Bradford County Court Records

Bradford County court records document every step of a case filed in the county's Circuit or County Court. Under Fla. Stat. § 28.24 (duties and fees of clerks) and Florida Rule of General Practice & Judicial Administration 2.420 (public access to judicial records), most materials are open to the public.

A "court record" is any paper or electronic filing that the Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller creates, receives, or maintains while a case is pending or after it closes, including — but not limited to:

• Case-initiating filings, including complaints, petitions, charging documents, summonses
• Procedural papers, such as motions, briefs, discovery notices, subpoenas
• Court-issued orders, including judgments, sentencing orders, writs, and warrants (executed)
• Exhibits & evidence, including photographs, contracts, transcripts, audio/video media
• Post-judgment filings such as notices of appeal, satisfaction of judgment, liens

When a case is opened, it receives a unique case number; the clerk uses that identifier to track the entire case file, whether the documents are scanned into the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal or stored in physical folders at the courthouse.

Are Court Records Public in Bradford County?

Yes. Florida's open court system allows anyone to inspect and copy judicial records unless a specific exemption applies. Rule 2.420 lists the main exemptions, which include:

• Judges' or staff attorneys' drafts, notes, internal memoranda
• Unexecuted search or arrest warrants and their affidavits
• Court-ordered sealed or expunged files (e.g., juvenile, adoption, mental-health, trade-secret matters)
• Records made confidential by federal law, state statute, or another court order

Only people authorized by law (for example, parties, counsel of record, or agencies with a statutory right of access) may view items in these protected categories.

Bradford County Court Records Search

Bradford County court records search options are as follows:

To use the Clerk's Online Court Records Search, inquirers may visit the Bradford County Online Court Records Search portal and enter at least one of the following:

• First and/or last party name
• Full case number
• Filing date range

Refine the query with extra filters—case type, court division, or status—to reduce irrelevant hits. Then, download or print any document icon that appears. Under Rule 2.420, redacted information (SSNs, juvenile names, etc.) is automatically masked.

For older files that have not been digitized, the portal will show "image not available". Note the docket line and request the clerk's copy of the paper.

For mail requests to the clerk's office, inquirers may prepare a written request stating/containing:

• Case number or parties' names and approximate filing year
• Type of document needed (e.g., complaint, final judgment)
• Whether you need certified or plain copies
• A self-addressed stamped envelope (for mail delivery)

Inquirers may also include the payment in the form of a check or money order to "Bradford County Clerk of Court & Comptroller".

Bradford County Courts

Bradford County's trial judiciary is divided between the County Court and the Bradford division of Florida's Eighth Judicial Circuit Court. The County Court exercises limited jurisdiction: it hears misdemeanors, criminal traffic offenses, county and municipal ordinance violations, small claims and landlord-tenant actions, and other civil disputes in which the amount at stake is no more than $50,000. It also conducts first appearances and can review certain local administrative determinations.

All matters that exceed those limits are filed in the Circuit Court, which serves as the county's court of general jurisdiction. The Circuit Court handles felony prosecutions; civil claims above $50,000; probate, guardianship, and mental-health proceedings; family-law cases such as divorce, paternity, custody, and adoption; juvenile delinquency and dependency matters; and appeals taken from County Court or from designated state and local agencies. Together, these two trial courts provide comprehensive judicial coverage for every criminal, civil, and administrative issue arising in Bradford County.

Circuit Court

Bradford County Circuit Court
945 North Temple Avenue
P.O. Drawer B
Starke, FL 32091
Phone: (904) 966-6280
Fax: (904) 966-6256

County Court

County Court of Bradford County
945 North Temple Avenue
P.O. Drawer B
Starke, FL 32091
Phone: (904) 966-6280
Fax: (904) 966-6256

Bradford County Criminal and Civil Records

Bradford County's criminal and civil records fall under Florida's Open Records Law and are therefore classified as public records. The county courts provide an Online Court Records Search (OCRS) system, governed by Florida AOSC 16-107, allowing the public to search civil and criminal files by party or business name, case number, or citation number. However, online access is limited; some records are unavailable on the portal and must be requested by mail or in person.

The court accommodates walk-in and mail requests for these documents. Court records can be purchased in person at the division where the case was filed or at the archives division during business hours, and fees apply.

Current fees:

• Search: $2.00 per case year
• Copy: $1.00 per page
• Certification: $2.00 per document

To request records by mail, complete and return the court-record request form. Depending on the request's complexity and staff workload, processing may take up to two weeks.

Civil records are available only through the county court, while residents can obtain Bradford County criminal records from law enforcement agencies. Criminal histories—often called background checks—are available from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). These reports include arrest information and related court documents. Depending on your needs, you may request an instant search, a certified or non-certified report, or an ORI-based search.

To review Bradford County arrest records, contact the Office of the Sheriff. The Sheriff's website posts a current jail roster; additional information can be obtained through a public records request.

Access to specific files, particularly those involving criminal history, may be restricted to basic information. Civil records cover a variety of matters, including replevin, evictions, infractions, small claims, and probate cases.

Bradford County Marriage Records

Under Florida Statutes, chapter 382.025, marriage records filed in Bradford County are generally open to public inspection. Only the spouses named on the certificate or a person authorized by a court order or specific statutory provision is eligible to access certified copies of these records. However, members of the public can obtain an informational copy that omits sensitive details.

To request marriage certificates, inquirers may query any of the following options:

• Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court – holds the original certificate and accepts walk-in or mailed requests.
• Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics – maintains statewide records from June 1927 to the present and offers three ordering options: in person, by mail, or online through the state-approved private vendor.

A certified Bradford County marriage certificate costs $15. Online orders may include additional processing or shipping charges set by the vendor.

Bradford County Divorce Records

A Bradford divorce record or certificate serves as legitimate documentation confirming the completion of the dissolution. It summarizes key details drawn from the judgment. However, the actual judgment can only be accessed through the circuit clerk's office. Similar to Bradford County marriage records, it is worth noting that, in some cases, a divorce record search may provide only basic information.

Individuals seeking a divorce certificate dated before June 1927 can contact the clerk's office. For records dated after 1927, inquiries can be directed to the Bureau of Statistics.

The process for obtaining a Bradford divorce record or certificate is the same as that for acquiring a Bradford marriage certificate or record. Inquirers can reference the processes outlined in retrieving a marriage record.

Bradford County Birth Records

Florida law, specifically section 382.025 of the Florida Statutes, treats Bradford County birth records as confidential for 100 years after birth. Throughout that period, a full certificate may be released only to the person named on the record, a parent or legal guardian, a law-enforcement officer, an attorney representing the registrant, or anyone granted access by court order. A close relative can also obtain the certificate by presenting the registrant's death record.

This stringent protection reflects the document's importance: a Bradford County birth certificate proves identity and parentage and is typically required when applying for a driver's license, a Social Security number, and many other benefits. An eligible applicant may request the record from the Department of Health or the state-approved third-party vendor but must present valid photo identification. Applicants not on the statutory list must include a notarized affidavit signed by an authorized person to secure the certificate's release.

Bradford County Death Records

The procedure for obtaining a Bradford County death certificate follows the same general rules that govern other vital records, though access depends on the information the certificate contains. When the certificate omits the cause of death, any member of the public may request a copy. If it discloses both the cause of death and the decedent's Social Security number, the record remains confidential for fifty years.

A sealed death certificate may be released only to the decedent's spouse, parent, adult child, grandchild, or sibling; to a person who produces a will, insurance policy, or other documentation establishing a legal interest in the estate; to a representative acting for any of those parties; or to anyone granted access by court order. These eligible applicants may file their request directly with the Department of Health or place an order through the state-approved third-party vendor.

Bradford County Probate Court Records

Probate records in Bradford County are open to public inspection whenever the court does not seal them. Anyone with a legitimate interest may search the county's Online Court Records Search database, maintained by the Office of the Clerk and Comptroller, to locate information on estates, family cases, guardianships, and conservatorships. Some files, however, are not available through the online portal. Those records can still be requested by mail or in person, and certain sensitive documents may be released only to individuals who appear at the clerk's office in person and present proper identification.

Bradford County Property Records

The Bradford County Office of the Property Appraiser manages and maintains property records. Residents can conduct various types of property searches, including inquiries about tax exemptions and real property records. Information such as the owner's name, property address, or parcel number must be provided to perform these searches.

Searches can be conducted online, in person, or by mail. The appraiser's office is located at 945 North Temple Avenue, Suite A, Starke, Florida 32091.

For mail requests, please address inquiries to:

Bradford County Property Appraiser
P.O. Box 250
Starke, FL 32091

Results from these searches will yield information about ownership history, sales history, tax payment history, physical property descriptions, and any related documents.

Bradford County Court Records Online

Interested persons may also view Bradford County court records on Floridacourtrecords.us and similar third-party websites. These platforms allow users to obtain information from court files without logging into the official system or visiting the courthouse. Online access is convenient and often covers a wide range of cases, but the material posted on private sites can differ from the official versions kept by the county court because each site compiles data from varying sources.