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

The Duval County Clerk of Courts maintains court records for Jacksonville and Duval County and serves as county recorder for Official Records. Readers may need the Clerk to find civil, criminal, family or probate cases, review court documents, obtain certified copies, research deeds and mortgages, pay court amounts or choose between the downtown courthouse and Beaches Branch. Duval’s court-record portal is CORE, the Clerk Online Resource ePortal. General public access is available, while a free registered account can provide additional request and viewing functions where Florida law allows. Official Records use a separate search. This guide explains current office details, search steps, copy costs and access limits.

Quick Overview Duval County Clerk of Court Florida

Duval County Clerk of Court Address and Phone Number

The main Duval County Courthouse is at 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The general Clerk number is 904-255-2000, and the downtown office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Beaches Branch is at 1543 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, FL 32266 and generally operates from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For recorded-document research, Official Records and Research is in Room 1253 of the downtown courthouse and can be reached at 904-255-2025. The Public Records Department, which handles broader administrative records rather than ordinary case-copy requests, is in Room 2338 and lists 904-255-1828.

Duval County Clerk of Courts Locations

How to Search Duval County Court Records and Cases

CORE is the Clerk’s official system for viewing Duval court case information and eligible documents. Basic public access permits non-confidential records in non-confidential case types. A free registered CORE account adds the ability to request review and publication of some documents that have not yet been released online and can provide broader access to eligible family and probate material.

1. Go to duvalclerk.com, choose Court Records, and open CORE rather than relying on a third-party case-search site.
2. Search by case number when available or use the plaintiff/defendant or other party name fields supported by the case type.
3. Open the correct case and review the docket. If an eligible document is already public, it can be viewed through CORE.
4. If a document is not published, registered users may be able to request review; otherwise contact the respective Clerk department with the case number and document details.

CORE access depends on the user’s role, case type, document type and information contained in the document. Basic public access does not provide the same view as a registered or otherwise authorized user. Confidential and sensitive material remains protected. The Clerk specifically encourages users to use CORE for Duval case information because the statewide e-filing portal may provide more limited viewing.

How to Request Copies of Court Records

When a document is unavailable online or certification is required, prepare:

• Case number and the division where the case is filed.
• Full party names and, if useful, dates of birth or filing dates.
• Exact document requested, especially for older files.
• Whether you want an eCertified document, paper certified copy or plain copy.

Duval’s fee schedule lists plain court-record copies at $1 per page and certification at $2 per document. Online eCertified documents carry the $2 certification fee plus the Clerk’s listed third-party processing charge. For in-person or mailed eCertification, the $2 certification fee applies, and a paper copy adds $1 per page. Older documents that predate online availability may require staff retrieval.

Other Services Available Through the Clerk

The Clerk handles circuit and county civil matters, small claims, criminal cases, traffic, family law, probate, juvenile cases, Official Records, marriage licenses, passports, foreclosure and tax-deed functions, appeals and other court services. The Beaches Branch provides many common services but excludes some specialized case types, so verify the correct department before traveling.

Court Records vs. Property Records

CORE is for court cases. Duval’s Official Records system is for recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages and liens. Uncertified Official Records from 1988 forward can be searched, viewed and printed online for free, and recorded marriage licenses are available from February 1981. Older records require help from Official Records staff. For ownership or a recorded mortgage, use Official Records; for pleadings and orders in a lawsuit, use CORE.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do I need to register for CORE just to search a Duval case?

No. Basic general-public access is available. Registration is useful when you need eligible additional document access or want to request that an unpublished document be reviewed for online release.

Q. Why can a registered CORE user see more than a basic public user?

Florida’s electronic-record security rules assign different permissions by role and case type. Registration can expand access where the rules allow it, but it does not unlock confidential material.

Q. Can I download a free certified document from the ordinary Official Records search?

No. Free online copies are uncertified. A certified or eCertified document must be ordered through the Clerk’s certification process and carries the applicable fees.

Q. How far back do Duval Official Records go online?

The Clerk states that uncertified Official Records are available online from 1988 forward, with marriage licenses available from February 1981. Older documents require staff assistance.

Q. What if a document predates CORE or is not online?

Contact the Clerk department responsible for the case and provide the case number, party names and useful identifiers. The Clerk accepts in-person and mailed requests for records requiring staff retrieval.