Find Jefferson County Court Records
Jefferson County court records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Monticello. This is one of the smallest counties in Florida by population, with roughly 14,500 residents. It sits east of Tallahassee in the Big Bend region. The clerk handles all civil, criminal, family, and traffic case filings. Court records are public under Florida law unless sealed by a judge or exempted by statute. Clerk Cary Youmans manages the office. You can search Jefferson County case records through the CiviTek online portal or go to the courthouse in Monticello.
Jefferson County Quick Facts
Jefferson County Clerk of Court
The Jefferson County Clerk of Court is the official custodian of all court records in the county. The office is at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Monticello, Florida. You can reach the clerk by phone at (850) 342-0218. The office handles case filings, maintains court documents, and provides copies of records to the public. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records in Jefferson County are open to the public unless sealed by a judge or made confidential by law.
Jefferson County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit along with Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties. This circuit includes Tallahassee and the surrounding area. The circuit court handles felony cases, civil cases above $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile matters. The county court in Jefferson covers misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic cases. Both levels share the same clerk's office. Being close to Tallahassee, Jefferson County sometimes gets cases with connections to state government, though most filings are standard local matters.
The Jefferson County Clerk of Court website is the starting point for court records and clerk services.
The site also covers recording services, marriage licenses, and other functions for Jefferson County residents.
| Office | Jefferson County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Cary Youmans |
| Phone | (850) 342-0218 |
| Website | jeffersonclerk.com |
Jefferson County Court Records Search
Jefferson County court records can be searched online through the CiviTek online records portal. This is the main tool for looking up case filings in Jefferson County. You can search by party name, case number, or document type. The system covers civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases. Searching is free. Fees may apply if you need copies of documents. CiviTek runs the online records system for many of Florida's smaller counties, and Jefferson is one of them.
Search results show basic case info including party names, case type, filing date, and status. Some documents may be viewable directly from the search results. Others could require a trip to the clerk's office in Monticello or a mail request. Jefferson County has a very low case volume given its small population. Searches tend to be quick and simple. A full name or case number will give you the most accurate results.
The CiviTek online portal for Jefferson County gives public access to court case records.
If you have trouble finding a record online, call the clerk at (850) 342-0218. The staff is familiar with all the records on file and can help you track down what you need.
Note: Jefferson County's online records system may not include all historical case filings. Records from before the digital transition might only be available in paper form at the courthouse in Monticello.
Public Access to Jefferson County Records
Court records in Jefferson County are subject to Florida's public access laws. Florida Statute Section 119.0714 requires the clerk to redact certain personal details from records before they are released. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and other sensitive information get taken out. Filers in Jefferson County also have to remove confidential data from documents before they submit them to the clerk.
Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 governs which court records are public and which can be sealed or restricted. The vast majority of court records are open. Juvenile cases, certain mental health proceedings, and records sealed by court order are the main exceptions. If you believe a Jefferson County court record is being wrongly withheld from public access, Rule 2.420 allows you to challenge that. You file a written request with the court explaining your reasons.
Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14 lets Florida courts post public court documents on the internet. Jefferson County participates in this process. The online collection is smaller than what you would find in a large county, but the legal rights are exactly the same. A public record in Jefferson County carries the same access rights as one in any other Florida county.
Getting Copies of Jefferson County Court Records
You can get copies of Jefferson County court records by visiting the clerk's office in Monticello, using the online portal, or submitting a mail request. The clerk charges standard fees set by state law. Certified copies cost more than regular copies. For legal matters, you will usually need the certified version. In-person visits to the Monticello courthouse are the fastest way to get copies.
Standard copy fees:
- Plain copies: $1.00 per page
- Certification fee: $2.00 per document
- Search fee: $2.00 per year per name
To make a mail request, write to the Jefferson County Clerk of Court in Monticello. Include the case number, the documents you want, and a check or money order. Call the office first if you need a fee estimate. Mail requests can take a week or more. New filings must go through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal in most cases. That is the standard way to submit new documents in Jefferson County.
Note: Jefferson County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which includes Leon County and Tallahassee. Some circuit resources and forms reference all counties in the circuit together.
State Resources for Jefferson County
Several statewide tools can help with Jefferson County court records. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website links to all 67 county clerks in Florida. The MyFloridaCounty portal handles online payments for court fees and fines in Jefferson County and throughout the state.
The Appellate Court Information System (ACIS) gives free access to case data from Florida's District Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court. If a Jefferson County case went up on appeal, you can follow it through ACIS. The Florida Courts Help center provides free forms and self-help guides. These cover common case types like divorce, custody, and small claims. Given Jefferson County's proximity to Tallahassee, some residents may also access the 2nd Circuit's resources available through the Leon County court system for circuit-level information.
Cities in Jefferson County
Jefferson County is one of Florida's smallest counties. Monticello is the county seat and the only incorporated city. Other communities include Lamont, Wacissa, and Aucilla. All court records for Jefferson County are filed and stored at the clerk's office in Monticello. There are no major cities with separate pages in Jefferson County, but the clerk's office serves all residents throughout the county.
Nearby Counties
Jefferson County sits between Leon County (Tallahassee) to the west and Madison County to the east. It also borders Taylor and Wakulla counties. Each has its own clerk and court records system. Use the links below if you need records from a different county.