Holmes County Public Records /Holmes County Court Records

Holmes County Court Records

What Is Holmes County Court Records

Court records in Holmes County encompass the official documentation generated by judicial proceedings within the county's court system. These records include case files, dockets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, sentencing records, and any other materials filed with or produced by a court of law. Court records are distinct from other categories of public records, such as property records maintained by the county property appraiser or vital records held by the Florida Department of Health.

The courts responsible for maintaining records in Holmes County include:

Circuit Court – handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile matters
County Court – handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $50,000, and traffic infractions
Probate Court – a division of the Circuit Court handling estates, guardianships, and mental health proceedings
Small Claims Court – a division of County Court for civil disputes up to $8,000
Family Court – a division of Circuit Court handling dissolution of marriage, child custody, and domestic violence matters

Records span civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Under Florida Statutes § 28.13, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is designated as the official custodian of court records within each county, including Holmes County.

Are Court Records Public In Holmes County

Court records in Holmes County are generally accessible to the public pursuant to Florida's broad public records framework. Under Florida Statutes § 119.01, it is the policy of the state that all state, county, and municipal records shall be open for personal inspection and copying by any person. This principle extends to court records maintained by the Holmes County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Records that are currently available for public inspection include:

Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
Final judgments and court orders
Docket sheets reflecting the procedural history of a case
Hearing schedules and calendars
Sentencing records in criminal matters

It is important to note that federal court records are maintained separately through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida and are accessible via the federal PACER system, which operates independently of the Holmes County court system. Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Florida law, including records pertaining to juveniles, adoption proceedings, mental health commitments, and cases involving victims of sexual offenses. The Florida Supreme Court has established administrative rules governing access to court records through the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, Rule 2.420, which classifies records as confidential, exempt, or open to the public.

How To Find Court Records in Holmes County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Holmes County may access them through several official channels. The primary custodian of these records is the Holmes County Clerk of the Circuit Court, which maintains both in-person and online access options.

Steps to obtain court records:

Identify the case type and approximate filing date – Knowing whether the matter is civil, criminal, family, or probate will direct the request to the appropriate division.
Visit the Clerk's office in person – Members of the public may inspect records at the public counter during regular business hours. Staff can assist in locating case files by name, case number, or filing date.
Submit a written public records request – Requests may be submitted in writing, by email, or in person pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07, which requires the custodian to permit inspection or provide copies within a reasonable time.
Use the online portal – The Holmes County Clerk's office provides access to case information through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and the Clerk's online case search system.
Pay applicable fees – Copies of court records are subject to statutory fees. Under Florida law, the standard fee is $1.00 per page for copies and $2.00 per page for certified copies.

Holmes County Clerk of the Circuit Court 201 N. Oklahoma Street, Suite 130, Bonifay, FL 32425 (850) 547-1100 Holmes County Clerk of the Circuit Court

How To Look Up Court Records in Holmes County Online?

Several online portals currently provide access to Holmes County court records, allowing members of the public to search case information without visiting the courthouse in person.

Available online portals include:

Holmes County Clerk's Online Case Search – The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains a public-facing case search tool on its official website. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name to retrieve docket information, case status, and document availability. Access is available through the Holmes County Clerk of the Circuit Court website.
Florida Courts E-Filing Portal – The statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal allows registered users to view filings submitted electronically in participating counties, including Holmes County.
PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) – For federal cases involving Holmes County parties, records are accessible through the PACER federal court records system, which covers the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

Steps to search online:

Navigate to the Holmes County Clerk's official website.
Select the "Case Search" or "Online Records" option from the main menu.
Enter the party's name, case number, or other identifying information.
Review the docket entries and available documents.
Download or print documents as needed; some documents may require a fee for certified copies.

How To Search Holmes County Court Records for Free?

Florida law currently guarantees the right of any person to inspect public records at no charge. Under Florida Statutes § 119.07(1), every person who has custody of a public record shall permit the record to be inspected and examined by any person desiring to do so, at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions. Fees apply only when copies are requested.

Free access options include:

In-person inspection at the Clerk's office – Members of the public may view court records at the public counter without charge during regular business hours.
Holmes County Clerk's online case search – Basic docket information and case status are available at no cost through the Clerk's website.
Florida's statewide court portal – The Florida Courts website provides general access to court information and links to county-level resources at no charge.

Fees are assessed only when physical or certified copies are requested, consistent with the schedule established under Florida Statutes § 28.24.

What's Included in a Holmes County Court Record?

The contents of a court record vary depending on the type of case and the stage of proceedings. The following outlines what is typically included across different case categories:

Civil Case Records:

Complaint or petition initiating the action
Summons and proof of service
Defendant's answer and affirmative defenses
Motions, responses, and supporting memoranda
Discovery-related filings (where not sealed)
Court orders and rulings
Final judgment

Criminal Case Records:

Arrest affidavit and charging document (information or indictment)
Arraignment records
Bail and bond documents
Plea agreements
Trial transcripts (where available)
Sentencing orders and probation conditions
Disposition records

Family Court Records:

Petition for dissolution of marriage
Parenting plans and custody orders
Child support worksheets and orders
Domestic violence injunctions (where not sealed)
Final judgment of dissolution

Probate Records:

Petition for administration
Inventory of estate assets
Orders appointing personal representative
Final accounting and order of discharge

Traffic Records:

Citation information
Hearing notices
Adjudication orders
Payment records

How Long Does Holmes County Keep Court Records?

Holmes County courts adhere to the retention schedules established by the Florida Department of State and the Florida Supreme Court. The Florida General Records Schedule GS1-SL for State and Local Government Agencies, along with court-specific schedules, governs how long records must be retained before they may be disposed of.

Current retention periods include:

Felony criminal case files – Retained permanently
Misdemeanor criminal case files – Retained for 10 years following case closure
Civil case files (Circuit Court) – Retained for 10 years following case closure
Civil case files (County Court) – Retained for 5 years following case closure
Probate records – Retained permanently
Family law case files – Retained for 10 years following case closure
Traffic infraction records – Retained for 5 years
Juvenile records – Subject to special confidentiality and retention rules under Florida Statutes § 985.04

The Florida Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services oversees compliance with records retention requirements for all Florida counties.

Types of Courts In Holmes County

Holmes County is served by courts operating within Florida's unified court system. The hierarchy proceeds from the county level through the circuit level, then to the First District Court of Appeal, and ultimately to the Florida Supreme Court.

Holmes County Clerk of the Circuit Court (Circuit and County Court) 201 N. Oklahoma Street, Suite 130, Bonifay, FL 32425 (850) 547-1100 Holmes County Clerk of the Circuit Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida Serves Holmes, Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Jackson, and Washington Counties Administrative Office: 300 East Fourth Street, Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 747-5338 Fourteenth Judicial Circuit

Florida First District Court of Appeal 2000 Drayton Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 488-6151 First District Court of Appeal

Florida Supreme Court 500 South Duval Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 488-0125 Florida Supreme Court

The Circuit Court exercises general trial jurisdiction over felony criminal matters, civil cases exceeding $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile proceedings. The County Court exercises jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal matters, civil cases up to $50,000, and traffic infractions. Appeals from the Circuit Court proceed to the First District Court of Appeal, and further discretionary review may be sought from the Florida Supreme Court.

What Types of Cases Do Holmes County Courts Hear?

Each court within Holmes County's judicial structure handles a defined category of cases based on subject matter and jurisdictional thresholds.

Circuit Court (Fourteenth Judicial Circuit – Holmes County Division):

Felony criminal prosecutions
Civil matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000
Family law matters, including dissolution of marriage, child custody, and adoption
Probate and guardianship proceedings
Juvenile dependency and delinquency matters
Domestic violence injunctions

County Court:

Misdemeanor criminal offenses
Civil matters where the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000
Small claims matters up to $8,000
Traffic infractions and violations
Landlord-tenant disputes within the monetary threshold

Probate Division (Circuit Court):

Administration of decedents' estates
Guardianship of minors and incapacitated adults
Mental health commitment proceedings under the Baker Act

How To Find a Court Docket In Holmes County

A court docket is the official record of all filings, hearings, and actions taken in a specific case. Members of the public may access Holmes County court dockets through the following methods:

Online Search:

Visit the Holmes County Clerk of the Circuit Court website and navigate to the case search function.
Enter the party name, case number, or attorney name to retrieve the docket.
Review the chronological list of filings and court actions associated with the case.

In-Person Search:

Visit the Clerk's public counter at 201 N. Oklahoma Street, Suite 130, Bonifay, FL 32425, during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).
Request assistance from Clerk's staff in locating the docket by case number or party name.

Telephone Inquiry:

Members of the public may call the Clerk's office at (850) 547-1100 to obtain general case status information.

Statewide Portal:

The Florida Courts website provides links to county-level docket search tools and general guidance on accessing court records statewide.

Which Courts in Holmes County Are Not Courts of Record?

A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, and whose judgments carry legal authority that may be appealed to a higher court. Courts not of record, by contrast, do not maintain a verbatim transcript of proceedings and generally have limited jurisdiction.

Under Florida law, all trial courts—including both Circuit Courts and County Courts—are designated as courts of record pursuant to Article V, Section 1 of the Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes § 26.012. This means that at present, Holmes County does not operate any inferior courts that are formally classified as courts not of record within the state's unified judicial system.

Historically, justice of the peace courts and certain municipal courts operated as courts not of record in Florida. However, following the constitutional revision of 1972, Florida consolidated its court system, eliminating courts not of record at the county level. Any municipal ordinance violations within Holmes County municipalities are currently adjudicated through the County Court, which is a court of record.

Members of the public seeking clarification on court jurisdiction or record status may contact the Holmes County Clerk of the Circuit Court or consult the Florida Courts administrative office for authoritative guidance.