Common Questions About Duval County Court Records
The questions below cover the day-to-day asks the Clerk and Sheriff get most often. Each answer links out to the page that walks the topic in more depth.
How do I search Duval County court records online?
Court records are searched through CORE, the Duval Clerk's official online portal. Start from the Clerk's Online Viewing of Court Records page, then open CORE. Basic public access is free and shows non-confidential records in non-confidential case types. A free registered account lets you ask the Clerk to review and publish unpublished documents. Family-law and probate-rule files have extra access rules under the Florida Supreme Court matrix. See the court records page for the full search walkthrough.
Is CORE free to use?
Yes, basic CORE access is free. The free account adds the ability to request unpublished documents. Certified electronic copies are not free; eCertified court documents carry the statutory $2 certification fee plus vendor and card-service charges. Plain copies in person are $1 per page, and copy fees apply for mailed requests too. The full fee list is on the Clerk of Court page.
Why can I see the docket but not the document?
A docket entry can be public while the attached PDF still needs Clerk review or sits inside a restricted case type. CORE may show a request dialog. Submit the request as a registered user and the Clerk reviews the file for redaction before publishing it. Some family, juvenile, and probate documents stay out of public view by rule. For more on how docket entries are built, see the court dockets page.
Who is the Duval County Clerk?
Jody Phillips is the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Duval County, Florida. The Clerk's office handles court records, official records, marriage licenses, public records requests, traffic payments, jury services, recording, and certified copies. Court records, recording, and many other public-facing tasks all sit under this single office. More detail is on the Clerk of Court page.
Where is the Duval County Courthouse?
The main courthouse is at 501 West Adams Street in Jacksonville, between Pearl and Broad Streets. Clerk hours run 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays. The Fourth Judicial Circuit also lists court hours, which start at 8:30 a.m. on most divisions. Holidays close the courthouse. See the Circuit Court and County Court pages for division addresses and judges.
What can I bring into the courthouse?
Everything brought into the courthouse gets screened. Weapons, ammunition, knives, scissors, pepper spray, tools, glass containers, illegal drugs and paraphernalia, vaping devices, flammables, bikes or skateboards, and smart recording glasses are all on the no list. Empty your pockets and place items in the screening tray before passing the metal detector. Plan extra time at peak hours. See the court records page for more building info.
How do I get certified copies?
For official records, use the eCertify tool online or call Official Records and Research at (904) 255-2025; the desk is in Room 1253 of the downtown courthouse. Online eCertified records cost $2 for certification plus a $6 vendor fee and a card-service charge. Court-record certified copies are ordered through CORE, and the email link stays live for 30 days. The public records page covers paper requests by mail.
How do I request older records not online?
Older Duval files sometimes predate the online system. For those, contact the relevant Clerk department at 501 West Adams Street with the case number, party names, dates of birth, or filing dates. Official records before 1988 need staff help from the research desk. Written requests should include a self-addressed stamped envelope for paper returns. The Clerk of Court page has the office layout and phones.
Are marriage records online?
Yes, in part. Duval marriage licenses recorded since 1988 can be viewed in Official Records, and the Clerk also notes licenses going back to February 1981 are searchable. Uncertified copies can be downloaded and printed at no charge. Certified copies come from Official Records and Research or by calling (904) 255-2025. The marriage and divorce records page covers fees and how to apply.
How much is a Duval marriage license?
The standard marriage license and application fee is $86. Couples who finish a registered premarital preparation course can get a $25 discount, dropping the fee to $61. Card payments add a 3.5% surcharge. Personal checks are not accepted. Both partners need to apply together with valid ID. See the marriage and divorce records page for the full requirements.
Is there a waiting period to marry?
Florida residents have a three-day waiting period after the license is issued, unless they finish a registered premarital course and bring proof. Non-Florida residents have no waiting period. A Duval marriage license is valid for ceremonies anywhere in Florida for 60 days from issuance. After that, a new license is needed. The marriage and divorce records page has more.
Where do I file for divorce?
Divorce, also called dissolution of marriage, is filed with the Duval Clerk as a Circuit Court family-law case. The fee schedule lists dissolution and simplified dissolution at $409. Family case records are subject to online access limits under the Florida court access matrix, so a public CORE user may not see all family filings. The marriage and divorce records page has filing steps.
How do I search probate records?
Probate cases can be searched in person at the Probate Department using the computer system, or in archive books for cases opened before 1977. Written requests need the decedent's full name, date of death, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a $2 per-name search fee. The Probate Department does not run searches by phone. For more, see the probate records page.
Can I deposit my will before death?
No. Duval's probate FAQ is clear: a will cannot be accepted for deposit with the court before the death of the person who made it. After death, the will should be deposited with the Clerk in the county where the decedent lived within ten days. Mail or in-person deposit is allowed at that point. See the probate records page for the rest.
How do I find someone in Duval jail?
Use the JSO Inmate Information Search at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office site. The search covers current and historical incarcerated and released inmates and shows mugshots and charges. You can also call Jail/Inmate Information at (904) 630-5760. JSO is the county corrections agency under Sheriff T.K. Waters. The inmate records page has the lookup walkthrough and field list.
Does JSO publish released inmates?
Yes. The JSO Inmate Search covers both current and historical inmates, including release status. The application has release log functions built in. If a release happened recently and online status is unclear, call (904) 630-5760 or check VINELink if you signed up for notification. The released inmates page covers VINELink, state DOC, and federal BOP searches too.
How do I schedule a jail visit?
JSO uses video visitation only. Remote video visits need a GettingOut account and ID verification, and they cost $0.25 per minute. Free onsite video visits are at 500 East Adams Street, on the west side of the Pretrial Detention Facility. Visits can be booked up to 14 days ahead and must be set at least 24 hours in advance. See the inmate records page for more on jail contact.
How do I send mail to a Duval jail inmate?
Personal mail goes to Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Duval, FL, with the inmate name and 10-digit booking number, addressed to P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Legal mail and authorized publications still go to the facility where the inmate is housed. Mail must include the inmate name, booking number, and a sender name and address. The inmate records page has the full mail rules.
How do I put money on an inmate account?
Use Access Secure Deposits at the inmate deposits site, call 1-866-345-1884, or use a kiosk in the jail, prison, or CTC lobby. JSO staff do not accept cash, cashier's checks, or money orders by mail or in person for inmate accounts. Phone-time accounts use a separate vendor at offenderconnect.com or by phone at 1-877-650-4249. See the inmate records page for more.
How do I pay a Duval traffic ticket?
Civil traffic citations can be paid online within 30 calendar days of the issue date, in person at any Clerk's Office, or by mail to the Traffic Violations Bureau at 501 West Adams Street. Card payments carry a 3.5% non-refundable service fee. Paying is treated as a conviction and may add points. After 30 days, online payment closes. See the traffic court records page for full options.
Can I elect traffic school?
Yes for most civil traffic citations. The Clerk's traffic page allows you to pay the fine and elect Driver Improvement School. CDL holders are not eligible. Florida law sets the election cap at once in any 12-month window and no more than five times in a lifetime. School completion can keep points off the driver record. The traffic court records page covers the rules.
Can I get more time to pay a ticket?
The Clerk can grant one 30-day payment extension if it is requested in writing within 30 calendar days of the citation. The request must be made in person at a Clerk office; phone requests are not accepted. Requesting an extension waives the right to set a court date. Extensions are not granted on past-due citations. The traffic court records page has more on deadlines.
How do I resolve a Duval warrant?
Start by searching CORE for the case and docket to confirm the warrant is active. Then contact an attorney or the relevant court division for the next steps. If the person is already in custody, the JSO Inmate Search may show bond and next court date. Cash bond is paid at the jail; civil purge can be paid at Domestic Relations Room 107 during business hours, or at the jail after hours. See the warrant records page.
Who is the State Attorney for Duval County?
Melissa W. Nelson is the State Attorney for Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit, which covers Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties. The main office is at 311 West Monroe Street in Jacksonville, phone (904) 255-2500. The office prosecutes state criminal cases and provides victim resources. The criminal records page covers how cases move from arrest through prosecution.
Who is the Duval Public Defender?
Charlie Cofer is the Public Defender for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. The Duval office is at 407 North Laura Street in Jacksonville, phone (904) 255-HOPE. The office represents indigent criminal defendants who qualify for appointment by the court. For arrest data, charges, and how a case enters this system, see the criminal records page.