Washington County Court Docket Records

Washington County court docket records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Chipley. The 14th Judicial Circuit covers Washington along with Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, and Jackson counties in the Florida panhandle. You can search court docket entries for civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases at the clerk's office or through statewide online portals. Washington County is a small, rural county in northwest Florida with a tight-knit community. The clerk handles all local case filings and stores docket data for the public. Access to these records is guaranteed by Florida's open records law.

Washington County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of the Circuit Court in Washington County keeps all court docket records. This office files new cases, tracks hearing dates, stores court documents, and maintains docket entries. Staff can help you find case files and make copies. The Washington County Clerk also handles official records including deeds, liens, and marriage licenses.

Washington County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit along with Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, and Jackson counties. The courthouse in Chipley is the hub for all court business in Washington County. It is a smaller county, so the clerk's office handles fewer cases than metro areas. That often means less wait time for record requests. The Washington County Clerk website has contact info and may provide tools for online court docket access.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website describes the role of clerks across all 67 Florida counties, including Washington.

This resource explains how Florida's clerks manage court docket records and other public services.

Search Washington County Court Dockets

You can search court docket records in Washington County online or at the courthouse. The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal covers all 67 counties including Washington. This statewide system serves more than 770,000 users and processes over 30 million documents per year. It is free to check case status and view docket entries. You can search Washington County court docket records from home.

Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court docket records in Washington County are open to the public. Anyone can view them. You do not need a reason. The clerk must provide access in a timely way. The ACIS portal handles appellate court docket records from the Florida Supreme Court and all six District Courts of Appeal. Public searches on the ACIS system do not require registration.

For in-person searches, visit the clerk's office at the Washington County courthouse in Chipley. Bring a case number or party name. Staff can pull up court docket records and make copies during business hours. Certified copies cost more than plain ones but carry official weight for legal use.

Note: Some Washington County court docket records are restricted under Rule 2.420 and Administrative Order AOSC24-65.

Public Access to Washington Court Dockets

Florida law makes court docket records in Washington County open to the public. Chapter 119 of the statutes says all state, county, and municipal records are available for personal inspection and copying. Providing access is a duty of the clerk's office. Putting records online cannot reduce the right to see them. Both paper and electronic court docket files in Washington County fall under this protection.

The Florida Supreme Court issued Administrative Order AOSC24-65 to govern electronic access to court records. It defines 15 user roles. The general public can see case numbers, party names, and docket entries without creating an account. Sealed, expunged, and confidential records are not available to the public. Family, juvenile, and probate case images in Washington County need registration or an in-person visit to view under Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers lists all 67 county clerks, including Washington.

The MyFloridaCounty portal lets you search official records across Florida counties. Deeds, liens, and other documents there may relate to court docket cases in Washington County.

Washington County Court Resources

The 14th Judicial Circuit covers Washington, Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, and Jackson counties. Circuit courts hear felonies, family law, probate, guardianship, and civil cases over $50,000. County courts handle traffic offenses, misdemeanors, small claims up to $8,000, and civil disputes up to $50,000. Both court levels produce docket entries the Washington County Clerk stores and maintains.

The Florida Courts website has links to all 20 judicial circuits and provides self-help resources for people in Washington County who handle their own cases. The circuit courts page shows the circuit structure. File documents through the E-Filing Portal at any time of day. For help, call (850) 577-4609 during weekday business hours.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Washington County. Court docket records stay in the county where the case was filed. Verify the right county before you start searching.