Liberty County court records are the official files that hold every legal action filed inside this small Florida panhandle county. They cover criminal charges, civil lawsuits, family cases, probate matters, traffic tickets, small claims, and appeals.
These records stay open to the public under Florida law. Anyone can look at them, copy them, or request certified copies for a small fee. The Bristol courthouse, run by Clerk Carla A. Hand, keeps every original document on file.
Liberty County sits in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. The circuit shares its court structure with five other counties: Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla. The total population sits near 8,500 people. The county seat is Bristol. Because the area is so small, the clerk’s office handles a low number of new filings each year. Staff members often know the records by name and can pull a file fast.
Who Maintains Liberty County Court Records
The Liberty County Clerk of Court acts as the official record keeper. Clerk Carla A. Hand leads the office. She took office in January 2025 after winning the 2024 election. Her staff files new cases, scans old ones, and hands out copies to the public. The office sits inside the Liberty County Courthouse at 10818 NW State Road 20, Bristol, FL 32321.
Florida law gives the clerk full custody of all court paperwork. This duty covers circuit court cases, county court cases, and sealed files. The clerk also records deeds, marriage licenses, and other public documents. For court records, the office works under Florida Statute Chapter 119 and Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420. These two laws set the rules for what the public can see and what stays hidden.
| Office | Liberty County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Carla A. Hand |
| Phone | (850) 643-2215 |
| Address | 10818 NW State Road 20, Bristol, FL 32321 |
| Website | libertyclerk.com |
| Hours | Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CT |
Types of Records You Can Search
Liberty County court records cover a wide range of case types. Each type has its own division, its own filing rules, and its own search method. The clerk’s office files all of them at the same location in Bristol.
Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records include felony cases handled by the circuit court and misdemeanor cases handled by the county court. A felony record shows the arrest, charges, arraignment, plea, trial dates, sentencing, and any appeals. A misdemeanor record follows the same path for lower-level charges. Records also list motions filed by lawyers, bond hearings, and probation orders. Search these by the defendant’s full legal name or the case number. The clerk redacts social security numbers and home addresses before the public sees the file.
Civil Case Records
Civil case records cover lawsuits between two private parties. They include contract disputes, personal injury claims, property fights, debt collection, and injury damages. The circuit court hears cases where the amount in question tops $50,000. County court hears smaller civil cases. Each civil file contains the complaint, the answer, motions, evidence lists, and the final judgment. You can search by the plaintiff’s name, the defendant’s name, or the case number. Most civil files are open to the public.
Family Court Records
Family court records cover divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, paternity, and domestic violence injunctions. The 2nd Judicial Circuit’s family division handles these cases in Liberty County. A divorce file contains the petition, financial affidavits, parenting plans, and the final judgment. Adoption files are sealed by law. Paternity files open after the court enters a final order. Domestic violence injunction files stay sealed if the judge rules the petitioner’s safety depends on it. You can ask the clerk to search by the party’s full name and the year of filing.
Probate Court Records
Probate court records deal with wills, estates, guardianships, and mental health commitments. After someone dies, the personal representative files a petition to open the estate. The file lists heirs, the will, inventory of assets, debts, and the final distribution. Guardianship files cover both minor children and adults who cannot manage their own affairs. Mental health commitment records are sealed under Florida law. Most probate files open to the public once the judge signs the order admitting the will or appointing the guardian.
Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records cover traffic infractions, DUI charges, and driving license suspensions. A speeding ticket counts as a civil infraction, not a crime, in Florida. A DUI charge is a criminal case and follows the criminal court path. The file shows the citation, the plea, fine payments, and any traffic school completion. You can search traffic records by the driver’s name, the citation number, or the case number. Older tickets filed on paper before 2010 may not appear in the online system. Those files need a visit to the courthouse or a written request.
Small Claims Court Records
Small claims court records cover civil disputes for $8,000 or less. Landlords use small claims for unpaid rent. Consumers use it for defective products. Creditors use it for unpaid bills. A small claims file includes the statement of claim, the defendant’s response, hearing notes, and the court’s judgment. The county court division handles these cases in Liberty County. The filing fee for a small claims case in Florida is set by state law. You can look at small claims records the same way you look at other civil cases.
Appellate Court Records
Appellate court records are not kept by the Liberty County Clerk. When a party loses at the trial court and files an appeal, the case moves to the Florida District Court of Appeal. The 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee handles most Liberty County appeals. The appellate file lives in the appellate court’s clerk office, not in Bristol. The Florida Appellate Case Information System (ACIS) hosts these records online for free. A Liberty County felony conviction that gets appealed appears in ACIS, not in the Bristol clerk’s system.
Online Search Tools for Liberty County Court Records
Two main online tools let you search Liberty County court records from home. Each tool works a little differently. Each one covers a different set of case types.
CiviTek Florida Portal
The CiviTek Florida portal hosts the Liberty County online records search. You can reach it at civitekflorida.com/ocrs/county/39. The portal covers civil, criminal, family, traffic, and small claims cases. Search by party name, case number, or filing date. The portal is free to use. You see case type, party names, filing date, judge, and current status. Some documents appear as scanned images on screen. Others need a copy request through the clerk.
The CiviTek system covers cases filed after 2010 in most cases. Paper files from earlier years may not appear in the search. For old records, the clerk can pull the physical file for a search fee.
MyFloridaCourtAccess E-Filing Portal
The MyFloridaCourtAccess portal serves lawyers and self-represented filers. It handles new filings, not historical searches. Lawyers use it to file new lawsuits, motions, and responses. Self-represented filers can also use it for most case types. The portal sits at myflcourtaccess.com. You need an account to file documents. The system charges a small fee per filing, set by state law.
Appellate Case Search (ACIS)
ACIS is the Florida appellate court search system. It covers cases from the Florida Supreme Court, the five District Courts of Appeal, and some administrative tribunals. Use ACIS to look up Liberty County cases that went to appeal. Search at acis.flcourts.gov. The system is free. You search by case number, party name, or lower tribunal case number.
Liberty County Clerk Website
The Liberty County Clerk website sits at libertyclerk.com. The site links to the CiviTek search portal. It also lists clerk services, fee schedules, and forms. Visitors to the site can read about marriage licenses, recording services, and court fees. The site does not host records directly. It points users to the right search tool.
How to Request Records by Mail or Phone
People who cannot visit the Bristol courthouse in person can still get records. The clerk accepts mail requests and phone inquiries.
Mail Requests
Send a written request to the Liberty County Clerk of Court, 10818 NW State Road 20, Bristol, FL 32321. Include the full name of the party, the case number (if you know it), the type of document you need, and the number of copies. Include a check or money order for the correct fee. Do not send cash through the mail. The clerk mails the copies back to you. Mail requests take about 5 to 10 business days. Call the clerk at (850) 643-2215 to confirm the fee before you send payment.
Phone Requests
Call the clerk at (850) 643-2215 for simple case lookups. Staff can confirm whether a case exists, the case number, the next hearing date, and the final judgment. They cannot read full case files over the phone. For a full file, you need a written request or an in-person visit.
Fees for Copies and Certified Records
Florida law sets standard fees for clerk services. Liberty County follows the same fee schedule as every other Florida county.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plain copy (per page) | $1.00 |
| Certified copy (per document) | $2.00 |
| Search fee (per name per year) | $2.00 |
| Fax filing fee | $8.00 (first 5 pages), $1.00 per page after |
| Authentication of record | $2.00 per document |
Certified copies cost more than plain copies. A certified copy carries the clerk’s seal and works in court, for immigration, for title transfers, and for other legal matters. A plain copy works for personal review. Payment methods include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card. Some online services charge an extra processing fee for card payments.
Which Records Stay Sealed
Not every court record opens to the public. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 lists the cases that stay sealed. Sealed records include:
- Adoption files
- Mental health commitment orders
- Juvenile delinquency records
- Dependency records (child welfare)
- Domestic violence injunctions when the judge orders sealing
- Sexual assault victim identities
- Trade secrets filed in civil cases
- Records sealed by specific statute
Sealed records cannot be opened without a court order. A person named in a sealed file can file a motion to unseal the record. The judge holds a hearing and decides based on the facts. A member of the public cannot view a sealed record, even with a written request.
Redaction Rules for Public Records
Florida Statute 119.0714 tells clerks to remove certain personal details from public records. The clerk redacts the same data in Liberty County as in every other Florida county. Redacted items include:
- Social security numbers
- Bank account numbers
- Credit card numbers
- Debit card numbers
- Tax identification numbers
- Passport numbers
- Driver license numbers (in some case types)
- Home addresses of certain protected parties
Filers are also responsible for removing confidential information from their own documents. A lawyer who files a motion with a client’s social security number must redact that number before filing. The clerk checks for redaction but does not catch every error. A party who fails to redact confidential data may face sanctions from the judge.
Statewide Resources for Liberty County Records
Several statewide tools help people who need court records from Liberty County. These tools are free to use.
Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers
The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website lists every county clerk in Florida. Visit flclerks.com to find the link to Liberty County and all 66 other counties. The site explains clerk services, fee schedules, and statewide policies. The site also hosts a link to the statewide court records search tools.
MyFloridaCounty Portal
The MyFloridaCounty portal lets people pay traffic tickets, criminal fines, and civil court fees online. Visit myfloridacounty.com. The portal accepts payments for Liberty County cases and cases from any other Florida county. The portal charges a small convenience fee for card payments.
Florida Courts Help Center
The Florida Courts Help Center provides free legal forms and self-help guides. Visit help.flcourts.gov. The center helps people who file family cases, small claims cases, and other civil matters without a lawyer. The site offers court forms, instructions, and video guides. It does not give legal advice. It points users to local legal aid offices for free legal help.
Florida Supreme Court Case Search
The Florida Supreme Court case search covers cases that went to the state’s highest court. A Liberty County case can reach the Supreme Court only after going through the District Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court case search sits on the court’s website. The search is free.
Cities and Communities Served
Liberty County has a small population. Bristol serves as the county seat. The clerk’s office in Bristol handles records for every person in the county. Other communities in Liberty County include Hosford, Sumatra, and Telogia. None of these communities has a population above 1,000. There are no cities in Liberty County with a population above 75,000. Every court record filed anywhere in the county goes to the same clerk’s office.
Surrounding Counties
Liberty County borders several other Florida panhandle counties. Each neighboring county has its own clerk and its own records system. A case filed in the wrong county will not show up in the Liberty County search. Double-check the county before you start your search.
- Gadsden County – lies to the east, county seat Quincy
- Franklin County – lies to the south, county seat Apalachicola
- Gulf County – lies to the southwest, county seat Port St. Joe
- Calhoun County – lies to the west, county seat Blountstown
- Leon County – lies to the southeast, county seat Tallahassee
- Wakulla County – lies to the southeast, county seat Crawfordville
- Jackson County – lies to the northwest, county seat Marianna
Each county keeps its own records. The 2nd Judicial Circuit covers Liberty, Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla counties. Circuit-wide orders may apply across all six counties.
Contact Details for the Liberty County Clerk
Reach the Liberty County Clerk of Court using the contact details listed below. The office sits inside the Liberty County Courthouse on State Road 20 in Bristol. Public parking is available next to the building. The clerk accepts in-person requests during business hours.
Liberty County Clerk of Court
10818 NW State Road 20, Bristol, FL 32321
Phone: (850) 643-2215
Website: libertyclerk.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the most common search requests, fee questions, and record questions people ask about Liberty County court records. Each answer gives direct, citation-ready information that solves a specific user problem.
How much does it cost to search Liberty County court records online?
The CiviTek online portal is free to search. You do not pay a fee to look up a case. You pay a fee only when you want a copy of a document. A plain copy runs $1.00 per page. A certified copy runs $2.00 per document on top of the page fee. The clerk charges a $2.00 search fee per name per year if staff need to look through files for you.
Can I view sealed records in Liberty County?
No. Sealed records stay closed to the public. Only the parties named in the case, their lawyers, and certain government agencies can view a sealed file. A member of the public cannot view adoption files, mental health commitment records, sealed juvenile records, or domestic violence injunctions marked sealed. To view a sealed file, you must file a written motion and get a court order.
How do I find a criminal case by name in Liberty County?
Use the CiviTek Florida portal at civitekflorida.com/ocrs/county/39. Type the defendant’s full legal name into the search box. Add a date range if you know it. The search returns the case number, charges, filing date, judge, and current status. For records not in the online system, call the clerk at (850) 643-2215 or visit the Bristol courthouse.
What is the difference between the circuit court and the county court in Liberty County?
The circuit court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile cases. The county court handles misdemeanors, county civil cases, small claims, and traffic infractions. Both courts sit in the same Bristol courthouse. The clerk’s office files records for both courts under one roof.
Can I get court records from a Liberty County appeal?
Appealed cases move out of Liberty County. The appeal goes to the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee. The appellate clerk keeps the record. Search those cases through the ACIS system at acis.flcourts.gov. The original trial court record stays in Bristol. You can request the trial record from the Liberty County Clerk and the appeal record from ACIS.
Are traffic tickets public in Liberty County?
Yes. Traffic tickets count as public records in Florida. The clerk files the citation, the plea, fine payments, and any traffic school completion. The file opens to the public after the judge enters a final order. You can search traffic cases through the CiviTek portal. Redacted items still follow the same state law rules.
What happens if a record is wrong in the Liberty County system?
File a written motion to correct the record with the court. The motion must show the error and attach proof of the correct data. The judge holds a hearing and signs an order to fix the record. The clerk updates the file based on the court order. Clerks cannot change a record on their own. Only a judge can order a correction.
How long does the clerk keep court records in Liberty County?
Florida law sets the retention schedule for court records. The clerk keeps permanent records like judgments, marriage licenses, and probate files forever. Other records have shorter retention periods. Misdemeanor case files stay for 5 years after the case closes. Traffic infractions stay for 5 years. Civil case files stay for 10 years. Felony case files stay for 20 years. The clerk may move older files to off-site storage but must produce them for public review.