Search Escambia County Background Checks

Background check records in Escambia County are held by the Clerk of Court in Pensacola. This is the westernmost county in Florida, sitting right on the Alabama border. Escambia County has about 325,000 residents. The county seat is Pensacola, where the main courthouse is located. The Escambia County Clerk of Court maintains all criminal, civil, family, and probate case records. Their website has an online search tool that lets you look up case information for free. FDLE's statewide database also covers Escambia County records, giving you another way to run a background check here.

Escambia County Clerk of Court

The Escambia County Clerk of Court is located in Pensacola. You can reach them by phone at (850) 595-4310. The clerk maintains all court records for the county, which includes criminal case filings, civil lawsuits, family law matters, and probate records. If you need a background check from Escambia County, the clerk's office is where most of the relevant records are stored. Staff can help you search by name or case number during regular business hours.

The clerk's website at escambiaclerk.com provides an online case search portal. You type in a name and the system returns matching cases. Each result shows the case type, filing date, charges (for criminal cases), and the current status. This is a free tool and one of the best ways to start a background check in Escambia County without leaving your home. The search covers active and closed cases going back many years.

The Escambia County Clerk of Court website provides free access to court case searches for background check purposes.

Use this portal to look up criminal and civil records in Escambia County.

How to Search Escambia County Background Check Records

The clerk's online case search is the first place to go. Visit escambiaclerk.com and use the case search tool. Enter the person's first and last name. The system pulls up all matching cases filed in Escambia County. You can see charges, filing dates, and outcomes. Criminal cases give you the most detail for a background check. Civil cases and family law matters are also available.

FDLE's statewide system is the next step. Go to CCHInet to submit a Level 1 name-based search. It costs $24. This searches the state criminal history database, which includes arrest records and case outcomes from Escambia County and every other Florida county. Results come by email, usually within 24 hours. This is a solid option when you want to check if someone has records beyond just Escambia County.

The MyFloridaCounty portal gives you access to official recorded documents. These include liens, judgments, deeds, and other filings. You can search Escambia County records on this site for free. Adding this to your background check gives a fuller picture of someone's public record.

Note: Online results may not include every document in a case file. For a complete copy, visit the clerk in person or request copies by mail.

Escambia County Background Check Fees

Searching the Escambia County Clerk's website is free. No charge to look up cases. But getting copies costs money. Plain copies run $0.15 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page. If you need records for a legal matter, you will likely need certified copies. For casual background check purposes, the free online search gives you most of what you need.

FDLE charges $24 for a state criminal history check. You pay online when you submit the request at FDLE criminal history records. A Level 2 fingerprint check costs more and varies depending on the agency processing it. Escambia County has LiveScan fingerprinting locations in the Pensacola area. Check the FDLE LiveScan provider list for sites near you.

• Escambia County Clerk online search: free
• Plain copies: $0.15 per page
• Certified copies: $1.00 per page
• FDLE state check: $24
• Level 2 fingerprint check: varies by provider

Escambia County Public Records Laws

Florida's public records law is one of the broadest in the nation. Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes says that all Escambia County public records are open for inspection. Anyone can request them. You do not have to be a resident. You do not need to explain why you want the information. The Escambia County Clerk must comply with these requests. Background check records, court filings, and most government documents all fall under this law.

There are exceptions. Sealed and expunged records cannot be accessed. Some juvenile records are restricted. Active criminal investigations may be temporarily off limits. But as a general rule, Escambia County background check records are open to the public. If your request is denied and you believe the records should be available, the Attorney General's Open Government office can help.

Chapter 943 of Florida Statutes controls how FDLE handles criminal history records. It sets rules for what is included, how records are maintained, and who can access them. Escambia County records in the FDLE system follow these state rules. If you want to see your own background check record, FDLE has a personal review process for that.

FDLE Background Checks for Escambia County

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement at fdle.state.fl.us maintains the statewide criminal history database. Escambia County arrest records and court outcomes feed into this system. When you submit a background check through FDLE, you get results from all 67 counties, not just Escambia. This matters if the person has lived in other parts of Florida.

Level 1 checks are name-based. Cost is $24. Submit at CCHInet. Results come by email. Level 2 checks use fingerprints and search both state and federal databases. These are required for people in certain regulated roles under Florida law. The LiveScan provider list has Escambia County locations where you can get fingerprinted.

Getting Copies of Escambia County Records

To get copies in person, visit the Escambia County Clerk's office in Pensacola. Ask for the record by name or case number. Staff will pull the file and make copies. Plain copies are $0.15 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page. You can pay at the counter. The Find a Clerk directory has the full address and contact information.

Mail requests work too. Send a letter with the person's name, date of birth if known, the type of record, and a check or money order for the copy fees. Include a return envelope. FDLE records come by email when ordered through CCHInet. The personal review option on FDLE's site lets Escambia County residents check their own background for free.

Note: Escambia County shares the 1st Judicial Circuit with Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties. If you need records from those counties too, each has its own clerk's office.

Cities in Escambia County

Escambia County includes Pensacola, which is the county seat and largest city. Other communities include Cantonment, Ensley, Ferry Pass, Bellview, and Warrington. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated page, but all background check records for them go through the Escambia County Clerk of Court in Pensacola.

Nearby Counties

Escambia County is at the far western edge of Florida. These neighboring counties have their own clerk offices for background check records.