This page helps users work through a court records need in Alachua County, Florida, including online case searches, document image limits, older record issues, and clerk contact options.
The main public resource is the Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court's On-Line Court Records and Document Images Access Page, operated through the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Alachua County online court records search
Use the Clerk of Circuit Court online records system to search the index of Alachua County court records and view available document images. Some case types and documents are not available for public online viewing.
Start the Alachua County court records search
Searches can be narrowed with the details the system supports:
- Name search: last name, then first name and middle initial when available.
- Company search: company name in the company field.
- Date filed range: beginning and ending filing dates.
- Case number: enter the case number without the “01” county code prefix.
- Case type: select a case type from the available menu.
Enter only the search criteria you want the system to use. You do not need to fill in every field.
- Open the Clerk’s court records search page.
- Complete the sign-in text prompt when the system requires it.
- Enter the name, company, filing date range, case number, or case type that best matches the case.
- Review the matching case index entries and available document images.
Case type searches list only 100 records, and party or status searches are limited unless paired with more information, such as a case number or name.
Online record coverage
The online court records index includes Alachua County court records on file in the Clerk’s Office, but online document access depends on case type, filing date, and court access rules.
The oldest available case listed for Alachua County was filed on 7/23/1928. Online document availability begins at different points by category:
| Record category | Online document availability |
|---|---|
| Civil Traffic | September 2001 |
| Civil | September 2001 |
| Criminal | December 2005 |
For many older closed records, online research may not be enough. Closed civil action records before 1999, closed criminal records before 1990, and closed civil traffic records before March 2006 may need to be researched through the Records Department at the courthouse at 201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, Florida.
Document image and access limits
Electronic viewing is limited by Florida court access rules. Adoption records and other records made confidential by law are not available for public viewing. Juvenile dependency and delinquency records are also examples of court information that may be restricted online.
In some cases, the case type or docket may be visible while document images are not. The Clerk also notes that family law, probate, mental health, and juvenile images are not available online through the login system, and that some document images can only be viewed by registration.
Online sessions time out after 30 minutes of inactivity. Document retrieval is limited to 60 documents in an hour, after which the user is automatically logged out.
Not every online docket entry includes an image. When an electronic image is available in the login system, a looking glass symbol appears beside the document entry on the progress docket.
Case number notes
Alachua County changed to the uniform case numbering system in 1999. Older case numbers may not search the same way as current case numbers.
When a search by old case number does not return the expected record, try the converted case number format. For example, old 1997-1234-CA may search as 1997CA1234.
- Family cases formerly listed as CA may now use DR.
- Probate, guardianship, trusts, and wills may use CP.
- Mental health cases may use MH.
- Small claims, landlord/tenant, and county court matters may use CC.
- Summary proceeding cases may use SC.
Historical and archived records
For older Alachua County records, the Clerk provides a historical records archive. It includes resources such as marriage records from 1837 through May 1973, online deed and official records index books, deed books, mortgage record books, marriage record books, commissioners minutes books, will record books, and other online record books.
The archive is separate from the current court records search and may help when the record needed is historical rather than a modern case file.
Confidential numbers in court files
A person whose Social Security number or complete bank account, debit card, charge card, or credit card number appears in a court file may request redaction. The holder of the number, the holder’s attorney, or the holder’s legal guardian may make the request.
The redaction request requires the case name, case number, document heading, and page number that contains the confidential number. The form may be delivered or mailed to the Alachua County Clerk of Court at 201 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601, or e-filed through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
Court case payments and cost inquiries
The Clerk provides separate pages for court costs inquiries and court case payments. A court costs inquiry can be used for an Alachua County felony adjudication when the user is unsure how much remains due. Most complete court costs inquiry requests are processed in 3 to 5 business days.
Online case payments may take up to 48 business hours to process. Collection fees and interest may not be included in the amount due shown online, and payment does not waive a scheduled court appearance.
A 3.5% convenience fee is added to debit and credit card payments. Criminal and civil case payments use the case or uniform case number, and multiple cases require separate payments.
Alachua County Clerk contacts for court records
Use these Clerk contacts for court record questions, case file issues, older record research, and department-specific help.
-
Alachua County Clerk of Court, 201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601
Phone: (352) 374-3636
Email: Clerk@alachuaclerk.org -
Court Files
Phone: (352) 338-3215 -
Civil
Phone: (352) 374-3618 -
Criminal Traffic
Phone: (352) 337-6250 -
Felony
Phone: (352) 374-3681 -
Probate
Phone: (352) 374-3682 -
Judge Stephan P. Mickle, Sr. Criminal Courthouse, 220 South Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601
Hours: 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed holidays -
Alachua County Family / Civil Justice Center, 201 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601
Hours: 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed holidays
Common questions
Where do I search Alachua County court records online?
Use the Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court online court records system to search the court records index and view available document images. Open the official court records search.
Are all Alachua County court records viewable online?
No. Records made confidential by law, including adoption records, are not public online. Some cases may show docket information while document images remain unavailable.
What should I do if an older case is not online?
Many closed civil records before 1999, closed criminal records before 1990, and closed civil traffic records before March 2006 may need research through the Records Department at 201 E. University Avenue in Gainesville.
How should I enter an Alachua County case number?
Enter the case number without the “01” county code prefix. For older cases, try the converted format, such as 1997CA1234 instead of 1997-1234-CA.
Can I ask the Clerk to correct an improperly indexed name or document?
Yes. If a name or document appears to be indexed improperly, contact the Clerk at Clerk@alachuaclerk.org.
Can confidential numbers be removed from a court file?
Yes. The holder of the number, the holder’s attorney, or the holder’s legal guardian may request redaction of a Social Security number or complete bank, debit, charge, or credit card number from a court file.