Alachua County Courts

Alachua County, which lies in Florida's north-central region, is home to more than 290,000 people and accounts for approximately 1.3% of the state's 23.3 million residents. Its county seat is Gainesville. Alachua County's trial courts record an average of 25,211 case filings annually, including about 4,804 criminal cases, 15,106 civil lawsuits, 2,909 probate matters, and 2,402 family law cases. Similarly, approximately 33,413 case dispositions are recorded each year, comprising about 5,561 criminal suits, 14,351 civil cases, 2,337 family court matters, and 2,676 probate cases.

Alachua County operates a two-tiered trial court system, with each court exercising distinct jurisdiction over various case types in the county.

• Alachua County Circuit Court oversees felonies, lesser-included offenses, civil suits for amounts in controversy exceeding $50,000, family law matters, juvenile suits, and probate proceedings
• Alachua County Court handles misdemeanors, civil claims under $50,000, landlord-tenant matters, traffic offenses, and municipal/county ordinance violation cases

Alachua County's trial courts are located at the County Courthouse in Gainesville, the county seat.

How To Access Alachua County Court Records

Per Florida's Sunshine Law, anyone may inspect or copy Alachua County court records provided such records are not confidential or sealed under law. Typical examples of court records barred from public disclosure include sealed court records, juvenile court records, and adoption records. Although not a mandatory requirement in Florida, a record seeker should, however, present a valid photo ID and provide the case number of the subject record to facilitate a court record search.

Online

To perform a court record search online, requesters must open the "Court Records" section of the Alachua County Clerk of Courts' web portal. Depending on the case opening dates, certain court records may, however, not be available online. For instance, closed civil, criminal, and traffic case records opened before 1999, 1990, and 2006, respectively, are unavailable online. Nevertheless, they may be accessed in person at the Records Department within the County Courthouse.

Interested persons can also access Alachua County case records using the Florida Appellate Case Information System portal (ACIS). This centralized service grants statewide access to court dockets and other retrievable case documents of the state's District Appellate Courts, including the Florida Northern District Court in Alachua County.

Additionally, record seekers can use CourtCaseFinder to conduct both county-based and nationwide searches of court records.

Also, federal case files from trials held in the Federal District Court located in Alachua are available through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal. Individuals are, however, required to register an account before they can use this case lookup service.

In-Person

Record seekers in Alachua County may opt to access case information directly by visiting the Alachua County Clerk of Courts' Office. This office maintains custody of both circuit court and county court records and offers in-person access to court records during official business hours. Interested persons may physically view certain court records, such as those from pre-1990 trial cases, at the Records Department located at the County Courthouse.

Some courthouses generally provide dedicated computer terminals to further ease in-person access to court records and other case information. While no charge is incurred for viewing court records, copying court documents typically attracts specific fees. Ordinary copies of court records cost $1 per copy, while certified copies cost $2 per copy.

Old and Archived Court Records

Alachua County's old court records, including those dating back over 50 years, are generally not available online or at the County Courthouse. To obtain these records, record seekers may perform court records lookups at the State Archives of Florida at:

Viewing and inspecting court records are, however, limited to specific record categories, such as territorial court documents, probate and estate microfilms, and historic circuit/county civil case information.

How To File a Case in Alachua County

To file a case in Alachua County, three case filing options are available to interested persons, including:

• Electronically (through the Florida Courts E-Filing portal)
• By mail
• In person at the Alachua County Clerk of Courts' office

An individual seeking to file a case may also be required to pay a fee, which typically depends on the case type. Generally, circuit civil cases attract a $400 fee for the first five defendants, and an extra $2.50 per additional defendant. County civil cases, similarly, vary based on the different claim amounts. Filing fees typically range from $55 for claims under $100 to $400 for claims between $15,001 and $50,000. Other case filing fees and costs are available on the Clerk of Courts' Filing Fees webpage.

Per Florida Law, a person may qualify for a fee waiver if they are unable to afford the case filing fees and are assessed as an indigent party. The Alachua County Clerk of Courts is responsible for determining an applicant's indigent status and ascertains, based on a completed Indigent Status Application form, if the following conditions exist:

• A net income equal to or less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size, as prescribed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Tangible or intangible assets, such as personal property and real property, with a net equity value below $2,500, exclusive of their home property value
• A vehicle with a net equity value of less than $5,000

Only the filing and summons fees may be waived. Other court costs and fees are not covered by this waiver.

Also, an individual seeking to file a case should first determine the court that has jurisdiction over their case. This may be done by contacting the County Clerk of Courts for assistance.

Typical steps involved in filing a case in Alachua County include:

• Determine the court to file your case with based on the case type
• Prepare the required documents, including exhibits and affidavits
• File your case with the Clerk of Courts using Florida's E-Filing portal
• Pay the recommended filing fees specified for your case type
• Serve the opposing party with a copy of the filed documents

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Across the United States, county court systems play a crucial role in delivering access to justice. Legal help and self-help resources are foundational to this access, particularly for self-represented litigants navigating civil, family, probate, or small claims matters. These resources vary by jurisdiction but commonly include self-help centers, online portals, legal aid organizations, and court-affiliated assistance programs.

In Alachua County, several local and state-based legal help and self-help systems are available to income-eligible residents. They include the following:

• The Alachua County Clerk of Courts' Self-Help Center: Located at the Alachua County Family and Civil Justice Center, this facility offers assistance to persons who are representing themselves in family law litigations and helps them clarify court procedures and explain court requirements.

The Alachua County Clerk of Courts' office also makes Florida Supreme Court-approved forms and legal information available on its website.

Other county-based legal help resources include:

• Three Rivers Legal Services: Provides civil legal education for the poor, disabled, abused, and the elderly, along with legal support for landlord-tenant issues
• The Eight Judicial Circuit Bar Association: Offers resources for volunteer lawyers and hosts an Ask-the-Lawyer program to provide legal advice and education

The following are state-wide legal aid organizations that offer legal services to eligible individuals for free or at low cost:

• Florida Legal Services: A non-profit legal institution that provides a wide selection of free or subsidized legal resources to indigent persons, spanning impact litigation, housing matters, and direct legal representation
• Florida Law Help: Provides a broad range of information on diverse legal matters
• Florida Free Legal Answers: A free legal advice clinic where qualifying individuals post questions, which are answered by pro bono attorneys
• Florida Rural Legal Services: Offers top-notch legal services to migrants and seasonal farm workers in Florida, including Alachua County

Types of Courts in Alachua County, Florida

Various trial courts serve Alachua County, including a circuit court, a county court, and a federal court. The specific jurisdiction and contact details of all Alachua County's trial courts are listed below:

Alachua County Circuit Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - This Court exercises jurisdiction over felonies, major civil cases for monetary claims exceeding $50,000, family law cases, probate suits, mental health matters, and juvenile delinquency/dependency proceedings. It also hears certain county court appeals.
• Address and Contact Information -

Alachua County Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Misdemeanors and minor civil cases for monetary amounts below $50,000 fall under this court's jurisdiction. It also has the authority to hear small claims, landlord-tenant matters, traffic offenses, and county/municipal code violations.
• Address and Contact Information -

The Florida Northern District Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - This federal court adjudicates all cases, both criminal and civil, relating to federal law, disputes between interstate citizens, and the constitution and government of the United States.
• Address and Contact Information -

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Exercises federal jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases in the U.S.
• Address and Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Alachua County Courts