Bradford County court records are official documents that show what happens in court cases filed in Starke, Florida. These records cover civil lawsuits, criminal charges, family law matters, probate cases, traffic tickets, and small claims.
The Bradford County Clerk of Court keeps every one of these files. Anyone can look at most of these records because Florida law makes court files open to the public. You can search them online, visit the clerk’s office in person, or send a request by mail. This page explains exactly how to do each of those things, what records exist, what they cost, and what to do when a record is sealed or missing.
Who Holds Bradford County Court Records
The Bradford County Clerk of Court stores every court file for the county. Clerk Ray Norman runs the office. The office sits in the Bradford County Courthouse at 945 North Temple Avenue, Starke, Florida 32091. The clerk’s office answers the phone at (904) 966-6280. Office hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office closes on state and federal holidays.
The clerk handles two main court systems. The Circuit Court hears felonies, large civil lawsuits, divorce, custody, probate, and juvenile cases. The County Court hears misdemeanors, small claims under $8,000, traffic tickets, and county ordinance cases. Both courts send all their files to the same clerk. That means one office holds every case filed in the county.
| Office | Bradford County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 945 North Temple Avenue, Starke, FL 32091 |
| Phone | (904) 966-6280 |
| Website | bradfordclerk.com |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday |
| Clerk | Ray Norman |
Types of Bradford County Court Records You Can Search
Bradford County court records fall into several main groups. Each group has its own search rules and its own file types. Knowing the type of case you need helps you pick the right search method.
Civil Court Records
Bradford County civil court records cover disputes between people or businesses. These include contract fights, property disputes, personal injury claims, debt collection, and landlord-tenant cases. Civil cases in Bradford County have a case number that starts with the year, followed by a sequence like “2024-CA-000123.” You can search these records by party name or by case number through the online portal.
Criminal Court Records
Bradford County criminal court records include felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Felony cases are heard in circuit court and carry case numbers that start with “CF.” Misdemeanor cases are heard in county court and carry case numbers that start with “MM.” Traffic infractions use case numbers that start with “TR.” Each case file includes the charging document, court orders, plea agreements, and the final judgment or sentence.
Family Court Records
Bradford County family court records cover divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, paternity, and domestic violence injunctions. Most family court files are open to the public. Some parts of the file, like financial affidavits and parenting plans, may be sealed by a judge. Adoption records in Bradford County are almost always sealed.
Probate Court Records
Bradford County probate court records cover wills, estates, guardianships, and mental health proceedings. Probate cases are filed when someone dies with or without a will. The file includes the petition, the will, the inventory of assets, and the final order distributing the estate to heirs. Guardianship cases cover both minor children and adults who cannot manage their own affairs.
Traffic Court Records
Bradford County traffic court records include speeding tickets, careless driving, driving with a suspended license, and DUI charges. Most traffic cases result in a fine, a payment, or traffic school. If the driver fights the ticket, the case goes to a hearing and shows up in the court file.
Small Claims Court Records
Bradford County small claims court records cover disputes for $8,000 or less. Common small claims cases in Bradford County include unpaid bills, security deposit disputes, and minor property damage. Small claims cases move quickly and many never go to trial. They still produce a public record with the final judgment.
Appellate Court Records
When a party loses a case in Bradford County and appeals, the appeal goes to a Florida District Court of Appeal. The appellate record for a Bradford County case sits with the appellate court, not the county clerk. The Florida Appellate Court Information System (ACIS) hosts these records. The original trial court file stays in Starke, but the appeal paperwork moves to the appellate court in Tallahassee, Lakeland, or another city.
How to Search Bradford County Court Records Online
The fastest way to look at Bradford County court records is online. The clerk’s office uses the CiviTek Florida online records portal. This portal is free to use. You do not need an account. You can search by party name, case number, or case type.
Step 1: Go to the Search Portal
Open the CiviTek Florida online records portal at civitekflorida.com/ocrs/county/4. This is the direct link to Bradford County case search. The page loads with a search box.
Step 2: Pick a Search Type
The portal gives you three ways to search. You can search by name, by case number, or by case type. Name search works when you know the full legal name of a party. Case number search works when you have the exact case number from another document. Case type search lets you look at all cases in one category, like “civil” or “criminal.”
Step 3: Enter Your Search Terms
Type the last name first, then the first name, for a party name search. For best results, use the full legal name. Nicknames and partial names may miss cases. If you know the case number, type it exactly as it appears on any document you already have. Include the dashes and the year prefix.
Step 4: Review the Results
The portal returns a list of cases that match your search. Each result shows the case number, the filing date, the case type, the party names, and the current status. Click on a case number to see the full case detail page. The detail page lists every document filed in the case, with dates and document types.
Step 5: View or Print Documents
Some documents are viewable as PDF files inside the portal. Other documents show a note that says “View at Clerk’s Office.” That note means the document is not on the public website. You can get those documents by visiting the clerk in Starke or sending a mail request. The portal does not charge a fee to view online records. You pay only when you want a printed or certified copy.
Note: Bradford County’s online records may not include all older case filings that were created before the digital system was put in place.
How to Search Bradford County Court Records in Person
Some records are not online. To get those, visit the clerk’s office in Starke. The clerk has public access terminals in the lobby. You can use these terminals to search the same database you would use online. The terminal staff can help you find older records that predate the digital system.
Bring a photo ID. You will sign in at the front desk. The clerk will point you to a terminal or pull the file from the records room. Files from before 1990 are usually stored on microfilm. The clerk can pull a microfilm reel and print copies for you on the spot. Most in-person searches take less than 30 minutes if you know the name or case number you need.
How to Request Bradford County Court Records by Mail
You can request records by mail if you live far from Starke. Send a written request to the Bradford County Clerk of Court at 945 North Temple Avenue, Starke, FL 32091. Your letter must include:
- The full name of the party in the case
- The case number, if you know it
- The type of case (civil, criminal, family, etc.)
- The year the case was filed
- A list of the specific documents you need
- Your contact information
- A check or money order for the copy fees
Make the check or money order payable to “Bradford County Clerk of Court.” Mail requests usually take 7 to 10 business days to process. The clerk will mail the copies back to you. Call (904) 966-6280 before sending your letter to confirm the exact fee amount. Fees can change without notice.
Fees for Bradford County Court Records
The fees for court records in Bradford County are set by Florida law. The clerk charges the same fees for every Florida county. Here is a list of the most common fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plain copy, per page | $1.00 |
| Certified copy, per document | $2.00 (plus copy fee) |
| Name search, per name per year | $2.00 |
| Microfilm printing, per page | $1.00 |
| Federal Express shipping (optional) | Actual cost |
Certified copies carry the official clerk’s seal. Courts, government agencies, and most legal filings require certified copies. A plain copy is fine for personal use or background research. The clerk accepts cash, check, money order, and most major credit cards in person. Online payments go through the MyFloridaCounty portal.
Which Records Are Sealed or Confidential
Most Bradford County court records are public, but some are not. Florida law seals certain records automatically. Other records can be sealed by a judge’s order. You will not find these records in the online portal, and the clerk will not give you copies without a court order.
Records that are sealed or confidential include:
- Adoption records (both old and new)
- Juvenile delinquency cases (most of them)
- Mental health commitment records
- Records sealed by court order under Florida Rule 2.420
- Records sealed under Florida Statute 943.059 (expunged criminal cases)
- Personal information like Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and minor children’s names
If you need a sealed record, you must file a motion with the court that issued the original sealing order. The judge will decide whether to unseal the record. You can also ask the clerk’s office for a Certificate of Eligibility if you are trying to expunge or seal your own criminal record.
Record Retention Schedule in Bradford County
Bradford County follows the Florida records retention schedule set by the Department of State. Most court records are kept forever, but some are destroyed after a set period. Felony case files are kept permanently. Misdemeanor case files are kept for 20 years after the final judgment. Traffic infraction records are kept for 5 years. Small claims case files are kept for 10 years.
Probate files are kept permanently. Family court files are kept for 20 years after the final judgment, except adoption files, which are kept permanently and sealed. Older records that are no longer on the public portal may still exist on microfilm at the clerk’s office. Records that have hit their destruction date are shredded or burned by the clerk’s office. Once a record is destroyed, there is no way to recover it.
Statewide Resources for Bradford County Court Records
Several state-level tools can help you search Bradford County court records. These tools are free and run by Florida state agencies.
MyFlCourtAccess Portal
MyFlCourtAccess.com is the official statewide court record portal. It covers many Florida counties, including Bradford. The portal lets you search for cases by name or case number and see basic case details. It also lets you file new documents in Bradford County cases through the e-filing system.
Appellate Court Information System (ACIS)
ACIS.flcourts.gov is the portal for Florida appellate courts. If a Bradford County case was appealed to a District Court of Appeal or the Florida Supreme Court, the appellate record sits in ACIS. You can search by case number, party name, or lower tribunal (the Bradford County court that heard the original case).
Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers
FLClerks.com links to every county clerk in Florida. You can use it to find the right clerk’s office if you are not sure which county a case was filed in. The site also explains statewide rules for court records and fees.
Florida Courts Help Center
Help.FLCourts.gov is the self-help portal for people who are representing themselves in Florida courts. It has free court forms for divorce, custody, small claims, and other common case types. The forms are pre-approved by the Florida Supreme Court and work in Bradford County. Using the right form helps you avoid filing mistakes that delay your case.
How to Correct an Error in a Bradford County Court Record
If you spot an error in a Bradford County court record, you can ask the clerk to correct it. Common errors include misspellings, wrong dates, and wrong party names. Bring a photo ID and the document that shows the correct information. The clerk can fix clerical errors on the spot.
For errors in the court’s ruling or judgment, you must file a motion with the judge. The judge will decide whether to correct the record. This process is called a “Motion to Correct Clerical Error” or a “Motion to Vacate” depending on the type of mistake. The clerk cannot change a judge’s order without a court order.
Electronic Filing in Bradford County
Most new court filings in Bradford County must go through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Attorneys are required to file electronically. Self-represented parties (people without a lawyer) can file electronically or on paper. The e-filing portal accepts civil, criminal, family, and probate filings. There is a small convenience fee for each filing, usually under $10.
Once a document is e-filed, it shows up in the court file the same day. You can then search for it in the public portal. Documents filed by mail or in person also appear in the portal, but they take one to two extra business days to process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bradford County Court Records
These answers cover the questions real users ask most often about searching, copying, and using Bradford County court records. Each answer is based on Florida law and the current clerk’s office policies.
How do I find a criminal case in Bradford County?
Go to the CiviTek Florida portal at civitekflorida.com/ocrs/county/4. Type the defendant’s full legal name in the name search box. Pick “Criminal” as the case type. The portal returns a list of all criminal cases for that person. Click the case number to see the full case detail page, including the charges, court dates, and final judgment. If you do not know the exact spelling, try partial name searches with just the last name and a wildcard.
Can I see juvenile records in Bradford County?
No, most juvenile records in Bradford County are not public. Florida law seals juvenile delinquency cases. Only the minor, the minor’s parents, the prosecutor, the defense lawyer, and the judge can see the file. If you are a victim in a juvenile case, the court can release some information to you with a court order. The clerk cannot give you a copy of a sealed juvenile file without that order.
Are divorce records public in Bradford County?
Yes, most divorce records are public. You can search for divorce cases through the CiviTek portal or the MyFlCourtAccess portal. The final judgment of divorce is part of the public file. Some financial documents in a divorce case, like bank statements and tax returns, may be sealed by the judge. The clerk can tell you which documents in a specific case are sealed.
How long does it take to get a certified copy of a court record?
In-person requests for certified copies take about 10 to 15 minutes if the file is in the office. Mail requests take 7 to 10 business days. Online certified copy requests through the MyFloridaCounty portal are processed the same day for most documents. Older files on microfilm may take longer, because the clerk has to pull and scan the reel first.
Can I search for someone who was arrested in Bradford County?
Yes, arrest records appear in the criminal case file. If the arrest led to charges, the case number will show up in the online portal. If the arrest did not lead to charges, the arrest record sits with the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office, not the clerk. You can request an arrest record from the sheriff’s office at 945-B North Temple Avenue, Starke, FL 32091, or by calling (904) 966-6380.
What is the difference between sealed and expunged records?
A sealed record still exists but cannot be seen by the public. An expunged record is destroyed by the clerk’s office. Florida law allows certain people to seal or expunge their criminal records if they qualify. The process starts with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which issues a Certificate of Eligibility. You then file the certificate with the Bradford County Clerk of Court and ask a judge to sign the sealing order.
Can I use Bradford County court records for a background check?
Yes, you can use Bradford County court records to do your own background check. The public portal lets you search criminal and civil cases by name. For a formal background check for employment or licensing, you usually need a fingerprint-based check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the FBI. Court records show case outcomes, but they do not always show every arrest or police interaction.
Contact Bradford County Clerk of Court
For questions about court records, fees, or searches, contact the clerk’s office directly. The office is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also visit bradfordclerk.com to search records online or download forms.
Bradford County Clerk of Court
945 North Temple Avenue
Starke, FL 32091
Phone: (904) 966-6280
Website: bradfordclerk.com