Saint Johns County Court Records

Saint Johns County Courts, FL *

St. Johns County Courts, FL

St. Johns County is one of the two original counties of Florida. The county is located in the Northeastern part of Florida and was established in 1821. St. Johns County is also part of the Jacksonville metropolitan area and has its county seat situated at St. Augustine. The county has a population of 346,000.

The primary local courts in St. Johns County include the St. Johns County Court and the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. These courts are responsible for all forms of cases, including criminal cases, civil disputes, family law, probate, and traffic violations. The St. Johns County Court is at the disposal of anyone, whether they want to file a lawsuit, respond to a lawsuit, attend court hearings, conduct legal research, access court records, or pay a ticket.

Overview of the St. Johns County Court System

The St. Johns County Court System works under the Unified Florida State Courts System. The county has two main primary courts, which include the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida and the St. Johns County Court. The Judicial Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over major cases, while the St. Johns County Court has limited jurisdiction.

The role of the Local Court in St. Johns includes hearing disputes, conducting trials, handling appeals, issuing orders and judgments, and protecting the constitutional rights of the people of St. Johns. When an individual is not satisfied with the ruling of a judge at the St. Johns County Local County Courts, they can file an appeal at the state level to the Fifth District Court of Appeal (DCA).

The administrative duties in St. Johns County are handled by the St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. The Office of the Clerk is the primary custodian of court records in St. Johns County and is tasked with processing court filings, handling jury summons, and collecting fines and fees. The clerk is also responsible for court appeals from the local courts in St. Johns.

Types of Courts in St. Johns County, Florida

Individuals pursuing legal matters in St. Johns should learn the types of courts in the county to determine the local court with jurisdiction over their legal matter.

Circuit Court

The Seventh Judicial Circuit Court is the highest local court in St. Johns County and is shared among three other counties (Flagler, Putnam, and Volusia). The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction of major cases in St. Johns County, including:

Felony criminal cases
Probate (wills, estates, trusts, guardianships)
Mental health cases
Civil cases involving more than $50,000
Family law matters involving divorce, child custody, paternity, child support, and adoption
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile dependency (abuse, neglect, abandonment)
Domestic violence injunctions

The Seventh Judicial Circuit Court has five judges who are elected through a nonpartisan election and serve six-year terms. The Chief Judge is selected by peer vote every two years. The Circuit Court has several specialized divisions, which include the Probate & Guardianship Division, Criminal Division, Civil Division, and the Unified Family Court.

County Court

The County Court is the lowest local court in St. Johns County. Unlike the Circuit Court, the County Court has limited jurisdiction and is responsible for the following:

Local ordinance violations
Landlord-tenant disputes and evictions
Traffic offenses
Misdemeanor crimes such as petty theft, simple assault, or trespassing
Small claims (under $8,000)
Civil disputes up to $50,000

The St. Johns County Court, the People's Court, is responsible for managing minor criminal cases and civil cases of up to $50,000. The court has three judges responsible for hearing cases in the county. The divisions falling under the St. Johns County Court include Civil Division, Criminal Division, Small Claims Division, Traffic Division, and Landlord-Tenant Division.

How to Access St. Johns County Court Records

The Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller for St. Johns County is the official custodian of court records in the county. The County Clerk ensures that members of the public have access to court information according to the Florida Constitution and sunshine laws. That said, sensitive court records such as restricted, sealed, and confidential records are not available to the public to maintain privacy. Whether one is planning to access court records in person or online, they need details like case number, names, citation number, or filing date.

Online Access

Official Court records from St. John's County are available through the St. Johns County Clerk of Court Online Research Hub. Self-representing lawyers and legal professionals use this platform to search for court records from the county court and circuit, including criminal court and civil court records. They can also access records of traffic, probate, citations, and family issues. Certified records can be viewed and downloaded for a small fee through the Clerk E-Certify Portal. For non-redacted records, parties involved in a case, including their attorney, must submit a Court Records Registration Agreement.

Alternative Online Options

Another way to access court records online is by using commercial platforms like CourtCaseFinder. These portals are excellent for individuals who don't know the jurisdiction of the record in question. Such platforms give access to court records from multiple counties. One can search for criminal and civil court records anonymously.

In-Person Requests

Alternatively, one can access St.John County court records in person at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center. The center has public search terminals, computers that one can use to search court records. Court clerks may also assist in record searches. In order to access records involving sensitive cases, one must submit a court order.

Archived Records

Official archived records in St. Johns are available through the clerk's office. One must submit a formal request online at the St. Johns County Clerk Public Records Request Portal. They can also liaise with the Court Records Division in person at the main courthouse at Richard O. Watson Judicial Center. Although archived records are free to view, making copies requires a small fee.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

Attorneys and legal professionals can access court records online using the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The platform works in conjunction with the Florida Bar Member Database to give automatic access to registered attorneys. Another way to access sensitive, restricted court records is by signing the Court Records Registration Agreement.

Attorneys and legal professionals require court records for legal research, case preparation, investigations, and case monitoring. For case filing, attorneys and self-representing litigants can use the Florida E-Filing platform.

How to File a Case in St. Johns County

Filing a case can be overwhelming, especially for self-represented litigants handling court cases for the first time. By learning how to file a case, one avoids filing mistakes that could waste their time or get their case dismissed. Individuals struggling to file a case in St. Johns County can reach out to the Clerk's Office for guidance. They should follow the state's rules for filing a case.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

The first step when filing a case is to identify the respective court with jurisdiction over a case. Individuals filing for complicated civil and criminal cases involving more than $50,000 can file with the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of St. Johns County. On the other hand, those with smaller civil cases and criminal cases below $50,000 can file at the St. Johns County Court. If one file is in the wrong court, the judge could dismiss the case.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

Once one understands the jurisdiction of their case, the next step is to retrieve and complete the required forms to open a case. They should ensure to use official legal documents that are available in person at the St. Johns County Clerk's Office. One can also download official documents for civil, small claims, and eviction cases, as well as other general forms of cases, directly from the St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court Forms Library. Retrieving forms from official channels is recommended because they provide standardized forms that are legally binding. Generally, the three forms one must fill out include a summary, also called the civil cover sheet, the petition/complaint, and the summons.

Step 3: File the Case

After an individual completes the forms accurately, they need to file the case. Those present at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center can file in person. During filing, one must provide the original documents and copies for each party involved. St. Johns County recommends that people file their cases online for a faster process using the Florida E-Filing Portal. Online filing using this platform is mandatory for attorneys. The best thing about filing a case online is that filing can be done anywhere at any time.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

Individuals filing a case pay filing fees, but the amount one pays varies with their case. After payment, one is assigned a judge and a case number. If a person files their case online, they are required to pay filing fees after reviewing and before clicking submit. People who cannot afford filing fees should not abandon their cases because they can apply for a waiver by filling out the Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status form at the clerk's office.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

After settling the filing fees, the clerk's office stamps the case documents, and the plaintiff is required to deliver them to the defendant. This is called the service of process, and it's mandatory by law. The plaintiff must use a third-party or neutral party in submitting the court documents to the defendant. They can use the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office or hire a private server to serve the other party. The third-party server is required to file an official return of service at the clerk's office. This indicates that the defendant was notified.

Step 6: Monitor the Case

The defendant has an open window after they have been served to file a written response with the St. Johns County Court. Knowing when the defendant has answered it is crucial to monitor a case. If the defendant responds, the case proceeds to the discovery, mediation, and hearing stage. However, if the defendant doesn't file an answer, the plaintiff has the right to request a default judgment. One can monitor a case using the Florida e-Notify System, which sends notifications regarding cases.

St. Johns County Courthouse Directory

Richard O. Watson Judicial Center

Both the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida and the St. Johns County Court operate from the Judicial Center. The County Court manages minor criminal and civic disputes, while the Circuit Court oversees major criminal and civil cases in St. Johns County.

St. Augustine

Address: 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Phone: (904) 819-3600

Website: St. Johns County Clerk

The Richard O. Watson Judicial Center is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For special matters, one can call the Clerk's Office to set an appointment. The Courthouse is open for residents and non-residents, whether for legal disputes, court records, or traffic claims.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Legal help and self-help resources are available for self-representing litigants who cannot afford an attorney. Some non-profit organizations and legal aid clinics offer pro bono services and free self-help advice. Those who need help should seek assistance at an early stage of their case.

Free Legal Assistance

Civil legal aid organizations such as Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) provide free representation for civil matters such as evictions, debt collection defense, foreclosures, or family law disputes. They don't help with criminal cases. Additionally, one can find more help with civil legal matters through Three Rivers Legal Services (TRLS). This non-profit provides free civil legal help for the elderly, the poor, the abused, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. Their legal services include domestic violence and family law, eviction cases, advance directives and elder law, disaster relief, veterans assistance, and public benefits.

Local Legal Support

Individuals who require local legal support in St. Johns County can use The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service. The service is operated by the state bar to connect self-representing litigants with relevant local attorneys for their cases. Additionally, victims of sexual abuse and domestic harassment can find free legal help through the Betty Griffin Center. They help victims by providing a protective injunction and referrals for legal representation. Additionally, the veterans, seniors and elderly, the poor, and the disabled can find civil legal help through St. Johns County Legal Aid, which is a local branch of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid recommended by the St. Johns County Clerk for Pro Bono services. Low-income individuals can find legal assistance for housing justice, family law, consumer protection, and elder and veteran law.

FAQs

How do I search for a criminal case in St. Johns County?

Official criminal Case information and records in St. Johns County are available through the St. Johns County Clerk Court Records Search Tool. Once on the portal, by clicking on "court records", one can search by party names or case number. They can also filter search by court type to narrow results. They can review the case docket, including charges filed, court dates, and judges assigned.

Are court records public in St. Johns County?

Yes, court records are public in St. Johns County except for confidential or restricted court records. Additionally, court records containing sensitive matters like juvenile delinquency, home addresses, medical history, or Social Security numbers may be redacted. Court records for adoption cases or Baker Act cases are completely sealed.

When is it helpful to use a third-party records finder?

When searching for records across multiple counties or multiple states, third-party records finders like CourtCaseFinder are extremely useful. Unlike official portals that only pull records from the parent county, third-party platforms aggregate data from several jurisdictions. Additionally, third-party tools can be used for thorough background checks, searching historical or fragmented data, and for continuous case monitoring.

What do I do if I can't find my case online?

If a person cannot find their case online, they should confirm their search details and ensure they key in the right name, case number, and are using the correct formatting. Also, if the case is a new file from the last 24 hours, it might not have been digitized, hence unavailable online. Confidential and sealed cases might not also be available online. Most importantly, one should call or write an email to the St. Johns County Clerk or visit the courthouse kiosk and ask for a manual lookup for their case.

Are online court record searches always accurate?

Although court records searches are accurate most of the time, sometimes they may not be 100% accurate. Inaccuracy can arise from human errors, such as when someone keys in the wrong information during filing. System and processing lags can also cause inaccuracy.

Can I save or download records for future reference?

Yes, one can save or download court records for future reference. They can download simple copies or certified copies if they choose to. Normal copies are available for download using the St. Johns County Clerk Court Records Search Tool. They can search court records by using the name, citation, or case number. For certified digital downloads, they can pay a small fee and download records on the St. Johns County Clerk E-Certify Portal.

Saint Johns County Court Records Lookup

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