Bay County Civil Court Records Search

Bay County civil court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Panama City. The 14th Judicial Circuit handles all civil cases filed in Bay County, and the clerk's office offers public access to court files both online and at the courthouse.

Bay County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court in Bay County is Bill Kinsaul. 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 Bay County Courthouse in downtown Panama City. You can visit in person or call for help with civil court records.

The Bay County Clerk website has tools for looking up court cases and official records online. The clerk is pleased to offer internet access to information deemed as public record by Florida Statute 119.01. The site is intended for the general public's personal use to retrieve general information about civil court records in Bay County.

The clerk's office is open weekdays. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours for civil court record requests. You can also reach the office by email at recording@baycoclerk.com.

How to Search Bay County Civil Court Records

You can search civil court records in Bay County online or in person. The Bay County court case search lets you look up cases by name, case number, or other details. The search is free and open to anyone. But keep in mind that the information available online is not official and should not be relied on for any type of legal action.

While the clerk's office attempts to preserve the accuracy of the online version of these records, they are not official. The Bay County Clerk of Circuit Court will not be responsible for any inaccuracies that may appear. For certified copies, you need to visit the clerk's office in person or make a request by mail.

You can also search civil court records in Bay County in person. Go to Room 110 at the Bay County Courthouse, 300 E 4th St in Panama City. Staff can look up cases and make copies. Payment is accepted by cash or Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. Credit and debit card payments have a convenience fee. No personal checks are accepted.

The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal also provides access to Bay 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. The portal has more than 770,000 users and handles over 30 million documents per year.

Official Records in Bay County

The Bay County official records search allows you to search the entire Bay County Official Records database. This includes final judgments, land records, and other public documents recorded after January 1, 1987. Search results show parties, date recorded, document type, book type, book and page numbers, and the clerk instrument number.

Copies viewed online are not official legal documents. Official legal document copies are available only from the clerk's Official Records Department. You can also request electronic certification for certain documents. These certified copies carry the clerk's seal and are valid for legal use.

For public records requests, you can hand-deliver your request to Room 110 at the Bay County Courthouse, or mail it to Bay County Clerk's Office, Attention Official Records, P.O. Box 2269, Panama City, FL 32402. The clerk follows all state rules on public records access and responds within a reasonable time to all requests for civil court records.

Civil Court Division in Bay County

The Bay County civil court division handles all civil court cases in the county. This division manages court registry deposits of funds, auto repair shop bonds under Florida Statute 559.917, transfer of claims and liens, and satisfaction of judgment processing. The division is the main point of contact for civil case filings.

Bay County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit. This circuit also covers Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties. Civil cases in Bay County go to one of two court levels depending on the amount in dispute. Circuit Court handles civil cases with claims above $30,000. County Court handles civil cases up to $30,000, including small claims and evictions.

The clerk's office is unable to provide legal advice. As a self-represented party, it helps to learn the court rules, proper legal filings, and service requirements before you file. The Florida Courts self-help page has forms and guides for common civil case types.

Redaction of Information in Bay County

Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit or debit card numbers cannot be included in documents recorded after October 1, 2002, unless required by law. Any person can request redaction of these numbers from the publicly available website. There is no fee for this service in Bay County.

Your request must be legibly written, signed, and delivered in person, by mail, or fax. You must specify the identification book and page number of the document. Hand-deliver your request to Room 110 at the Bay County Courthouse, or mail it to Bay County Clerk's Office, Attention Official Records, P.O. Box 2269, Panama City, FL 32402.

Parties and attorneys must file the Notice of Confidential Information Form under Rule 2.420 when submitting court papers. By accessing information on the Bay County clerk site, users agree to exonerate and pardon the clerk and staff for any damage from accessing the information. This is standard practice across all Florida clerk offices.

Public Records Access in Bay 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 Bay County. You do not need to be a party in a case to view court files. The clerk must respond within a reasonable time to any public records request.

Some limits exist. Records sealed by court order are off limits. Social security numbers and bank account numbers stay confidential. But most civil court files in Bay County are open to the public. For in-person access, visit the clerk's office at 300 E 4th St in Panama City. Copies cost a small fee per page. Certified copies cost more.

Cities in Bay County

Bay County includes Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, Springfield, and other communities. All civil court cases for these cities go through the Bay County Clerk of Court. Panama City is the county seat and the main location for filing and looking up civil court records in Bay County.

None of the cities in Bay County currently meet the population threshold for a separate city page on this site. All residents use the Bay County clerk's office in Panama City for civil court matters.

Nearby Counties

These counties are also in the 14th Judicial Circuit with Bay 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.