Find Public Records in Union County

Union County public records are maintained by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Lake Butler and are open to the public under Florida's open records law. This page covers how to search court case files, recorded documents, and other official records in Union County, whether you visit in person, mail a written request, or use the online search tools available through the Clerk.

Public Records Law in Union County

Florida's public records law is found in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. It applies to every government body in the state, including all Union County offices and officials. The law creates a strong presumption that government records are open. You do not need to identify yourself. You do not need a reason to ask for records. Any person can walk in, call, or write to request inspection or copies of public documents.

Under Section 119.07, the agency must let you inspect records at any reasonable time and must provide copies on request. Standard copy fees apply: 15 cents per page for plain paper copies of administrative records. Recorded official documents cost up to $1.00 per page to copy, with a $5.00 fee for certification. Research time is free for the first 30 minutes. If a search takes longer, you may be billed a reasonable hourly rate.

Certain records are exempt. Section 119.071 covers the main exemptions, which include active law enforcement investigative files, certain personal identifying information, and specific categories of health and financial data. If your request is denied, the agency must identify which exemption it is relying on. You can get free help from the Attorney General's open government office or call their mediation line at (850) 245-0140. The First Amendment Foundation also offers free advice on records disputes in Florida.

Union County Clerk and Comptroller

Kellie Hendricks Rhoades, CPA, serves as the Clerk and Comptroller for Union County. Her office in Lake Butler is the primary custodian for court records and official documents recorded in the county. The Clerk handles civil, criminal, family, and probate case filings at both the circuit and county court levels. The office also records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other documents affecting real property in Union County.

Office hours are on weekdays during regular business hours. Calling ahead before you visit is a good idea, especially for older records or documents that may need to be pulled from storage. Staff can let you know what is available online and what requires a visit or a mailed request.

Because the county's own screenshot was not available, the image below comes from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's public records page, which is one of the state-level sources relevant to any Florida county records search.

The FDLE page covers statewide criminal justice records and explains how to request records held at the state level, which can complement county-level searches in Union County.

Court Records in Union County

Union County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit of Florida, which also covers Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Putnam counties. Circuit court cases in Union County include felony criminal charges, civil cases over the jurisdictional threshold, family law matters, and probate. County court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases under the threshold, small claims, and traffic violations.

Most court records in Union County are accessible to the public under Chapter 119 and Florida's rules for court records access. The main categories that are not public include juvenile case records, which Florida law makes confidential, and files sealed or expunged by court order. Certain domestic relations and mental health records may also carry restrictions. Before making a trip to Lake Butler, call the Clerk at (386) 496-3711 to confirm that the specific case file you want is open and available.

The statewide Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory lists all 67 county clerks with current contact details. It is a quick way to find out which clerk handles records in any Florida county.

Property and Official Records

The Union County Clerk records and indexes all official documents that affect real property in the county. Deeds, satisfaction of mortgages, liens, easements, and releases all flow through the Clerk's office and are indexed for public access. These records are the official source for the chain of title on any parcel in Union County.

Standard fees apply for copies. Uncertified copies of recorded documents cost up to $1.00 per page. Add $5.00 if you need a certified copy for legal purposes. There is no charge to simply inspect a public record at the Clerk's office. If you need records from multiple Florida counties, the portal at myfloridacounty.com may have some indexed official records available statewide.

Marriage licenses are issued and kept by the Clerk. Divorce case files are part of the circuit court record maintained in the same office. Both are accessible to the public by name or case number. The Clerk can tell you the fastest way to search if you do not have the case number on hand.

How to Get Union County Records

You can access records from the Union County Clerk three ways. Visit in person at 55 W Main St, Room 103, in Lake Butler. Call (386) 496-3711 to ask about availability and process. Or mail a written request to that same address. No government-issued form is required. Florida law only asks that you describe what you want clearly enough for staff to find it.

Give as much detail as you can. Names of the parties, approximate dates, case numbers, and document type all help. The more specific you are, the faster the staff can respond. For records that are not in the online system, a staff search is needed. That first 30 minutes is free. After that, a reasonable rate for staff time may apply, in addition to any copy fees.

Union County is one of Florida's smallest counties by population. A small Clerk's staff handles all records work. Calling ahead before an in-person visit is always a wise step. For records held by other county agencies, including the Sheriff's Office and the Board of County Commissioners, contact those offices directly under Chapter 119.

Other Public Record Sources in Union County

The Clerk is not the only source of public records in Union County. The Union County Property Appraiser maintains current ownership data and parcel assessment records. The Tax Collector holds property tax payment records, vehicle registration information, and local business tax receipts. All of these offices are subject to Chapter 119 and must provide public access to their records.

Vital records such as birth and death certificates are handled at the state level in Florida, not by the county clerk. The Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville holds those records. You would contact them directly or use the state's online ordering service.

The Union County Sheriff's Office holds law enforcement records. Arrest records and incident reports are generally public under Chapter 119. Active investigation files may be exempt. For state-level criminal records, the FDLE public records page explains what data is available and how to submit a request to the state. For any dispute over access to records in Union County, the AG's office and the First Amendment Foundation both offer free assistance.

Cities in Union County

Union County has no incorporated cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Lake Butler is the county seat and the Clerk's office serves all residents of the county.

Nearby Counties

Union County borders four North Florida counties, each with its own clerk's office and records system.