Duval County Court Records
Court records are documents or files generated because of a legal or court proceeding. According to the Florida Statutes, "court record" means the contents of a court file created to document activity in a case. These records may exist in paper, electronic, audio, or audio-visual format.
In Duval County, all court records are maintained and preserved by the Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts. The clerk serves as the official custodian and ensures that Duval County Public Records are maintained appropriately, as provided by law, and accessible to the public when required.
The documentation of court proceedings (testimonies, depositions, etc.) fosters accountability and transparency within Duval County's justice system. It also ensures that parties involved in a case receive just representation. Consequently, plaintiffs or defendants can access court records to track their case progress. They can also depend on transcripts (a type of court record) for an objective account of case events and activities when appealing a judgment.
Besides case parties, court records also offer valuable insights to students, lawyers, judges, and legal research analysts. Such parties can examine disposed cases to find and analyze legal precedents, which can be used to interpret or clarify the law, establish legal standards, or reinforce legal arguments made in court.
Are Court Records Public in Duval County?
Yes, court records are considered public records in Duval County. According to the Florida Sunshine Law, any record regardless of its characteristics or form, received or created due to the transaction of official business by any government agency is a public record. This law encompasses court records.
Under Section 119.07(1)a of the Sunshine Law, Florida clerks of courts must permit the inspection or copying of records in their possession at any reasonable time and under reasonable conditions.
Nevertheless, not all court records are open to public inspection. Based on the Florida Rule of Judicial Administration (Rule 2.420), certain court records may be deemed confidential if disclosure threatens the fair, impartial, and orderly administration of justice. Records may also be removed from public access to protect trade secrets or governmental interests. Some confidential records in Duval County include adoption, juvenile delinquency, and mental health records.
What Do Duval County Court Records Contain?
Duval County court records may contain the following details:
- Case information: Case number, the names of case parties (including their attorneys) and their contact information, the case type and status, etc.
- Transcripts
- Documentary exhibits
- Electronic records, audio tapes, videotapes, or stenographic tapes of depositions or other proceedings
- Pleadings, judgments, and motions
- Settlement records (for civil cases)
Where to Conduct a Duval County Case Lookup
Members of the public can conduct a Duval County case lookup at the following locations:
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The Office of the Clerk of Courts. This is the primary site for conducting court case lookups in Duval County. At the clerk's office, interested persons can look up case records at any of the following departments:
- Criminal service departments
- Civil service departments
- Official records department
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The Duval County Circuit Clerk's Online Resource ePortal (CORE)
How to Conduct a Duval County Case Records Search
There are three ways to conduct a case records search in Duval County, Florida: online search, mailing requests, or in-person.
Online search
Individuals can search case records using the Clerk Online Resource ePortal (CORE) the Duval County Circuit Clerk provides. Persons who can access CORE are categorized into two groups:
- Public viewer: Users in this category can view non-confidential court records, but they cannot access closed/non-public documents.
- Registered User: This category includes parties involved in a case, attorneys representing a plaintiff or defendant, or a non-related third-party member. To become a registered user, a qualified individual must fill out the Registration Agreement to View Records Online and submit it to the clerk's office by mail, email, or in person (address on form). The type of requester determines the level of access granted. Note that agencies interested in accessing the county's court records have a separate registration process. Details are available on the clerk's website.
CORE offers several search options to users seeking case access, including case number, case party name (first and last name), case type, filing year, and citation number.
Records search in person
This option is often recommended for persons who require official paper court records. Visitors can stop by the Official Records and Research Department in the Duval County Courthouse to tender their request. Again, requesters must supply information about the case to facilitate record retrieval, such as a case number or case party's name.
Records search by mail
Interested persons can fill out a request form and mail it to the Public Records Department at the address below:
Duval County Clerk of Courts
Attn: PUBLIC RECORDS DEPARTMENT
501 West Adams Street, Suite 2338
Jacksonville, FL 32202
This form can also be submitted by email to be sent to public.Info@duvalclerk.com or via fax at (904) 255-2159 and marked for the Public Information Officer's attention. Individuals may contact the clerk's office at (904) 255-2000 for assistance.
Duval County Civil Court Case Records
Civil case records are records of lawsuits initiated by a person or entity to seek redress (often monetary damages) for an injury or harm caused by another party. The circuit and county courts in Duval County preside over civil cases. Whereas the circuit court presides over civil suits with $50,000 or more in dispute, the county court handles civil cases involving lesser amounts (usually more than $8,000 but less than $50,000). It is crucial to identify the presiding court before commencing a civil case record search.
Inquirers can obtain these civil case records from the Duval County courts in the following ways:
- Visit the respective courthouse and submit a request to the court clerk's office (for circuit court cases, inquirers may visit the civil department within the courthouse to make their request). To obtain copies of any record, inquirers must pay a fee.
- Search CORE. In the search fields, inquirers should choose the "civil case" as the case type to narrow the search.
- Obtain the clerk's record request form online. One may mail, email, or hand-deliver this form to the clerk's office.
Duval County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records are records of criminal proceedings held in court. The Office of the State Attorney General usually files these cases.
The Duval County Circuit Court handles most criminal cases, though some misdemeanors may be heard in the county court. To obtain copies of Duval County criminal case records, one may:
- Hand deliver, mail-in, fax, or email a records request form to the Duval County Clerk of Courts office, as explained earlier.
- Search the clerk's online case search platform (CORE).
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Interested persons can access the Duval County Clerk of Courts' official case records search tool (CORE) to obtain court records online for free. However, the web application does not provide complete records, and the county courts do not guarantee the accuracy of records available on this platform. To view official records, inquirers must visit the courthouse, write to the clerk's office, or become a registered user on CORE. Obtaining a copy of any court record from a Duval County courthouse attracts a fee.
Courts in Duval County, Florida
Duval County has two major courts: the circuit court (the court of general jurisdiction) and the county court (also known as the people's court). Below are their locations and contact information:
Duval Courthouse (Downtown)
501 W Adams Street
Jacksonville FL 32202
Phone: (904) 255-2000
Duval Courthouse (Beaches)
1543 Atlantic Boulevard
Neptune Beach, FL 32266
Phone: (904) 255-2000
