Hamilton County Background Check

Hamilton County background check records are held by the Clerk of Court in Jasper and by FDLE at the state level. This small county in north Florida has a population near 14,000. The clerk's office keeps local court records, criminal case files, and public documents on hand for anyone who wants to search them. A background check in Hamilton County works best when you use both local and state sources. The clerk covers court data filed within the county, and FDLE runs statewide criminal history checks. Together, these two sources give you the most complete set of records for any person tied to Hamilton County.

Hamilton County Clerk of Court

W. Greg Godwin serves as the Hamilton County Clerk of Court. The office is at 207 NE First St, Ste 106, in Jasper. You can call (386) 792-1288 to ask about records or hours. Walk-ins are welcome during the week. The clerk's staff can help you search for criminal cases, civil filings, and other court records that make up a Hamilton County background check.

Hamilton County is small, and the court caseload reflects that. Records searches here tend to move faster than in big urban counties. The clerk's website at hamiltonclerk.com provides some online search tools. You can look up cases by name or case number. The results show basic case info like type, filing date, and status. For full copies of court documents from Hamilton County, you may need to visit the Jasper office or mail in a request. The online search does not cost anything, so it is a smart first step.

Below is the Hamilton County Clerk of Court website and its search tools.

From here you can look up court case records and check on filings in Hamilton County.

Note: Hamilton County has limited staff, so it helps to call ahead before you make the drive to Jasper.

How to Search for Background Check Records

Two main paths exist for a Hamilton County background check. The first is the county clerk's case search system. The second is FDLE's statewide criminal history database. The clerk has local court records like criminal filings, civil suits, and traffic violations. FDLE has arrest and conviction data from all 67 Florida counties. For a complete Hamilton County background check, use both.

To search at the Hamilton County courthouse, go to 207 NE First St in Jasper. Bring a valid ID. Tell the staff which name you want to search. They can pull up case records and print them for you. The MyFloridaCounty portal is another option. It lets you search official records online from any Florida county, Hamilton included. It covers documents like liens, deeds, and judgments. The search is free. Under Florida Chapter 119, public records are open for anyone to view. No reason is needed.

For statewide results, submit a name-based search at CCHInet. The fee is $24. Results come in about a day. This is a Level 1 background check. It covers all criminal history FDLE has on file statewide. Hamilton County records and records from any other Florida county are included if they exist.

Hamilton County Background Check Costs

How much you pay depends on the check type. FDLE charges $24 for a name-based state criminal history search. The fee is the same across Florida. You pay at the FDLE criminal history records page. A Level 2 fingerprint check costs more, and the price varies by agency.

The Hamilton County Clerk charges for document copies. Plain copies cost $0.15 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page. These are available during office hours at the Jasper courthouse. Searching case records online through the clerk's site is free. No charge to look up a name or case number.

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

Public Records Laws in Hamilton County

Florida's public records laws are some of the broadest in the nation. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives anyone the right to request public records. You do not need to live in Hamilton County. You do not need to tell them why you want the files. The clerk must provide access. Court records, arrest reports, and most government documents held in Hamilton County are covered by this law. Sealed and exempt records are the only things off limits.

If you have trouble getting records, the Attorney General's Open Government page outlines your rights. The AG can step in when a government office refuses to release records that should be public. This is a helpful resource for anyone doing a background check in Hamilton County who runs into a roadblock.

Note: Expunged records are removed from public view and will not appear in a standard Hamilton County background check.

Types of Background Checks in Hamilton County

Florida law sets up two levels. Both apply in Hamilton County the same as everywhere else. A Level 1 check is name-based. It looks through FDLE's database for arrests, charges, and case results. It is fast. Most results come back within 24 hours. This is the type most people choose when they need a Hamilton County background check done quickly.

A Level 2 check uses fingerprints. It searches both FDLE and FBI records. Under Chapter 435 of the Florida Statutes, this is needed for certain positions that involve caring for others. The results are national in scope. It takes a few days to get them back. You need to go to an approved fingerprint site. Check the FDLE LiveScan vendor list to find one. Hamilton County is rural, so the nearest site could be in Columbia County or Suwannee County.

FDLE's VECHS program also operates under Chapter 943. Approved groups use it to run checks on people who work with kids, the elderly, or those with disabilities. It is available to qualifying organizations throughout Hamilton County and statewide.

Obtaining Hamilton County Record Copies

For in-person copies, go to the Hamilton County Clerk at 207 NE First St in Jasper. Ask for the file you need. Staff will look it up and print copies. Bring cash or a check for fees. You can use the Find a Clerk directory to check office info before you go.

Mail requests are another option. Write to the Hamilton County clerk with the person's full name, date of birth if available, and the record type you need. Send payment for the copy fees. The clerk mails the documents to your address. This takes longer but is useful if Jasper is not easy to get to. For FDLE records, use the CCHInet site, pay $24 by credit card, and get results by email.

Cities in Hamilton County

Hamilton County has a few small towns. Jasper is the county seat. White Springs and Jennings are the other main communities. All court records for Hamilton County are kept by the clerk in Jasper. Background checks involving local court data go through that same office no matter which town the person lives in. None of these communities have separate background check pages because they fall below the population threshold, but the Hamilton County clerk handles records for all of them.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Hamilton County. Each one has its own clerk and its own court system for records.