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Duval County Court Records

What Is Duval County Court Records

Duval County court records are official documents created and maintained by the Duval County court system that document legal proceedings. These records include case filings, judgments, orders, and other documents related to civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases handled by the courts in Duval County, Florida. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is responsible for maintaining these records and making them accessible to the public according to Florida law.

Are Court Records Public In Duval County

Yes, most court records in Duval County are public under Florida's Public Records Law and the state constitution. However, certain records may be confidential or exempt from public disclosure, including:

  • Records involving juveniles
  • Adoption proceedings
  • Mental health cases
  • Certain family court matters
  • Cases sealed by court order
  • Records containing sensitive personal information

Access to court records is governed by Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC24-65, which establishes guidelines for public access while protecting confidential information.

How To Find Court Records in Duval County in 2025

To find court records in Duval County in 2025, you have several options:

  1. Online Access: Use the Clerk's Online Resource ePortal (CORE) to search for and view non-confidential court records.

  2. In-Person Requests: Visit the Duval County Courthouse to request records from the Clerk's Office. Duval County Courthouse, 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

  3. Mail Requests: Submit a written request for copies of court records to the Clerk's Office. Duval County Clerk of Courts, 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

  4. Phone Requests: Call the Clerk's Office for assistance with locating specific records. Phone: (904) 255-2000

For the most comprehensive access, you may need to register for an account on the CORE system, which offers different levels of access based on user type and registration status.

How To Look Up Court Records in Duval County Online?

To look up court records in Duval County online:

  1. Visit the CORE (Clerk Online Resource ePortal) website at https://core.duvalclerk.com/

  2. Choose your access level:

    • Public/Anonymous Access: Limited to non-confidential records with some redactions
    • Registered User Access: Provides more comprehensive access after identity verification
    • Attorney Access: Special access for Florida Bar members

  3. Search for records using:

    • Case number
    • Party name
    • Citation number
    • Date range
    • Case type

  4. View available documents based on your access level and the Security Access Matrix established by the Florida Supreme Court.

The Duval County Clerk of Courts also maintains a separate system for official records such as deeds, mortgages, and marriage licenses at https://onlineservices.duvalclerk.com/

Can You Search Duval County Court Records for Free?

Yes, you can search Duval County court records for free. The CORE system offers free basic searches for public records. However, there may be fees for:

  1. Obtaining certified copies of documents
  2. Printing or downloading certain documents
  3. Requesting extensive research assistance from clerk staff

The current fee schedule for 2025 includes:

  • Regular copies: $1.00 per page
  • Certified copies: $2.00 per document plus $1.00 per page
  • Research assistance: $2.00 per name/record searched

Some records may require in-person visits to the Duval County Courthouse Records Department, 501 W. Adams Street, Room 2409, Jacksonville, FL 32202 to access completely free of charge.

What's Included in a Duval County Court Record?

A typical Duval County court record includes:

  1. Case Information:

    • Case number and filing date
    • Names of parties involved
    • Attorney information
    • Judge assigned

  2. Docket Entries:

    • Chronological listing of all actions in the case
    • Hearing dates and outcomes
    • Filing dates of documents

  3. Court Documents:

    • Complaints/petitions
    • Answers/responses
    • Motions and orders
    • Judgments and decrees
    • Witness testimonies and exhibits
    • Financial information (in some cases)

  4. Case Disposition:

    • Final judgment or outcome
    • Sentencing information (in criminal cases)
    • Settlement terms (if applicable)

The specific contents vary depending on the case type and whether any information has been sealed or redacted.

How Long Does Duval County Keep Court Records?

Duval County retains court records according to Florida's Records Retention Schedule, which varies by case type:

  1. Criminal Felony Cases:

    • Permanently maintained for capital crimes and life felonies
    • 75 years for other felonies

  2. Criminal Misdemeanor Cases:

    • 5-10 years after case closure

  3. Civil Cases:

    • 10 years after final judgment for most civil matters
    • Permanently for cases involving real property or significant judgments

  4. Family Law Cases:

    • Divorce records: Permanently maintained
    • Child support: Until the youngest child turns 25
    • Domestic violence: 5 years after last activity

  5. Probate Cases:

    • Wills: Permanently maintained
    • Estate administration: 10 years after closing

Historical records may be transferred to the Florida State Archives, 500 S. Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399 for permanent preservation.

Types of Courts In Duval County

Duval County has a unified court system with several divisions:

  1. Circuit Court (4th Judicial Circuit):

    • Handles major civil cases, felonies, family matters, probate
    • Located at 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

  2. County Court:

    • Handles misdemeanors, small claims, traffic cases
    • Located at 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

  3. Family Court Division:

    • Specializes in divorce, child custody, support matters
    • Located at 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

  4. Probate Division:

    • Handles wills, estates, guardianships
    • Located at 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

  5. Juvenile Court:

    • Handles juvenile delinquency and dependency cases
    • Located at 1241 E. 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206

  6. Drug Court and Veterans Court:

    • Specialized treatment courts
    • Located at 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

What Types of Cases Do Duval County Courts Hear?

Duval County courts hear a wide range of cases:

  1. Circuit Court (cases involving more than $30,000):

    • Felony criminal cases
    • Major civil litigation
    • Divorce and family matters
    • Probate and guardianship
    • Juvenile dependency and delinquency
    • Appeals from county court

  2. County Court (cases involving $30,000 or less):

    • Misdemeanor criminal cases
    • Traffic violations
    • Small claims (up to $8,000)
    • Landlord/tenant disputes
    • Civil cases under $30,000

  3. Specialty Courts:

    • Drug Court: Substance abuse cases
    • Veterans Court: Cases involving military veterans
    • Mental Health Court: Cases involving mental health issues
    • Teen Court: Alternative program for juvenile offenders

How To Find a Court Docket In Duval County

To find a court docket in Duval County:

  1. Online Method:

    • Visit the CORE system at https://core.duvalclerk.com/
    • Search by case number, party name, or date
    • View upcoming court dates and past proceedings

  2. In-Person Method:

    • Visit the Clerk's Office at 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
    • Request docket information at the appropriate division counter
    • Daily dockets are typically posted near courtrooms

  3. Phone Method:

    • Call the Clerk's Office at (904) 255-2000 for docket information
    • Provide case number or party name

  4. Attorney Access:

    • Attorneys registered with the e-filing portal have enhanced access to docket information

Court dockets are typically updated daily and show scheduled hearings, filing deadlines, and case status information.

Which Courts in Duval County Are Not Courts of Record?

In Duval County, all courts are technically courts of record, meaning proceedings are recorded and transcripts can be produced. However, some proceedings have different recording requirements:

  1. Small Claims Court (part of County Court):

    • While officially a court of record, proceedings are less formal
    • Digital recording is used instead of court reporters in most cases
    • Located at 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

  2. Traffic Court:

    • Proceedings are recorded, but often less formally
    • Digital recording systems are typically used
    • Located at 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

  3. Initial Appearances/First Appearance Hearings:

    • Recorded, but often with simplified procedures
    • Located at 500 E. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 (Pre-Trial Detention Facility)

All other courts in Duval County maintain complete records with either digital recording systems or court reporters present to create verbatim transcripts of proceedings.

Lookup Court Records in Duval County

Duval County Clerk of Courts - Court Records

CORE - Clerk Online Resource ePortal

AOSC24-65 Administrative Order

Security Access Matrix

Duval County Clerk of Courts - Official Records And Research

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