Find Franklin County Court Records

Franklin County court records are managed by the Clerk of Court in Apalachicola. This small coastal county in the Florida panhandle has a population of about 12,000, making it one of the least populated counties in the state. The clerk handles all civil, criminal, family, and traffic case filings for the county. Clerk Marcia M. Johnson runs the office and manages all court records operations. Florida's public records laws apply here just like everywhere else, so most court records are open to anyone who wants to see them.

Franklin County Clerk of Court

The Franklin County Clerk of Court is the custodian of all court records in the county. Clerk Marcia M. Johnson oversees the office at the Franklin County Courthouse in Apalachicola. You can reach the clerk at (850) 653-8861. The office handles all case filings, court document storage, and the release of public records. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records in Franklin County are public unless a judge has sealed the file or the law makes them confidential.

Franklin County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which also includes Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties. The circuit court handles felony cases, civil cases over $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile matters. County court covers misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic cases. Both levels run through the same clerk's office in Apalachicola. The 2nd Circuit includes Leon County, home of the state capital, but Franklin County is the smallest county in the circuit by population.

The Florida Courts statewide portal provides court records resources that include Franklin County.

You can also use the Florida Courts site to find forms, look up circuit info, and get links to appellate court records.

Franklin County Court Records Search

Franklin County court records can be searched online through the CiviTek online records portal. This system covers civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases filed in Franklin County. You can search by party name, case number, or document type. It is free to search. CiviTek runs the online records system for many of the smaller counties in Florida, and Franklin County is one of them.

The search results show basic case data: party names, case type, filing date, and case status. Some records may be viewable online. Others will need a trip to the clerk's office in Apalachicola or a written request. Franklin County is very small, so the total number of cases in the system is limited. That can make it easier to find what you need, since there are fewer results to sift through. But it also means some older records may not have been digitized yet.

For broader searches, the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers site links to every county clerk in the state. The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal can also be useful for finding case data across Florida counties.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website connects all 67 county clerks across the state.

If you have trouble finding a Franklin County record online, call the clerk at (850) 653-8861. The staff can tell you if the record is on file and what it will cost to get a copy.

Note: Franklin County's online records database may not include every historical case, especially those filed before the county adopted its current digital system.

Public Access to Franklin County Records

Court records in Franklin County follow the same public access rules that apply to all Florida counties. Florida Statute 119.0714 requires clerks to redact sensitive personal information from public records. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and dates of birth get stripped out before records go public. Anyone filing a document is also expected to remove confidential data before submitting it to the clerk.

Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 governs which court records are open and which can be restricted. Most are public. Juvenile cases, mental health proceedings, and records sealed by a judge are exceptions. Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14 lets courts post public documents online. Franklin County follows this order, though the volume of records posted is small given the county's tiny population.

If you believe a Franklin County court record has been wrongly restricted, you have the right to challenge that under Rule 2.420. You file a written request with the court explaining why the record should be open. The judge then makes the call on whether to release it. This process is the same in Franklin County as it is in any other county in Florida.

Getting Copies of Franklin County Court Records

You can get copies of Franklin County court records by visiting the clerk's office in Apalachicola. Walk-in requests are processed the fastest. You can also send a written request by mail. The clerk charges fees set by Florida statute for copies and certifications.

Standard fees in Franklin County include:

• Plain copies: $1.00 per page
• Certification fee: $2.00 per document
• Search fee: $2.00 per year per name

For mail requests, write to the Franklin County Clerk of Court in Apalachicola. Include the case number, what documents you need, and a check or money order. Call first if you need an estimate. Mail requests can take a week or more. E-filing is required for most new court filings in Florida, so use the E-Filing Portal to submit new documents instead of mailing them.

Note: If you live far from Apalachicola, the mail or online route may be your best bet. Franklin County is not easy to get to from most parts of the state.

State Resources for Franklin County

State-level tools can help with Franklin County court records. The MyFloridaCounty portal handles online payments for court fees. The Appellate Court Information System (ACIS) provides free access to all Florida appellate court data, including any Franklin County cases that were appealed to a higher court.

The Florida Courts Help center has free forms and self-help guides for people representing themselves. These cover common case types like divorce, custody, and small claims. The Florida Courts main site links to resources for every judicial circuit, including the 2nd Circuit that serves Franklin County. These tools can help you understand the court system and find what you need before you contact the clerk's office in Apalachicola.

Cities in Franklin County

Franklin County is one of the smallest counties in Florida by population. Apalachicola is the county seat and largest town. Other communities include Carrabelle, Eastpoint, and Lanark Village. All court records for Franklin County are filed and stored at the clerk's office in Apalachicola. There are no major cities with separate pages in Franklin County, but every resident is served by the same clerk's office regardless of where they live in the county.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County borders Gulf County to the west, Liberty County to the north, and Wakulla County to the east. Each county has its own clerk and court records system. Confirm your case was filed in Franklin County before you search here. Records from a neighboring county will not show up in the Franklin County system.