Putnam County Court Records
What Is Putnam County Court Records
Court records in Putnam County, Florida, are official documents generated by the judicial system in the course of legal proceedings. These records encompass a broad range of materials, including case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, and sentencing records. Each document type serves a distinct function: docket sheets provide a chronological index of all filings in a case, while pleadings and motions capture the arguments submitted by parties, and orders and judgments reflect the court's official rulings.
Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained at the county level. Property records, for example, are held by the Putnam County Property Appraiser, and vital records such as birth and death certificates are administered by the Florida Department of Health. Court records, by contrast, are generated exclusively through judicial proceedings and are custodied by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
The following courts in Putnam County generate and maintain official court records:
- Circuit Court — handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile matters
- County Court — handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims up to $50,000, traffic infractions, and small claims
- Probate Division — maintains records related to estates, guardianships, and trusts
- Family Court Division — maintains dissolution of marriage, child custody, and domestic relations records
- Small Claims Court — maintains records for civil disputes involving amounts up to $8,000
Under Florida Statutes § 28.13, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is designated as the official custodian of all court records within the county. Records span civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters filed in both the Circuit and County Courts serving Putnam County.
Are Court Records Public In Putnam County
Court records in Putnam County are presumptively open to the public under Florida law. Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution establishes a broad right of access to public records, and Florida Statutes § 119.01 codifies the public records law that applies to all government agencies, including the courts. Under current law, the following categories of court records are generally available for public inspection:
- Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
- Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
- Judgments and court orders
- Docket sheets and hearing schedules
- Sentencing records and disposition documents
- Probate inventories and estate filings
It is important to distinguish between state and federal court records. Records from the Putnam County Circuit and County Courts are governed by Florida's public records statutes and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration. Federal court records, including those from the Middle District of Florida, are governed by federal law and are accessible through the federal PACER system, which operates independently of the state court framework.
The Florida Supreme Court has adopted Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, which governs the confidentiality of court records and enumerates specific categories of documents that are exempt from public disclosure. These exemptions include records involving minors in dependency proceedings, certain mental health adjudications, and sealed case files ordered confidential by a judge. Outside of these enumerated exemptions, Florida Courts operate under a strong presumption of openness.
How To Find Court Records in Putnam County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Putnam County may access them through several official channels. The primary custodian of these records is the Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court, which maintains both in-person and online access options.
In-Person Access:
- Visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court office located at the Putnam County Courthouse, 410 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177
- Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state holidays
- Requestors should provide the full name of a party, case number, or filing date to facilitate the search
- Certified copies of records are available for a fee; uncertified inspection is generally provided at no charge
Submitting a Written Request:
- Written public records requests may be submitted to the Clerk's office by mail, in person, or through the county's online public information system
- Requests submitted through the Putnam County, FL official website are processed by the Board of County Commissioners' public records coordinator
- No specific form is required under Florida law; a written description of the records sought is sufficient
Fees:
- Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07, agencies may charge up to $0.15 per one-sided copy and $0.20 per two-sided copy for duplicated records
- Certified copies of court documents carry additional fees established by the Clerk's fee schedule
How To Look Up Court Records in Putnam County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Putnam County court records, depending on the court level and case type.
Putnam County Clerk of Courts Online Portal: The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Putnam County maintains an online case search system that allows members of the public to search civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic records by party name, case number, or filing date. Users may access docket entries and, in many instances, view scanned case documents directly through the portal.
Florida Courts E-Filing Portal: The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal provides access to electronically filed documents in circuit and county courts statewide, including Putnam County. Users may search by case number or party name and view available filings.
Florida Appellate Case Information System: For appellate-level records, the Florida Appellate Case Information System provides access to public case dockets and electronic case filings in Florida's District Courts of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court. Cases originating in Putnam County that are appealed to the Fifth District Court of Appeal may be located through this system.
PACER — Federal Court Records: Federal cases involving Putnam County parties are accessible through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system, administered by the Middle District of Florida United States District Court. PACER requires user registration and charges a per-page fee for document retrieval.
Search Steps for the Clerk's Online Portal:
- Navigate to the Putnam County Clerk of Courts official website
- Select the "Court Records Search" or equivalent case search option
- Enter the party's full name, case number, or date range
- Review the list of matching cases and select the relevant matter
- Access available docket entries and document images from the case detail page
How To Search Putnam County Court Records for Free?
Florida law guarantees the right of any person to inspect public records at no charge. Under Florida Statutes § 119.07(1), every person has the right to inspect and copy public records, and agencies are prohibited from charging a fee solely for the act of inspection. Members of the public may review court records in person at the Clerk of the Circuit Court without incurring any copy fees, provided they do not request physical duplicates.
The following online resources currently provide free access to Putnam County court records:
- Putnam County Clerk of Courts Case Search — free name and case number searches; docket entries viewable at no cost
- Florida Courts website — provides general case information and links to court-specific search tools through the Florida Courts statewide portal
- Florida Appellate Case Information System — the appellate case search system is free to use for docket and document access in appellate proceedings
- Putnam County BOCC Public Records Portal — the Putnam County government website provides a public information system for county-level records requests at no charge
Fees apply only when physical copies or certified documents are requested. Federal court records accessed through PACER are subject to a per-page fee, as that system operates outside the scope of Florida's public records law.
What's Included in a Putnam County Court Record?
The contents of a court record vary by case type, but the following components are commonly found across civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters maintained by the Putnam County Clerk of Courts:
Civil Case Records:
- Complaint or petition initiating the action
- Summons and proof of service
- Defendant's answer and affirmative defenses
- Motions, responses, and supporting memoranda
- Court orders and rulings on motions
- Final judgment or decree
- Post-judgment filings, including writs of execution
Criminal Case Records:
- Arrest affidavit and charging document (information or indictment)
- Arraignment and plea records
- Pretrial motions and orders
- Trial transcripts (where applicable)
- Verdict and sentencing order
- Probation or supervision records (where not sealed)
Family Court Records:
- Petition for dissolution of marriage or paternity
- Financial affidavits and asset disclosures
- Parenting plans and custody orders
- Final judgment of dissolution
- Modification and enforcement filings
Probate Records:
- Petition for administration of estate
- Inventory of assets
- Creditor claims and objections
- Orders of distribution
- Final discharge of personal representative
Traffic Records:
- Citation or uniform traffic complaint
- Hearing notices and continuance orders
- Adjudication or withholding of adjudication
- Payment records and license suspension notices
How Long Does Putnam County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Florida is governed by the Florida Supreme Court's Records Retention Schedule for Clerks of Court, adopted pursuant to Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.430. Retention periods vary by record type and case classification:
- Felony criminal case files — retained permanently
- Misdemeanor criminal case files — retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
- Civil case files (Circuit Court) — retained for a minimum of 5 years following case closure; cases involving real property are retained permanently
- Probate and guardianship records — retained permanently
- Family law case files — retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
- Small claims case files — retained for a minimum of 5 years following case closure
- Traffic infraction records — retained for a minimum of 5 years
- Juvenile dependency records — subject to confidentiality provisions and specific retention schedules under Florida Statutes § 39.0132
Records that have reached the end of their retention period may be destroyed in accordance with the approved schedule. Certified copies of permanently retained records remain available through the Clerk of the Circuit Court indefinitely.
Types of Courts In Putnam County
Putnam County is served by a two-tier state court structure, consistent with Florida's unified court system. The hierarchy proceeds from the County Court at the base level, through the Circuit Court, to the Fifth District Court of Appeal, and ultimately to the Florida Supreme Court.
Putnam County Court (County Court)
Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court 410 St. Johns Avenue Palatka, FL 32177 (386) 329-0361 Public Counter Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Putnam County Clerk of Courts
The County Court handles misdemeanor criminal matters, civil claims up to $50,000, small claims up to $8,000, and traffic infractions.
Putnam County Circuit Court (Seventh Judicial Circuit)
Putnam County Courthouse — Circuit Court 410 St. Johns Avenue Palatka, FL 32177 (386) 329-0361 Public Counter Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Putnam Circuit Court — Florida Courts
The Circuit Court serves as the court of general jurisdiction, handling felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $50,000, family law, probate, juvenile, and appellate review of County Court decisions.
Fifth District Court of Appeal
Fifth District Court of Appeal 300 South Beach Street Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (386) 947-1500 Public Counter Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Florida Courts — Fifth District
The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviews decisions from the Circuit Courts within its jurisdiction, including Putnam County.
Florida Supreme Court
Florida Supreme Court 500 South Duval Street Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 488-0125 Florida Courts
The Florida Supreme Court serves as the court of last resort for state matters and exercises discretionary jurisdiction over decisions from the District Courts of Appeal.
What Types of Cases Do Putnam County Courts Hear?
Each court within Putnam County's judicial structure handles a defined category of cases:
County Court:
- Misdemeanor criminal offenses (first and second degree)
- Civil disputes involving amounts up to $50,000
- Small claims matters up to $8,000
- Traffic infractions and civil traffic violations
- Landlord-tenant disputes within the monetary threshold
Circuit Court:
- Felony criminal prosecutions
- Civil cases involving amounts exceeding $50,000
- Dissolution of marriage and family law matters
- Juvenile dependency and delinquency proceedings
- Probate, guardianship, and trust administration
- Appeals from County Court decisions
- Injunctions for protection against domestic violence
Fifth District Court of Appeal:
- Appeals from Circuit Court final judgments and orders in Putnam County
- Interlocutory appeals as permitted by the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure
- Writs of certiorari, mandamus, prohibition, and habeas corpus
Florida Supreme Court:
- Discretionary review of District Court of Appeal decisions
- Mandatory review of death penalty cases
- Certified questions of great public importance
How To Find a Court Docket In Putnam County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and orders entered in a specific case. Members of the public may locate Putnam County court dockets through the following methods:
Online Search:
- Access the Putnam County Clerk of Courts case search portal and enter the party name or case number to retrieve the docket for any active or closed case
- For appellate-level dockets, use the Florida Appellate Case Information System, which provides docket access for cases before the Fifth District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court
- Federal case dockets involving Putnam County parties are available through the PACER system on the Middle District of Florida website
In-Person Search:
- Visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 410 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177, during public counter hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- Staff at the public counter can assist in locating docket entries by case number, party name, or filing date
By Mail or Written Request:
- Submit a written request to the Clerk's office specifying the case number or party name; the Clerk will provide docket information in accordance with Florida's public records law
Which Courts in Putnam County Are Not Courts of Record?
A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, and whose judgments carry legal authority subject to appellate review. Under Florida law, courts not of record are tribunals that do not maintain a verbatim transcript of proceedings and whose decisions are subject to de novo review rather than appellate review on the record.
Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 34.01 and the Florida Constitution, Article V, all county courts in Florida are currently designated as courts of record. At present, there are no active courts in Putnam County that are formally classified as courts not of record within the state judicial system. Historically, justice of the peace courts and certain municipal courts operated as courts not of record, but these tribunals were abolished following Florida's 1972 court unification reforms.
Certain administrative tribunals and quasi-judicial bodies — such as code enforcement boards, value adjustment boards, and administrative hearing officers — operate within Putnam County but are not part of the judicial branch and are not courts of record. Decisions from these bodies are subject to review by the Circuit Court through certiorari proceedings rather than through the standard appellate process.