Find the Case First—Then Get the Exact St. Johns County Court Document You Need
St. Johns County makes many court cases searchable online, but a case result, docket entry, downloadable document and certified copy are four different things. The Clerk also operates a separate Official Records system, so a person looking for a divorce or criminal case can waste time by opening the wrong database.
This guide gives you a practical route from name search to case number, docket, document and certification. It also explains registered access, recently filed documents that have not appeared online yet, missing images, criminal and divorce records, Clerk research requests, E-Certify, current fees and the county’s new two-building service setup.
What Do You Need Right Now?
Choose the result you want. This prevents the most common wrong-portal and wrong-copy mistakes.
Search the party name, compare possible matches and save the complete case number.
Name-search workflowIdentify the exact judgment, order, decree, motion or other filing before ordering copies.
Understand the docketSearch by case number and buy an eligible electronically certified court document.
E-Certify stepsCheck filing delay, user access, case privacy and whether the document is available only by request.
Missing-document helpChoose Between Court Records, Official Records and a Public Records Request
All three routes can appear on the Clerk’s website, but they solve different problems.
Use for civil lawsuits, criminal cases, divorces, family proceedings, probate, traffic and other judicial cases.
Use for recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, marriage licenses and recorded liens.
Use when the Clerk-held public information you need is not efficiently available through the direct online research systems.
Search the Court Case Before Requesting Copies
The Clerk’s own public-record request instructions tell users to check the online Court Records and Official Records systems first, where public material can be viewed and printed without charge.
- Open the official Court Records Search from the Clerk. Avoid starting with an unrelated private court-record directory.
- Use the party name if you do not know the case number. Begin with the strongest legal first and last name.
- Keep the first search broad. Do not add uncertain filing dates, middle names or other filters that could hide the correct case.
- Open each plausible result. Compare party role, filing year, court division, case type and other known facts.
- Save the complete case number. It is far more useful than the name for later searches, Clerk requests and E-Certify.
- Read the docket. Locate the filing, judgment, decree or order you actually need.
- Open the document image when public and available. If an informational copy meets your needs, you may not need a paid Clerk copy.
- Order only when there is an unresolved need. Examples include certification, a document that is not remotely viewable or Clerk-assisted research.
Use a Three-Pass Name Search for Better Matches
Searching by name is a discovery method. It should lead you to a case number—not become your only method of identifying a person.
Search the first and last name without uncertain extra information.
Try a middle initial, former surname, maiden name, suffix, hyphen variation or business-name version.
Compare year, division, case type, party role and other parties after locating candidates.
When several people have the same name
- Compare the filing year with the event you know.
- Check whether the person is plaintiff, defendant, petitioner or respondent.
- Compare other party names.
- Review the court division and case type.
- Check public attorney information where available.
- Read the final disposition or judgment.
Read the Docket Before You Buy the File
The docket is the chronological case history. It often tells you exactly which filing to request, which can prevent buying dozens of unnecessary pages.
| Docket item | What it means | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Case number | Primary identifier for the proceeding. | Continuing to rely only on the party name. |
| Complaint / petition | What a party alleged or asked the court to do. | Treating allegations as the final result. |
| Motion | A request asking the court for action. | Assuming the motion was granted. |
| Order | A direction or ruling entered by the court. | Relying only on the short docket description. |
| Final judgment | Final court decision on qualifying issues or the case. | Ordering the complaint when official proof requires the judgment. |
| Disposition | How a charge or case was resolved. | Stopping at the original charge. |
If a term is unclear, use the site’s Court Records Glossary.
Public, Registered, Party and Attorney Access Can Be Different
The Clerk publishes a Court Records Registration Agreement for users who need an authorized online viewing level beyond ordinary public access.
Start here. Many users can locate their case and view public information without completing registration.
The Clerk says general registered users sign and date the agreement but currently do not need it notarized.
The registration agreement must be notarized because the Clerk verifies the identity of users seeking those access roles.
What the registration PDF requires
- Full first, middle and last name
- Email address
- Street address and city/state/ZIP
- Phone number
- Cases to be viewed when requesting party access
- Texas-style bar information is not relevant here; Florida attorneys provide the applicable Bar Number field on the Clerk form
Where to send the registration
The Clerk’s current form directs users to email completed registration material to helpdesk@stjohnsclerk.com, or mail it to the IT Services Department at 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084.
How to Search St. Johns County Criminal Court Records
The Clerk’s Criminal Division handles felony, misdemeanor, criminal traffic, county ordinance and municipal ordinance matters. It directs users to Court Records Search for case research.
- Search the defendant name. Locate plausible criminal cases.
- Confirm the case category. Do not assume every criminal matter is a felony.
- Save the case number. This becomes your strongest identifier.
- Review the filed charge. Use it only as the allegation that began the case.
- Read later docket events. Look for plea, dismissal, trial, adjudication, sentence or other outcome.
- Open public documents when available. The Criminal Division says documents available through the online system may be viewed and printed free of charge.
- Request certification only when necessary. A free printout and an official certified copy serve different purposes.
Criminal Division contact: 904-819-3600 · felony@stjohnsclerk.com
For Divorce Records, Find the Final Judgment Instead of Ordering the Whole Case
A St. Johns County divorce is a Family Division court case. The court term is a dissolution of marriage.
- Search either spouse’s legal name. Try a former or maiden surname if necessary.
- Open the dissolution-of-marriage case. Compare the parties and filing date.
- Save the complete case number. You will need it for E-Certify.
- Find the final judgment in the docket. Look for the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage or the precise later amended judgment if one exists.
- Ask what the receiving organization requires. It may need a certified final judgment rather than an entire divorce case file.
- Use E-Certify or the Clerk. The Clerk specifically lists divorce decrees among examples of records available through E-Certify.
Probate Search: Find the Estate Before Requesting a Will or Order
Probate records can contain many filings. A targeted request is usually more useful than simply asking for “the probate file.”
Use the estate name to locate the probate proceeding and case number.
Examples include a will, petition, order, letters or another public probate document.
The Clerk specifically lists wills among examples of documents available through E-Certify.
A deposited will does not always mean a full probate administration
The Clerk’s Probate Division notes that Florida law requires the custodian of an original will to deposit it with the Clerk within the applicable statutory period after learning of the death. That means the record you need may be a deposited will even when your research goal is not a full probate administration file.
A Case Can Be Visible Even When a Document Is Not
Do not treat “no PDF” as “no case.” Several different situations can produce the same blank-document experience.
The Clerk’s registration agreement states that filed paper or electronic documents may not be immediately available online.
A public user, registered user, party and attorney can have different permitted online viewing rights.
Confidential, sealed, juvenile and other protected records can have limits that ordinary public users cannot bypass.
Use this diagnostic sequence
- Confirm that you are in Court Records. Do not troubleshoot a court case from the Official Records database.
- Confirm the case number and docket entry. Make sure the missing image belongs to the case you intended.
- Check how recently it was filed. A new docket entry can precede online image availability.
- Check your authorized user level. Registration may matter for some documents.
- Do not try to bypass restricted access. If the record is confidential, follow the Clerk or court’s lawful access process.
- Contact the Clerk with the exact document title. Ask whether the record is public but unavailable remotely, still processing or subject to an access restriction.
What the Clerk’s Internet-Removal PDF Does—and Does Not—Tell You
The Clerk still publishes a one-page “Request for Removal of Documents from the Publicly Available Internet Website” form referring to Florida Statute §28.2221(5). The PDF lists military discharges, death certificates and certain material relating to family-law, juvenile-procedure and probate rules.
However, the Clerk’s current Public Records page adds an important limitation: its RM-004 internet-removal process is described there as applying to specified documents in Official Records filed before June 5, 2002. It removes qualifying material from anonymous internet viewing; it does not automatically erase the underlying public record.
Use the Clerk’s Research/Copy Request Only After Checking Online Records
The Clerk’s current Public Records Request Form, updated July 29, 2025, explicitly tells requestors to check the online court and official record searches first.
Information the current form asks for when conducting a search
- Full name of the individual
- Date of birth
- Court case number, if known
- Type of charge, if known
- Date of charge, if known
- Description of each record requested
- Number of copies
- Whether each item should be certified
Anonymous requests are possible
The published form states that a requestor is not required to provide personal contact information. If you submit anonymously, however, the form explains that you are responsible for contacting the office for status updates.
Payment comes before release
The form states that payment must be received before requested copies are released.
“Please provide one certified copy of the Final Judgment entered on [date] in case number [number], [case caption]. Please confirm the current total fee and delivery options before processing.”
For Public Records Request assistance, the current form lists 904-819-3638 and PRR@stjohnsclerk.com.
How to Order an Electronic Certified Court Document
E-Certify is the Clerk’s online certification workflow for eligible court and official records. Court-record searches in E-Certify require the case number.
Find the local or uniform case number in Court Records Search first.
Choose this option for final judgments and other eligible court-case documents.
Do not purchase every filing if you only need one judgment, decree or order.
The Clerk supports verification by unique reference code or by uploading the electronic certificate file.
Exact E-Certify sequence
- Get the case number. Use Court Records Search first when necessary.
- Open Clerk E-Certify. Enter your first name, last name and email address. Phone number is currently optional.
- Accept the terms and continue. Choose the correct record group.
- Select Court Records. Do not choose Official Records for a divorce judgment or other court-case document.
- Enter the local or uniform case number. Complete the anti-robot check and search.
- Select the exact document. Use the Select box for each eligible item you actually need.
- If it is not released, request release. The Clerk says review and release can take up to 72 hours.
- Add the document to the cart and check out. Payment is processed through the linked secure payment workflow.
- Download and save the certified PDF. The Clerk says electronic certified documents do not expire and can be reused.
Save the file within 30 days
The Clerk says a purchased electronic certified document remains available for download for 30 days. Save your local copy promptly even though the certified document itself does not expire.
Two ways to verify authenticity
- Enter the Unique Reference Code in the verification system.
- Upload the electronic certificate file for automated authentication.
Copy, Certification and Search Fees—Plus One Official Pricing Conflict
The Clerk’s general fee pages publish several court-record charges that are useful for planning a request.
| Service | Current published amount | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard printed copy | $1 per page | Use when you need a Clerk-produced paper copy. |
| Certification | $2 per complete document | Use when the receiving organization requires official certification. |
| Name search | $2 per name, per year searched | Avoid when you can find the case number yourself online. |
| Exemplification / authentication certificate | $7 | Only when this higher authentication level is specifically required. |
A traditional certified copy must cover the complete document
The Clerk’s current Public Records guidance says staff cannot certify only selected pages from a filed document. Traditional certification applies to the complete document.
E-Certify pricing is described differently on two current Clerk pages
The E-Certify FAQ currently says electronic certified documents carry a $2 certification fee plus a $6 service fee and gives $8 as the example total for a one-page document.
The Clerk’s Public Records page separately says electronically certified copies carry the standard $1-per-page charge, the $2 certification fee and the $6 service charge.
4010 or 4040 Lewis Speedway? The Answer Changed in August 2026
This is a newly important St. Johns County detail. The Clerk opened a separate Public Service Center across the parking lot from the Judicial Center on August 3, 2026.
Court operations and court proceedings remain at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center.
Beginning August 3, 2026, the new Public Service Center handles relocated services including recording, marriage, passports, VAB and public-record search services.
Do not assume the similar addresses mean the same service counter.
For a court case or court proceeding
Richard O. Watson Judicial Center
4010 Lewis Speedway
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: 904-819-3600
For relocated non-court services
Public Service Center
4040 Lewis Speedway
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Hours and 2026 Court-Office Closures
The Clerk currently lists normal office hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Court and office operations can close on Clerk holidays.
Remaining listed 2026 Clerk holidays after August 15
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Monday, September 7, 2026 | Labor Day |
| Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | Veterans Day |
| Thursday–Friday, November 26–27, 2026 | Thanksgiving |
| Thursday–Friday, December 24–25, 2026 | Christmas |
What to Do When the St. Johns County Search Returns Nothing
- Confirm the filing county. Search where the case was filed, not merely where the person currently lives.
- Confirm you opened Court Records. Leave Official Records if you want a lawsuit, criminal prosecution, divorce or probate case.
- Remove extra filters. Search the legal name again with less information.
- Try former names and middle initials. This is particularly useful for older family and divorce records.
- Search by case number when you find one. Check old notices, citations, pleadings, judgments and attorney correspondence.
- Distinguish “no case” from “no document image.” A visible docket without a PDF means the case was found.
- Allow for recent filing delay. The Clerk’s own registration agreement warns that new documents may not immediately appear online.
- Consider lawful access restrictions. Sealed, confidential and protected material will not behave like ordinary public documents.
- Check Florida appellate records. A case on appeal moves into ACIS for the appellate docket.
- Check federal court. Federal cases involving St. Johns County belong to the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division.
Appeal or Federal Case? Leave the County Search
St. Johns County is part of Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit, which is within the Fifth District Court of Appeal. Public appellate dockets are searched through Florida’s ACIS system.
The Jacksonville Division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida expressly serves St. Johns County. Use PACER for federal dockets.
Fifth District appellate records
The Fifth District directs users to Florida’s Appellate Case Information System for public dockets. Some appellate documents can still be restricted by rule or statute.
Federal courthouse
Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse
300 North Hogan Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Clerk’s Office: 904-549-1900
Clerk’s Office hours currently listed as 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday except federal holidays.
Prepare This Before You Call or Visit the Clerk
- Complete case number
- Full party name
- Approximate filing year
- Case type
- Final Judgment
- Divorce decree
- Order
- Will
- Complaint or petition
- Free online view?
- Plain paper copy?
- Traditional certified copy?
- Electronic certified copy?
- Exemplification?
“I found case number [number]. The docket shows [document title] entered on [date]. I need it for [general purpose]. Is the document publicly available online, and if not, what is the current cost and process for a [plain/certified] copy?”
Use the Result Carefully
- A criminal charge is not automatically a conviction.
- A civil complaint is not automatically a judgment.
- A motion is not automatically granted.
- A same-name result does not establish identity.
- A docket description is not always the full document.
- A free PDF is not automatically a certified copy.
- A missing online image does not automatically mean the case is sealed.
Use Court Record Types Explained if you are unsure whether you need a docket, order, judgment or certified copy.
Do not use this website for employment, tenant, credit, insurance, licensing or other regulated eligibility screening. Review the site’s FCRA and Consumer Reporting Notice.
Frequently Asked Questions About St. Johns County Court Records
Where should I start a St. Johns County court-record search?
Start with the St. Johns County Clerk’s Court Records Search for lawsuits, criminal cases, family matters, divorces, probate cases and traffic matters. Use Official Records instead for recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages and marriage licenses.
Can I search a St. Johns County court case by name?
Yes. Use the party’s legal name when you do not know the case number. Begin broadly, then try a middle initial, former surname or other reliable variation. Once you identify the case, save and use the complete case number.
Why does a docket entry have no document image?
The image may not yet be available online, may require a different authorized user level or may be restricted. The Clerk’s registration agreement specifically states that paper or electronic documents may not be immediately available online after filing.
Do I need to register to search St. Johns County court records?
Begin with ordinary public access. General registered users can apply for additional permitted viewing access without notarization. Parties and attorneys of record must currently have the registration agreement notarized so their identity can be verified.
Can I view St. Johns County criminal court documents for free?
The Clerk’s Criminal Division currently says court cases may be researched through Court Records Search and that documents available for public online viewing may be viewed and printed without charge. Certification is separate.
How do I get a certified St. Johns County divorce decree?
Search the dissolution-of-marriage case, save the case number, identify the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage and then check whether that document can be purchased through E-Certify. Confirm that the organization receiving the decree accepts an electronic certified copy.
How long can an E-Certify document take to be released?
If the desired document is not already available for purchase, E-Certify allows a release request. The Clerk says review and release can take up to 72 hours and advises users with an urgent need to call 904-819-3600.
How long is an electronic certified copy available to download?
The Clerk recommends saving it promptly and says the purchased file remains available for download for 30 days. The electronic certified document itself does not expire and can be reused.
Should I go to 4010 or 4040 Lewis Speedway?
Court operations remain at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center at 4010 Lewis Speedway. Beginning August 3, 2026, several non-court services moved across the parking lot to the new Public Service Center at 4040 Lewis Speedway. Because some Clerk pages still show 4010 for Records Management requests, call 904-819-3600 before an in-person non-court records visit.
Where do I search an appeal or federal case from St. Johns County?
Florida appellate records are searched through ACIS; St. Johns County belongs to the Fifth District Court of Appeal. Federal cases use PACER and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division.
Official Sources Used for This Guide
- St. Johns County Clerk — Online Research
- Clerk — Court Records Registration Agreement
- Clerk — Online Court Records Security Agreement PDF
- Clerk — Criminal Division
- Clerk — Family Division
- Clerk — Probate Division
- Clerk — Public Records
- Clerk — Public Records Request Form PDF
- Clerk — Internet Removal Form PDF
- Clerk — E-Certify
- Clerk — E-Certify FAQs
- Clerk — Fee Schedule
- Clerk — August 2026 Public Service Center Update
- Clerk — 2026 Holiday Schedule
- Seventh Judicial Circuit — St. Johns County
- Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal
- U.S. District Court — Jacksonville Division
Court/Official Records routing, public-record search guidance, registered-user requirements, PDF registration instructions, recent-document delay, criminal document access, divorce and probate routes, E-Certify workflow, E-Certify release timing, certification verification, copy/search fees, internet-removal guidance, 2026 holiday closures, the new Public Service Center, Fifth District appellate routing and federal Jacksonville coverage were checked against current official sources.
The Clerk currently has an apparent pricing-description difference between its E-Certify FAQ and broader Public Records page. For an electronic certified order, rely on the current checkout price or confirm the amount with the Clerk before payment.
Court portals, document visibility, forms, fees, locations and office procedures can change. The current record-holding Clerk or court controls whenever its live instructions differ from this guide.