Walton County Background Check Records

Background check records in Walton County are kept by the Clerk of Court in DeFuniak Springs and by FDLE at the state level. Walton County sits in the Florida Panhandle along the Gulf Coast. It has a growing population and a single courthouse that handles all local court filings. Criminal case data, civil suits, and traffic records all go through the clerk's office. FDLE runs statewide criminal history checks that pull arrest records from all 67 Florida counties. Between the clerk and FDLE, you can put together a solid background check for anyone with ties to Walton County.

Walton County Clerk of Court

Crystal Sconiers serves as the Walton County Clerk of Court. The office is at 571 US Highway 90 E in DeFuniak Springs. This is the main and only clerk location in Walton County. All court filings, case records, and public documents for the county go through this office. You can call (850) 892-8115 to ask about records, hours, or procedures. The staff can help you search for court cases and pull copies of filings.

The Walton County Clerk website has online tools for looking up court cases and official records. You can search by name or case number. The site shows case type, filing date, and case status. It does not give you the full text of every document, but it tells you what exists on file. For a background check in Walton County, this is a free and fast starting point. No account is needed to search.

Here is a look at the Walton County Clerk of Court website and its records tools.

From the clerk portal you can search for court cases filed in Walton County and check the status of any open or closed filings.

Note: Call the clerk before you visit to check office hours and make sure they are open.

How to Search Walton County Background Check Records

There are two main paths. The first is the clerk's online case search. The second is a statewide check through FDLE. Each one gives you a different set of data. The clerk has local court records, which cover criminal cases, civil suits, and traffic filings that went through Walton County courts. FDLE has arrest and conviction data from across the entire state. For a full picture, most people use both.

To search at the courthouse, go to 571 US Highway 90 E in DeFuniak Springs. Bring your ID. Staff at the counter can look up cases by name. They will print results if you ask. You can also search from home using the MyFloridaCounty portal. This free tool lets you search official records from any county, including Walton. It covers recorded documents like liens, judgments, and deeds.

Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, public records in the state are open for anyone to view. You do not need to give a reason. This law covers court records in Walton County.

FDLE Background Checks for Walton County

FDLE is the state agency that collects and stores criminal history data from every law enforcement agency in Florida. When you run a check through FDLE, it covers all 67 counties. The database includes arrests reported by the Walton County Sheriff's Office and every other agency in the state.

Go to the FDLE Criminal History Records page to start a request. Name-based checks cost $24. You pay online and usually get results within 24 hours. For a more detailed check, you can get a fingerprint-based search done. This requires a visit to a LiveScan provider. There are a few locations near DeFuniak Springs and more in the Fort Walton Beach area. Fingerprint checks match on prints, which avoids issues with common names.

You can see your own criminal history through the FDLE Personal Review process. Walton County residents can use this to check what shows up on their own record before someone else runs a background check. FDLE also runs checks under Chapter 943 of Florida Statutes for certain state-mandated screenings.

Background Check Types in Walton County

Chapter 435 of the Florida Statutes sets up two levels of background screening used across the state. Level 1 is a name-based check that searches state records. Level 2 uses fingerprints and searches both state and FBI databases. The level you need depends on what the check is for. Most basic record searches use Level 1 through FDLE or the local clerk. Level 2 is required for certain roles under state law.

The Walton County Clerk handles court records that are part of Level 1 checks. For Level 2, you need to go through FDLE with fingerprints. The VECHS program handles fingerprint checks for people who work with children, the elderly, or people with disabilities in Walton County.

Walton County Background Check Fees

Costs vary based on what kind of check you need. FDLE charges $24 for a name-based state criminal history check. That fee is the same across all Florida counties. You pay online at the CCHInet portal. Fingerprint checks have a higher cost that depends on the provider and the type of screening.

At the Walton County Clerk office, you pay for copies of court documents. Plain copies are 15 cents per page. Certified copies run $1 per page. The online case search through the clerk's website has no fee. You can search all you want without paying anything. If you need documents mailed to you, the clerk charges for the copies plus any postage.

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

Public Records Access in Walton County

Florida has strong public records laws. Under Chapter 119, any person can ask to see public records held by government offices. You do not need to be a Walton County resident. You do not need to explain your reason. The clerk must let you view records that are not sealed or exempt by law.

Sealed and expunged records are not available through a regular public records search. Active investigations may also be held back until closed. But court case files, arrest data, and most other government records in Walton County are open. The Attorney General's Open Government page has more on your rights under the Sunshine Law. If a Walton County office refuses a records request, the AG's office can step in to help.

Getting Copies of Walton County Records

Visit the clerk at 571 US Highway 90 E in DeFuniak Springs to get copies of court records. Tell the staff the name or case number you need. They will pull the file and make copies. Bring cash or a check for the fee. You can also use the Find a Clerk directory to check the office details before you go.

Mail requests work too. Send a letter to the clerk with the person's full name, date of birth if you have it, and the type of record you need. Include payment for the copy fees. The clerk will mail back the documents. For FDLE records, submit a request at CCHInet online. You pay the $24 fee with a card and get results by email. This is the fastest way to get statewide background check results for Walton County.

Cities in Walton County

Walton County includes DeFuniak Springs, Freeport, Paxton, and several beach communities in the South Walton area. All court records for these areas are kept by the Walton County Clerk of Court in DeFuniak Springs. No cities in Walton County have a population over 75,000, so all background check court records go through the single clerk office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Walton County. If you are not sure which county to search, check the address of the person you are looking up.