Holmes County Background Check Search

Background check records in Holmes County are kept by the Clerk of Court in Bonifay and by FDLE at the state level. Holmes County is a small, rural county in the Florida Panhandle with a population near 20,000. The 14th Judicial Circuit serves this area. Court records from criminal cases, civil suits, and traffic matters are all on file at the clerk's office on Oklahoma Street in Bonifay. If you need to run a background check in Holmes County, you can search state databases online or visit the courthouse in person. FDLE handles the statewide criminal history system that covers all 67 Florida counties, and that includes Holmes County data.

Holmes County Clerk of Court

Sam Bailey serves as the Holmes County Clerk of Court. The office is at 201 N Oklahoma St in Bonifay. This is the main spot for all court records in Holmes County. You can call (850) 547-1100 to ask about records, hours, or how to submit a request. The staff handles case look-ups, copies, and filing questions during regular business hours. Walk-in visits are fine on weekdays. The Holmes County Clerk deals with criminal, civil, family, and traffic case files. All of these records play a role when you run a background check in Holmes County.

Because Holmes County is a smaller county, it does not have its own full online case search portal like some of the bigger Florida counties. The Florida Clerks directory is a good place to start. It lists contact info and links for every clerk office in the state, including Holmes County. For online record searches, the MyFloridaCounty portal covers official recorded documents. You can search liens, deeds, and judgments for Holmes County through that site. It is free to search. If you need case-level court data for a background check in Holmes County, calling the clerk or visiting the office in Bonifay is the most direct route.

The image below shows a statewide resource for Florida public records law that applies to Holmes County and all other counties.

Use this resource along with local Holmes County offices to get the records you need for a background check.

Note: The Holmes County courthouse in Bonifay may close on state holidays, so call before you visit.

How to Search Holmes County Background Check Records

Running a background check in Holmes County takes a few steps. Start with the state-level search. FDLE runs the criminal history database for all of Florida. Use CCHInet to submit a Level 1 name-based check. This pulls arrest data, charges, and outcomes from every county, not just Holmes County. The fee is $24. You pay online and get results in about a day. This is the fastest way to check criminal history for someone who lives in or has lived in Holmes County.

For local court records, the Holmes County Clerk is the source. Go to 201 N Oklahoma St in Bonifay. Bring your ID. Tell the staff the name you want to look up. They can search the system and pull case files for you to view. Holmes County keeps records for all cases in the 14th Judicial Circuit that were filed here. If you want copies, ask and pay the per-page fee. The MyFloridaCounty portal is another tool you can use. It covers recorded documents for Holmes County like liens, judgments, and deeds. This is a free search and adds to your background check results.

Mail requests are also an option for Holmes County background check records. Send a letter to the clerk with the full name, any case details, and a check for the copy fees. The clerk will process your request and send copies back by mail. This takes more time than a visit but works if you are not near Bonifay.

Holmes County Background Check Fees

The cost of a background check in Holmes County depends on the type of search. FDLE charges $24 for a statewide name-based criminal history check. This is the same fee in all 67 Florida counties. You pay online when you submit the request through FDLE criminal history records. Level 2 fingerprint checks cost more. The price for those varies based on the agency and the LiveScan vendor you use.

At the Holmes County Clerk office, copy fees are standard across the state. Plain copies run $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry the clerk's stamp and are needed for legal matters. If you just want to look at a file, the clerk can let you view it at no cost during business hours.

• FDLE state criminal check: $24.00
• Plain copy from clerk: $0.15 per page
• Certified copy: $1.00 per page
• Online search at MyFloridaCounty: Free

Public Records Access in Holmes County

Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes makes most government records open to anyone. This law applies in Holmes County just like it does in every other county in the state. You do not need to be a Holmes County resident to ask for records. You do not need to give a reason. The clerk must make records available when you ask. This covers court files, arrest data, and official documents held by any Holmes County office.

Some records are exempt from public access in Holmes County. Sealed cases and expunged records are off limits. Certain juvenile files and active law enforcement investigations may also be restricted. But the vast majority of records are open. If a Holmes County office turns down your request, the Attorney General's Open Government page explains your rights. The AG's office can step in and help resolve disputes about record access anywhere in Florida.

Note: Florida's public records law is one of the broadest in the country, and it fully applies in Holmes County.

Background Check Types for Holmes County

Two main types of background checks exist under Florida law. Both work in Holmes County. A Level 1 check is name-based. FDLE runs the name through the statewide criminal history database. It pulls arrests, charges, and case results from all counties. You can order one through CCHInet for $24. Results come back by email in about 24 hours. This is the most common type for people who need a quick Holmes County background check.

Level 2 checks go deeper. They need fingerprints. The prints run through both FDLE and the FBI for national coverage. Chapter 943 of Florida Statutes covers how FDLE handles criminal history data. For Level 2 checks, you go to an approved LiveScan provider. Holmes County may not have a LiveScan site in Bonifay itself, but there are vendors in nearby areas like Panama City. Results take a few business days because the FBI portion adds time. This type gives a fuller picture since it covers national records, not just Florida data.

FDLE also runs the VECHS program. This is the Volunteer and Employee Criminal History System. Only groups that are registered with FDLE can use it. It is set up for organizations that serve children, the elderly, or disabled people in Holmes County and across Florida.

Getting Record Copies in Holmes County

To get copies of court records, visit the Holmes County Clerk at 201 N Oklahoma St in Bonifay. Tell the staff what you need. They can look up files by name or case number. Pay at the counter for copies. For certified copies, the clerk stamps and signs the document. Certified records are what you need if the copies are for court or other legal use. The Find a Clerk directory has the full contact info for the Holmes County clerk and all other Florida clerk offices.

You can also send a mail request. Write a letter to the Holmes County Clerk with the person's full name, any case info you have, and a check for the fees. The clerk will process the request and mail back copies. For FDLE records, submit online through CCHInet or mail your request to FDLE in Tallahassee. Online is faster. Results from FDLE come by email when you use the online option.

Cities in Holmes County

Holmes County includes Bonifay, Esto, Noma, Ponce de Leon, and Westville. All court records for these communities are kept by the Holmes County Clerk of Court in Bonifay. Background check searches for anyone in Holmes County go through the same clerk office on Oklahoma Street.

Nearby Counties

Holmes County borders several other Panhandle counties. If you need to check records for someone who may have lived in a nearby area, search those counties too.