Liberty County Court Records Search

Liberty County court records are managed by the Clerk of Court in Bristol. This is one of the smallest counties in Florida by population, with around 8,500 residents. The clerk handles all court filings for civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases in Liberty County. Clerk Carla A. Hand runs the office. Court records here are public under Florida law, just like in every other county. You can search for case filings through the CiviTek online portal or visit the clerk's office at the Liberty County Courthouse in Bristol. The low case volume means the clerk's staff can often help you find what you need quickly.

Liberty County Clerk of Court

The Liberty County Clerk of Court is the official custodian of all court records in the county. Clerk Carla A. Hand manages the office at the courthouse in Bristol. You can call the clerk at (850) 643-2215. The office files new cases, stores court documents, and provides copies of records to the public. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records in Liberty County are open unless sealed by a judge or made confidential by a specific law.

Liberty County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit. This circuit includes Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla counties. The circuit court handles felony cases, civil disputes over $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile matters. County court covers misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic cases. Both levels of court records go through the clerk's office in Bristol. Liberty County is small enough that the clerk's staff knows the system well and can help you track down a specific case filing without much trouble.

The Liberty County Clerk website has information on court services and how to access records.

The clerk's site also covers marriage licenses, recording services, and other functions handled by the office in Bristol.

Searching Liberty County Court Records Online

You can search Liberty County court records through the CiviTek online records portal. This system lets you look up court case data by party name, case number, or document type. It covers civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases. The search is free. CiviTek hosts the online system for many of Florida's smaller counties, and Liberty is one of them. If you want to download or print copies of certain documents, there may be a charge.

Search results give you basic case details. Party names, case type, filing date, and status all show up. Some documents may be viewable right on the screen. Others may require a visit to the clerk's office or a written request. Liberty County has a very low filing volume compared to most Florida counties. But the same public access rules still apply. You have a right to look at court records here.

The CiviTek portal for Liberty County provides a simple way to search court records online.

If you cannot find what you need online, contact the clerk at (850) 643-2215. The staff can check for the record and tell you how to get it.

Note: Not all Liberty County court records are in the digital system. Older cases that were filed on paper may only be available at the courthouse in Bristol.

Public Access Rules for Liberty County

Florida Statute 119.0714 says clerks must take out certain personal details before court records go public. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and similar data get redacted in Liberty County, same as everywhere else in Florida. Filers are also on the hook for removing confidential info from their own documents before they hand them to the clerk.

Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 sets the rules for which court records are open and which can be sealed. Most are public. Juvenile records, mental health proceedings, and anything a judge has sealed stay out of public view. If you think Liberty County is wrongly keeping a record from you, Rule 2.420 gives you the right to challenge that. You file a written motion with the court.

Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14 allows courts to post public documents online. Liberty County follows this order. Being a tiny county does not change the legal framework. Your rights to public court records are the same whether the county has 8,000 people or 8 million.

Getting Copies of Court Records

You can get copies of Liberty County court records by visiting the clerk's office in Bristol, sending a mail request, or using the online system for documents that are available there. The clerk charges standard fees set by state law. Certified copies cost more. If you need something for court or a legal matter, get the certified version.

Fee schedule for Liberty County:

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

For mail requests, write to the Liberty County Clerk of Court in Bristol. Include the case number, what documents you need, and payment by check or money order. Call first if you are not sure how much it will cost. The clerk's phone number is (850) 643-2215. New court filings in Florida go through the E-Filing Portal. This is required for most case types under state law.

In a county this small, in-person requests at the clerk's window tend to be the fastest option. There is rarely a long wait.

State Resources for Liberty County

Several statewide tools help with court records searches. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website links to all 67 county clerks. The MyFloridaCounty portal lets you pay court fees and fines online for Liberty County and other counties.

The Appellate Court Information System (ACIS) has free appellate case data. If a Liberty County case was appealed to a higher court, ACIS will have the records. The Florida Courts Help center provides free forms and self-help guides for people going through divorce, custody, small claims, and other common cases without a lawyer.

Note: Liberty County is in the 2nd Judicial Circuit along with Leon, Gadsden, Franklin, Jefferson, and Wakulla counties. Circuit-level calendars and administrative orders may reference all six counties.

Cities in Liberty County

Liberty County is very rural. Bristol is the county seat and the main community. Hosford and Sumatra are smaller settlements. All court records for the county go through the clerk's office in Bristol. There are no cities in Liberty County with a population over 75,000. The entire county has fewer than 9,000 people. Everyone in the county uses the same clerk's office for court record matters.

Nearby Counties

Liberty County is in the Florida panhandle and shares borders with several neighboring counties. Each one has its own clerk and court records system. Double-check that the case you need was filed in Liberty County before searching here.