Articles

• What methods of payment do you accept? We accept Cash, Cashier's Checks, Money Orders, Debit and Credit Cards.  (We do n...
• What is your address? Where is the courthouse located? What mailing address do I use? The Clerk's office has two active locations: Fort Walton Beach - 1940 Lewis Turne...
• Can you tell me what has been filed in my case and the status of my case? How can I view documents in my case? How much do I owe on all my fines? Do I have a case filed against me? You may visit our website www.okaloosaclerk.com.  Follow the link for "Court Reco...
• Can another request be made after a request is back from the Judge? Yes, you may submit any pleading in your case for further action.  Depending upon...
• How do I register to view images of cases? How do I obtain online access to a case? If you are a registered user or attorney of record and are unable to view documen...
• Can another request be made after a request is back from the Judge? Def's are entitled to make as many requests as they would like....
• Unclaimed Funds? Is there a list for public view of unclaimed funds? What is the process to claim money in the court registry? The unclaimed funds list is published/advertised annually in an Okaloosa County c...
• Where can I locate the filing fee schedule? What are the filing fees for my case? You may access the current filing fee scheduled on our website at: www.okaloosacl...
• How can I get a transcript from my hearing? In order to obtain a transcript from a hearing you may contact the court reporter...
• What are your ADA Accessibility options? You may review the ADA accessibility accommodations by visiting: www.firstjudicia...
• How can I access Administrative Directives? You may review Administrative Directives by visiting the First Judicial Website a...
• Can I get a case disposition or verify a date of birth over the phone, by email or public record request? Can the clerk's office review a case over the telephone? What is the process for a public record request regarding the Okaloosa county Board of County Commissioners, who do I contact? We are unable to verify case dispositions or dates of birth over the telephone, b...
• How do I submit my order to the Judge? Are self-addressed stamped envelopes still needed for orders? Proposed orders should be submitted via MS Word and not filed through the e-filin...
• How can I collect on a Judgment from out of State/County? (Domesticating Foreign Judgment) transfer/register/domesticate a case to Okaloosa County? How do I transfer or domesticate a case from Okaloosa County to another county or State? Domesticate: If you have a final judgment in another County or State: If the Judg...
• How do I get a title to a car? Declaratory Judgment To obtain a title to a vehicle a declaratory judgment is typically filed. We do n...
• How can I register to become a Bail Bond Agent? Call Dept. of Financial Service 850-413-3089  Bondsman may register with Customer...
• What is a Quiet Title Action? A Quiet Title Action is a lawsuit that is brought in circuit court to clear a par...
• How can I obtain an Interpreter for a Court Hearing? Please contact our Court Administration office for such requests.  For a spoken l...
• How does an attorney get themselves removed from a case? An attorney is familiar with the requirements necessary to withdraw from a case. ...
• How can a Subpoena/Summons be delivered/served? The Subpoena/summons came back un-served what do I need to do to cancel the court date? Do you have a list of process servers? An issued Subpoena or Summons may be served by either the sheriff or a private pr...
• How can I get a copy of a Death Certificate or Birth Certificate? In order to obtain original birth or death certificates you will need to contact ...
• I cannot find the form I need on your website. Where else can I search? You may find the form you need by visiting http://www.flcourts.org/resources-and-...
• Do you accept out of county notaries? Do you accept pleadings notarized via E-notary? Yes, we accept both out of county and electronically notarized pleadings.  ...
• How do I contact the General Magistrate or his/her assistant? You may reach the General Magistrate by calling 850-609-4700 and listen for the o...
• What is a Baker, Marchman Act or ex parte? Can anyone file? Ex parte means to file without prior knowledge to the party being filed against. ...
• How can I get my gun rights back? How can I purchase a new gun? How can I restore my civil rights? To return guns (get them back): If it is in a civil injunction case and the order...
• What do I need to do to add/remove names from a deed? A new deed must be recorded by our office.  You can either do the research and pr...
• Writ of Certiorari A Writ of Certiorari is usually filed when a person's driver license has been sus...
• How do I open an emancipation case? I am a minor and would like to be considered a legal adult - what do I do? The clerk's office does not have any forms available to file for emancipation. Yo...
• I want to terminate/revoke the parental rights of the other parent of my child. You must contact an attorney as we have no forms or information on this....
• Does my pleading require a reopen fee? Reopen fees may be assessed by the clerk for any motion filed by a party at least...
• What can I do if my spouse is not paying child support he/she is ordered to pay? You will need to file a Motion for Contempt (there is no fee associated with cont...
• What do I do if the other party on my case is not following the Judge's Orders? If in a Dissolution/Family Law case you will need to file a Motion for Contempt, ...
• My spouse has passed away, do I have to remove him/her from the deed? Even if I plan to sell the home? No, it is not required....
• Concealed Weapon License? Those are issued by the Tax Collector's Office: https://www.okaloosatax.com/servi...
• I was issued an Animal Violation Citation from Paws, how do I pay? PAWS gives you 30 days to settle the ticket directly with them, If within that 30...
• Where do I get a building permit? Planning and Zoning Department 850-651-7180 http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us/gm/build...
• What is a civil lien? A lien can be created by a judgment in civil court when a creditor sues for reten...
• Where do I pay my property taxes? And do I have to pay them in the county where I live? The taxes are paid to the Tax Collector, and the taxes must be paid to the tax co...
• Where/how do I get an address for land? If you have the owner's name or Parcel I.D. number you may contact the property a...
• Where do I file Bankruptcy? In Pensacola #850-435-8440  http://www.flnb.uscourts.gov/locations/pensacola...
• Where do I file a Trespass Warrant? With the Sheriffs Office, the Trespass Warrant only covers the property. If you w...
• Okaloosa County Roads Dept?  South roads - 850-651-7392                                                      ...
• Can a mandatory court appearance be changed? No, we at the Clerks office do not have the authority to change a court date....
• If a document has been e-filed, do paper documents still need to be mailed in? When e-filing it is not necessary to provide paper documents.  One exception to t...
• Can registry fees be paid online? Registry fees must be paid in certified funds only and may not be processed onlin...
• Can a visitation arrangement be made in a dependency case? No information can be given over the phone in re: a dependency case.  A request m...
• In Felony cases, which court events does the defendant need to attend if they have an attorney? Consult with the attorney....
• How do defendant's get documents when they file for clemency? In order to obtain free copies for clemency; the request must be accompanied by a...
• Can I change my address on my case? With the exception of a traffic ticket, all notices of change of address must be ...
• If I pay for a late ticket online or over the phone is my driver license cleared? Yes, a Florida license will be cleared electronically only for the ticket where p...
• What is a Notice of Action? Do we send the Notice of Action to the newspaper? How can I file a Notice of Action? What is required to file a Notice of Action? A notice of action is a document issued (not prepared) by the clerk.  This docume...
• What is the fee for transferring civil cases to another venue? (from Okaloosa to another State or County) If the case is closed a motion would need to be filed, in which a $50 re-open fee...
• I need to file for Homestead Exemption, where do I do that? If the home is in Okaloosa County, you will need to contact the Property Appraise...
• I just received my passport and there is an error on it, what can I do? You will need to contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) 1-877-48...
• What is the fee to file for Temporary Custody by a extended family member? The filing fee is $300. This case type is for an extended family member only and ...
• I want to file a complaint against my attorney/public defender? Contact the Florida Bar (850) 561-5600...
• How many appeals can someone file in circuit court? Each decision can be appealed, appropriate fees apply....
• Where can I locate the blueprints of a home? If the home is in Okaloosa County you may want to contact the builder, or possibl...
• What can I tell someone about a Baker/Marchman Act? Verify the person calling is the person who filed the Baker/Marchman Act, if so w...
• After a judgment has been paid in full what is the next step for the plf? The Plf needs to file a Satisfaction of Judgment which will be recorded....
• If someone is paying alimony and the recipient passes, what needs to be filed? A copy of the Death Certificate will need to be filed along with a request to sto...
• When does a bond get released? If the defendant is deceased when is the bond released? The bond is released when the case is closed. If a defendant is deceased, the Sta...
• What if the plaintiff does not have an address for the respondent in a divorce case? The last known address will be used for the summons, if the summons is returned u...
• I want to have another hearing in a family law case, what do I do? File a motion to reopen the case, a reopen fee may apply....
• Where do I find out a transport fee? You will need to contact the agency who did the transporting....
• Hardship license? Bureau for Administrative Reviews 850-494-5728                                   ...
• Is the Restrictive Covenant for a homeowners association located in official records? Yes...
• How do I get custody of my child? Is there a dissolution case filed? If yes, the parties will make the petition to ...
• What are the fees associated with doc stamps? (documentary stamps) .70 per $100 (round to nearest $100 - example $1250.00 rounds to $1300.00) For ad...
• I want to find out who owns a piece of property? We are unable to look it up by the address, you will need to contact the property...
• Family member has passed and left land to kids, one child doesn't want the land. Siblings will have to either buy he/she out or contact an attorney....
• What would I have to do to deposit money into the registry? We would need an Order or reason for the money to be deposited (in an eviction th...
• I live out of town and want to Baker Act/Marchman Act someone who lives in Okaloosa County, what can I do? The forms can be emailed, (not available on our website at this time) the applica...
• How much does a .... packet/paperwork cost? http://www.okaloosaclerk.com/index.php/all-forms/misc/158-self-help-packages/file...
• What are the counter-petition/Counter-claim fees in a civil case? Can I file a counter-claim/counter-petition in an eviction? DR - $295 CA - $395 (unless its a foreclosure case in which you pay a graduated f...
• If I want to sue someone for $..... what court does it fall under? Under $8,000 is considered Small Claims - filing fee: staggered   $8,001 - $15,00...
• Where do I get a Handyman license? The Tax Collectors Office issues business licenses -  850-651-7300 or www.okaloos...
• Where do I find when a Grand Jury convened? The State Attorneys Office 850-651-7260....
• Where do I obtain a Elevation Certificate for a home? Please contact the Growth Management Dept at 651-7180...
• Work Permits for Minors Work Permit (Minors Not in the Entertainment Industry) "Work Permits" and/or "Wor...
• I want to change my probation officer, how do I go about doing that? You will need to contact the probation office....
• Are there any restrictions on what can be e-recorded? No, anything that is recordable can be e-recorded....
• Is anyone in the clerks office a notary? No, the clerks office does not have notaries; we are only able to sign court docu...
• If someone writes a bad check for rent and it is being processed at the State Attorneys Office, do I have to wait for the amount of days (7) to pass before I can begin the eviction process? No, you can begin the process anytime....
• Where can I get tax exemption information from? The I.R.S. 1-800-829-3676  https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/frequently-a...
• How do I get an address to a piece of property? You will need to contact the property appraiser for the county the property is in...
• I filed a Notice of Commencement (NOC) and had it recorded, how can I get that cancelled? You will need to file a Notice of Termination of NOC.  This is governed by Florid...
• Where do I get an Apostille done? What is a Certificate of Good Conduct and where may I obtain one? An Apostille is a certification of a document (authentication) that is done throu...
• How often are registry checks disbursed? Registry fees will be disbursed once a week on Thursdays, for any further questio...
• Where do I find the by-laws for a subdivision? Those are located in the Official Records Department....
• I need to pay money into the registry, what forms of payment do you accept? When making a payment into the registry, we must have either cash or certified fu...
• What are your hours of operation? Our offices are open for business Monday - Friday 8:30am until 4:30pm; however ar...
• What is the phone number(s) or website for: (public offices) (ncourt, tax collector etc.) Okaloosa County Website Links (Airport; Public Works etc) http://www.co.okaloosa....
• How do I file an Ex parte? Exparte means "one sided filing", typically the question is in reference to a Bak...
• Can I setup a payment plan to waive collection fees and payoff the same day? A payment plan may not be set up for a case that has been sent to collections. If...
• I have re-opened my dependency case (Status Review), I was to receive a letter in the mail and have not received it? The clerk's office can neither confirm nor deny that a dependency action exists o...
• TRUST FUNDS Trust funds are typically set up through legal counsel. The Clerk of Courts offic...
• Who do I need to contact to verify employment? To verify employment for previous and current employees of the Okaloosa County Cl...
• How long do I have to file a case? What is the time limit? What is the statute of limitation to file court c cases? (All case types) The Clerk's office cannot provide statute of limitation information.  You may fin...
• If I need access to an old file that has been destroyed, what do I do? For cases that have met the retention period and have been destroyed pursuant to ...
• How and when is money disbursed out of the court registry? The clerk can only disburse money from the registry if there is a court order or ...
• How do I register for the Florida E-filing portal to file a new case or documents? You may register to electronically file new cases or pleadings on existing cases ...
• Can I get bond money back if my bond was forfeited? Once a bond has been forfeited it cannot be returned....
• The Final Order of Name Change has my name spelled incorrectly, how do I get this fixed? You will need to bring in the Final Judgment changing your name into either of th...
• What is a Truancy case and what information can I obtain? What if I have questions regarding my case? What if I cannot make my court date? I am running late for my truancy hearing - what do I do? Truancy cases are cases where a minor has missed an excessive amount of school. T...
• My court case has been dismissed, can it be reopened? What type of case are you referring to? Civil cases to include: Family, Circuit (...
• Can I request copy/copies of documents: i.e. final judgment, deed, DD214, Last Will & Testament(deposited or filed)? Yes.  You can request files online, via email, or in person. NOTE:  Copies provid...
• How can I find the name of an owner of a specific road or property? You may contact the Okaloosa county property appraisers office at 850-651-7240...
• What is a Situs Designation Form? Where can I find a Situs Designation? How do I determine which Situs to select? A Situs Designation Form is used in Okaloosa County to select which part of the c...
• How do I file an arbitration case and where do I get the paperwork? The clerk's office does not have forms regarding arbitration. You may wish to see...
• How can I request a copy of my juvenile record? Can someone other than myself receive a copy of my juvenile record? (CJ case type) You must appear in person with a photo ID.  The fees for copies are $1 per page. ...
• How does an attorney obtain a certificate of good standing to appear in court in a different state? These certificates may be available through the Florida Bar...
• Who can I contact regarding Tourist Development Tax? Bed Tax? For Tourist Tax Collection, Enforcement, or Audit; you can contact the Clerk of C...
• How can I get an expedited bond hearing in a felony case? Att orney of Record If you are the attorney of record you may email our court tea...
• What is "Pro hac vice" and how much is it to file? Pro hac vice is a legal term for adding an attorney to a case in a jurisdiction i...
• How can I file for a legal separation? Florida does not recognize legal separation.  You may wish to seek legal advice o...
• Mechanics Lien This is filed when a shop owner is trying to obtain a title to a vehicle that has...
• I have been ordered to attend an Anger Management course, can you provide a list of approved classes? Okaloosa county clerk will accept any Florida certificate of completion.   Howeve...
• My cash bond has been released and/or I am getting a refund/disbursement check and need to update my address, what do I do? BONDS: If you were previously issued a check refund for a cash bond deposit, but ...
• Can I file for indigency? How long is my application good for? How do I apply for a public defender? If you meet the Florida poverty guidelines, you may complete an indigency applica...
• How do I find unclaimed property? If the money is from a foreclosure sale FS 717: you may contact the Department of...
• What is the current interest rate for judgments? Effective October 1, 2019 the interest is 6.89% Effective April 1, 2020 the inter...
• Can I get a civil standby to retrieve my belongings from my home? You may contact the Okaloosa Sheriff's office at 850-651-7410.  There are minimum...
• What is a Tax Certificate? What are Tax Deed Sales? How may I participate in a Tax Deed Sale? ***We state that tax certificates are sold, but we don't answer the first questio...
• How can I obtain an Exemplified Copy? To obtain an Exemplified or Authenticated Copy, a request may be placed through r...
• Where can I find a municipal ordinance online? To search municipal ordinances, you will access the county website at:   www.co.o...
• Who do I contact to file a complaint on a judge? If you wish to file a grievance against a Florida state judge, please contact the...
• Can I get a copy of a court docket? You may view public record dockets by following the below steps on our website. 1...
• Do the Okaloosa County Judge's have special requirements when filing court cases? The clerk's office may not provide you information as to a Judge's specific requi...
• Where can I find information on community resources such as family assistance, counseling, support groups, housing, transportation, etc? Healthy Start Coalition of Okaloosa-Walton Counties offers a family resource dire...