Duval County FL Clerk of Court: Records & Services
The Duval County Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts is where many Jacksonville record searches begin—but the right button depends on what you need. CORE is for court records. Official Records is for recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, judgments, liens and marriage licenses. Traffic, jury, passports, marriage licenses, e-filing, foreclosure sales and tax deeds each have their own route.
Independent guide reviewed September 2026. Verify record availability, fees, redactions, filing requirements, payment deadlines and certified-copy instructions on the official Duval Clerk website before relying on a record.
What Do You Need from the Duval County Clerk?
The biggest mistake is opening the wrong database. A lawsuit, criminal case or traffic citation belongs in the court-record lane. A deed, mortgage, lien, judgment recorded as an instrument or recorded marriage license belongs in the Official Records lane.
Use CORE for civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic and other court case information and document access when available.
Open CORE →Use Official Records for recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, satisfactions, marriage licenses and other recorded instruments.
Search Official Records →Use the traffic route for citation options, payment, school election and deadlines. Online payment is limited by timing rules.
Traffic services →Use copy instructions when you need a certified court record or electronically certified Official Record.
Court copy guidance →The Clerk issues marriage licenses and accepts passport applications at official locations with specific requirements.
Marriage license →Use official auction links and read requirements carefully. The Clerk cannot give legal or title advice.
Bid-on services →Duval Court Records: What CORE Does and Does Not Show
The Clerk’s online court-record portal is called CORE. It is where the public, registered users, attorneys and certain agencies access court case information according to Florida Supreme Court access rules. Viewing permissions depend on user role, case type, document type and whether the document contains confidential or sensitive information.
Court case information
- Circuit civil and county civil cases
- Small claims and eviction records
- Criminal felony and misdemeanor cases
- Traffic and criminal traffic matters
- Family, probate and guardianship case information where public access allows
- Documents available under your access level
Every document is visible
Some documents are confidential, sealed, restricted, not immediately available online, or visible only to certain user roles. If a document predates online availability or does not appear in CORE, the Clerk instructs users to contact staff and provide as much identifying information as possible.
How to Search Duval County Court Records in CORE
A good court-record search is more than typing a name. You are trying to identify the correct case, understand the docket, and know when to request an official copy.
- Open the official CORE portal. Use core.duvalclerk.com. Avoid lookalike record sites when you need the Clerk’s actual court record.
- Choose the strongest search clue. Use the case number first if you have it. If not, use party name, business name, defendant name or other portal-supported fields.
- Enter names carefully. Try legal name first. If there are no results, retry with middle initial, no punctuation, maiden/married names, business suffix removed, or spelling variations.
- Open likely matches slowly. Compare case number, division, case type, party role, filing date, judge/department information and latest docket activity.
- Read the docket in sequence. A filing does not always mean a ruling. Look for later orders, judgments, dismissals, satisfaction entries, sentencing entries or closure events.
- Check whether the document is available online. Some documents may be blocked by access rules or may require approval before viewing.
- Request copies when needed. If the document is not online, predates online records, or must be certified, contact the proper Clerk department with the case number, party names and date clues.
Duval Official Records: Deeds, Mortgages, Judgments, Liens and Marriage Licenses
Official Records are recorded instruments, not ordinary court dockets. The Duval Official Records Department records and maintains instruments such as deeds, mortgages, judgments, claims of lien, satisfactions and marriage licenses.
Records since 1988
The official online portal can be used to search and view Duval Official Records recorded since 1988. The Clerk also notes that all marriage licenses recorded since February 1981 are available.
Search Official RecordseCertified Official Records
Electronic certified copies of Official Records recorded since 1988 can be ordered online. The Clerk says these secure documents include a unique code and electronic stamp and seal.
Official Records and ResearchHow to search Official Records without getting lost
- Open the Official Records portal. Use the official Duval Clerk search, not a third-party title-data site.
- Choose the search type. Use name, instrument number, record date, book/page or case number when available.
- Try name variations. The Official Records search warns users to search possible spelling variations of proper names.
- Check document type. Confirm whether you are looking at a deed, mortgage, lien, judgment, marriage license, satisfaction or other instrument.
- Use uncertified copies for research only. The Clerk says uncertified copies may be downloaded or printed for free when available online.
- Order eCertified or paper copies when official proof is needed. Use the certification process when a lender, court, agency or title company requires a certified copy.
Duval Clerk Services People Commonly Need
| Service | Official route | What to prepare | Local note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic citation | Traffic services and online payment options. | Citation number, issue date, driver information, payment method and school-election choice if applicable. | Civil traffic online payment is available only within 30 calendar days from citation issue date. |
| Marriage license | Downtown Courthouse walk-in or Beaches Branch walk-in/appointment after pre-application. | Both parties in person, valid photo ID, Social Security numbers, last-marriage end date if previously married. | Florida residents have a three-day waiting period unless a qualifying premarital course applies. |
| Passport application | Passport acceptance at Courthouse and Beaches Branch. | DS-11 eligibility, citizenship evidence, ID, photo, and separate payment types for required fees. | The Clerk offers passport photo service for a fee at both locations. |
| Jury service | Juror webpage and group-reporting check. | Summons information, group number, contact updates, postponement or excusal request if needed. | Requested jury groups are posted before the scheduled report date. |
| E-filing court documents | Florida Courts ePortal through myflcourtaccess.com. | Correct county, division, case type, PDF filings, service information and payment method. | Payment policies for ePortal filings are set at the state level, not by the Duval Clerk. |
| Foreclosure sale | Duval online foreclosure auction site. | Case details, final judgment, sale date, bidder registration and deposit rules. | Foreclosure sales are held online Monday through Friday except legal holidays, with first sale starting at 11:00 a.m. |
| Tax deed sale | Duval tax deed auction website. | Tax deed number, parcel research, bidder account, deposit and payment deadline awareness. | The successful bidder’s balance is due by 4:00 p.m. the following day. |
| Public records request | Public Records Department or online public records request route. | Specific record description, dates, department, case number or instrument number if known. | Broad requests may take longer and may involve special service charges when extensive staff time is needed. |
Duval Clerk Fees to Know Before Ordering Records
Fees can depend on the department, record type and delivery method. The amounts below are practical planning points from the Clerk’s published fee pages and record-copy guidance. Always confirm the live fee schedule before mailing payment or ordering online.
| Fee item | Published amount | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Plain copy of court record | $1.00 per page | Paper court-record copies ordered through the Clerk. |
| Certification of court record copy | $2.00 per document | When you need an official certified copy. |
| eCertified Official Record ordered online | $2.00 certification + $6 vendor processing fee | When ordering eligible electronically certified Official Records online. |
| Uncertified Official Record online copy | Free to download or print yourself when available online | Useful for research when certification is not required. |
| Official Records paper copy from office | $1.00 per page | When the office prepares paper copies for you. |
| Record search | $2.00 per year’s search in the general fee schedule | When staff must search records and you do not provide enough identifying information. |
| Exemplified certificate | $7.00 | Less common; use only when the receiving agency specifically asks for exemplification. |
| Credit-card service fee | 3.5% non-refundable service fee | Applies to Clerk credit-card payments listed in court-record and Official Records guidance. |
What to include with a copy request
The fastest identifier for court records and recorded documents.
Useful when the number is unknown or when staff must locate an older record.
Helps reduce search time and search fees.
Order the level of proof the receiving agency actually requires.
Needed for many mail-return requests.
Duval Clerk Office Locations
Many tasks can be started online, but some services still require an office visit or a department-specific mailing address. The Clerk lists two public service locations.
| Location | Address | Hours listed by Clerk | Useful for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Courthouse | 501 W. Adams St., Jacksonville, FL 32202 | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Court departments, Official Records, marriage license, passports, jury, public records and many Clerk services. |
| Beaches Branch | 1543 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, FL 32266 | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Branch services, marriage license walk-in/appointment, passport service, and same-day “Join the Line” service where available. |
No Record Found? Use This Recovery Path
“No result” does not automatically mean no record exists. It often means the search is in the wrong lane, the spelling differs, the document predates online records, or your public access level does not permit viewing the document.
| Problem | Likely reason | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Court case not found in CORE | Wrong case number format, name variation, wrong court type, or not enough search detail. | Try the case number from the notice, then retry name variations and division filters. |
| Document exists but will not open | Document may be confidential, sealed, restricted, pending approval, or beyond public viewing rights. | Use the Clerk department route and ask about public-copy eligibility. |
| Deed or lien not found in CORE | Recorded instruments belong in Official Records, not court case search. | Search the Official Records portal by name, instrument number, book/page or record date. |
| Old Official Record not online | Official Records online viewing begins in 1988 for most records. | Contact Official Records and Research with party names and date clues. |
| Marriage record not visible | Name variation, date issue, or recorded-license coverage question. | Search Official Records; marriage licenses recorded since February 1981 are listed as available. |
| Traffic payment unavailable online | Online civil traffic payment is no longer available after the 30-calendar-day window from issue date. | Use in-person or mail payment instructions, or contact the Traffic Violations Bureau. |
| Attorney cannot view a case | Attorney may not be listed as attorney of record in CORE. | Verify the “Attorney” section of the case and contact the Clerk department if a Notice of Appearance needs to be reflected. |
Redactions, Confidential Information and Public Access Limits
Florida has broad public-records laws, but public access is not unlimited. Duval Clerk pages explain that online court-record viewing follows Florida Supreme Court access rules, while Official Records redaction requests may be available for certain sensitive information.
Access level can change what you see
A member of the public, a party, an attorney of record and an agency may not all see the same documents. The document type, case type and sensitive information inside the document can affect visibility.
Redaction requests may be available
The Clerk explains that eligible people can request redaction of certain personal information from public view, and any person can request redaction of Social Security, bank account or card numbers from older Official Record images when properly identified.
Official Duval Clerk Sources Used
These links are included because they complete real user tasks. Use the official Duval Clerk domain and connected Clerk portals before relying on third-party record sites.
Duval County Clerk of Court Records & Services FAQs
1. Where do I search Duval County court records?
Use the Duval Clerk’s CORE portal for court records. CORE is the Clerk’s online court-record portal and is the right place to begin when you need case information, docket activity or court documents that are available under your access level.
2. Where do I search Duval County deeds, liens and recorded documents?
Use the Official Records portal, not CORE. Official Records include recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, judgments, claims of lien, satisfactions, marriage licenses and other documents recorded under Florida law.
3. How far back do Duval Official Records go online?
The Duval Clerk states that the Official Records online portal can be used to search and view Official Records recorded in Duval County since 1988. The Clerk also notes that all marriage licenses recorded since February 1981 are available.
4. How do I get a certified copy from the Duval Clerk?
For court records, use the Clerk’s court-record copy process or contact the relevant department with the case number, party names and document details. For Official Records recorded since 1988, eCertified documents can be ordered online when eligible.
5. How much are Duval Clerk copies and certifications?
The Clerk’s fee pages list plain court-record copies at $1.00 per page and certification of a court-record copy at $2.00 per document. For eligible Official Records ordered online as eCertified copies, the Clerk lists a $2.00 certification fee plus a $6 vendor processing fee.
6. Why can’t I see a court document in CORE?
Viewing permissions depend on user role, case type, document type and confidential information in the document. Some records may be sealed, expunged, confidential, restricted, pending approval or unavailable online. Contact the appropriate Clerk department for copy eligibility.
7. Can I pay a Duval traffic citation online?
The Clerk’s traffic page says civil traffic citations may be paid online within 30 calendar days of the citation issue date. After that 30-day period, online payment is no longer available, and other payment or case-response options must be used.
8. Where do I apply for a Duval County marriage license?
The Clerk accepts marriage-license applications at the Duval County Courthouse and the Beaches Branch at Neptune Beach. Both parties must apply together in person with required identification and information. Florida residents may have a three-day waiting period unless a qualifying premarital course applies.
9. What are the main Duval Clerk office locations?
The Clerk lists the Downtown Courthouse at 501 W. Adams St., Jacksonville, FL 32202, with hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the Beaches Branch at 1543 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, FL 32266, with hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
10. Are foreclosure and tax deed sales handled by the Duval Clerk?
Yes. The Clerk provides official routes for foreclosure auctions and tax deed sales. Foreclosure auctions are held online through the Duval foreclosure auction website, and tax deed sales are held through the Duval tax deed auction website. Buyers should read all rules carefully because the Clerk cannot provide legal or title advice.