Holmes County Court Records

As defined by Section 28.24 of the Florida legislature, "court record" means the entire contents of a court file, which includes documentary exhibits kept by the court clerk's office, progress dockets and similar records documenting case activity, transcripts held in the clerk's custody, and electronic records of court proceedings.

While Holmes County court records primarily serve to promote accountability and openness within the judicial system, they also have other valuable functions. These include legal research, judgment enforcement, case progress tracking, and background investigations (for which the Holmes County arrest records are also pertinent resources).

Are Court Records Public in Holmes County?

Yes. Under Florida's Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration, Rule 2.420, Holmes County court records are declared open to members of the public, meaning anyone can inspect or duplicate them. However, limitations exist where a particular statute or court directive requires nondisclosure. Confidentiality may be necessary to protect vulnerable individuals, ensure the integrity of the judicial process, serve a compelling governmental interest, and prevent the public disclosure of sensitive information.

Per the rule, confidential and exempt records include:

• Complaints alleging misconduct against judges, or other entities or individuals licensed or regulated by the courts, until probable cause is established
• Unexecuted arrest and search warrants
• Estate inventories and accountings
• Complete presentence investigation reports
• Records deemed confidential under federal or state law
• Adoption records
• Birth records and portions of death and fetal death records
• Protected information regarding victims of sexual or child abuse offenses

Holmes County Court Records Search

Members of the public can access Holmes County court records in a few different ways:

• In person at the courthouse where the case was heard
• At the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller's Office (the official custodian)
• Through the Clerk's Court Records Online portal
• Through a third-party public records database

Holmes County Courts

Holmes County forms part of Florida's 14th Judicial Circuit, which consists of a Circuit and County court system. The circuit and county courts adjudicate all cases filed in the county, with the circuit court able to handle all criminal and civil matters not within the county court's jurisdiction, and the county court limited to specific civil and criminal cases outlined by statute. These courts preside over legal issues at the following address:

Holmes County Courthouse
201 North Oklahoma Street
Bonifay, FL 32425
Phone: (850) 547-1100
Fax: (850) 547-6630

Holmes County Criminal and Civil Records

Holmes County criminal and civil court records originate from criminal and civil cases brought to the county's judicial system. Criminal court records may encompass Holmes County arrest records, warrants, criminal complaints or informations, plea agreements, pretrial motions, trial transcripts, jury verdicts, sentencing orders, and other materials related to a felony or misdemeanor charge. Meanwhile, civil court records include pleading documents, discovery-related records, hearing notices, decrees, orders, appeal notices, and other materials relevant to a civil (noncriminal) matter.

The Holmes County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller's Office serves as the official custodian of records from the Holmes Circuit and County court system. As such, anyone may contact this office (or the specific division within the Clerk's Office) for criminal or civil court records. A case party's name or case number is the primary search criterion that requesters will need to provide, and they will also be responsible for any associated fees as per FS 28.24.

The Clerk's Office also provides a Court Records Online portal, which allows interested persons to access Holmes County's civil and criminal records.

Holmes County Marriage Records

Holmes County marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller's Office and serve as official documents that verify the existence of a marital union between two individuals. These records are largely accessible to the public.

To obtain Holmes marriage records, individuals can access the Clerk's Official Records portal and search with different criteria, including party name, document/instrument type, date range, instrument number, or book/page number. The portal is offered at no cost, and users can view basic marriage information and download/print marriage record copies at no charge.

Individuals can also order copies of marriage records directly from the Holmes County Clerk's Office at the local courthouse in Bonifay or via mail at:

Mailing Address:
Holmes County Clerk of Court & Comptroller
P.O. Box 397
Bonifay, FL 32425

Information about applying for a marriage certificate through the Florida Department of Health is available on the agency's Marriage webpage.

Holmes County Divorce Records

Providing evidence of the legal termination of a marriage, divorce records are commonly sought for several reasons, including enforcing court judgments and orders, facilitating remarriage, confirming child support obligations, and resolving property disputes.

In Holmes County, the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller is the official custodian of divorce (court) records. Being court records, these documents are accessible to the public under Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.420.

The Clerk's Office provides physical access to the local courthouse and digital access via its Court Records Online portal. When searching divorce records, individuals typically need to know the case party's name or case number, and they will be responsible for any fees tied to their requests.

Divorce certificates (June 6, 1927, to present) are available through the Florida Department of Health.

Holmes Birth Records

The Florida Department of Health issues Holmes County birth records, which serve as core identification documents for obtaining passports, receiving Social Security benefits, and enrolling in school. However, per FS 382.025, birth records less than 125 years old are restricted documents. They can only be disseminated to eligible parties, such as the subject of the record or their parent/legal guardian.

Qualified applicants may complete and submit the Birth Certificate Application to the Florida Department of Health in Holmes County (or other vital records offices, which can also issue statewide certificates). The fee charged is $15 per certificate, and the available years run from 1917 to the present. Valid/current photo identification is required when ordering birth certificates.

Holmes Death Records

Death records (2009 to present) are available through Florida's Department of Health in Holmes County. These records are useful for settling decedents' estates, filing insurance claims, tracing familial relationships, and monitoring mortality trends.

Per the law (FS 382.025), any person aged 18 or over can obtain a certified copy of a death record without cause of death information from the health department. However, death records less than 50 years old and showing cause of death are confidential records and may only be released to specific parties, such as the decedent's immediate family (spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling).

Valid/current photo identification is required to request death records. Parties will need to complete and submit a Death Certificate Application to the Florida Department of Health. Each Holmes death certificate costs $10; however, additional charges (such as postage/handling) may apply.

Holmes County Probate Court Records

Probate court records document the legal proceedings of a probate court case. The probate court in Holmes County is the Circuit Court, which handles a variety of legal matters, including trusts, estate administration, mental health cases, substance abuse cases, guardianships, and conservatorships.

Records of the probate court in Holmes County are held by the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller's Probate Department. Interested persons can contact/visit this department to request Holmes probate court records. Alternatively, the Clerk's Office provides a Court Records Online portal.

Holmes County Property Records

Property records for Holmes County, Florida, hold essential information about land, buildings, and improvements (otherwise known as real property/real estate). These records are maintained by the local Clerk of the Court and Comptroller's Office, which ensures public access in line with Florida's Sunshine Laws (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes).

The Clerk's Office offers several ways to access these records: in person, by mail, or online (through the Official Records portal). To successfully locate a record at the Clerk's Office, inquirers will need to provide specific identifying details, such as a name, instrument type, or instrument number. Copies cost $1 per page, and certification costs $2 per document.

In addition to the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller's Office, members of the public can obtain certain property records from the County Appraiser's Office, which is responsible for assessing property for taxation purposes, and the County Tax Collector's Office.

Holmes County Property Appraiser
226 North Waukesha Street
Bonifay, FL 32425
Phone: (850) 547-1113
Fax: (850) 547-2445

Holmes County Tax Collector
224 North Waukesha Street
Bonifay, FL 32425
Phone: (850) 547-1115
Fax: (850) 547-0202

Holmes County Court Records Online

For online research of Holmes County court records, third-party aggregators, such as Floridacourtrecords.us, are useful resources. These websites are handy because, unlike databases managed by the local courts, they consolidate information from various jurisdictions, making it possible to conduct broad name inquiries from one single platform. Nonetheless, because online court records are considered noncertified, users risk obtaining incomplete or outdated information. Generally, it is recommended to confirm any data obtained with the official departments.