Alachua County Civil Court Records
Alachua County civil court records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Gainesville. The 8th Judicial Circuit handles all civil cases filed in Alachua County, and the clerk's office gives public access to court files both online and in person.
Alachua County Quick Facts
Alachua County Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court in Alachua County is J.K. "Jess" Irby, Esq. This office keeps all civil court records for the county. Staff file new cases, store court documents, and hand out copies of civil filings. The office sits at the county courthouse in downtown Gainesville. You can visit in person or call for help with civil court records in Alachua County.
The Alachua County Clerk website has tools for looking up court cases and official records online. The clerk also runs an e-Notify service that sends alerts when new documents are filed in a case you are tracking.
The clerk's office is open weekdays. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours for civil court record requests in Alachua County.
| Clerk | J.K. "Jess" Irby, Esq. |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 E. University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601 |
| Phone | (352) 374-3636 |
| Fax | (352) 338-3201 |
| TDD/TTY | 711 (Florida Relay) or 1-800-955-8771 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Clerk@alachuaclerk.org | |
| Website | alachuacounty.us |
How to Search Alachua County Civil Court Records
You can search civil court records in Alachua County online or in person. The online search is free and open to anyone. It covers civil cases, traffic cases, and other court files going back decades. The oldest case available online dates to July 23, 1928. Civil case records have been online since September 2001. For older records, you need to visit the Records Department at the courthouse in Gainesville.
The Alachua County court records search lets you look up cases by name or case number. To search by name, type the last name first, then the first name and middle initial. Company names go in the Company field. Case numbers follow a set format in Alachua County. The old format like 1997-1234-CA is now 1997CA1234. Do not add the "01" county code prefix when you search for civil court records.
The search tool has some limits. Idle sessions time out after 30 minutes. You can pull up to 60 documents per hour before the system logs you out. These caps help keep the site running for all users who need civil court records in Alachua County.
Case type codes in Alachua County have changed over time:
- Family cases once coded as CA are now DR
- Probate and guardianship cases are now CP
- Mental health cases are now MH
- Small claims and county court cases are all CC
You can also search civil court records in Alachua County in person. Go to the Records Department at the courthouse, 201 E. University Avenue in Gainesville. Staff can look up cases and make copies. Bring your ID. Certified copies cost more than plain ones but both are available at the counter.
The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal also provides access to Alachua County civil court records. This statewide tool connects to all 67 county clerks. You can file new civil cases through the portal at any time. It is free to register.
Official Records in Alachua County
The Clerk of Court in Alachua County also keeps official records separate from court case files. These include deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents. The official records search is available online at no cost. This tool is useful if you need to find civil judgments that have been recorded against a property in Alachua County.
Online records are not official legal documents. For certified copies of civil court records in Alachua County, you must get them from the clerk's office. The clerk follows the Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order on Access to Electronic Court Records, which limits what information can appear online. Adoption records and other files made confidential by law are not available through the public search in Alachua County.
For public records requests, call the Public Records Custodian at (352) 264-6906 or email publicrecordsrequest@alachuacounty.us. Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. The clerk warns that if you email, your address may be released in Alachua County. You can call or write instead if that is a concern.
Civil Court Structure in Alachua County
Alachua County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit. This circuit also covers Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties. Civil cases in Alachua County go to one of two court levels depending on the amount in dispute.
Circuit Court handles civil cases with claims above $30,000. This includes contract disputes, personal injury lawsuits, and real property actions. Family law, probate, and guardianship cases also go to the Circuit Court in Alachua County. County Court handles civil cases up to $30,000. Small claims up to $8,000 fall under County Court as well. Evictions and landlord-tenant cases are also in County Court in Alachua County.
The Florida court locations page shows the courthouse addresses for Alachua County and every other county in the state. If you are not sure which court level handles your civil case, the clerk's office can point you to the right filing window in Alachua County.
Confidential Information in Alachua County Civil Court Records
Some details in civil court records are kept private. Under Florida law, social security numbers and bank account or credit card numbers must not appear in public court files. If these numbers show up in a document, anyone can ask the clerk to redact them. There is no fee for this in Alachua County.
To request redaction of confidential numbers from civil court records in Alachua County, submit the "Request to Redact Confidential Number" form. You must list the case name, case number, document heading, and page number where the information appears. The clerk will remove it from the public version of the file.
Parties and attorneys who file civil court papers in Alachua County must use the Notice of Confidential Information Form under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420. This form flags any confidential data in a filing so the clerk can keep it out of public view. The rule covers social security numbers, bank account numbers, and certain other personal details in civil court records.
Self-Help Resources for Civil Cases in Alachua County
The Alachua County self-help page has forms and guides for people who want to handle civil court matters on their own. Self-represented litigants can find packets for common case types. The clerk's office cannot give legal advice, but staff can point you to the right forms for civil cases in Alachua County.
DIY Florida is a free tool inside the E-Filing Portal. It walks you through interview questions and fills out court forms for you. More than 20 forms are available for small claims, landlord-tenant, and other civil case types. You can file the completed forms through the portal to the Alachua County clerk's office. Standard filing fees still apply when you submit civil court documents.
The E-Filing Portal support desk is available weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time at (850) 577-4609. Call if you need help with electronic filing of civil court cases in Alachua County. Training videos on the portal show how to set up an account, submit documents, and pay fees.
Case Tracking in Alachua County
The Alachua County e-Notify service lets you track civil court cases by email. You sign up with a case number, and the system sends a notice each time a new document is filed. This is a free service. It saves you from checking the court records search every day to see if something new has been added to a civil case in Alachua County.
The Find a Clerk directory on the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website lists contact info for all 67 county clerks. Use it to reach the Alachua County clerk or any other clerk in the state for help with civil court records.
Public Records Access in Alachua County
Florida has broad public records laws. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes says all state, county, and municipal records are open for inspection and copying. This covers civil court records in Alachua County. You do not need to be a party in a case. You can ask to see any public civil court file. The clerk must respond within a reasonable time.
Some limits exist. Section 119.0714 lists items that stay confidential, like social security numbers and bank account numbers. Records sealed by court order are also off limits. But most civil court files in Alachua County are open to the public.
For in-person access, visit the clerk's office at 201 E. University Avenue in Gainesville. Copies cost a small fee per page. Certified copies cost more. For security purposes, the clerk logs information about online searches. This data is used for site maintenance and to improve access to civil court records in Alachua County.
Cities in Alachua County
Alachua County has several cities and towns. All civil court cases for these cities go through the Alachua County Clerk of Court. Gainesville is the county seat and largest city. It is the main location for filing and looking up civil court records in Alachua County.
Other communities in Alachua County include Alachua, Archer, Hawthorne, High Springs, Micanopy, Newberry, and Waldo. All of them use the Alachua County clerk's office for civil court records.
Nearby Counties
These counties are also in the 8th Judicial Circuit with Alachua County. If you are not sure which county handles your civil case, check the address where the dispute took place. You must file in the correct county for the court to have jurisdiction.