Escambia County court records are official records created when a case is brought to court. The official custodian of these records is the Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller, who maintains and releases them in accordance with Florida’s Rules of Court and relevant statutes. Escambia County court records are distinct from other public records, including vital records held by the Florida Department of Health, arrest records kept by police or sheriff’s offices, and federal court records administered by the federal judiciary.
Yes. Escambia County court documents are generally available to the public under the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420. This law provides a strong presumption that court records may be viewed and copied unless a specific legal exemption applies. Therefore, the Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller’s Office releases most criminal, civil, probate, and family court records to the public upon request.
However, the clerk restricts records that are considered confidential under Florida law. Examples of confidential court records in Escambia County are juvenile court cases, adoption files, mental health proceedings, drug court reports, estate inventories and accountings, and gestational surrogacy reports.
The court records for Escambia County, Florida, provide a comprehensive view of case information, broken down into the following key sections:
Case Summary Details
This section includes critical administrative and status information:
- Judge’s name
- Case number or Uniform Case Number (UCN)
- Clerk file date
- Court type
- Case type and case status
- Fees due
- Court location
Party Information
Details on the individuals or entities involved:
- Party type
- Name
- Attorney’s name
Charges (for Criminal Cases)
A detailed breakdown of the alleged offenses:
- Count number
- Description of the charge
- Level and degree of the offense
- Plea
- Disposition and disposition date
Event Log
A chronological record of court proceedings:
- Date of the event
- Event description
- Location
- Result
Financial Records
This includes both outstanding amounts and receipts:
- Outstanding Amount: Count, code, description, assessment, paid and waived amounts, due date, balance, and payment plan/judgment.
- Receipts: Date, receipt number, and applied amount.
Dockets
- Case dockets, date, and entry.
Below are the methods the Clerk & Comptroller Office provides to the public in accessing Escambia County court records:
-
Online Access: Escambia County court documents can be
accessed online via the Clerk’s
Online Case Search
portal. Users may perform a free search by case number or party name. The
search returns basic case information, excluding confidential case details.
The Clerk also provides a
Request for Copies or Viewing of Court Records Form
that requesters can complete online to obtain copies of court records for a
fee.
- In-Person Access: Record seekers can visit the clerk’s office during business hours to obtain plain and certified copies of court records. This may attract a search fee in addition to the copy fee.
In Escambia County, obtaining court records incurs normal costs mandated by Florida Statutes § 28.24. Plain copies of court records typically cost $1 per page, while certified copies cost $2 each. However, anyone who cannot afford these fees may view case information through the Online Case Search portal at no charge.
The Clerk also maintains and issues marriage records to the public. Each certified copy costs $3, while an uncertified copy costs $1. Other vital records can be obtained from the Escambia County Health Department. The Department of Health charges $5 for a certified copy of a divorce or marriage certificate. Requesters must pay $4 per additional copy, and shipping and handling is $1. For birth and death certificates, the first computer-generated certification costs $9, while an additional copy costs $4.
Escambia County is part of Florida’s First Judicial Circuit, which consists of a circuit court and a county court. The Escambia County Circuit Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil cases where the matter in controversy exceeds $50,000; probate cases; criminal cases, including felonies and misdemeanors; and family cases. The Escambia County Court has original jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases where there is no concurrent felony, violations of municipal and county ordinances, and civil actions where the matter in controversy does not exceed $50,000. The Escambia County courthouse is located at the address below:
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) conducts official state-level criminal background checks for a fee. This is separate from the criminal case records maintained by the Escambia County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office. Anyone who wants to view criminal case records may use the Clerk’s Online Case Search portal. Users must provide a name or case number to perform the search. Copies of criminal records may also be obtained online by completing and submitting the Clerk’s Request for Copies or Viewing of Court Records Form. People can also visit the clerk’s office to obtain copies of criminal case records.
The First Judicial Circuit’s Probate Division handles probate cases in Escambia County, including the validation of wills, administration of estates, guardianships, and conservatorships.
Individuals can find estate records (wills and other probate filings) using the Circuit Clerk’s free Online Case Search portal. A search can be conducted by name or case number. However, those who require copies of Escambia County probate records can complete the Clerk’s online Request for Copies or Viewing of Court Records Form. They will have to include a valid phone number or email address in the form for the court to contact them.
However, older probate records or confidential case files may necessitate an in-person visit to the Clerk’s office.
The First Judicial Circuit’s Family Law Division is responsible for family law proceedings in Escambia County, including divorce, name change, paternity, child custody, adoption, and domestic violence. The Escambia County Clerk & Comptroller Office maintains records from this division and makes them available online and in person.
The Clerk’s Online Case Search portal is a convenient way to find family case information at no cost. Users can search by name or case number. Those who want or order copies of family court records online can submit a completed electronic Request for Copies or Viewing of Court Records Form. Once the request is received, the clerk will either email the requester or call them for further information.
Individuals can also obtain copies of family court records in person at the clerk’s office during regular business hours. For confidential family court records, the clerk releases access only to case parties and to anyone with a court order. Eligible requesters must submit appropriate documentation along with the copy fees.
The U.S District Court for the Northern District of Florida holds federal court records for cases originating in Escambia County. The court hears cases involving constitutional or federal law violations, crimes on federal land, and bankruptcy cases.
The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service provides public access to federal court records online for 10 cents per page. Access to a single document is capped at $3, equivalent to 30 pages. Individuals can also obtain copies of federal court records in person at the court location closest to them. The court charges 50 cents per page for copies of federal court records and $12 for certified copies. The search fee costs $34 per name.