Columbia County Court Records

According to Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420, court records are court files generated or filed with a court clerk that document activities in a case. These include progress dockets, transcripts, documentary exhibits, electronic records, videotapes, or stenographic tapes of depositions or other proceedings filed with the clerk.

Generally, court records are historical documentation of legal proceedings that interested persons can review to learn about important aspects of the proceedings. Court records also set legal precedents that may be applicable in future proceedings and can serve as evidence in future cases. Court records also allow for transparency of legal processes, leaving room for public scrutiny of these processes to ensure they are carried out fairly. Information typically found in Columbia County court records includes case details, party information, charges, sentences, and more.

Are Court Records Public in Columbia County?

Yes. Florida Sunshine Law, codified in Florida Statutes Section 286.011, establishes the general public's right to access records of governmental proceedings at state and local levels, including court records. As a result, most court records are public in Columbia County, and anyone can request them from their custodians.

However, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Rule 2.420(c) and other applicable laws require that certain types of court records and information be made confidential and inaccessible to the public. Examples of these records include and are not limited to:

• Sealed records
• Adoption records
• Grand jury records
• Mental health proceedings
• Juvenile delinquency records
• Trial and appellate court memoranda
• Social Security, bank account, charge, debit, and credit card numbers
• Arrest and search warrant affidavits prior to the warrant’s being executed

Columbia County Court Records Search

The Columbia County Clerk of the Circuit Court serves as the clerk of the county's Circuit Court and County Court. Consequently, the County Clerk preserves court records generated by both courts. Hence, Individuals seeking Columbia County Court Records should begin their search at the Columbia County Clerk's Office. Interested persons can also conduct Columbia County Court Records Searches online through reliable third-party websites.

Columbia County Courts

Columbia County has two types of courts: Columbia County Circuit Court and County Court. Both courts share the same clerk (Columbia County Clerk of the Circuit Court) and have the same physical address at:

173 NE Hernando Avenue,
Lake City, FL 32055
Phone: (386) 758-1041
Fax: (386) 719-7401

Columbia County Criminal Records

Criminal records are generally subject to the provisions of the Florida Sunshine Law. As a result, most criminal records are available to the public upon request. In Columbia County, some types of criminal records, including Columbia County arrest records, are generated and maintained by local law enforcement agencies, like the County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).

Interested persons can obtain criminal records maintained by the CCSO by submitting a request for a “local arrest check” or “background check”. local arrest checks cost 15 cents per page, while background checks are free. Additionally, requesters must provide certain information to facilitate their request. These include the name of the record’s subject and their date of birth.

The CCSO accepts requests for “local arrest checks” and “background checks”) via in-person, by phone, mail, and e-mail submission. For in-person requests, visit the CCSO Record Division’s service window in the main lobby of the CCSO Administrative Complex. The Record Division is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Meanwhile, for email, mail-in, or by-phone requests, interested persons can contact the CCSO Record Division at:

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
4917 U.S. Highway 90 East
Lake City, Florida 32055
Attn: Records
Phone: (386) 752-9212
Email: ccso.records@columbiasheriff.org

Get Columbia County Civil Court Records

Interested persons can get Columbia County civil court records through the Columbia County Clerk of the Circuit Court. As the record custodian of the Circuit and County Court, the County Clerk maintains court records of civil cases heard by either court. These civil cases include eviction lawsuits, small claims, contract indebtedness, and personal injury, to name a few. Hence, record seekers can query the County Clerk to get civil court records.

Columbia County Clerk provides offline and online avenues for accessing and requesting civil court records. Interested persons can use the Clerk’s Search Court Cases portal to search for civil court records online. On the portal, a named-based or case number-based search can be conducted. Alternatively, record seekers can visit the Clerk's office in person to make requests to inspect or copy civil court records at:

173 NE Hernando Avenue
Lake City, Florida 32055
Phone: (386) 758-1342

Columbia County Marriage Records

The County Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains Columbia County marriage records. Marriage records are subject to the provisions of the Florida Sunshine Law and are considered part of Columbia County public records. Therefore, anyone can query the County Clerk’s office to access Columbia County Marriage certificates. Note that although marriage records may be accessible to the general public, certified copies of a marriage certificate are only available to parties named on the certificate and other eligible persons.

The Columbia County Clerk of Court’s Office accepts in-person and online requests for marriage records. In-person requests can be made at the Clerk’s Office physical address during regular office hours. Meanwhile, online requests can be made through the Clerk’s Official Record Search portal. Nevertheless, record seekers are usually asked to supply details about the marriage, such as either spouse's name and marriage date, to facilitate marriage records requests. Additionally, requests are usually subject to certain fees. Record seekers can contact the Columbia County Clerk’s office at (386) 758-1342 for further information and inquiries.

Columbia County Divorce Records

Columbia County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the primary custodian of divorce records. Hence, interested persons can query the County Clerk’s Office to get Columbia County divorce records. Queries can be made at the County Clerk’s office in person during regular office hours. Alternatively, an online search for divorce records can be conducted through the Clerk’s Search Court Cases portal. The portal is searchable by case number or party name, and users should select “Domestic relations/family” under the Court Type option to streamline their search to family court records, like divorce records.

Columbia Birth and Death Records

Florida’s Department of Health’s (DOH) Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains vital records, such as birth and death records, in Florida, including Columbia County. The Bureau preserves birth and death records as far back as 1850 and 1877, respectively. Note that limited births and deaths were recorded between 1850 and 1917 and between 1877 and 1917, respectively. Nonetheless, interested persons can query DOH’s Bureau of Vital Statistics to obtain vital records for Columbia County, such as birth and death records.

In terms of confidentiality, Columbia County birth certificates under 125 years old are confidential and only issuable to eligible persons or by court order. Eligible persons who can obtain confidential birth records include:

• The registrant, provided they are of legal age (18)
• Parent(s) named on the certificate
• The registrant’s legal guardian
• A legal representative of any eligible person
• The registrant’s legally aged (at least 18 years old) child, grandchild, sibling, or spouse, provided they can supply the registrant’s death record.

On the other hand, death certificates without cause of death information are public records. Meanwhile, death certificates with the cause of death information are confidential and only issuable to eligible persons or by court order. These eligible persons include:

• The decedent’s spouse or parent
• The decedent's legally aged child, grandchild, or sibling,
• Individuals who can provide a will, insurance policy, or relevant documents to prove they have interests in the decedent’s estate.
• Individuals with relevant documents that show they are acting on behalf of any of the aforementioned eligible persons

The DOH’s Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains older birth and death records from 1850 to the present and 1877 to the present, respectively. The Bureau offers walk-in and mail-in services for ordering these certificates and provides dedicated request forms interested persons can complete and submit to order these certificates. These include:

For birth certificates;

• Application for a Florida Birth Record (form DH726), also available in Spanish (form DH726S)
• Affidavit to Release a Birth Certificate (Form DH1958)

For death certificates;

• Application for a Death Record (form DH727), also available in Spanish (form DH727S)
• Affidavit to Release Cause of Death information (Form DH1959)

Note that requests are subject to certain fees outlined in the request forms. Requesters should visit the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics during lobby hours (weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for walk-in requests. Meanwhile, for mail-in requests, complete relevant request forms and mail them with all other required items (i.e., fee payments and a photocopy of the requester’s ID) to:

Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics,
P.O. Box 210,
Jacksonville, Fl 32231-0042
Phone: (904) 359-6900
Email: VitalStats@FLHealth.gov

Columbia County Probate Court Records

Columbia County Probate court records are official documents and other materials that provide information about probate proceedings handled by the county Probate Court.

There are different types of probate proceedings, including the administration of the decedent’s assets or estate and the appointment of a conservator or guardian.

Columbia County Clerk of the Circuit Court is responsible for preserving court records and other legal documents concerning probate proceedings. Hence, interested persons can obtain probate court records through the Columbia County Clerk's office. Record seekers can visit the County Clerk’s Office during regular office hours to request probate court records in person. Alternatively, Columbia County Probate Court records are accessible online through the County Clerk’s Search Court Cases portal. Furthermore, record seekers can access probate documents online through the County Clerk’s Official Record Search portal.

Columbia County Property Records

Different public offices maintain Columbia County property records, including the County’s Clerk of the Circuit Court, Property Appraiser, and Tax Collector’s office. The County Clerk’s office is where most property records, such as deeds and encumbrances like liens and mortgages, are recorded. On the other hand, the County Property Appraiser holds a local property’s assessment information, such as a property’s appraised value. Meanwhile, interested persons query the County Tax Collector’s office to search for local property tax information and pay property taxes.

To obtain property records maintained by the County Clerk’s office, record seekers can visit the clerk's office during regular business hours to request property records. Note that record seekers must provide certain information about the desired record, such as the document’s recordation date or the name of individuals named on the record, to facilitate their search. The County Clerk’s office also provides online access to probate court records through the Clerk’s Official Record Search portal.

Conversely, interested persons can search for property tax information online through the Columbia County Tax Collector’s Property Tax website. Record seekers can also contact the Tax Collector’s office directly at:

Lake City Office
135 NE Hernando Ave Suite 125
Lake City, FL 32055
Phone: (386) 758-1077
Fax: (386) 719-7462

Fort White Office
118 SW Wilson Springs Rd.
Ft. White, FL 32038
Phone: (386) 497-2456
Fax: (386) 497-1242

Lastly, Interested persons can search the Columbia County Property Appraiser’s property search portal for property appraisal information. The Columbia County Appraiser can also be contacted directly contacted at:

135 NE Hernando Ave. Suite 238
Lake City, Florida 32055
Phone: (386) 758-1083 or (386) 758-2131
Email: contact@ccpafl.com

Columbia County Court Records Online

Columbia County court records are accessible online through third-party online resources like floridacourtrecords.us. This website provides its users timely access to court records maintained by different courts across Florida, including Columbia County. Users can search these websites for court records by party name or case number. It is worth noting that due to their non-affiliation with government agencies, documents provided by third-party websites may appear incomplete or contain outdated information.