Escambia County Court Records

Escambia County court records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in Pensacola, Florida. The clerk stores civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic case files for all courts in the 1st Judicial Circuit. You can search many of these court records online at no cost. The clerk also takes requests by mail, phone, and in person at the main office. Pensacola is the county seat and the hub for all court filings in Escambia County. Most people start their search on the clerk's website, which has tools for both court records and official public records. If you need certified copies or older files, the Public Records Center can help with that as well.

Escambia County Clerk of Court

Clerk Pam Childers runs the Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller office. This is the main office for all court records in the county. The clerk files new cases, keeps court files safe, and gives out copies to the public. All case types go through this office. Civil lawsuits, criminal charges, family matters, probate, and traffic tickets each create records that the clerk must store and make available. The front desk staff can pull files, look up cases, and make copies for a small fee.

The clerk's main office is at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building in downtown Pensacola. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can call the main line at 850-595-4146 for general questions. For public records requests, the number is 850-595-4149, or you can send an email to PublicRecords@EscambiaClerk.com. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records in Escambia County are open to the public unless a judge seals them or a law says they are confidential. The clerk must black out certain data on its own, like social security numbers and bank info, per Florida Statute 119.0714.

The Escambia County Clerk homepage gives you a look at all the tools and services the office provides.

From this main page you can get to court records, official records, and the public records request form.

Search Escambia County Court Records Online

The Escambia County Clerk offers several ways to look up court records from home. The online public records page is a good place to start. It walks you through the search tools that the clerk has set up for the public. You can search court records by name or case number. The system pulls up case details, party names, case type, and filing dates. Not every document in a case file shows up online, but the docket info is usually there for most Escambia County court records.

For deeper access, the clerk uses Landmark Web as its public records portal. This tool covers both court records and official records like deeds and liens. You do need to create an account to view some court record images. Basic search results are free. Registration lets you see more details and pull up document images for Escambia County court records. The system covers civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases. Older records may not be in the system if they were filed before the office went digital.

The Escambia County records page shows the different types of records you can search through the clerk's office.

This page breaks down each record type so you can pick the right search tool for what you need.

Per Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14, clerks can post public court document images online. Escambia County takes part in this program. That means some case documents are viewable right from the search results. The clerk still checks items before posting to keep protected data out of the public view. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 spells out what stays confidential in court records across the state, and Escambia County follows these rules.

Note: Registration is needed to view some court record images online in Escambia County, but basic case searches are free for all users.

Escambia County Public Records Center

The Public Records Center is a special section of the clerk's office that handles formal records requests. If you need copies of court records that are not easy to find online, this is where you go. Staff at the center can search for older files, pull documents from storage, and make copies. They handle both court records and other public records that the clerk is in charge of keeping in Escambia County.

To get court records from the Public Records Center, you fill out a request form. A picture ID is needed if you want an un-redacted copy of a court record. The clerk redacts personal info by default to follow state law. If you have a right to the full file, such as being a party to the case, bring your ID and the staff will help you out. You can also request copies by mail. Send your request to P.O. Box 333, Pensacola, FL 32591-0333 with the case number and details of what you need.

The Public Records Center page at the Escambia County Clerk website explains how to submit a records request.

You can also reach them by email at PublicRecords@EscambiaClerk.com if you have questions about a specific court record.

Types of Court Records in Escambia County

The 1st Judicial Circuit handles a broad range of cases in Escambia County. Civil cases make up a large share. These include contract disputes, debt cases, personal injury claims, and property matters. Each civil case creates a file with all the motions, orders, and rulings. Criminal cases in Escambia County come from both felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies go to Circuit Court. Misdemeanors go to County Court. Traffic tickets and small claims are County Court matters too.

Family court records in Escambia County cover divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and name changes. Probate cases deal with wills, estates, and guardianships. All of these create court records that the clerk stores in the county system. Each case gets a unique number and a docket that tracks every filing and hearing. If you need transcripts from a court hearing in Escambia County, you contact the Office of Circuit Court Reporter at 850-595-4409. Transcripts are separate from case file records and cost extra.

Juvenile court records have their own set of rules in Escambia County. Most juvenile cases are not open to the public. You would need a court order to see them in almost all situations. Dependency and delinquency cases that involve minors stay sealed from the regular search tools. Mental health cases also have limits on what the public can view.

Historical Court Records in Escambia County

Escambia County has some of the oldest records in the state. The clerk's office keeps a Historical Deed Book Index with records going all the way back to 1820. These are not court records in the strict sense, but they include legal documents that were filed with the court over the past two centuries. If you need to trace a property dispute or look up an old land record from the early days of the county, this index can help. The records run through 1982 and are available for search through the clerk's office.

For more recent court records, the clerk offers e-recording through several third-party vendors. This service is for people who need to record legal documents with the county, such as deeds, liens, and court orders. Tax deed sales are held each month in Escambia County. Records from these sales are also kept by the clerk and can be looked up through the same office.

Birth and death certificates are not kept by the clerk. If you need those, contact the Florida Department of Vital Statistics at 904-359-6900. Marriage licenses in Escambia County do go through the clerk, but you need to fill out a request form to get copies. The clerk treats all records requests the same way, whether it is for court records or any other type of public record on file in Escambia County.

Note: The Historical Deed Book Index covers 1820 through 1982 and can be searched at the Escambia County Clerk's office in Pensacola.

Filing Court Records in Escambia County

All new court filings in Escambia County must go through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The state requires electronic filing for most case types now. The portal runs around the clock, so you can submit documents at any time. Once you file, the Escambia County Clerk processes the document and adds it to the case record. You can check on your filing through the portal as well.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association connects all 67 county clerks in the state. Their site has links to every county's court records system if you need to look something up outside of Escambia County. The MyFloridaCounty.com portal handles online payments for court fees, traffic fines, and other charges across the state. The Florida Courts main site at flcourts.gov has resources on how the system works from top to bottom.

If you need help with forms or want to file on your own, the Florida Courts Help center has free guides and approved court forms. These forms work in Escambia County and every other county in the state. The 1st Judicial Circuit also has a self-help center at the courthouse where staff can point you the right way, though they cannot give legal advice.

Cities in Escambia County

Pensacola is the county seat and the largest city in Escambia County. All court records for the county are filed at the clerk's office in Pensacola. Other communities in the county include Cantonment, Bellview, Ensley, Brent, Myrtle Grove, Ferry Pass, and Warrington. None of these have a separate court system. Every court case in Escambia County goes through the 1st Judicial Circuit clerk in Pensacola.

Nearby Counties

Escambia County sits at the western tip of the Florida panhandle. Santa Rosa County is the only Florida county that borders it to the east. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check the address where the events took place. Court records only show up in the county where the case was filed.