Find Public Records in Washington County

Washington County public records are kept by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Chipley and are open to any person under Florida's public records law. This guide covers how to find court case files, property documents, and other official records in Washington County, whether you visit in person, submit a written request, or use any online search tools available through the Clerk.

Florida Public Records Law and Washington County

Florida's public records law is codified in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. It applies to every government body in the state, including Washington County and all its offices. The law is built on a clear starting point: records made or received by a public body in the course of its official business are public records. Any person can ask to see or copy them. You do not need to give your name or explain why you want the records. That right is also protected by Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

Under Section 119.07, the custodian must permit inspection at any reasonable time. When you want copies, standard fees apply. Plain paper copies of administrative records cost 15 cents per page. Copies of documents recorded in the official records index cost up to $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost an additional $5.00 certification fee on top of the per-page charge. Research time is not billed for the first 30 minutes. Beyond that, the agency may charge a reasonable hourly rate for staff time spent pulling records.

Exemptions exist. Section 119.071 lists the categories of records that can be withheld, including active law enforcement investigative files, personal identifying data, and certain health and financial records. If you are denied access, the agency must tell you which exemption it is relying on. The Florida Attorney General's office runs a free mediation program for disputes -- call (850) 245-0140 or visit the AG open government page. The First Amendment Foundation also offers free advice on public records issues in Florida.

Washington County Clerk and Comptroller

Lora C. Bell serves as the Clerk and Comptroller for Washington County. Her office in Chipley is the official custodian for court case records, documents recorded in the official records of the county, marriage licenses, and county financial records. The Clerk handles filings at both the circuit and county court levels for Washington County.

The office is open weekdays during regular business hours. If you plan to visit the courthouse in Chipley to look at records, calling (850) 638-6289 ahead of time is a good step. Staff can confirm what is in the online system, what needs an in-person visit, and what to include in a written request if that is your preferred method.

Because a direct screenshot of the Washington County Clerk's site was not available, the image below comes from the First Amendment Foundation's website, one of the key resources for understanding public records rights in Florida.

The First Amendment Foundation is a nonpartisan organization that provides free help to people seeking public records access anywhere in Florida, including Washington County.

Court Records in Washington County

Washington County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida. The 14th Circuit also covers Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, and Jackson counties, with the circuit court seat located in Panama City. Circuit court cases in Washington County include felony criminal charges, civil actions over the jurisdictional threshold, family law matters such as divorce, paternity, and adoption, juvenile proceedings, and probate cases. County court handles misdemeanor criminal matters, civil claims under the threshold, small claims, and traffic violations.

Most court records in Washington County are public under Chapter 119 and the Florida Supreme Court's rules governing access to court records. The main exceptions are juvenile case files, which are confidential by statute, and any record that a court has ordered sealed or expunged. Some categories of domestic violence and mental health records may also have limited access. If you are not certain whether a specific case file is open, the Clerk's office can tell you before you make a trip to Chipley.

You can locate the Washington County Clerk and every other Florida county clerk through the statewide Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory. The directory includes current contact details for all 67 counties and is helpful when your research touches more than one county.

Property and Official Records

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

Copy fees for recorded documents run up to $1.00 per page. If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, add the $5.00 certification fee. Inspecting records in the office does not cost anything. For records from multiple Florida counties, the portal at myfloridacounty.com provides access to official records from many counties around the state, including some in the Panhandle.

Marriage licenses issued in Washington County are held by the Clerk and are public record. Divorce case files are part of the family law circuit court record maintained by the same office. Both can be accessed by name or case number.

How to Get Washington County Records

You can get records from the Washington County Clerk three ways. Visit in person at 1293 Jackson Ave, Ste 101, in Chipley. Call the office at (850) 638-6289. Or mail a written request to the same address. Florida law does not require a specific form. You just need to describe what you want clearly enough for staff to find it.

Include as much detail as you can: party names, approximate date ranges, case numbers, and the type of document. The more specific your description, the faster the response. Research time is free for the first 30 minutes. Beyond that, a reasonable hourly charge may apply. Copy fees are on top of any research time charges. If you mail a request, include a return address and indicate whether you want paper copies or just to review the records on a future visit.

Washington County is a smaller rural county in the Florida Panhandle. The Clerk's staff is not large. Calling ahead before visiting avoids a wasted trip and helps you know whether the records you need are available on the day you plan to come in. For records held by other county offices -- including the Sheriff's Office and the Board of County Commissioners -- contact those agencies directly. Each is an independent custodian under Chapter 119.

Other Record Sources in Washington County

The Clerk handles courts and official recorded documents, but other county agencies hold additional public records in Washington County. The Washington County Property Appraiser maintains current ownership and assessment information for all parcels. The Tax Collector keeps property tax payment records and vehicle registration data. The Board of County Commissioners holds meeting minutes, budgets, and county ordinances. All are open to the public under Chapter 119.

Vital records -- birth certificates and death certificates -- are a state function in Florida. The Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville holds those records, not the county clerk. You would contact that office directly or use the state's online ordering system for birth and death records.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office holds law enforcement records including arrest records and incident reports, which are generally public under Chapter 119. Active investigation files may qualify for an exemption. Contact the Sheriff's Office directly for those requests. For state-level criminal history records, the FDLE public records page explains the process. If you have trouble accessing records from any Washington County office, the Florida Attorney General's mediation program at (850) 245-0140 and the First Amendment Foundation at floridafaf.org are both free resources.

Cities in Washington County

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

Nearby Counties

Washington County borders five other Florida Panhandle counties, each with its own clerk's office and records system.