Bay County Court Records Search
Bay County court records are held at the clerk's office in Panama City, the county seat. Clerk Bill Kinsaul oversees all court filings for the 14th Judicial Circuit, which covers Bay County along with several other counties in the Florida panhandle. With a population near 185,000, Bay County has a busy court system that handles civil, criminal, family, traffic, and probate cases. The clerk's office stores these records and makes them available to the public under Florida's public records laws. Whether you need to look up a case number, check a hearing date, or get copies of court documents, the Bay County Clerk of Court is the place to start.
Bay County Quick Facts
Bay County Clerk of Court
The Bay County Clerk of Court is the official custodian of all court records in the county. Clerk Bill Kinsaul runs the office and manages everything from case filings to document storage. The main office is in Panama City, and you can call them at (850) 763-9061. The clerk handles civil cases, criminal cases, family law matters, probate, traffic violations, and more. All court records in Bay County are public under Florida Statute Chapter 119, unless a judge has sealed the case or a state law makes it confidential.
Bay County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit. The circuit court here handles major cases like felonies, civil disputes over $50,000, family law, and juvenile matters. The county court takes care of misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic cases. Both levels of court records are stored and maintained by the clerk's office. If you have a question about where your case falls, the clerk's staff in Panama City can point you the right way.
The Bay County Clerk of Court website serves as the main portal for court records and county services.
From the clerk's website, you can also find details on jury service, marriage licenses, and payment options for fines and fees in Bay County.
| Office | Bay County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Bill Kinsaul |
| Phone | (850) 763-9061 |
| Website | baycoclerk.com |
Bay County Court Records Online
The Bay County court records page gives you access to case search tools and information about how to find court filings in Bay County. You can search for cases by party name, case number, or other details. The online search pulls results from all divisions including civil, criminal, family, and traffic. This is a free service that does not require an account. The results will show you case type, party names, filing dates, and the status of the case.
Bay County also has a separate section for official records. These are not the same as court records. The Bay County official records search covers recorded documents like deeds, mortgages, and liens. If you are looking for property-related records rather than case filings, use the official records tool instead.
The Bay County Clerk website provides a dedicated court records section for searching case filings online.
Per Florida Statute 119.0714, the clerk must redact personal information like social security numbers and bank account numbers from court records before making them public. So what you see online in Bay County has already been cleaned of sensitive data. Anyone filing a document is also supposed to remove confidential details before submitting it.
Note: Bay County's official records search is separate from the court records search, so use the right tool depending on what you need.
Bay County Official Records
The Bay County official records portal on the clerk's website covers a different set of documents than the court records search. Official records include deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other instruments that are recorded with the county. These are public documents that anyone can look up. The search tool lets you find records by name, document type, or recording date.
The Bay County Clerk also provides an official records search for recorded documents like deeds and liens.
If you need a certified copy of an official record in Bay County, the clerk's office can provide one. The fees are the same as for court record copies. Walk-in requests at the Panama City office are usually processed the same day, while mail requests can take longer. Official records in Bay County go back many years, and the online database covers a good portion of that history. For very old records that are not yet digitized, you may need to visit the clerk's office in person.
Filing Court Records in Bay County
New court filings in Bay County go through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The state requires electronic filing for most case types. The portal is available at all hours, so you can file court documents in Bay County whenever you need to. Once you submit a filing, the Bay County clerk processes it and adds it to the case record. You can track your filing status through the portal.
Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14 lets Florida courts post public court documents online for viewing. Bay County follows this order. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 spells out which court records are open to the public and which have restricted access. The rule gives the public a broad right of access, with exceptions for sealed records, juvenile cases, and other protected categories. If you think a Bay County court record has been kept from you in error, you can file a challenge under Rule 2.420.
Here are some state-level tools that can help with Bay County court records:
- Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers links to all 67 county clerks
- MyFloridaCounty handles online court fee payments
- ACIS provides appellate court case information
- Florida Courts Help offers free forms and self-help guides
The Florida Court Clerks association is a useful resource if you need to search court records in a county other than Bay. Their website has direct links to every clerk's office in the state. The Appellate Court Information System tracks appeals from Bay County cases that move up to the District Court of Appeal or the Florida Supreme Court.
Copies of Bay County Court Records
To get copies of Bay County court records, you can go to the clerk's office in Panama City, use the online system, or send a request by mail. The clerk charges standard fees under Florida law. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. If you need a record for a legal proceeding, you will likely need the certified version. Walk-in requests are the fastest way to get copies in Bay County.
Fees for court records in Bay County follow state guidelines. Expect to pay $1.00 per page for plain copies and a $2.00 certification fee per document. Search fees are $2.00 per year per name. If you are making a mail request, include the case number and the documents you need, along with a check or money order. Call (850) 763-9061 for a fee estimate if you are not sure what the total will be. Mail requests can take a week or two to process in Bay County, so plan ahead if you have a court deadline coming up.
Note: Bay County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties.
Cities in Bay County
Panama City is the county seat and the largest city in Bay County. Other communities include Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, Springfield, Callaway, and Parker. All court records for Bay County are filed through the clerk's office in Panama City. There is no separate courthouse for individual cities. Regardless of where in Bay County your case originates, the records end up at the same clerk's office.
Nearby Counties
Bay County is in the Florida panhandle. It borders Washington County to the north, Calhoun County to the east, Gulf County to the south, and Jackson County to the northwest. Each county runs its own court records system, so make sure you search the right county.