Clay County Background Check Records

Clay County background check records are available through the Clerk of Court in Green Cove Springs and through FDLE's statewide system. This county is part of the 4th Judicial Circuit in northeast Florida, just south of Jacksonville. With a population near 225,000, Clay County has a sizable court system that processes criminal, civil, and family cases every day. Running a background check in Clay County means working with the local clerk for court records and FDLE for statewide criminal history. Both have tools that make searches fairly simple whether you go online or in person.

Clay County Clerk of Court

Tara S. Green serves as the Clay County Clerk of Court. The main office is at 2825 N Orange Ave in Green Cove Springs. This is where all court records for Clay County are filed and kept. You can call (904) 284-6302 to ask about records, hours, or fees. The staff handles case lookups, copies, and general questions about court filings. Walk-in visits work well for people who want to search Clay County background check records face to face. The office is open on weekdays during regular business hours.

The Clay County Clerk website at clayclerk.com offers an online case search system. You can look up records by name, case number, or date. The results show case type, filing date, status, and parties involved. This is a free search tool open to anyone. It covers criminal cases, civil suits, family law filings, and traffic matters in Clay County. For full documents, you may need to visit the clerk or mail a written request. But the online search is a fast way to see what records exist before you make the trip to Green Cove Springs.

The Clay County Clerk website shows their online case search tools and court record access portal.

From this portal you can search court records and start a background check in Clay County.

Searching Clay County Background Check Records

There are a few main ways to run a background check in Clay County. The fastest is the clerk's online case search. Go to the Clay County Clerk website and use the public records lookup. Type in a name and the system pulls up all matching cases. Results show the case number, type, filing date, and status. This free tool covers criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases filed in Clay County. It is a good first step and takes just a few minutes.

For in-person searches, head to 2825 N Orange Ave in Green Cove Springs. Bring your ID. Tell the staff who you want to look up. They can run a search and let you view the results. If you want copies, ask and pay the standard fee. You can also use the MyFloridaCounty portal to search official recorded documents in Clay County. This covers liens, deeds, and judgments that are not part of the case search system but can add useful info to a background check.

For statewide data, use FDLE's CCHInet portal. Submit a Level 1 name-based request for $24. The check covers all 67 Florida counties. Results come back within about 24 hours. If you need national records beyond what Florida holds, a Level 2 fingerprint check runs through both FDLE and the FBI.

Note: The Clay County online case search does not include sealed or expunged records.

Clay County Background Check Fees

Background check costs in Clay County depend on what kind of search you need. A statewide criminal history check through FDLE costs $24. You pay online. This is the same fee across every county in Florida. Level 2 fingerprint checks are pricier. The total depends on the agency that needs the check and the LiveScan vendor you go to for fingerprinting.

At the Clay County Clerk of Court, you pay for copies of documents. Plain copies are $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. There is no charge to search the online case system. If you need certified copies for a legal matter, bring cash or a check to the clerk's office in Green Cove Springs. The staff can stamp and sign documents the same day in most cases.

• FDLE Level 1 check: $24.00
• Plain copy from clerk: $0.15 per page
• Certified copy: $1.00 per page
• Online case search: Free

Public Records Law in Clay County

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes guarantees open access to public records. This applies to Clay County the same way it does across the whole state. Anyone can request records from the clerk, the sheriff, or other Clay County offices. You do not need to live in the county. You do not need to explain why. The law says these records must be available for inspection and copying.

Most court records in Clay County are fully open for a background check. Criminal cases, civil filings, and traffic violations are all on the public record. Some things are exempt. Sealed cases, expunged records, and certain juvenile files cannot be viewed through a public request. If a Clay County office turns down your request, the Attorney General's Open Government page explains what you can do. The AG's office helps people resolve disputes over access to public records in Florida.

Note: Records sealed by a Clay County judge are removed from public view and will not show up in standard searches.

Background Check Types for Clay County

Two levels of background checks exist in Florida. Both are used in Clay County. A Level 1 check is name-based. FDLE searches the statewide criminal history database for arrests, charges, and outcomes. This is fast and affordable. You order it through CCHInet for $24. Most people use this when they need a basic Clay County background check.

A Level 2 check requires fingerprints and goes through both FDLE and the FBI. Chapter 435 of Florida Statutes lays out the rules. This check is for positions that involve trust or working with vulnerable people. You need to visit an approved LiveScan provider to get printed. Several are located in or near Clay County. Results take a few business days because the FBI portion adds time. The check returns national criminal history, not just Florida data.

The VECHS program is a third option. It runs through FDLE under Chapter 943. This is the Volunteer and Employee Criminal History System. Only registered organizations can use it. It is set up for groups that serve children, the elderly, or disabled people in Clay County and the rest of the state.

Getting Record Copies in Clay County

Visit the Clay County Clerk at 2825 N Orange Ave in Green Cove Springs to get copies of court records. Staff can search by name or case number. You pay per page. Certified copies come with a stamp and signature from the clerk. These are what you need if the documents are for legal use. The Find a Clerk page has the full directory of Florida clerk offices, including Clay County details.

Mail requests are also accepted. Send a letter to the Clay County Clerk with the person's full name, date of birth if known, and the record type you want. Include a check for the fees. The clerk will mail copies back to you. For FDLE records, use CCHInet online or mail a request to Tallahassee. You can also review your own record through FDLE's personal review option to see what shows up on your own background check.

Cities in Clay County

Clay County includes Green Cove Springs, Orange Park, Middleburg, Fleming Island, Keystone Heights, and Penney Farms. All court records for these communities are managed by the Clay County Clerk of Court in Green Cove Springs. No cities in Clay County have a population over 75,000, so all background check court records route through the single clerk office.

Nearby Counties

Clay County shares borders with several northeast Florida counties. If you are searching for records on someone who may have lived nearby, check these counties as well.