30 minutes of staff research time is provided at no charge. If a search takes longer, the agency may bill you at a reasonable hourly rate.

Marriage licenses issued in Suwannee County are a public record held by the Clerk's office. Divorce case files are part of the circuit court record for cases filed in the county. Both can be accessed through the clerk by name or case number.

How to Access Suwannee County Public Records

There are three main ways to get records from the Suwannee County Clerk's office. You can visit in person at 200 S Ohio Ave in Live Oak, call (386) 362-0500, or submit a written request by mail. No particular form is needed. Florida law only requires that you describe what you are looking for clearly enough so staff can locate the records. You do not need to hire a lawyer or fill out a special government form.

Give as much identifying detail as you can. Case numbers, party names, approximate dates, and document types all help the clerk's staff find records faster. Agencies must respond promptly under Chapter 119. If a quick look does not turn up what you need, you can also try the statewide portal at myfloridacounty.com, which covers official records in many Florida counties including some in North Florida.

Suwannee County is a relatively small county. Calling ahead before an in-person visit helps you avoid a wasted trip if the records you want are not immediately accessible or need to be pulled from storage.

Other Record Sources in Suwannee County

The Clerk is not the only office that holds public records in Suwannee County. The Suwannee County Property Appraiser keeps ownership and assessment data for every parcel in the county. The Tax Collector handles property tax records, vehicle registration, and business tax receipts. These are all public records under Chapter 119.

Vital records -- birth certificates and death certificates -- are a state function in Florida. They are not held by the Suwannee County Clerk. You would contact the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville to request those records, or use the state's online ordering system.

The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office holds law enforcement records including incident reports and arrest records. These are generally public under Chapter 119 except where an active investigation creates an exemption. Contact the Sheriff's Office directly for those requests. The First Amendment Foundation provides free guidance to anyone who needs help understanding public records rights in Florida.

If you are researching a criminal history, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains the state's criminal justice information system. The FDLE public records page explains what is available and how to submit a request at the state level.

Cities in Suwannee County

Suwannee County has no incorporated cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Live Oak is the county seat and the Clerk's office there serves the entire county.

Nearby Counties

Suwannee County shares borders with seven other North Florida counties, each with its own clerk's office and records system.