Clay County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

With a rich military that dates back to the early 1700s, Clay County is home to several military installations. Located in the northeastern part of the state, its population is 219,650. Over the years, this historic military hub has grown to become a major suburban county with the third highest household median income in Florida. With this rise in civilians, the court system has also evolved into a magnificent institution marked by diligence and transparency. The court system consists of four Clay County Circuit Courts and four Clay County Courts. Each of these courts focuses on administering justice within distinct jurisdictions. Although the county seat is well-planted in Green Cove Springs, some courts are situated in other cities like Keystone Heights, Middleburg, and Orange Park.

As the major judicial institution in Clay County, the Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases in the county. However, it tends to focus on matters that are beyond the jurisdiction of the County Courts. Therefore, it handles felonies, civil claims of more than $15,000, and real property cases. It is also responsible for delivering justice on probate matters like trust and estate, family law cases like divorce and child support, mental health cases like involuntary hospitalization, and juvenile cases like child protection and juvenile delinquency. Clay County Circuit Court is part of Florida's fourth judicial circuit Court. The County Courts, on the other hand, focus on misdemeanors and municipal law violations. They also handle civil claims of less than $15,000 and simplified divorce cases.

Transcripts and other case-related information are public records, therefore, anyone can review them. However, you may not be allowed to view records that have been marked as confidential by the courts, they are exempted from public access. The Clay County Clerk of Court, who is responsible for maintaining all Clay County court records, has made access to non-confidential court records relatively effortless. One can simply input the parties' names or case numbers on the Case Search portal. This seamless process is free and indicative of the transparency of the Clay County court system. If access is needed for records that are sealed, the County Clerk can assist with obtaining special permission or a court order.

Though armed with just two categories of courts, it is apparent that the Clay County court system is well-equipped to handle diverse legal issues. Therefore, one can easily say that Clay County's court system is an integral part of its governance.