Alachua County Clerk of Court Florida: Address, Phone Number, Records & Case Search

The Alachua County Clerk of Court and Comptroller keeps court files and Official Records for Gainesville and the rest of Alachua County, Florida. Readers use the office to find civil or criminal cases, review traffic matters, request copies, search deeds and mortgages, or research older county records. The Family and Civil Justice Center is on East University Avenue. Criminal and appellate work is handled from the Criminal Courthouse on South Main Street. Alachua also has a detailed online court-record system. Its document coverage varies by case type and year. This guide explains the current locations, search limits, copy fees and the best way to find a record without wasting time.

Alachua County Clerk of Court Quick Overview

Alachua County Clerk of Court Address and Phone Number

The main Clerk office is at the Alachua County Family and Civil Justice Center, 201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The main switchboard is 352-374-3636.

Court Files can be reached at 352-338-3215. Civil and Family Law use 352-374-3618. Felony uses 352-374-3681. Misdemeanor and Criminal Traffic use 352-337-6250. Official Records and Recording use 352-374-3625. The separate criminal courthouse is at 220 S. Main Street in Gainesville.

Alachua County Clerk of Courts Locations

How to Search Alachua County Court Records and Cases

Alachua County offers online access to its court-record index and many document images. Public users can search current court records after completing the site’s access step. The oldest case in the database dates to 1928, but electronic document images begin later. Civil and civil traffic images generally begin in 2001. Criminal images begin in late 2005.

1. Open alachuaclerk.org and select Court Records Search.
2. Complete the access screen and choose the search method. Use the case number when known.
3. Open the matching case and review the progress docket. A document image is available when the system shows the viewing icon.
4. If the image is not online, contact Court Files or visit the Clerk. Older civil, criminal and traffic records may require staff research.

Online image access has limits. Family law, probate, mental health and juvenile images are not generally available through the ordinary public system. Adoption records and other confidential material are not public. The site also limits document retrieval to 60 documents in an hour and times out inactive sessions after 30 minutes. Those controls are part of the Clerk’s electronic-access rules.

How to Request Copies of Court Records

For a copy request, provide enough detail to identify the record:

• Case number or Official Record reference when available.
• Full party names and a useful year or date range.
• Exact document needed.
• Whether the copy must be certified.

Alachua County lists standard copies at $1 per page. Certification is $2 per instrument on the current Official Records fee page. A name search costs $2 per year searched. Official Record copies can be purchased through the online search, in person or by telephone with credit-card payment. Court and Official Records are also available through a public-record request when the desired item cannot be found online.

Other Services Available Through the Clerk

The Clerk handles civil and family cases, criminal matters, traffic, appeals, juvenile cases, probate, guardianship, mental-health proceedings, small claims and domestic-violence filings. It also manages marriage licenses, passports, Official Records, foreclosure sales, tax deed sales and county financial records. The office provides a large historical archive as well. That archive includes old marriage, probate, deed and mortgage material that goes far beyond the current electronic court system.

Court Records vs. Property Records

Court Records are the files created in judicial cases. Official Records are documents recorded by the county recorder, such as deeds, mortgages and judgments. Alachua’s modern Official Records online index begins in 1971. The Clerk also provides older deed and Official Records index books online, including material from the nineteenth century. A property researcher should use Official Records or the historical indexes. A person looking for a complaint, order or criminal docket should use Court Records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why can I see a docket entry but no Alachua court document image?

The document may predate electronic imaging, belong to a restricted case type or be unavailable for public online viewing. Contact Court Files if you need the record.

Q. How far back do Alachua court documents go online?

Civil and civil traffic images generally begin in 2001. Criminal document images begin in late 2005. Older case information may still exist, but staff research may be required.

Q. Why did the online system log me out?

The Clerk limits inactive sessions and high-volume document retrieval. An idle session can time out after 30 minutes, and document access is capped within an hour.

Q. Where do I search for an old deed?

Use the Official Records and Historical Records tools. Alachua provides older deed indexes and record books online in addition to its modern Official Records database.

Q. Can the Clerk tell me what legal form I should file?

No. The Clerk can explain filing procedures and provide records, but it cannot give legal advice or choose a legal strategy for you.