Access Lafayette County Background Checks

Background check records in Lafayette County are held at the Clerk of Court in Mayo and by FDLE at the state level. Lafayette County is one of the least populated counties in all of Florida with about 9,000 residents. It sits in north-central Florida and is part of the 3rd Judicial Circuit. Court records from criminal cases, civil suits, and traffic matters are on file at the clerk's office. Because Lafayette County is so small, it does not have the same level of online tools as bigger counties. But FDLE's statewide criminal history system covers Lafayette County data, and the clerk's office can help with local record searches in person or by mail.

Lafayette County Clerk of Court

The Lafayette County Clerk of Court is in Mayo, the county seat. This is the main location for all court records in Lafayette County. The office handles criminal, civil, family, and traffic case files. Because Lafayette County is one of Florida's smallest counties, the clerk's office has a smaller staff. But they still process all the same types of records that larger counties do. You can call the Florida Clerks directory at (850) 921-0808 to get the most current contact information for the Lafayette County clerk.

Lafayette County does not have a large online case search portal. For official recorded documents, the MyFloridaCounty portal covers Lafayette County. You can search liens, deeds, and judgments through that site. It is free to search. For court case data like criminal and civil filings, your best bet is to contact the clerk directly. Call or visit the office in Mayo to request a search. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. If you need to run a background check in Lafayette County, this is the local starting point.

The FCCC directory page lists Lafayette County and all Florida clerk offices with their contact information.

Use the FCCC directory to find the Lafayette County Clerk contact details and begin your records search.

Note: Lafayette County has a small courthouse staff. Calling ahead is a good idea to make sure someone is available to help with your request.

How to Search Lafayette County Background Check Records

Running a background check in Lafayette County takes a few steps. Start with the FDLE statewide search. Use CCHInet to submit a Level 1 name-based check. This pulls arrest data, charges, and outcomes from all 67 Florida counties, not just Lafayette. The fee is $24. You pay online and get results in about a day. This is the fastest way to search criminal history for someone in Lafayette County because it is all done online.

For local court records, the Lafayette County Clerk is the source. Visit the courthouse in Mayo. Bring your ID and tell staff the name you want to look up. They can search the system and pull case files for you to view. If you want copies, ask and pay the per-page fee. Since Lafayette County does not have a full online case search, this in-person method is the most reliable for local records. The MyFloridaCounty portal can help with recorded documents like liens and deeds, but for criminal case files, the clerk's office is where you go.

Mail requests also work. Send a letter to the Lafayette County Clerk with the full name, any case details you have, and a check for the copy fees. The clerk will process the request and send copies back by mail. This method is slower but useful if you cannot travel to Mayo for a background check search.

Lafayette County Background Check Fees

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

Copy fees at the Lafayette County Clerk follow state standards. Plain copies cost $0.15 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry the clerk's stamp and are needed for legal use. If you just want to look at a file, the clerk can let you view it at no cost during business hours at the courthouse in Mayo.

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

Note: Contact the Lafayette County Clerk to confirm current fees before sending a mail request.

Public Records Access in Lafayette County

Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes makes most government records open to the public. This law applies in Lafayette County just like it does in every other county in Florida. You do not need to live in Lafayette County to ask for records. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The clerk must make records available when you ask. Court files, arrest data, and official documents held by any Lafayette County office are all covered.

Some records are exempt. Sealed cases and expunged records are off limits in Lafayette County. Juvenile files and active investigation data may also be restricted. But the default under Florida law is open access. If a Lafayette County office refuses your request, the Attorney General's Open Government page can help. The AG's office steps in when county offices push back on record access. This is a good resource for anyone trying to get background check records in Lafayette County or anywhere else in Florida.

Background Check Types for Lafayette County

Florida law sets up two main levels of background checks. Both are available for Lafayette County. A Level 1 check is name-based. FDLE runs the name through the statewide criminal history database. It returns arrests, charges, and case results from all counties. You order it through CCHInet for $24. Results come back by email in about a day. This is the most common type for a quick Lafayette County background check.

Level 2 checks 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, you need an approved LiveScan provider. Lafayette County may not have a LiveScan vendor in Mayo, but nearby counties like Suwannee or Alachua have sites. Results take a few business days because of the FBI portion. This check gives you national records, not just Florida data.

FDLE also runs the VECHS program. This is for approved organizations that work with children, the elderly, or people with disabilities. Only registered groups can use VECHS in Lafayette County or statewide.

Getting Record Copies in Lafayette County

Visit the Lafayette County Clerk at the courthouse in Mayo to get copies of court records. Tell staff what you need. They can look up files by name or case number and print copies for you. Pay at the counter. For certified copies, the clerk stamps and signs the document. You need certified copies if the records are for court or legal use. The Find a Clerk directory has contact info for the Lafayette County clerk and every other Florida clerk office.

You can also send a mail request. Write a letter to the Lafayette County Clerk with the person's full name, any case info you have, and a check for the expected fees. The clerk will process the request and mail copies to you. For FDLE records, submit your request online through CCHInet and pay $24. Results come by email. If you want to check your own criminal history, the FDLE personal review page lets you see what is in your file.

Cities in Lafayette County

Lafayette County includes Mayo and a few small unincorporated areas. All court records for these communities are kept by the Lafayette County Clerk of Court in Mayo. No cities in Lafayette County have a population over 100,000. Background check searches for anyone in Lafayette County go through the same clerk office at the courthouse.

Nearby Counties

Lafayette County borders several other north-central Florida counties. If you need to search records in a nearby area, check these counties too.