Okaloosa County Background Check

Okaloosa County background check records are managed by the Clerk of Court in Crestview and by FDLE at the state level. The county is in the Florida Panhandle and has about 215,000 residents. Court records for criminal, civil, and family cases are all kept by the clerk. Due to the large military presence at Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, Okaloosa County sees a steady flow of people who need to search local records. This page explains how to access background check data in Okaloosa County through online tools and in-person visits.

Okaloosa County Clerk of Court

Brad E. Embry serves as the Okaloosa County Clerk of Court. The main office is at 101 E James Lee Blvd in Crestview. Call (850) 689-5000 ext. 4000 for questions about records or hours. The clerk handles criminal cases, civil filings, family law, probate, and traffic matters for all of Okaloosa County.

The clerk's website at okaloosaclerk.com lets you search court cases online. Enter a name or case number and see what is on file. The search is free. Results show case type, filing date, charges, and status. This is the best place to start a local background check in Okaloosa County. You do not need to sign up for an account.

Here is the Okaloosa County Clerk of Court website where you can search their case records online.

Use this portal to look up court case data and public records in Okaloosa County.

Note: Okaloosa County also has a courthouse annex in Fort Walton Beach that handles some court divisions.

Searching Background Check Data in Okaloosa County

The clerk's online portal at okaloosaclerk.com is the fastest way to start. Type a name. See results. It covers all case types in the Okaloosa County court system. Criminal cases show charges and dispositions. Civil cases show parties and filing type. The tool is free and open to anyone.

FDLE gives you statewide coverage. Go to CCHInet and submit a Level 1 name-based request. This costs $24. The search pulls data from all 67 Florida counties. If the person has records in Okaloosa County or somewhere else in the state, those records appear in the results. Most reports come back in about 24 hours.

Official recorded documents are searchable through MyFloridaCounty. This covers liens, judgments, deeds, and other filed items for Okaloosa County. These records add to a background check by showing financial and property matters. Florida law under Chapter 119 makes all of these records open to the public.

Fees for Okaloosa County Records

FDLE charges $24 for a Level 1 background check. Pay at the FDLE criminal history records page. This covers the name-based statewide search. At the Okaloosa County Clerk office, you can search cases online for free. Copy fees apply if you need printed documents.

Plain copies cost $0.15 per page. Certified copies run $1.00 per page. These are standard rates across Florida. Level 2 fingerprint-based checks cost more. The exact fee depends on the vendor and the agency that requests the check. Okaloosa County has several approved LiveScan sites in Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, and Niceville.

• 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 in Okaloosa County

Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, government records are open to the public. You can ask the Okaloosa County clerk for court records without giving a reason. You do not need to be a resident. The law applies to criminal cases, civil filings, and other government documents.

Sealed records and expunged files are not available. Juvenile cases have separate protections. But for the majority of records in Okaloosa County, public access is the rule. The Attorney General's Open Government page explains your rights if you have questions or if any office denies a records request.

Note: Military records from Eglin Air Force Base or Hurlburt Field are federal records and not held by the Okaloosa County clerk.

Background Check Types in Okaloosa County

Level 1 is name-based. FDLE checks the statewide database. It pulls arrests, charges, and outcomes. You order at CCHInet for $24. Fast results. This is the standard choice for a quick Okaloosa County background check.

Level 2 uses fingerprints. It runs through FDLE and the FBI for national scope. Chapter 435 of Florida Statutes requires Level 2 checks for certain roles. Okaloosa County has approved LiveScan vendors across the area. The LiveScan provider list from FDLE shows all locations by zip code. You can find sites in Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, and Destin.

The VECHS program is run by FDLE under Chapter 943 of Florida Statutes. Only approved groups can use it. The program is meant for organizations that work with vulnerable people. Individual members of the public cannot access VECHS directly.

Getting Copies of Okaloosa County Records

Go to the Okaloosa County Clerk at 101 E James Lee Blvd in Crestview to get copies. Bring a valid ID. Give staff the name or case number. They will pull the record and print copies. Pay at the window. The Find a Clerk page has the latest office details for Okaloosa County.

You can also send a written request by mail. Include the full name, case details, and a check for the fees. The clerk mails back the copies. For FDLE records, go to CCHInet and pay $24 online. Results arrive by email. Personal record reviews are also available through FDLE if you want to check what is on file under your own name.

Cities in Okaloosa County

Okaloosa County has several cities and towns across the Panhandle region. All court records go through the Okaloosa County Clerk of Court in Crestview. Background checks that pull from court data use the same clerk office regardless of which city the person lives in.

Communities in Okaloosa County include Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Destin, Valparaiso, and Shalimar. None of these cities currently have separate pages, but court records for all are kept by the Okaloosa County clerk.

Nearby Counties

Okaloosa County is in the Florida Panhandle. If you need to search records from a neighboring area, these counties may have what you are looking for.