Escambia County Court Records

Per Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420, Florida court records refer to the contents of court files, including the progress docket, transcripts, documentary exhibits, electronic records, videotapes, and stenographic tapes of court proceedings. The Clerk and Comptroller is the custodian of court records in Escambia County. Individuals can retrieve court records online or in person at the Clerk and Comptroller’s Office.

Escambia County Court records typically contain the following information:

• Case summary (judge’s name, case number, clerk file date, court and case type, case status, agency report number)
• Parties (Defendant and plaintiff’s full names and attorneys’ names)
• Charges (count, description, level, degree, plea, disposition, disposition date, charge status, and sentencing)
• Events (date, event, location, and result)
• Bond (bond number, type, amount, description, and date issued)
• Case dockets (date and entry)
• Citation details (citation number, arrest date, vehicle details, description, jurisdiction, and statute)

Escambia County court records are significant in enhancing judicial effectiveness and promoting accountability in the court system. They provide individuals with insight into what transpired during a court proceeding. Attorneys refer to court records to get evidence for an ongoing court case.

Are Court Records Public in Escambia County?

Yes. The Florida Public Records Law permits the public accessibility of Escambia County Public Records. Therefore, anyone can inspect and copy court records during a record custodian’s business hours. However, certain court records and information are confidential and exempt from public disclosure. Per Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420, the following court records are confidential:

• Adoption records
• Clinical Records
• Dependency records
• Birth and death records
• Juvenile delinquency records
• Grand jury records
• Drug court reports
• Investigation reports
• Gestational surrogacy records
• Estate inventories and accountings
• Pregnancy termination by a minor
• HIV test results and the identity of the test taker
• Sexually transmissible disease records
• Social Security Numbers, bank accounts, charge, debit & credit card numbers
• Memoranda or advisory opinions relating to court administration
• Complaints alleging misconduct against judges until probable cause is established.
• All information, excluding names and qualifications, provided by unpaid volunteers assisting the court
• All information gathered to create periodic evaluations implemented solely to assist judges in improving their performance and the generated results.
• All writing materials like trial and appellate court memoranda, court conference records, notes, and drafts of opinions and orders prepared by judges or authorized court staff.
• Copies of arrest and search warrants and supporting affidavits are required until the warrant is executed or the determination is made that the warrant cannot be executed.

Escambia County Court Records Search

The most common methods of performing a court record search in Escambia County are online or in-person at the courthouse. In-person requests should be made during the court’s business hours (Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.).

Escambia County Court Records Search by Name

Record seekers can perform a general public access name-based search for court records using the Case Search Portal maintained by the Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Office. To do this, users must select the name button and enter the subject’s last or first name. Afterward, enter the answer to the equation provided on the screen and click the search button. All court-related information available under the searched name will appear on the screen. This service is free.

Alternatively, individuals can visit the courthouse where the case was handled to conduct a court record search. The record staff would require a name to process the request. Certified copies of court records cost $2, while photocopies cost between $1 and $5, depending on the size. Escambia County courts collect search fees, which cost $2 per searched year.

Escambia County Courts

The Escambia County court system comprises the Circuit and County Courts. Escambia County is part of the First Judicial Circuit. Below are the addresses of all the courts in Escambia County:

M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building
190 Governmental Center
Pensacola, FL 32502
Phone: (850) 595-4130 (Civil)
(850) 595-4150 (Criminal/Felony)
(850) 595-4331 (Family Law)
(850) 595-3780 (Juvenile)
(850) 595-4300 (Probate)
(850) 595-4360 (Traffic)
(877) 769-0251 (Child Support)

Theodore Bruno Juvenile Justice Center
1800 Saint Mary Avenue
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: (850) 595-3780

Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse
7500 N Century Blvd.
Century, FL 32535
Phone: (850) 256-6161

Escambia County Superior Court Case Search

The Escambia County Circuit Court has a general trial jurisdiction over matters not assigned by statute to the County Courts and hears appeals from County Court cases. Individuals can find records maintained by the Circuit Court online or in person at the courthouse. The search parameters for online requests are by name and case number. Authorized individuals can complete a Court Records Search Registration Form to have enhanced access to court records online.

Escambia County District Court Records

The Escambia County Court handles civil cases like traffic offenses, misdemeanors, and small monetary disputes. These civil records can be obtained online or in person at the courthouse where the case was handled. Copies of records maintained by the County Court cost $1 per page.

Escambia County Criminal Records

Per FL Stat § 943.053, the Department of Law Enforcement disseminates criminal information in accordance with federal and state laws, regulations, and rules. Local criminal records can be obtained directly from each City Police Department or County Sheriff’s Office and reflect criminal history information solely from their jurisdiction. Most local law enforcement agencies in Escambia County provide criminal records checks by mail, in person, email, phone, fax, or online. Some agencies do not charge fees for this service, while others charge between $3 and $5. Payments can be made by cash, money order, check, and debit and credit cards. A name, birth date, social security number, race, sex, reason for the request, and a valid photo ID (for in-person requests) will be required for the search. The search criteria vary by agency. For example, the Pensacola Police Department accepts criminal record check requests in person. Similarly, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office (ECSO) accepts Criminal record check requests online at the Records Center, by phone, email, fax, mail, and in person at:

Escambia County Sheriff's Office
1700 West Leonard St.
Attn: Records Dept.
P.O. Box 18770,
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: (850) 436-9501
Fax: (850) 436-9784
E-mail: RecordRequest@escambiaso.com

Note that individuals can start their criminal records search by looking at any Escambia County arrest records published by local law agencies. This is because criminal cases start with an arrest. Arrest records can be viewed online, by fax, email, or in person at the ECSO’s Criminal Records Section.

Individuals can obtain statewide criminal history records at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Division of Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS). Requests can be made via the following options:

• The instant search: This portal provides users with uncertified copies of criminal history records. Each search costs $25 (including a $1.00 credit card processing fee). Search results can be printed or returned by email.
• The certified/non-certified search: Requesters must provide demographic information. Search results are notarized and returned to the requester by regular US Mail. Non-certified processing time is five (5) business days, whereas certified processing time is between 6 and 7 business days. Each search costs $24 and is payable by debit or credit card.
• The ORI search: Requesters must provide a valid ORI to conduct a search. Search fees vary depending on state statute, agency, or authorized entity.

Escambia County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Office’s Traffic and Criminal Divisions handles criminal court records. Specifically, the Criminal Division handles felony and misdemeanor cases, while the Traffic Division handles traffic offenses associated with violations that may subject a person to incarceration upon conviction. Depending on the case type, a criminal court case lookup can be conducted online or in person at the Traffic or Criminal Division. Here is how to look up criminal court case information online in Escambia County:

• Visit the official website of the Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
• Navigate to the top menu and click on Records
• Select Court Records from the dropdown under the Court section
• Conduct a search by name, case number, or citation number
• Select criminal as the case type
• Solve the equation on the screen and click the search button.

Get Escambia County Civil Court Records

The Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Office has two divisions that maintain civil records. For example:

• Circuit Civil Division: It handles civil cases where the amount of damages sought exceeds $50,000. Examples of cases handled in this division are negligence, product liability, civil appeals, contract and indebtedness, real property/mortgage foreclosures, and professional malpractice.
• County Civil / Small Claims Division: It handles civil cases ranging between $8,000 and $50,000 and small claims not exceeding $8,000. This Division also handles landlord/tenant, evictions, and replevins.

Individuals can get civil court records online or in person at the Clerk’s Office. Online requests can be made using the Case Search Portal or completing the Online Request Form. A search via the Case Search Portal by name or case number. The requester should specifically select circuit civil, county civil, and non-criminal infractions under the court type section. Requests made through the online form require providing case parties’ names, case numbers, and the name or title of the document being requested. Case parties requesting confidential civil records must provide a picture ID.

Escambia County Family Court Records

The Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Office has a Family Law/Divorce Division that handles cases like adoption, divorce, domestic violence, name change, and paternity. Family court records are disseminated online and in person in Room 23012, 2nd Floor of the Clerk’s Office. Note that some family court records, like adoption, are restricted from the public.

Escambia County Dissolution of Marriage Records

In Escambia County, dissolution of marriage refers to the termination or annulment of a marriage contract. The Florida Statutes and the Family Law Rules of Procedure govern the dissolution of marriage. Record seekers can access dissolution of marriage records by visiting the Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Office’s Family Law/Divorce Division during business hours.

Escambia County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Office maintains marriage and divorce records. Divorce records are only disseminated in person at the Family Law/Divorce Division. Marriage records from 1919 to 1995 are available on microfiche and are available online. Requesters can view the Marriage Index from 1901 through 1918 and 1821 to 1900 on the Clerk’s website. Escambia County marriage records from 1996 to date can be accessed on the Case Search Portal. Certified copies of marriage records can be obtained in person at the Clerk’s Public Records Center from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m at:

Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Public Records Center
120 E Blount Street
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: (850) 595-4146
Email: publicrecords@escambiaclerk.com

Escambia County marriage and divorce certificates can also be obtained at the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Orders can be made online through a third-party vendor, by mail, or in person. Individuals can get Escambia County marriage certificate by mail by submitting a DH261 Application for Marriage Certificate Form. Divorce certificates can be submitted by mail by completing a DH260 Application for Dissolution of Marriage Form. The Bureau charges a search fee of $5 for each record. Additional certified copies cost $4, and shipping and handling fees cost $1.

Escambia County Birth and Death Records

The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains vital records in the state. Therefore, individuals can find birth and death records in the Bureau’s office. Escambia County Birth records under 125 years old are confidential. They can only be accessed by the subject of the record (at age 18), parents, legal guardians, legal representatives, or a person with a court order.

A death record excluding cause of death is open to anyone who is 18 years and above. However, a death record that includes cause of death information is confidential until after 50 years. Such records are only released to the decedent’s spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling, a person with interest in the estate, legal representatives, or a person with a court order.

Birth and death records can be obtained online, by mail, or in person. An approved third-party vendor manages online requests. This service costs about $24 and an extra $4 for additional certificates. Mail and in-person requests can be made at the Bureau or Escambia County Health Department.

Mail requesters seeking Escambia County Health Department records must submit a Birth or Death Certificate Form. Copies of birth and death certificates cost $11per copy and $10 for each additional copy. In-person requesters can visit the office during business hours (Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at:

FDOH-Escambia Vital Records
Fairfield Service Center
1295 West Fairfield Drive
Pensacola, FL 32501

Mail requesters seeking records from the Bureau must submit an Application for a Death Record (English or Spanish) or an Application for a Birth Record (English or Spanish). All mail requests should be addressed to:

Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

The normal processing time for Birth and death records is 3 to 5 business days. Individuals unable to access the Bureau’s application forms can submit their requests in writing. The following information, including a copy of a valid ID, payment, and any supporting documentation, should be in writing:

Information about the subject of the record:

• Full name
• Sex
• Date of death/ birth
• City or County of death/birth
• Social Security number (for death record applicants)
• Parent(s) full name(s) before first marriage (for marriage record applicants)

Information about the requester:

• Full name
• Relationship to the subject of record
• Mailing address
• Phone number
• Applicant’s signature

Acceptable photo identification are driver’s license, state identification card, passport, and military identification card.

Escambia County Probate Court Records

The Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Office’s Guardianship/Mental Health/Probate Division is the custodian of probate court records. The Division handles probate matters like trusts, estates, wills, caveats, disposition of personal property, notice of trusts, and safe deposit. Inquirers can obtain probate court records online or in person at the Division. Online requests can be made via the Case Search Portal or the Online Form provided by the court. On the Case Search Portal, requesters must select probate in the case type section to view only probate court records. In-person requesters must be willing to provide a name or case number to conduct a search. All visits should be made during business hours (Monday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.).

Escambia County Property Records

The Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Office maintains property records like deeds, liens, mortgages, plats, and subdivisions. Property records can be accessed online through the Official Search Portal. The search parameters are by name, document, case number, book and page number, consideration, record date, clerk file number, or legal description. In-person requests can be made at the Official Records/Recording Division at:

The Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court
official Records/Recording Division
221 Palafox Place
Suite 110
Pensacola, FL 32502
Phone: (850) 595-3930

Record seekers can also obtain property records from the Escambia County Tax Collector's Office. Requests can be made online or in person.

Escambia County Court Records Online

Several third-party vendors like courtrecords.us provide Escambia County court records through their online database. The search criteria usually include last and first names. Most third-party platforms return basic court information without charges. However, extensive information attracts a small fee. These charges vary per vendor, but they usually cost $4.95 for 7 days of unlimited access or a monthly subscription charge of $19.95.

The only limitation associated with third-party online platforms is that they are unreliable. It is advisable to verify any information obtained from government sources on such websites. However, third-party platforms allow users to extend their searches across multiple jurisdictions.