Putnam County Court Records

Putnam County court records are official documents created, filed, and maintained by the county's court system. These documents describe events that happen in civil, criminal, family, and probate proceedings. Examples of Putnam County court records include:

• Petitions
• Complaints
• Orders
• Dockets
• Affidavits
• Pleadings
• Motions
• Transcripts
• Evidence
• Warrants.

Court records are the official documentation of legal proceedings. They are maintained to preserve legal history, which helps inform future cases and judgments. Generally, access to Florida court records supports an informed citizenry.

Are Court Records Public in Putnam County?

Yes, court records are public in Putnam County. According to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, as court records are prepared and maintained by a government agency (the county courthouse), they are classified as public records. They are open for public inspection and copying. The Clerk of Court's Office is the custodian of these records.

Although court records are considered public, Florida Statute 119.0714 specifies that some are exempt from public disclosure. These include the following records:

• Sealed records
• Expunged records
• Juvenile records
• Confidential information (social security numbers, financial account numbers, victim information, etc.)
• Records of an ongoing investigation
• Medical and mental health records.

Putnam County Court Records Search

A Putnam County court records search can be conducted using the following methods:

• Online search of local and state resources
• In-person requests at the local courthouse
• Phone requests
• Mail requests
• Third-party resources.

Putnam County Courts

Putnam County is part of the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, which consists of both circuit and county courts. The courts in Putnam County and their contact addresses are as follows:

Putnam County Circuit Court
Putnam County Courthouse
410 St. Johns Avenue
P.O. Box 758
Palatka, FL 32178
Phone: (386) 326-7600
Fax: (386) 329-0888

Putnam County Circuit Court
Interlachen Satellite Office
1114 State Road 20
Suite 2
Interlachen, FL 32148
Phone: (386) 684-3717
Fax: (386) 684-4640

Putnam County Circuit Court
Crescent City Satellite Office
19 North Summit Street
Crescent City, FL 32112
Phone: (386) 698-1217
Fax: (386) 698-4283

County Court of Putnam County
Crescent City Satellite Office
19 North Summit Street
Crescent City, FL 32112
Phone: (386) 698-1217
Fax: (386) 698-4283

County Court of Putnam County
Putnam County Courthouse
410 St. Johns Avenue
P.O. Box 758
Palatka, FL 32178
Phone: (386) 326-7600
Fax: (386) 329-0888

County Court of Putnam County
Interlachen Satellite Office
1114 State Road 20
Suite 2
Interlachen, FL 32148
Phone: (386) 684-3717
Fax: (386) 684-4640

Putnam County Criminal Records

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) maintains a central repository of criminal records in Florida. Interested persons can obtain Putnam County criminal records in any of three ways:

• Instant Florida History Criminal Search: The FDLE allows searches of its database, and individuals can obtain instant criminal history information that can be printed or emailed. The records obtained from this avenue are non-certified and cost $24.
• Shield Certified/ Non-certified Search: After providing demographic information, the FDLE helps individuals search for and obtain criminal history information. The records obtained can be certified or not, and they are notarized and sent back to the customer by U.S. mail. This service costs $24.
• ORI-Based Florida Criminal History Search: Individuals with a valid Originating Agency Identification (ORI) can conduct a criminal history records search. The result will be sent to the ORI's authorized recipient. Fees may apply for this service.

For other inquiries on obtaining criminal history information, the FDLE can be contacted as follows:

Criminal History Services Section
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
2331 Phillips Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Email: ApplicantChecks@fdle.state.fl.us
Phone: (850) 410-8161

Get Putnam County Civil Court Records

The Putnam County Clerk's Office has various departments that deal with civil cases in the county. The Circuit Civil Court handles lawsuits greater than $50,000, while the County Civil Court handles lawsuits more than $8,000 but less than $50,000.

Civil court records are available online through the Putnam County Online Court Records Search (OCRS). To obtain more precise search results, individuals when conducting a case search on the platform can select the specific court type whether Circuit Civil (C.A.) or County Civil (CC). Individuals can also visit the Putnam County Courthouse in person for more specific information or for assistance in obtaining these records.

Putnam County Marriage Records

The Marriage License Department of the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller makes marriage records available for public access. The first copy of the certified marriage record is given for free to the couple seven days after the officiator records it. However, additional copies cost $3 each. Individuals can also complete an application for public access to records form and submit it by mail, in person, or by fax to the Clerk's office. Proper photo identification may be required when submitting in-person requests.

Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
410 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, FL 32177
Phone: (386) 326-7600

Putnam County Divorce Records

Divorce records, including dissolution of marriage records and final judgments on divorce cases, are deemed public records in Putnam County. To obtain a divorce record, individuals can contact the Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's office if the dissolution (divorce) was granted before June 6, 1927. The request can be conducted by mail, online, and in person at the Clerk's Office. To request a divorce record, details of the divorce, such as the names of the divorced parties, the date of the divorce, and the case number, are required. Costs may apply for the searching, copying, and certifying of these records.

Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
410 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, FL 32177
Phone: (386) 326-7600

Putnam County Birth and Death Records

Individuals interested in accessing Putnam County birth and death records can contact the Florida Department of Health in Putnam County. According to Florida Statutes 382.025, birth records are not public records to prevent identity theft and protect sensitive information. The first five digits of a deceased individual's social security number and their cause of death are also not publicly available in death records.

Individuals eligible to obtain birth records include those named on the record (the record owner if 18 years or older), parents listed on the record, legal guardians, and authorized beneficiaries. The requesters must provide photo identification and complete and submit a birth certificate request form, including details such as the full name and parents' name.

For death records less than 50 years old, individuals eligible to access the complete record (including the cause of death and full social security number) include the Decedent's spouse, parent, child, and siblings. Legal representatives with a notarized Affidavit to Release Cause of Death information (D.H. Form 1959), estate administrators, and individuals with court orders may also be granted access to these records.

The contact address for obtaining birth and death records is as follows:

Florida Department of Health in Putnam County
2801 Kennedy Street
Palatka, Florida 32177
Phone: (386) 326-3274
Fax: (386) 326-3351

Putnam County Probate Court Records

Putnam County Probate Court records are documents relating to the administration of a deceased person's estate. They include wills, petitions, guardianships, inventory and appraisal documents, petitions, orders of distribution, and any other document filed during probate proceedings. The Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller oversees all probate proceedings in the county. Individuals interested in obtaining probate court records can do so by contacting the Clerk of Court's office or paying an in-person visit to their office. The contact address of the Clerk's Office is as follows:

Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
410 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, FL 32177
Phone: (386) 326-7600

Putnam County Property Records

The Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court and comptroller is the primary record custodian of property records in Putnam County. Per Article VIII, Section 1(d) of the Florida Constitution, the Clerk's office performs various statutory functions, including serving as the county's recorder of deeds. As the recorder of deeds, they record and maintain documents related to property records.

Property records typically include deeds, mortgages, tax maps, assessment records, survey records, plats, liens, and declarations of condominiums. As these records are classified as public, they are available for inspection and copying. The contact address for obtaining more information on securing property records is as follows:

Putnam County Property Appraiser
312 Oak Street
Palatka, FL 32177
Phone: (386) 329-0286
Fax: (386) 329-0447

The Putnam County Property Appraiser also maintains the Putnam County Property Search tool, which can be used to obtain property records online. The search can be completed by entering the Owner, 911 Address, Parcel, Subdivision, or VID Sales.

Putnam County Court Records Online

Along with official government sources, individuals can also obtain Putnam County court records online using third-party databases. Third-party websites offer a favorable alternative for online lookups as they pool records from various counties and states, offering interested parties a single resource for multiple searches. Websites like Floridacourtrecords.us provide an easy-to-use interface to retrieve documents by party name and case number. Remember to verify the completeness and accuracy of records from third-party sources with official sources if the intended use is official.