Nassau County Public Records /Nassau County Court Records

Nassau County Court Records

What Is Nassau County Court Records

Court records in Nassau County encompass the official documentation generated by judicial proceedings within the county's court system. These records include case files, dockets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, sentencing records, and any other materials filed with or produced by a court in connection with a legal matter. Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained by Nassau County agencies, such as property records held by the Property Appraiser's Office or vital records maintained by the Department of Health.

The courts responsible for maintaining records in Nassau County include:

Circuit Court – handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile matters
County Court – handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $50,000, and traffic infractions
Small Claims Court – a division of County Court handling civil disputes up to $8,000
Family Court – a division addressing dissolution of marriage, child custody, support, and adoption
Probate Court – a division managing estate administration, guardianship, and trust matters
Juvenile Court – handles delinquency and dependency matters involving minors

Records maintained by these courts span civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Under Florida Statutes § 28.13, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is designated as the official custodian of court records within the county.

Are Court Records Public In Nassau County

Court records in Nassau 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 court-related documents maintained by clerks of court.

The following categories of 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
Final judgments and court orders
Docket sheets and case summaries
Hearing schedules and calendars
Sentencing records in criminal matters

It is important to distinguish between state and federal court records. Nassau County's state courts are governed by Florida's public records framework, while federal court records for cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida are governed by federal rules and are accessible through the federal PACER system. The Florida Supreme Court has also issued administrative orders governing access to court records, including Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420, which defines confidential court records and establishes procedures for sealing or restricting access.

Certain records are exempt from public disclosure, including records involving minors in dependency or delinquency proceedings, mental health commitments, certain domestic violence matters, and sealed or expunged criminal records.

How To Find Court Records in Nassau County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Nassau County may access them through several official channels. The Nassau County Clerk of Courts serves as the primary custodian of state court records and provides both in-person and online access.

In-Person Access:

Visit the Nassau County Clerk of Courts office during regular business hours
Provide the case number, party name, or other identifying information to staff
Request to inspect records at the public access terminal or submit a written public records request

Online Access:

Use the Clerk's official online portal to search case information by name, case number, or filing date
Download available documents directly from the portal where permitted

Written Public Records Request:

Submit a written request to the Clerk of Courts identifying the records sought with reasonable specificity
Under Florida Statutes § 119.07, the custodian must acknowledge the request promptly and provide access within a reasonable time

Nassau County Clerk of Courts 76347 Veterans Way, Suite 456, Yulee, FL 32097 (904) 548-4600 Nassau County Clerk of Courts

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state holidays.

How To Look Up Court Records in Nassau County Online?

Nassau County provides online access to court records through the Clerk of Courts' case management portal. Members of the public may search records without visiting a courthouse in person.

Nassau County Clerk of Courts Online Portal:

Navigate to the official Clerk of Courts website at nassauclerk.com
Select the "Court Records Search" or "Case Search" option from the main menu
Enter a party name (first and last), case number, or attorney name in the designated search fields
Filter results by case type (civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic) or date range
Select a case from the results list to view the docket and available documents
Download or print documents as needed; some documents may require a fee for certified copies

Florida Courts E-Filing Portal:

The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal provides statewide access to case information across participating counties, including Nassau County
Users may create a free account to access expanded search features

Federal Court Records:

Cases filed in federal court are accessible through the PACER system, which requires registration and charges per-page fees for document retrieval

Search steps for the Clerk's portal:

Go to the official Clerk of Courts website
Click on "Case Search" or "Online Records"
Enter the required search criteria
Review the case list and select the relevant matter
View docket entries and available filings

How To Search Nassau County Court Records for Free?

Florida law guarantees the right of public inspection of court records at no charge. Under Florida Statutes § 119.07(1), every person has the right to inspect and copy public records, and the custodian must allow inspection during regular business hours. Fees may be charged only for duplication of records, not for inspection.

Free search options currently available include:

In-person inspection at the Nassau County Clerk of Courts public counter — no fee is charged to view records on-site
Online case search through the Nassau County Clerk of Courts portal — basic case information and docket entries are available at no cost
Florida Courts E-Filing Portal — provides free access to case summaries and docket information for registered users

Fees apply when requesting certified copies, paper copies, or electronic copies of specific documents. The Clerk of Courts publishes a current fee schedule on its official website in accordance with Florida Statutes.

What's Included in a Nassau County Court Record?

The contents of a court record vary depending on the type of case and the stage of proceedings. The following outlines what is typically included across major case categories:

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
Discovery-related filings (where not sealed)
Pre-trial orders and scheduling orders
Trial transcripts and exhibits admitted into evidence
Final judgment and any post-judgment motions

Criminal Case Records:

Arrest affidavit and charging document (information or indictment)
Arraignment records and plea entries
Bail and bond records
Motions to suppress, dismiss, or for continuance
Plea agreements
Trial transcripts and sentencing records
Probation orders and conditions

Family Law Records:

Petition for dissolution of marriage or paternity
Financial affidavits and asset disclosures
Parenting plans and time-sharing agreements
Child support orders
Final judgment of dissolution

Probate Records:

Petition for administration of estate
Will and codicils (if filed)
Inventory of estate assets
Orders appointing personal representative
Final accounting and order of discharge

Traffic Records:

Citation information
Hearing notices
Adjudication orders and civil penalty records

How Long Does Nassau County Keep Court Records?

Nassau County courts retain records in accordance with retention schedules established by the Florida Department of State and the Florida Supreme Court. The General Records Schedule GS1-SL for State and Local Government Agencies, along with court-specific schedules, governs how long various record types must be preserved.

Current retention periods for principal record categories include:

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 after final disposition; cases involving real property are retained permanently
Family law case files — retained permanently where children are involved; otherwise a minimum of 10 years
Probate case files — retained permanently
Small claims case files — retained for a minimum of 5 years after final disposition
Traffic infraction records — retained for a minimum of 5 years

The Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, publishes the official retention schedules applicable to court records. Clerks of court are required to follow these schedules under Florida law, and records that have met their retention period may be destroyed in accordance with approved procedures.

Types of Courts In Nassau County

Nassau County's court system operates within Florida's unified state court structure, which establishes a hierarchy from trial courts to appellate courts.

Nassau County Circuit Court (Fourth Judicial Circuit) Handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $50,000, family law, probate, juvenile, and guardianship matters.

Nassau County Courthouse 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee, FL 32097 (904) 548-4600 Fourth Judicial Circuit Court

Public counter hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Nassau County Court Handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, and traffic matters.

Nassau County Courthouse – County Court Division 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee, FL 32097 (904) 548-4600 Nassau County Clerk of Courts

Public counter hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

First District Court of Appeal Serves as the intermediate appellate court for Nassau County, reviewing decisions from the Circuit Court.

First District Court of Appeal 2000 Drayton Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 488-6151 First District Court of Appeal

Florida Supreme Court The court of last resort in Florida, with discretionary jurisdiction over decisions from the District Courts of Appeal.

Florida Supreme Court 500 South Duval Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 488-0125 Florida Supreme Court

The court hierarchy proceeds as follows: County Court → Circuit Court → First District Court of Appeal → Florida Supreme Court.

What Types of Cases Do Nassau County Courts Hear?

Each court within Nassau County's judicial structure has defined subject matter jurisdiction.

Circuit Court (Fourth Judicial Circuit):

Felony criminal prosecutions
Civil disputes involving amounts exceeding $50,000
Dissolution of marriage, child custody, and support matters
Adoption and termination of parental rights
Probate and estate administration
Guardianship proceedings
Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases
Injunctions for protection against domestic violence

County Court:

Misdemeanor criminal offenses
Civil disputes involving amounts up to $50,000
Small claims matters up to $8,000
Traffic infractions and violations
Landlord-tenant disputes within the monetary threshold

First District Court of Appeal:

Appeals from Circuit Court and County Court decisions in Nassau County
Administrative agency appeals within its geographic jurisdiction

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 Nassau County

A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and actions taken in a specific case. Members of the public may access Nassau County court dockets through the following methods:

Online Search:

Visit the Nassau County Clerk of Courts official website
Select the case search or online records option
Enter the case number or party name to retrieve the docket
The docket will display all entries in chronological order, including filing dates, document types, and hearing information

In-Person Search:

Visit the Clerk of Courts public counter at 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee, FL 32097
Request access to the public access terminal or ask staff to retrieve the docket by case number or party name
Public counter hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Florida Courts E-Filing Portal:

Registered users may search docket information across participating Florida counties through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal

Federal Dockets:

Dockets for cases in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida are accessible through the PACER system

Which Courts in Nassau 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 that may be reviewed on appeal. Under Florida law, courts not of record do not maintain a verbatim transcript of proceedings as a matter of course, and their decisions may be subject to de novo review rather than appellate review on the record.

At present, under Florida's unified court system established by Article V of the Florida Constitution, all state trial courts — including County Courts and Circuit Courts — are courts of record. Florida eliminated its justice of the peace courts and other non-record courts through constitutional revision.

However, certain quasi-judicial or administrative bodies that exercise adjudicatory functions within Nassau County are not courts of record. These include:

Code enforcement hearing officers — conduct hearings on municipal and county code violations but do not constitute courts of record
Administrative law proceedings before county or municipal boards — these bodies exercise limited adjudicatory authority but are not part of the judicial branch
Mediation and arbitration proceedings — these alternative dispute resolution forums do not produce court records in the traditional sense

Florida Statutes and the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure govern the distinction between courts of record and non-record tribunals, and parties seeking review of decisions from non-record bodies typically proceed by filing a petition for writ of certiorari in the Circuit Court.