Alachua County Court Records

Court records refer to a collection of official documents generated due to legal proceedings held in a court of law. Florida’s legislature, in Section 28.24, defines these records as the "entire contents of a court file," encompassing transcripts, documentary exhibits, progress dockets and other records that document case activity, and electronic records filed with the court clerk or maintained in the clerk’s custody.

In Alachua County, Florida, court records are preserved by the local trial-level courts, which are the circuit and county courts, and the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller stands as the primary records custodian. These records are closely related to other publicly accessible documents. For example, arrest records generated by law enforcement may later be used to determine criminal charges against an alleged offender, and, when combined with criminal court records, can provide valuable insights into a person’s criminal background.

Court records are crucial documents for public education, particularly in understanding how courts operate and how justice is served. They also enable the preservation of legal precedents that may later be applied to court cases.

Are Alachua County Court Records Public?

Yes. Under the Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration, Rule 2.420, court records are considered public documents that can be inspected or copied by any interested person. Nonetheless, certain information or documents are nonpublic or confidential per Article I, Section 24(a) of the Florida Constitution and are only releasable to entities designated by court order, law, or statute.

Exempt court records in Alachua County include

Trial and appellate court memoranda
Complaints alleging misconduct against judges until probable cause is established
Unexecuted arrest and search warrants
Juvenile delinquency records (§985.04(1), Florida Statutes (F.S.))

What Information is Available in Alachua County Court Records?

The information available in Alachua County court records is generally dependent on the kind of legal action and the events/proceedings that took place. In this sense, the contents of an Alachua County civil court file are distinct from those of a criminal court file, and further variations exist on a case-by-case basis. For example, a personal injury case (a type of civil case) will likely not generate identical documentation as a wrongful death case (also a civil case), and even two personal injury cases may have different documents or information depending on the method of resolution.

However, the following are typical information or documents that may be found in a court file:

Calendars
Indexes
Dockets
Decrees
Judgments
Summonses
Complaints
Orders
Warrants

Alachua County Court Records Search

Below are methods for searching or accessing court records in Alachua County:

Online Access: The Alachua County Clerk of Court & Comptroller’s Office (also known as the Circuit Clerk or Clerk of Courts’ Office) maintains internet access to local court records. The clerk’s case management system (Court Records Search) is accessible for free by name, file date range, or case number. In addition to viewing an index of court records (2001 - present), users can view or download the corresponding non-confidential case document images.

In addition, the clerk provides remote access to certain earlier Alachua County court records via a Historical Records database, as well as a Bulletin Board Service (BBS) that can deliver information (database) extracts of records maintained by the office, including case records.

Electronic access to Alachua County court records is furnished pursuant to the Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order on Access to Electronic Court Records, which exempts confidential information, such as adoption cases, from remote review.

In-Person Access: Although Alachua County court records are available online, physical inspection remains a practical access method, especially since court policy restricts the online dissemination of exempt or confidential records, and online versions are not considered official court records.

To conduct an in-person review, one may visit the county civil or criminal courthouse, where public terminals are available for record lookups.

Staff assistance is a key advantage with in-person reviews, and visitors frequently retrieve desired records on the same day.

Mail and Phone Requests: Individuals can call or write to the Alachua County Clerk of Courts for local court records using the following address details:

Physical Address

Clerk of the Court

201 East University Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32601

Phone: (352) 374-3636

Fax: (352) 338-3201

Email: osr@alachuaclerk.org

Mailing Address

Alachua County Clerk of Court

Public Records Custodian

201 East University Avenue

Gainesville FL 32601

Requesters will need to supply sufficient information about the specific court record or information they seek. Payment and return methods generally vary depending on the submission method. For example:

Mail-in requests typically require payment by money order or check and must include a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) for the return of documents.
Email or phone requests often require credit/debit card payments, and parties may receive documents electronically.

Fees for Court Records in Alachua County

Requesters are liable for all costs associated with their court record inquiries in Alachua County. Record inspections are generally free; however, fees are assessed for copying (duplicating) or certifying a court record, as per §28.24, Florida Statutes. The Alachua County Clerk of Courts specifies the following fees by the method of request:

Electronic: Typically free, but a monthly subscription ($30) is necessary to access the Bulletin Board Service.
In Person: Free for inspections; copy charges apply.
Mail: Subject to standard copy fees.

Copy Charges

Record Type	Fee
Court Records - Plain Copy	$1 per page Exceeding 8 1/2" x 14: $5 per page
Court Records - Certified Copy	$2 per document
Court Records - Authenticated or Exemplified Copy	$7 per document
Some Other Records Maintained by the Alachua County Clerk of Courts
Administrative Records	15 cents per page
Marriage Records (Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate)	$3 per copy

Alachua County Courthouse Locations

Courts in Alachua County include a circuit court and a county court. These courts maintain specific jurisdiction over legal cases, as explained in the Florida Court System’s Court Structure page, with the circuit court having the broadest jurisdiction. Both courts share the same physical addresses:

Judge Stephan P. Mickle, Sr., Criminal Courthouse

220 South Main Street

Gainesville, FL 32601

Phone: (352) 374-3636 (Voice), (352) 491-4497 (TDD)

Matters handled at this location include felony, criminal traffic, misdemeanor, and payment of civil traffic citations.

Alachua County Family/Civil Justice Center

201 East University Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32601

Phone: (352) 374-3636

Matters handled here include family law, civil, probate, mental health, small claims, and marriage licenses.

Criminal Records Access in Alachua County

Criminal records encompass official documentation about a person’s contact with the criminal justice system, including related arrests, charges, convictions, and incarcerations. These records are maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the courts, and local law enforcement agencies, respectively.

The FDLE provides state-level criminal history checks (statewide records about arrests and convictions) to members of the public. This service is available in accordance with the state’s Public Records Law (codified in Title X, Chapter 119, F.S.) and §943.053, and results exclude any exempt records or information. Each public inquiry costs $24, payable by credit or debit card.

The Alachua County courts preserve case information or documents related to criminal proceedings, also known as the complete criminal court file. Accessing such records following procedures previously outlined in the "Alachua County Court Records Search" section.

Lastly, local police departments in Alachua County offer background checks for arrest and other police records pertaining to individuals detained or charged within the county. These records are available upon a public records request to the specific arresting police agency. Fees may apply to obtain documents.

Alachua County Probate Records

Alachua County probate records are case files or information generated because of probate proceedings. There is no separate probate court in Alachua County, as the circuit court maintains jurisdictional authority. The probate jurisdiction of the Alachua County Circuit Court (Florida’s Eighth Judicial Circuit) covers matters such as estate administration, trusts, commitment acts, guardianships, and conservatorships.

Individuals can access the Alachua County Clerk of Courts’ online Court Records Search portal to look up recent probate cases by name, case number, or file date and download their accompanying nonconfidential documents. The clerk’s office also provides a Historical Probate Records Search database for remote access to earlier wills and probate filings.

In-person access may also be pursued at the Gainesville courthouse for physical copies, confidential information/documents (which are not disseminated online by law), and earlier closed probate files.

Alachua County Family Court Records

Family court records in Alachua County originate from family law cases heard or resolved in the local circuit court. Family cases heard by the court’s family division include divorce, paternity, adoption, domestic violence injunctions, and child custody and support.

To access these court records, one can utilize the local Clerk of Courts’ Court Records Search portal, which offers internet access at no charge. Alternatively, records can be procured at the Alachua County Family/Civil Justice Center (Gainesville courthouse) during operational business hours. A case party’s name, case number, or file date will be required to find responsive records. Plain copies of family court records cost $1, while certified copies cost $2 per document.

Federal Court Records in Alachua County

Alachua County’s justice system differs from the federal court system. The former deals with legal cases that originate under state law or local ordinance, whereas the latter deals with matters arising under federal law. The federal court system comprises U.S. district courts that exercise federal jurisdiction on related issues and maintain the resulting federal court records.

Within the federal justice system, Alachua County is overseen by the Florida Northern District Court - Gainesville, Florida.

United States Courthouse

401 Southeast First Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32601

Clerk’s Office Main Line: (352) 380-2400

Clerks’ Office Main Fax: (352) 380-2424

To find records from this court, one has several options, including

Courthouse Visit: In-person review at the Florida Northern District Court during business hours. Access is free for record inspection at courthouse public access terminals, but copy/printing fees apply.
PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records): A nationwide index of federal court cases. Fees apply for electronic case records access, but access is free in certain instances. For example, judicial opinions are free to registered users, and users are not billed unless they accrue more than $30 of court records in a quarter.
Phone Access to Court Records : Dialing (866) 222-8029 (toll-free) and providing a participant or corporation name, case number, or social security number. Access is free.