Alachua County FL Clerk of Court: Records & Services
If you need a court case, deed, divorce record, traffic ticket, certified copy or marriage document in Alachua County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller is often the right starting point. But there is one distinction worth understanding before you search: court case records and Official Records are separate databases.
This guide explains how to find the correct record, what information to enter, how to interpret the result, when older documents require an in-person search, and how to complete related Clerk services without unnecessary visits or third-party searches.
Information reviewed October 2026. This is an independent public-information guide, not the official Clerk website.
Which Alachua County Clerk Record Should You Search?
The Clerk’s office performs two important recordkeeping functions: it maintains court files and serves as County Recorder for Official Records. A civil lawsuit and a recorded deed may involve the same people, but they are stored and searched differently.
Cases, Dockets and Court Filings
Use the Court Records search for civil and criminal cases, traffic matters, small claims, family law, probate and other court proceedings, subject to public-access rules.
Useful clues: case number, defendant or party name, filing date, case type and docket entry.
Official Court Records instructionsDeeds, Mortgages, Liens and Recorded Instruments
Use the Official Records search for deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens, recorded judgments, plats and other instruments filed with the County Recorder.
Useful clues: grantor or grantee, instrument number, book and page, recording date and document type.
Official Records and RecorderHow to Search Alachua County Court Cases Online
The Clerk provides free internet access to the court-records index. The search is most useful when you know the case number, but name and date searches also help locate a file.
- Open the official instructions. Visit the Alachua County Court Records page and select Begin your Court Records Search.
- Complete the security check. The court-record portal may display a CAPTCHA. Enter the displayed characters or use its available audio option.
- Open the general case-index search. Choose the general index or appropriate search interface shown after the security check.
- Enter the available information. Search by case number or by party name. You do not need to complete every field.
- For personal names, use the correct fields. Put the last name in the first name-search box and the first name or middle initial in the corresponding second box.
- For companies, use the Company field. Enter the legal business name where known.
- Set a filing-date range when helpful. A narrower range reduces unrelated results, especially when the person has a common name.
- Open the correct case. Compare the case number, court type, parties, filing date and docket history.
- Read the progress docket. Review hearings, motions, judgments, orders, dispositions and subsequent updates.
- Open available images. Where the system displays a magnifying-glass icon beside a docket item, select it to attempt to view the electronic document.
What information can you find in a court docket?
Case number, category, filing date and parties.
Hearings, motions, notices and docket activity.
Available judgments, final orders and disposition information.
Filing names and dates, even when images are restricted.
Plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents and other listed participants.
Available information about pending, closed or other case conditions.
How Far Back Do Alachua County Court Records Go?
The Clerk’s online court index includes very old cases, but the existence of a case entry does not mean its documents can be viewed online. Historical coverage and document-image coverage are different.
| Record category | Online information | What to do if unavailable |
|---|---|---|
| Earliest indexed case | The Clerk identifies July 23, 1928 as the filing date of the oldest available case. | Older case details or missing document images may require Clerk research. |
| Civil document images | Online availability begins around September 2001; another Clerk access screen notes documents before 2002 are not electronically available. | Contact Records for unavailable older documents. |
| Criminal document images | Online availability begins around December 2005; pre-2006 documents may not be electronically available. | Request research or copies from the Clerk. |
| Civil traffic images | September 2001 is the Clerk’s published online image start date. | Older closed traffic cases, especially before March 2006, may require in-person research. |
| Older closed civil cases | Many closed civil files before 1999 are not researchable online. | Use the courthouse Records Department. |
| Older closed criminal cases | Many closed criminal files before 1990 are not researchable online. | Contact the Clerk’s Records Department. |
Why a document image might not appear
- It is an older paper record that has not been digitized.
- It belongs to a protected case category.
- Online viewing is limited by Florida court access rules.
- Registration or additional authorized access is required.
- The entry exists in the docket, but no public electronic image is available.
The Clerk states that family law, probate, mental-health and juvenile document images are not available through certain public online-access routes. Adoption and other confidential case records also have access restrictions.
For older historical material, the Clerk also maintains Alachua County Historical Records, including historical marriage, deed, mortgage, probate and other indexed materials.
How to Search Alachua County Official Records
The Official Records system is the correct place to research recorded deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens and related instruments. It is also where you can obtain copies of recorded documents.
- Open the Clerk’s Official Records and Recorder page.
- Choose Official Records Search.
- Review the disclaimer and search conditions.
- Search using the grantor or grantee name, or use the available recording information such as instrument number, book and page, date or document type.
- Open matching results and compare the parties, document title, recording date and indexing information.
- If an image is available, open it and check the actual recorded document instead of relying only on the index description.
- If the record is not imaged online or if you need an authenticated copy, use the Clerk’s copy-order process.
What is commonly found in Official Records?
Recorded instruments transferring real-property interests.
Recorded security instruments and related documents.
Documents showing satisfaction or release of certain recorded obligations.
Recorded claims or encumbrances against property or parties.
Recorded subdivision and related mapping instruments.
Judgment instruments placed in Official Records when properly recorded.
Free property recording notifications
The Clerk operates a free Recording Notification Service that emails a subscriber when a document containing a monitored name is recorded in Alachua County. The service permits up to 10 monitored names or name variations for each registered email address.
- Open the official Recording Notification Service page.
- Select the free registration option.
- Provide an email address and names or name variations to monitor.
- Complete any confirmation instructions.
- Review new email alerts and inspect the recorded instrument to determine whether it is legitimate.
How to Get Copies or Certified Records from the Alachua Clerk
First identify whether the document is a court filing or an Official Records instrument. Then provide enough information for the Clerk to locate it without spending time researching unrelated matches.
Uncertified Records
The Clerk lists a standard charge of $1 per page for copies of court and official records.
Administrative records are listed at $0.15 per page, with some requests potentially involving additional research or programming costs.
Official Records Certification
For recorded instruments, the Clerk lists $1 per page plus $2 per document for certification.
When ordering court records, confirm certification charges and the form of authentication required before payment.
Request records by email or mail
- Gather the case number or recording reference, party names and document title.
- Identify whether you need ordinary or certified copies.
- Send a records request to osr@alachuaclerk.org or use the Clerk’s published postal route.
- Include your preferred contact information and any relevant document dates.
- Ask for the total cost, accepted payment method and delivery options.
- Follow the Clerk’s instructions to complete payment and receive the records.
Public Records Custodian
Alachua County Clerk of CourtAttn: Public Records Custodian
201 E. University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
Email: osr@alachuaclerk.org
Official Records Department: 352-374-3625
Other Alachua County Clerk of Court Services
The Clerk’s responsibilities extend beyond keeping court case files. The office also serves as County Recorder and Comptroller and administers services involving payments, filings, marriage licenses, passports, sales and other statutory duties.
Traffic Tickets and Court Payments
Use the Clerk’s official traffic payment route when your citation is eligible for online payment.
- Open the official traffic payment page.
- Identify the citation or case number.
- Review the charge, amount, applicable options and deadline.
- Confirm whether your citation requires an appearance or permits another election.
- Pay only through the official route and keep the receipt.
Do not assume paying a ticket automatically eliminates every court or licensing requirement.
Electronic Court Filing
Florida’s statewide court e-filing system handles eligible court filings under the applicable rules.
- Open the Clerk’s e-Filing information page.
- Follow its instructions to the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
- Register or sign in as required.
- Select the correct county, court division and case type.
- Upload the correct documents and pay applicable fees.
- Save the filing confirmation and verify acceptance.
Marriage Licenses and Ceremonies
The Clerk provides marriage-license application and ceremony information, including an online application route.
- Go to the official Clerk homepage.
- Choose Marriage/Online Application.
- Read Florida’s identification, age, waiting-period and education requirements.
- Prepare the required information and documents.
- Confirm any appointment, ceremony and fee requirements with the office.
Passports and Passport Photos
The Clerk offers passport acceptance information and passport-photo services.
- Visit the official Clerk homepage and select Passports and Passport Photos.
- Determine whether you need a new passport application or a renewal route.
- Review the U.S. Department of State requirements.
- Prepare the correct application, citizenship evidence, identification, photo and payments.
- Contact 352-374-3625 to confirm appointment and acceptance requirements.
Small Claims, Family Law and Probate
The Clerk provides filing information and forms for small claims, family law, probate and guardianship matters.
Use the category matching your legal matter. A small-claims statement of claim, probate petition and divorce filing have different procedures and supporting documents.
Open the official Clerk service directory and choose the appropriate division.
Tax Deed and Foreclosure Sales
The Clerk provides information about tax deed and foreclosure sales through dedicated court and county services.
These sales involve distinct legal processes. A tax deed auction and a court foreclosure sale are not interchangeable.
Alachua County Clerk Office: Address, Phone & Hours
Clerk of the Court & Comptroller
J.K. “Jess” Irby, Esq.201 E. University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
General phone: 352-374-3636
Fax: 352-338-3201
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 AM–5:00 PM, except holidays.
Official Records and Recording
201 E. University AvenueGainesville, FL 32601
Phone: 352-374-3625
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 AM–5:00 PM, except holidays.
Email for record requests: osr@alachuaclerk.org
No Record Found? Common Alachua County Search Problems
| Problem | Possible reason | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Name search returns nothing | Spelling variation, company field not used, incorrect date range | Try surname-only or a broader date range. For businesses, use the Company field. |
| Case number fails | The “01” county prefix was included or formatting does not match | Remove the “01” prefix as instructed by the Clerk and retry. |
| Docket exists but no PDF | Document is not imaged, is restricted or requires registration | Check authorized access requirements or request copies from the Clerk. |
| Older closed case unavailable | The case predates the system’s research or image coverage | Contact the Records Department at the Gainesville courthouse. |
| Too many search matches | Common surname or broad date range | Add a filing year, first name or case type, changing one factor at a time. |
| Access ends unexpectedly | Inactivity timeout or document retrieval limit | Sign in again if permitted and resume within the portal’s usage requirements. |
| Recorded instrument not imaged | An older Official Records document is indexed but not digitally imaged | Use the Clerk’s copy-order process or historical index resources. |
Information to Have Ready for a Records Request
Full legal names, business names and likely alternate spellings.
Court case, divorce decree, criminal judgment, deed, mortgage, marriage record or other instrument.
Case number, instrument number, book and page or available docket reference.
Filing year, recording date, hearing date or approximate historical period.
Ordinary copy, certified copy, document image or records inspection.
A suitable mailing or contact method, along with a request for payment instructions.
10 Alachua County Clerk of Court FAQs
1. How do I search Alachua County court records online?
Open the Clerk’s official Court Records page, select Begin your Court Records Search, complete any security check and choose the appropriate general index search. Enter a case number or party name, compare matching cases and review the progress docket.
2. Can I search Alachua County court cases by name?
Yes. The Clerk’s court-records search supports name-based searching. Enter the last name in the first name-search box and the first name or middle initial in the second box. Use the Company field for a business-name search.
3. Should I include the 01 county prefix when searching a case number?
No. The Alachua County Clerk instructs users not to include the “01” county-code prefix when entering a case number in its court-records search.
4. Are Alachua County court records free to search?
The Clerk provides free online access to its public court-records index. Copy requests, certified records and some additional services can involve charges. Online access is also subject to confidentiality and document-availability restrictions.
5. Where can I find Alachua County deeds and mortgages?
Use the Clerk’s Official Records Search, not the Court Records Search. Official Records contain recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens and related documents. Search by names or available recording references.
6. How much does a certified Alachua County Official Records copy cost?
The Clerk lists regular copies of Official Records at $1 per page, with an additional $2 per document for certification. Confirm the final cost before ordering.
7. Can I view old Alachua County court records from before 2000?
Some older cases are indexed online, but many closed civil records before 1999 and criminal records before 1990 cannot be fully researched online. Older document images may also be unavailable. Contact the courthouse Records Department for the proper research or copy process.
8. Why can’t I view a document that appears on the court docket?
Some docket entries do not have public electronic images. The document may be too old, not digitized, confidential or subject to registration or access restrictions. The Clerk can explain whether an authorized copy request is available.
9. How do I request public records from the Alachua County Clerk?
Identify the record, parties, case or recording reference and copy type. Send a request to osr@alachuaclerk.org or write to the Public Records Custodian, Alachua County Clerk of Court, 201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601. Ask for applicable charges and delivery instructions.
10. What is the address and phone number of the Alachua County Clerk of Court?
The Clerk of the Court & Comptroller is located at 201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601. The main telephone number is 352-374-3636. General office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays.
Official Alachua County Clerk Sources
The links below are the primary sources for the procedures, record coverage, copy information and services explained in this guide.
This independent article is for public information only and is not affiliated with the Alachua County Clerk of Court. Court records can change, and filing requirements may be time-sensitive. Verify information with the Clerk or a qualified Florida attorney where legal rights or deadlines are involved.