Bradford County Court Records Search
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Bradford County, Florida maintains a comprehensive system of judicial records spanning the County Court and the Circuit Court of Florida's Eighth Judicial Circuit. These records document every phase of a court proceeding — from the initial charging document or complaint through final judgment and any post-judgment filings — and are managed by the Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. Under Fla. Stat. § 28.24, the clerk is charged with maintaining and providing access to these records, which include case-initiating documents, motions, court-issued orders and judgments, evidentiary exhibits, transcripts, and post-judgment filings such as liens and notices of appeal.
If you're looking for Bradford County court records, you have several ways to find them: the clerk's office, courthouse public access terminals, and online search tools. FloridaStateCourts.us can help you locate publicly available case information from across Florida's court system. The Bradford County Clerk also operates its own Online Court Records Search (OCRS) portal for case-specific lookups without visiting the courthouse.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Bradford County?
Searching for a Bradford County court case can be done through online tools, in-person visits, or written requests depending on what you need.
Online Search
The Bradford County Online Court Records Search portal, powered by CiviTek Florida, provides free anonymous access to the electronic docket. You can search by party name, full case number, or filing date range, and refine results using filters such as case type, court division, or case status. Keep in mind that the portal shows case index information and available digital documents — older files that haven't been digitized will show "image not available" and must be obtained directly from the clerk's office.
In-Person Access
Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Address: 945 N. Temple Ave., Starke, FL 32091
Mailing Address: P.O. Drawer B, Starke, FL 32091
Main Phone: (904) 966-6280
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
The clerk's office has multiple specialized divisions, each with its own direct phone line:
| Division | Phone |
|---|---|
| Criminal Traffic / Misdemeanor / Felony | (904) 966-6255 |
| Circuit Civil / Tax Deeds / Foreclosure Sales | (904) 966-6282 |
| County Civil / Mental Health / Probate / Small Claims | (904) 966-6297 |
| Juvenile / Dependency / Jury | (904) 966-6257 |
| Official Records / Recording / Marriage Licenses | (904) 966-6283 |
| Child Support / Passports | (904) 966-6230 |
| Civil Traffic | (904) 966-6289 |
Mail Requests
For written requests, send a letter to the Clerk at the mailing address above. Include the case number or party names and approximate filing year, the type of document needed, whether certified or plain copies are required, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include payment by check or money order made out to "Bradford County Clerk of Court & Comptroller". Processing times vary based on request complexity and office workload.
Copy Fees
Under Fla. Stat. § 28.24, standard fees for court record copies are:
- Plain copies: $1.00 per page
- Certified copies: $2.00 for the first page, $1.00 for each additional page
- Certification fee: $2.00 per document
- Case record search: $2.00 per year searched
Are Court Records Public in Bradford County?
Most Bradford County court records are public records under Florida law. Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420 governs public access to judicial branch records and establishes that the public shall have access to all court records except those falling within defined exemptions. Florida's open records framework treats judicial transparency as a foundational principle.
The following categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Rule 2.420 or applicable statutes:
- Judges' internal working documents, draft opinions, and staff attorney memoranda
- Unexecuted arrest or search warrants and supporting affidavits
- Records sealed or expunged by court order, including most juvenile, adoption, and mental health matters
- Records made confidential by federal law, Florida statute, or specific court order
- Certain personal identifiers — such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and minor children's names — which are automatically redacted from publicly accessible documents
Only parties to a case, counsel of record, or entities with a statutory right of access may view records in restricted categories. When a document contains both releasable and protected information, the clerk redacts the confidential portions before providing copies to the public.
Bradford County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in Bradford County are split between the County Court — which handles misdemeanors, criminal traffic offenses, and municipal ordinance violations — and the Circuit Court, which prosecutes felony cases. Both courts are housed at the Bradford County Courthouse in Starke.
Searching Criminal Court Records
The Bradford County OCRS portal includes both felony and misdemeanor case indexes and is the primary free online tool for locating criminal case information. You can search by defendant name or case number. The portal is subject to AOSC 16-107, the Florida Supreme Court's administrative order governing online access to court records.
For criminal history background checks that go beyond individual case lookups, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) maintains a statewide Computerized Criminal History database. Public requests for FDLE criminal history records cost $24.00 per search, plus a $1.00 credit card processing fee. Searches can be submitted through FDLE's online system and return arrest records and associated court disposition information from across Florida.
Arrest Records and the Sheriff's Office
The Bradford County Sheriff's Office is the primary source for local arrest records and jail information. The Sheriff's Office maintains a live jail roster viewable online, which lists current inmates along with charge information.
Bradford County Sheriff's Office — Records Unit
Address: 945-B N. Temple Ave., Starke, FL 32091
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 400, Starke, FL 32091
Records Unit Phone: (904) 966-6312
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (excluding holidays)
Public records requests to the Sheriff's Office may be submitted in person, by mail, or by phone. Fees for Sheriff's Office records under Florida Statute § 119.07 are as follows:
- Standard copies: $0.15 per page
- Traffic crash reports: $2.00
- Homicide reports: $25.00
- Certified copy: $1.00 per document, plus duplication costs
- Extensive research requests: deposit required based on scope
Traffic crash reports are subject to a 60-day confidentiality period under Florida Statute § 316.066, during which access is restricted to parties involved, their legal representatives, insurers, and certain authorized entities. If you need a report within that window, be prepared to present qualifying credentials.
Bradford County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Bradford County are divided between the County Court and the Circuit Court depending on the dollar amount in dispute. The County Court has jurisdiction over civil claims up to $50,000, including small claims, landlord-tenant actions, and replevin matters. The Circuit Court handles civil litigation exceeding that threshold and serves as the court of general jurisdiction for complex civil cases, foreclosures, and tax deed proceedings.
Small Claims Court
The Small Claims division handles disputes valued at $8,000 or less (excluding costs, interest, and attorney fees). Commonly filed cases include unpaid rent, past-due credit card debt, and unresolved business obligations. Forms including the "Statement of Claim" are available from the County Civil division at the clerk's office. If the form is signed outside the office, it must be notarized before submission.
The general process for a small claims case:
- File the Statement of Claim and pay the filing fee at the clerk's office
- Receive a summons and a Pre-Trial Conference date from the clerk
- Arrange service of the summons on the defendant (via Sheriff, private process server, or certified mail)
- Attend the mandatory Pre-Trial Conference — both parties must appear in person unless the judge grants telephone permission
- Proceed to trial if no settlement is reached at the Pre-Trial Conference
- Receive judgment; collect through private means or by filing a lien
Service by the Bradford County Sheriff costs $40.00 per defendant. The subpoena issuance fee for witnesses is $2.00, plus the $40.00 Sheriff service fee.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case records are searchable through the Bradford County OCRS portal. The Circuit Civil division can be reached directly at (904) 966-6282, and the County Civil/Probate/Small Claims division at (904) 966-6297. The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal serves as the statewide system through which attorneys and, in some cases, self-represented parties file civil documents electronically.
Bradford County Family Court Records
The Family Law division of the Bradford County Clerk of Court processes and maintains records for all domestic relations matters filed in the Circuit Court. The division handles a wide range of case types:
- Dissolution of marriage (divorce) and annulments
- Child custody and visitation modifications
- Child support and spousal support proceedings
- Paternity actions
- Domestic violence, repeat violence, dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking injunctions
- Adoptions and termination of parental rights
- Emancipation of minors
- Name changes
- Foreign judgment enforcement
Divorce Records
Divorce filings and final judgment records are maintained by the Family Law division. To locate a divorce case, search the Bradford County OCRS portal by the names of either party. For certified copies of a dissolution decree, contact the clerk's office directly at (904) 966-6280. Divorce records predating the state's centralized records system may require a request to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Domestic Violence Injunctions
If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or the Bradford County Sheriff's Office at (904) 966-2276. Injunction petitions for protection can be filed without an attorney at the Family Law division until 5:00 p.m. on weekdays; emergency cases after hours are handled by the Bradford County Sheriff's Office. Domestic violence forms are available through FlCourts.gov.
Adoption Records
Adoption records in Bradford County are confidential by law. All papers and records related to an adoption proceeding, including the original birth certificate, are sealed and accessible only upon a court order.
Self-Represented Litigants
The clerk's office cannot provide legal advice on which forms to use or how to complete them. Self-help resources, including family law forms and procedural guidance, are available through the Florida Courts Family Law resources and the Florida Supreme Court's website. Free legal assistance for income-eligible residents is available through Three Rivers Legal Services at (866) 256-8091 or trls.org.
Bradford County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Bradford County are administered through the Circuit Court's Probate division, with records maintained by the Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The Probate division keeps files on estate administration, trusts, guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, and voluntary guardianship of property. It also maintains records for mental health cases handled under the Baker Act and substance abuse proceedings under the Marchman Act.
Filing a Will
Under Florida Statute § 732.901, the custodian of an original Last Will and Testament must deposit it with the Clerk of the Circuit Court within 10 days of learning of the testator's death. There is no filing fee to deposit a will. The depositor receives a receipt with the case number, filing date, and court seal, along with one courtesy certified copy.
Probate Copies and Fees
Certified copies of wills and other probate documents are available at $1.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee. Most probate records are open to public inspection unless the court has sealed a specific file.
Small Estate Proceedings
When an estate involves only personal property and meets the statutory criteria, heirs may be eligible for a Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration — sometimes called a Small Estate Proceeding — under Florida Statute § 735.301. Required documentation includes the original will (if one exists), a certified death certificate, funeral home billing records, notarized consents from all heirs, and asset documentation. Clerk staff can assist with completing the petition; however, cases involving real property must go through formal probate with the assistance of an attorney.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case indexes are included in the Bradford County OCRS portal. For files not yet digitized or for certified copies, the County Civil/Mental Health/Probate division can be reached at (904) 966-6297. Certain sensitive mental health and guardianship records may be released only to authorized individuals who appear in person with proper identification. Forms and checklists for probate proceedings are also available through the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court website.