St. Johns County FL Clerk of Court: Records & Services
The St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller handles court records, official records, recording, certified copies, public-records requests, court payments, jury services, traffic, civil, criminal, family, probate, marriage, passport, foreclosure, tax deed and Board records routes. The important part is choosing the right door before you search.
Independent guide reviewed September 2026. Verify fees, office locations, court dates, payment deadlines, copy options and record-access restrictions with the St. Johns County Clerk before relying on any result.
Which St. Johns Clerk Service Do You Actually Need?
Many people search “St. Johns County Clerk of Court” when they really need one very specific task: find a court case, view a docket, get a certified copy, record a deed, search Official Records, pay a traffic citation, request a Board record, sign up for property fraud alerts, or file a public-records request. These tasks do not all use the same search tool.
Use this for civil, criminal, traffic, family, probate, guardianship, juvenile, mental health and other court-case information.
Open Court Records Search →Use this for deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, marriage records, recorded judgments and document references such as book/page or instrument number.
Open Official Records Search →Use this when the recipient needs an authenticated certified record, not just a free online view.
Review E-Certify →Use this if the record is not available through Court Records, Official Records or Board Records search.
Open Public Records instructions →How to Search St. Johns County Court Records
Court-record search should begin with the official Online Research page or the Clerk’s Court Records Search. A name match alone is not enough. Confirm court division, case number, party role, filing date, docket history and latest case status before you rely on a result.
- Open the Clerk’s Online Research page. Start at stjohnsclerk.com/online-research so you can choose Court Records, Official Records or Board Records from the Clerk’s own portal list.
- Select Court Records when you are looking for a case. Use this for court matters such as civil, criminal, family law, probate, guardianship, mental health, traffic and juvenile-related case records.
- Search by case number if you have one. A case number is safer than a broad name search because St. Johns County can have multiple parties with similar names.
- If searching by name, compare the whole result. Check party role, division, filing date, case type, docket activity, charge or claim, latest order and disposition before trusting the match.
- Open the docket carefully. A filing or motion is not the same as a final order. Look for later entries, judgments, dismissals, satisfactions, sentencing entries or court dates.
- Use E-Certify or copy requests when proof is needed. A free online view may be enough for research, but a certified copy is often required for official use.
- Contact the correct division when the record is unclear. The Clerk’s contact page lists division emails for Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic, Records Management, Recording and more.
St. Johns County Official Records: Deeds, Mortgages, Liens, Plats & Marriage Records
Official Records are the county’s recorded-document system. Use it for property and recording records, not for the full case history. A final judgment may appear in Official Records after recording, but the court docket belongs in Court Records.
Official Records Search
Search by name, instrument number, book and page, record date or document type where available. The recording system advises users to search spelling variations of proper names to maximize results.
Search Official RecordsRecording and Public Service Center
Recording services, including deeds, notices of commencement, plats/PUD maps and other documents recorded into Official Records, moved to the Public Service Center at 4040 Lewis Speedway beginning August 3, 2026.
Review recording information- Use instrument number or book/page first if you have it from a deed, title search, mortgage, closing file, lien, recorded judgment or marriage record.
- Use name search carefully for grantor, grantee, company, spouse, party name or business-name variations.
- Narrow by date range if the name is common or the property has changed hands several times.
- Open the document image when available and compare the document title, names, legal description and recording date.
- Use Clerk E-Certify when a recipient requires a certified electronic copy.
E-Certify: Electronic Certified Court and Official Records
The Clerk offers electronic certified documents through Clerk E-Certify. E-certified documents include a unique Clerk digital signature and can be verified by code or file upload. This is different from simply downloading a free online image.
Use a case number
To obtain an electronic certified court record, the Clerk says you need your case number. Search Court Records first if you do not know it.
Use name, instrument or book/page
For Official Records, search by name, instrument number or book and page number.
Verify by code or file upload
The E-Certify verification center lets users authenticate printed copies and electronic certified copies.
- Find the record first. Use Court Records for case records or Official Records for recorded documents.
- Open Clerk E-Certify. Go through the E-Certify link from the Clerk site or directly through ClerkECertify.
- Enter contact information. The Clerk’s instructions say first name, last name and email are required.
- Select the correct record category. Choose Court Records, Official Records or Verification Center depending on the task.
- Add documents to the cart and review the order. Confirm page count, certification and service charges before checkout.
- Save the certified files. After purchase, documents can be emailed or downloaded from the confirmation page.
St. Johns Clerk Fees: Copies, Certification, Searches and Recording
Fees can change, so always confirm the Clerk’s live fee page before mailing payment, ordering copies or filing documents. The table below summarizes common record-related charges listed by the Clerk.
| Service | Listed cost | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Court/public record photocopy | $1.00 per page for public records that are not Board of County Commissioner records | Use when the Clerk produces the copy rather than you viewing it free online. |
| Certification | $2.00 per document / certification | Certification is added to copy cost when the entire document must be certified. |
| Electronically certified copy | $1 per page + $2 certification + $6 service charge per certified document | Delivered by email through Clerk E-Certify and includes a unique certification code. |
| Board of County Commissioner photocopy | $0.15 per page | Different from court and most other Clerk public records. |
| Board certified copy | $1.00 per certified copy | Applies to Board records maintained by the Clerk. |
| Search of records | $2.00 per name, per year searched | Prepare names and date ranges before asking staff to search. |
| Recording first page | $10.00 first page | Additional pages and documentary stamp taxes may apply depending on document type. |
| Recording additional page | $8.50 each additional page | Use the Clerk’s recording fee calculator for document-specific estimates. |
Traffic, Criminal Costs and Online Payments
The Clerk accepts online payments for certain criminal court costs, fines and traffic citations. Do not assume every citation can be paid online immediately, and do not wait until the last minute when a driver-license clearance or deadline is involved.
Traffic and court obligations
The Clerk states that online payments are accepted for criminal court costs and fines, and traffic citations are available online approximately 48 hours after issuance.
Open payment informationSome payments require staff help
Payment-plan setup fees, community-service buyouts and parking citations with court dates must be handled by phone or in person through Customer Care.
Contact Customer Care- Use the citation or case number first. It is safer than searching by only a name.
- Wait for new traffic citations to appear. The Clerk says traffic citations are available online approximately 48 hours after issuance.
- Check proof-of-compliance cases carefully. Insurance, registration and driver-license issues may require proof submission plus the applicable fee.
- Do not pay a collections case through the Clerk. The Clerk says cases referred to collections must be handled with the collection agency.
- Plan ahead for driver-license clearance. Online payments after normal business hours may not process until the next business day.
St. Johns Clerk Locations: Judicial Center vs. Public Service Center
St. Johns County added a Public Service Center in 2026, and that changed where several services are handled. Court operations still remain at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center.
Richard O. Watson Judicial Center
4010 Lewis SpeedwaySt. Augustine, FL 32084
Main phone: (904) 819-3600. Court operations and court proceedings, including jury duty, child-support payment help, restraining-order petitions and traffic-ticket payments, remain here.
Public Service Center
4040 Lewis SpeedwaySt. Augustine, FL 32084
Beginning August 3, 2026, this location handles recording services, marriage licenses and ceremonies, passport application acceptance, VAB applications and public-records searches.
No Record Found? Use This St. Johns County Recovery Path
A no-result screen does not always mean no record exists. It may mean you searched the wrong database, used the wrong name format, entered an incomplete case number, hit a confidentiality limit, or need a staff-assisted public-records request.
| Problem | Likely reason | What to try next |
|---|---|---|
| Court case not found | Wrong spelling, wrong division, missing case number, sealed/confidential record or wrong court level. | Search by case number first, then party-name variations; confirm whether the case is civil, criminal, traffic, family, probate, juvenile or mental health. |
| Deed, mortgage or lien not found in court records | The document belongs in Official Records, not Court Records. | Search Official Records by name, instrument number, book/page, document type or date range. |
| Online image is missing | The record may not be available online, may need staff retrieval, or may be restricted. | Use the public-records request route or contact the division listed for that record type. |
| Certified copy needed but online view is free | A free online view is only a photocopy-style access route, not necessarily a certified copy. | Use E-Certify or request a traditional paper certified copy from the Clerk. |
| Traffic citation not available yet | New citations may take about 48 hours to become available online. | Check again after the expected posting window or contact Traffic before the deadline. |
| Record is older or unusual | The record may be historical, archived, retained outside the normal search tool or subject to retention rules. | Submit a focused public-records request with date range, names, record type and any reference number. |
Confidentiality, Public-Records Requests and Record Protection
Public access does not mean every record is visible online without limits. Some records are confidential, sealed, restricted, protected by Florida law, or subject to specific court rules. The Clerk also provides routes for public-records requests and certain public-records maintenance/exemption requests.
Use this route to understand court orders that determine confidentiality or seal noncriminal case files under Florida court rules.
Review confidentiality ordersSubmit a public-records request online, in person, by mail or by email when the record is not available in the online search systems.
Open Public Records pageThe Clerk provides forms for certain maintenance or exemption-related requests, with identity verification required for some processes.
Open Forms LibraryHow to Submit a St. Johns Clerk Public-Records Request
The Clerk advises users to search Court Records, Official Records or Board Records before submitting a request. If the record is not available online, public-records requests can be submitted through the online portal or by in-person, mail or email routes.
Public-records request contact route
St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller
Attn: Records Management
4010 Lewis Speedway
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Email: PRR@stjohnsclerk.com
- Search online first. Use Court Records, Official Records or Board Records if the record type fits one of those tools.
- Write a focused request. Include names, date range, record type, case number, instrument number, meeting date, department, or reference number if known.
- State the delivery format. Say whether you need inspection only, electronic copy, paper copy, certified copy or electronically certified copy.
- Do not include unnecessary private information. Keep the request focused on the record you need.
- Wait for cost or availability instructions. Staff may need to search, copy, certify, redact or prepare the record.
St. Johns Clerk Record Terms You May See
Official St. Johns County Clerk Sources Used
These official links are included because they help complete real tasks, not simply because they are navigation links.
St. Johns County Clerk of Court Records & Services FAQs
1. Where do I search St. Johns County court records online?
Use the St. Johns County Clerk’s Online Research page and choose Court Records. Search by case number when available. If you only have a name, compare the division, case type, party role, filing date, docket activity and latest status before relying on a result.
2. What is the difference between Court Records and Official Records?
Court Records are case-related records such as civil, criminal, traffic, family, probate, juvenile and guardianship matters. Official Records are recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, marriage records and recorded judgments.
3. How do I get a certified copy from the St. Johns Clerk?
You can request a traditional paper certified copy or use Clerk E-Certify for eligible electronic certified documents. For court records, you generally need the case number. For Official Records, search by name, instrument number, or book and page.
4. How much does an electronically certified copy cost?
The Clerk’s public-records page states that electronically certified copies include the standard $1 per page copy fee, the $2 certification fee, and a $6 service charge per certified document. Additional payment-processing fees may apply at checkout.
5. Where are St. Johns Clerk court operations handled?
Court operations and court proceedings remain at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center, 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084. This includes jury duty, assistance with child-support payments, restraining-order petitions and traffic-ticket payments.
6. What services moved to the Public Service Center in 2026?
Beginning August 3, 2026, the Public Service Center at 4040 Lewis Speedway handles recording services, marriage licenses and wedding ceremonies, passport application acceptance, VAB applications and public-records searches.
7. How do I request a public record that is not online?
First search Court Records, Official Records or Board Records. If the record is not online, submit a public-records request through the Clerk’s online portal or contact Records Management by email at PRR@stjohnsclerk.com, by mail, or in person.
8. Can I pay a St. Johns County traffic citation online?
Many traffic citations can be paid online, and the Clerk states that traffic citations are available online approximately 48 hours after issuance. Some payments, proof-of-compliance matters, payment-plan setup fees and collection-agency cases require a different process.
9. Why can’t I view a St. Johns court record online?
The record may be sealed, confidential, protected by law, outside anonymous online access, not scanned, too new, in a different database, or searchable only by a different identifier. Use the Clerk’s official public-records request, division contact or certified-copy process when the online system does not resolve the issue.
10. Does the St. Johns Clerk provide legal advice?
No. The Clerk can provide records access, forms, filing routes, payment information, copy services and procedural resources, but the Clerk’s forms and website information are not legal advice. The Clerk encourages users to consult an attorney when legal guidance is needed.