Putnam County Court Records
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Putnam County sits in northeastern Florida along the St. Johns River, with its county seat in Palatka. The county's courts belong to the Seventh Judicial Circuit, which also serves Flagler, St. Johns, and Volusia Counties. Whether you need to track down a criminal case filing, pull a civil judgment, review a family law matter, or locate probate documents, the Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's office is the primary holder of these records. This guide walks through the specific steps, fees, offices, and online tools available for searching and obtaining court records in Putnam County.
If you're searching for court case information in Florida, you have several official resources at your disposal. The Putnam County Clerk's office runs an online court records search portal, and the Seventh Judicial Circuit website covers court operations across its four-county jurisdiction. Clerk offices, public-access terminals at the courthouse, and satellite locations around the county also allow you to retrieve records. FloridaStateCourts.us can also help you locate publicly available court case information and navigate statewide judicial resources.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Putnam County?
There are several ways to search for and obtain Putnam County court records, ranging from free online lookups to formal in-person requests at the Clerk's office.
Online Court Records Search (OCRS)
The Clerk's office runs the Putnam County Online Court Records Search (OCRS), a web-based portal for searching court case dockets. The system has both public (anonymous) access and registered access. Public access lets you do basic case lookups at no charge, while registered users can view additional case details. To sign up for enhanced access, download and submit the OCRS Online Registration Form.
When searching, you can narrow results by selecting specific case types such as Circuit Civil (C.A.), County Civil (CC), Criminal, Family, or Probate. Having the case number or the exact party name will get you the most precise results.
Official Records Search
For recorded documents — deeds, liens, judgments, and other instruments filed in the county's official records — the Clerk offers an Official Records Search through the MyFloridaCounty platform. Certified copies of official records can be ordered online.
Daily Court Docket
You can check upcoming court schedules through the Daily Court Docket, which lists scheduled hearings and proceedings.
Public Records Requests
Formal records requests can be submitted through the Clerk's JustFOIA Public Portal.
In-Person Visits
You can inspect court records and get copies at the main courthouse or at several satellite offices. The Clerk's primary customer service operations — including court intake, payments, and records — are at:
1-F Customer Service Center (Tim Smith Building)
Address: 107 N. 6th Street, Palatka, FL 32177
Putnam County Courthouse
Address: 410 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177
Phone: (386) 326-7600
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 758, Palatka, FL 32178
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
Satellite Office Locations
| Location | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BOCC Government Complex Palatka | 2509 Crill Avenue, Suite 300, Palatka, FL 32177 | Mon, Wed, Fri: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| Crescent City | 115 N Summit Street, Crescent City, FL 32112 | Tue, Wed, Thu: 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Interlachen | 1114 State Road 20, Interlachen, FL 32148 | Tue & Thu: 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
Cut-off times apply for certain services at the main office: recording closes at 4:30 p.m., marriage licenses at 4:30 p.m., injunctions at 4:30 p.m., and passport applications at 4:00 p.m.
Mail Requests
Written record requests can be mailed to the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller at P.O. Box 758, Palatka, FL 32178. Include as much identifying information as possible — full party names, case number, case type, and approximate filing dates.
Copies and Certification Fees
Per the Clerk's fee schedule, standard public record copies cost $1.00 per page for documents up to 14" x 8" and $5.00 per page for larger documents. Certification of a copy costs $2.00 per document. Searching records costs $2.00 per year searched.
Are Court Records Public in Putnam County?
Florida has some of the broadest public records laws in the country. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, records created or maintained by government agencies — including court records held by the Clerk of Court — are open for public inspection and copying. The Putnam County Clerk's office is responsible for maintaining these records and facilitating public access.
Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 specifically governs access to judicial branch records, establishing procedures for designating and protecting confidential information within court files. Under this rule and Florida Statute 119.0714, the following categories are exempt from public disclosure:
- Sealed court records
- Expunged criminal records
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency records
- Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and other personal financial identifiers
- Victim information in certain criminal cases
- Records relating to ongoing law enforcement investigations
- Medical and mental health records filed in court proceedings
- Information designated confidential by court order
Filers in circuit civil, county civil, and small claims cases are responsible for identifying confidential information before submitting documents to the Clerk. The Clerk's office is not required to review filings and redact confidential data on a filer's behalf. If you inadvertently file confidential information, seek a court order promptly to have the material sealed.
Putnam County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Putnam County move through the Circuit Court for felony cases and the County Court for misdemeanor offenses. The Clerk of Court maintains all criminal case files, including complaints, arrest affidavits, charging documents, plea records, sentencing orders, and case dispositions.
Searching Criminal Court Records
Criminal case dockets can be searched on the Putnam County OCRS by selecting the relevant criminal case type. The Clerk's website also has dedicated pages for felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile criminal court services. Traffic and criminal case payments can be made online through the Clerk's payment portal.
Seal and Expungement
If you're looking to seal or expunge a criminal record in Putnam County, the Clerk's seal/expunge page has procedural information. The fee for sealing a court file or processing an expungement is $42.00 per the Clerk's fee schedule.
Putnam County Sheriff's Office
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and booking information.
Putnam County Sheriff's Office
Address: 130 Orie Griffin Blvd., Palatka, FL 32177
Phone: (386) 329-0800
FDLE Criminal History Searches
For statewide criminal background information, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) offers several search tools:
- Instant Florida Criminal History Search — provides non-certified results that can be printed or emailed for $24.00 per search
- Shield Certified/Non-Certified Search — returns results by U.S. mail; $24.00 per search
- ORI-Based Criminal History Search — for agencies with a valid Originating Agency Identification number
For questions about FDLE criminal history services:
FDLE Criminal History Services Section
Address: 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: (850) 410-8161
Email: ApplicantChecks@fdle.state.fl.us
Putnam County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Putnam County is split between two court levels. The Circuit Civil Court handles cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000, as well as real property disputes, mortgage foreclosures, and injunctive relief matters. The County Civil Court handles claims between $8,001 and $50,000. Small claims — generally $8,000 and under — are also handled by the County Court. Eviction proceedings have their own designation within the county civil division.
Searching Civil Records
The Putnam County OCRS lets you filter by case type when searching for civil records. Selecting C.A. retrieves Circuit Civil cases; selecting CC retrieves County Civil cases.
Filing Fees (Effective January 1, 2023)
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Circuit Civil | $400.00 |
| County Civil (claims $2,500.01–$15,000) | $300.00 |
| County Civil (claims $15,000.01–$50,000) | $400.00 |
| County Civil (claims $100–$500) | $80.00 |
| Small Claims (under $100) | $55.00 |
| Evictions | $185.00 |
| Garnishment Action | $188.00 |
Additional fees include $10.00 for issuing a summons and $2.50 for each defendant over five. The complete fee schedule is available on the Clerk's website.
Electronic Filing
Civil documents can be electronically filed through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in most case types and is available to self-represented litigants as well.
Foreclosure Sales
The Clerk's office manages foreclosure auctions electronically, and court-ordered tax deed sales are also conducted online. The foreclosure sale fee is $70.00.
Official Records and Property Documents
Deeds, mortgages, liens, notices of commencement, and other property-related instruments are recorded in the Official Records of Putnam County. You can search documents online through the Official Records Search or order certified copies through the Clerk's E-Certify portal. Recording fees for the first page of a standard-sized instrument are $10.00, with $8.50 for each additional page. The Putnam County Property Appraiser maintains a separate online property search tool for assessment records, property values, and tax information.
Putnam County Family Court Records
Family law cases in Putnam County are filed in the Circuit Court's Family Division. These proceedings cover dissolution of marriage (divorce), annulment, paternity, child custody, child support, domestic violence injunctions, repeat violence injunctions, and related matters. The Clerk's Family Law page has an overview of available services and case categories.
Divorce Records
Divorce decrees and dissolution of marriage records from Putnam County are public records. You can search them through the OCRS or obtain copies in person, by mail, or through the Clerk's online request portal. When requesting a specific divorce record, provide the names of both parties, the approximate date of dissolution, and the case number if you have it. The filing fee for dissolution of marriage or simplified dissolution is $408.00. A counterpetition seeking a dissolution carries a filing fee of $392.50.
Child Custody and Support
Child custody orders are part of the family law case file and can be accessed through the same channels as other court records. For child support payment inquiries, the State of Florida Disbursement Unit can be reached at (877) 769-0251. Online child support payments can be made through the PayKidz portal.
Domestic Violence and Injunctions
Petitions for injunctions against domestic violence, repeat violence, dating violence, and sexual violence are filed in the Family Division. There is no filing fee for domestic violence injunction petitions. The Clerk's Injunctions page has additional procedural guidance.
Marriage Records
The Putnam County Clerk of Court issues marriage licenses and maintains the resulting marriage records. The fee for a standard marriage license is $86.00. Florida residents who have completed an approved premarital preparation course under Florida Statute 741.0305(5) pay a reduced fee of $61.00. A three-day waiting period applies from the date of application unless both applicants present proof of premarital course completion or both are out-of-state residents. Marriage licenses are valid for 60 days. The first certified copy of the marriage certificate is provided free of charge seven days after the officiant returns it; additional copies cost $3.00 each. Both parties must appear in person at the Clerk's office with valid photo identification and their Social Security numbers.
Birth and Death Records
While not court records, birth and death certificates frequently come up in family law proceedings. The Florida Department of Health in Putnam County issues these vital records. Birth records are not public under Florida Statutes 382.025 — access is limited to the person named on the record (if 18 or older), parents, legal guardians, and authorized agents. Death records less than 50 years old are similarly restricted regarding cause of death and full Social Security number, accessible only to the decedent's spouse, parents, children, siblings, legal representatives with a notarized Affidavit to Release Cause of Death (DH Form 1959), or by court order.
Florida Department of Health in Putnam County
Address: 2801 Kennedy Street, Palatka, FL 32177
Phone: (386) 326-3274
Fax: (386) 326-3351
Putnam County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Putnam County are handled by the Circuit Court, with the Clerk of Court overseeing all filings and maintaining the case records. These proceedings are governed by the Florida Probate Code, found in Chapters 731 through 735 of the Florida Statutes, along with the Florida Probate Rules (Rules 5.010–5.530).
Types of Probate Administration
Florida law recognizes two primary forms of court-supervised probate: formal administration and summary administration. A third option — Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration — is available in limited circumstances. The Clerk's probate page outlines the general process, and additional resources are available through the Florida Bar's consumer guide and the Florida Courts Help probate page.
Probate Filing Fees (Effective January 1, 2023)
| Proceeding Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Formal Administration, Guardianship, Curatorship, Conservatorship, Trust | $400.00 |
| Summary Administration (estate over $1,000) | $345.00 |
| Summary Administration (estate $1,000 or less) | $235.00 |
| Disposition Without Administration | $231.00 |
| Opening any estate | $231.00 |
| Caveat | $41.00 |
| Notice of Trust | $41.00 |
| Guardianship (person only) | $235.00 |
| Veterans Guardianship | $235.00 |
| Reopen fee | $50.00 |
Accounting fees vary by estate value: $20.00 for estates of $25,000 or less, $85.00 for estates between $25,001 and $100,000, $170.00 for estates between $100,001 and $500,000, and $250.00 for estates exceeding $500,000.
Accessing Probate Records
Probate case dockets can be searched through the Putnam County OCRS. Copies of specific documents — including wills, inventories, petitions, orders of distribution, and guardianship filings — can be obtained by contacting the Clerk's office directly or visiting the courthouse. The Clerk's probate division also manages guardianship case audits and maintains records for mental health proceedings.
For probate-related inquiries or to request copies:
Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Address: 410 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 758, Palatka, FL 32178
Phone: (386) 326-7600