Flagler County Divorce Records serve as the primary proof that a marriage ended in the local court system. These files exist as public papers under Florida law. You can see these papers to learn the date a judge signed the final order. The papers list the names of the two people who were married. They show the case number given by the clerk of the court. Most people look for these papers to change a name on a driver’s license. Others need them to get a passport or to marry someone else. These files stay at the courthouse in Bunnell, Florida. You can visit the courthouse to get a copy or use a computer to look them up online. The law says most of these details must be open for anyone to read.
Where to Find Flagler County Divorce Records in Person
The main place for Flagler County Divorce Records is the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center. This building sits in the city of Bunnell. The address is 1769 East Moody Boulevard. Walk into the building and go to the first floor. This is where the Recording Division works. The staff members at the front desk help you find the right books or computer files. They use a system that organizes cases by the year they started. You can tell the clerk the names of the people in the divorce. They will tell you the case number. This number helps them pull the file from the shelf or the digital server. The office stays open from Monday to Friday. They start work at 8:30 in the morning. They finish at 4:30 in the afternoon.
The Justice Center is a large building with security at the front door. You must walk through a metal detector before you go to the clerk’s office. Do not bring sharp objects or weapons into the building. Once you are inside, look for signs that point to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The Family Law Division is on the second floor if you need to file new papers. If you only want to see old papers, the first floor is the best spot. The staff can print a copy of the final judgment for you. They charge a small fee for every page they print. If you need a gold seal on the paper, that costs extra money. This seal proves the paper is real and comes from the court.
Using the Online Portal for Flagler County Divorce Records
Flagler County Divorce Records became much easier to see in June 2024. The Clerk of the Court put a new portal on the internet. This portal follows rules from the Florida Supreme Court. It lets you search for civil cases and family law cases from your home. You do not have to drive to Bunnell to see basic facts. To use the site, type the last name and first name of a person. The system shows a list of cases that match those names. You can see the date the case began and the date it ended. The portal shows the name of the judge who handled the case. It also shows the names of the lawyers who helped the couple.
The online system is free to search. If you want to download a PDF of the actual decree, you might have to pay a fee. Florida law allows the clerk to charge for electronic copies. The price is usually ten dollars for a document. This fee helps the county keep the computers running. The website works on phones and tablets. It is a fast way for people to check public facts. If a case is very old, it might not be on the computer yet. Files from many years ago stay in paper form or on microfilm. For those old cases, you must send a letter to the clerk or visit the office. The online portal gets new updates every night. This keeps the files current for everyone who needs them.
The Cost of Getting Flagler County Divorce Records
Getting Flagler County Divorce Records involves specific fees set by Florida law. A standard copy of a court paper costs one dollar for every page. If the final decree has ten pages, you pay ten dollars. Many people need a certified copy. A certified copy has a special stamp and a signature from the clerk. This stamp costs an extra two dollars per document. If you need the clerk to search for the file for you, they charge a fee for their time. This search fee is usually seven dollars for every year they check. It is cheaper if you know the case number before you ask for help.
| Type of Service | Cost of Service |
|---|---|
| Standard Paper Copy (Per Page) | $1.00 |
| Certification Fee (Per Document) | $2.00 |
| Record Search (Per Year) | $7.00 |
| Electronic Document Fee | $10.00 |
| Exemplified Copy (Special Seal) | $15.00 |
You can pay these fees in a few ways. If you are at the courthouse, you can use cash. They also take credit cards and debit cards. There is often a small charge for using a card. If you send a request by mail, send a money order or a check. Do not send cash in the mail. Make the check out to the Flagler County Clerk of Court. If you use the online portal, you pay with a card through a secure screen. The clerk sends the digital file to your email after the payment goes through. These fees go into the county budget to pay the people who manage the records.
Information Found in Flagler County Divorce Records
Flagler County Divorce Records contain many facts about the end of a marriage. The first paper in the file is the petition. This paper says why the marriage is ending. Most cases in Florida use the term “irretrievably broken.” This means the two people cannot fix their problems. The file also has a financial affidavit. This paper lists the money, houses, and cars the couple owns. It shows the debts they have, like credit cards or bank loans. If the couple has children, the file includes a parenting plan. This plan says where the children will live and how they will spend time with each parent.
The most vital paper in the set is the final judgment of dissolution of marriage. This is the paper the judge signs. It officially makes the two people single again. It says who gets the house and who gets the cars. It also lists the amount of money one person must pay the other for child support. If a person wants to use their old name, the judge puts that in the final judgment. You need this specific page to show the social security office or the DMV. The records might also have papers about mediation. This is when the couple meets to talk about their choices instead of fighting in a trial. All these papers together make up the full record of the case.
Privacy and Redaction in Flagler County Divorce Records
Flagler County Divorce Records are public, but some parts stay hidden. Florida law protects sensitive facts. The clerk must hide social security numbers. They must hide bank account numbers and credit card numbers. This act of hiding numbers is called redaction. It stops bad people from stealing an identity. If you look at a file, you might see black lines over some numbers. This is normal. It means the clerk is following the law to keep the people safe. Records about children are also handled with care. The names of the kids might be replaced with initials in some public views.
If you want to see a file that has secret facts, you must ask the judge. Only a judge can decide to unseal a private file. Most people never need to do this. The public version of the record has everything needed for normal business. If you are the person in the divorce, you can see your own full file. You must show a photo ID to the clerk to prove who you are. The clerk keeps a log of who looks at the files. This helps maintain order and safety for the records. If you find a mistake in your file, you can ask the clerk to fix it. You might need to file a motion to tell the judge about the error.
Different Types of Flagler County Divorce Records
Flagler County Divorce Records come in different forms based on how the case went. A “Simplified Dissolution of Marriage” is a fast way to end a marriage. This happens when the couple agrees on everything and has no children. The records for these cases are usually short. They might only be a few pages long. A regular divorce involves more papers. These cases can take a long time if the couple disagrees. The files can grow very thick with letters from lawyers and reports from experts. There are also “Annulment” records. This is when the court says the marriage was never legal from the start.
The clerk also keeps “Post-Judgment” records. These are papers filed after the divorce is over. Sometimes a parent wants to move to a new state. They must file a paper to change the parenting plan. Sometimes one person loses their job and cannot pay support. They file a paper to change the money amount. These new papers get added to the original case file. When you ask for records, the clerk will ask if you want the whole file or just the final decree. Most people only want the final decree. If you are a lawyer or a researcher, you might want the entire history of the case to see every change made over the years.
How to Request Flagler County Divorce Records by Mail
If you cannot go to Bunnell, you can request Flagler County Divorce Records by mail. Write a letter that tells the clerk what you need. Include the full names of the husband and the wife. Write down the case number if you know it. If you do not know the number, write the year the divorce happened. Tell the clerk if you want a plain copy or a certified copy. Include a check or money order for the fees. You should also put a self-addressed stamped envelope in the package. This is an envelope with your address and a stamp already on it. The clerk uses this to send the papers back to you.
Mail your request to the Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The address is Post Office Box 787, Bunnell, FL 32110. It takes about one or two weeks for the clerk to process your request. They check the archives and find the file. They count the pages and make the copies. If you did not send enough money, they will send a letter back to tell you the correct price. It is smart to call the office first at (386) 313-4400. Ask them to look up the case and tell you the page count. This way, you send the exact amount of money and get your papers faster. Mailing is a good choice for people who live in other states but got divorced in Florida.
Historical Flagler County Divorce Records
Flagler County Divorce Records from many years ago are part of the local history. Flagler County was created in 1917. Records from the early days look different from records today. They were written by hand or with old typewriters. Some of these old files stay in a special room for historical papers. Others exist on microfilm. Microfilm is a tiny film that holds pictures of the pages. You use a special machine to read them. These old records are great for people who study family trees. You can find out when your great-grandparents ended a marriage and see the reasons they gave the court.
Searching for very old records takes more time. The clerk might need to look through old books that are not on the computer. If the record is very fragile, they might not let you touch it. They will make a copy for you instead. The Florida State Archives in Tallahassee also keeps some records for the whole state. If a record is missing in Bunnell, the state might have a copy of the certificate. The state records usually only show the date and the names. They do not have all the details about the house or the money. For the full story, the county courthouse remains the best source of information.
The Role of the Clerk of the Court in Flagler County
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the person in charge of all Flagler County Divorce Records. This person is an elected official. They work for the people of the county. Their job is to keep the court’s papers safe and organized. They make sure no one changes the judge’s orders. They also make sure the public can see what they are allowed to see. The clerk acts as a gatekeeper for the justice system. When a lawyer files a new paper, the clerk stamps it with the date and time. This keeps a clear timeline of the case. Without the clerk, the court would be a very messy place.
The clerk’s office has many departments. The Family Law department handles the divorces. They help people who do not have lawyers by providing forms. These forms are called “pro se” forms. They help you ask for a divorce without hiring a lawyer. The clerk cannot give you legal advice. They cannot tell you what to say to the judge. They can only tell you which form to use and how much it costs to file. Their goal is to make the process fair and clear for everyone. They keep the records in a digital vault now to protect them from fire or water damage. This ensures the files will be there for many years to come.
Verification of Flagler County Divorce Records for Legal Use
When you use Flagler County Divorce Records for official business, you must verify them. A simple printout from a website is often not enough. If you want to get married again, the new county will ask for a certified copy. This copy has a seal that you can feel with your fingers. It shows the document is a true copy of what is in the court file. If you are moving to another country, you might need an “apostille.” This is a higher level of verification from the state government. You first get the certified copy from the Flagler clerk. Then you send it to Tallahassee for the extra stamp.
Employers sometimes check divorce records if the job requires high security. They want to see if a person is honest about their past. Insurance companies also look at these records. They need to know who is covered under a health plan. If a divorce happened, the ex-spouse might lose their insurance. These records provide the legal proof needed to make these changes. Always keep your own certified copy in a safe place at home. It saves you time and money if you need it quickly later. If you lose yours, the clerk can always make a new one for you as long as you pay the fee.
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics vs. County Records
People often confuse Flagler County Divorce Records with records from the State of Florida. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics is in Jacksonville. They keep a list of every divorce that happens in the whole state. They issue a “divorce certificate.” This is a short paper that lists the names and the date. It does not have the judge’s signature or the details about property. The county clerk in Bunnell has the “divorce decree.” This is the full legal document. If you need to know the specific rules the judge set, you must go to the county clerk. If you just need to prove you are divorced, the state certificate might work.
The state charges a different fee for their certificates. It is usually five dollars for a search and fifteen dollars for the first copy. The state takes longer to update their records. It can take sixty days for the county to send the info to the state. If your divorce just happened yesterday, the state will not have it yet. You must get it from the county clerk’s office. The county office is the source of all the data. The state office is just a central library for all the counties. Most people find it faster and better to deal with the local clerk in Flagler County.
Legal Requirements for Filing a Divorce in Flagler County
To have Flagler County Divorce Records, you must first file for divorce in the county. One person in the marriage must have lived in Florida for at least six months. You file the papers in the county where you live. You pay a filing fee to the clerk to start the case. In Flagler County, this fee is about four hundred dollars. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask for a waiver. This is a paper that says you have low income and cannot pay. The judge will look at your money and decide if you can file for free. This ensures that everyone has access to the court regardless of their wealth.
After you file the papers, the other spouse must be “served.” This means a sheriff or a process server gives them the papers in person. The clerk keeps a record of this service. If the person cannot be found, you might have to put a notice in the newspaper. This is called “service by publication.” Once the person gets the papers, the case moves forward. There is a waiting period in Florida. You usually have to wait at least twenty days after filing before the judge can sign the final paper. This time allows people to think about their choice. All these steps create the papers that eventually become the permanent record.
Contact Information for Flagler County Records
If you have questions about Flagler County Divorce Records, you can reach out to the clerk. The staff is trained to help you find what you need. They can explain how to use the computers in the lobby. They can also tell you how much your specific request will cost.
Physical Address:
Kim C. Hammond Justice Center
1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 1
Bunnell, FL 32110
Mailing Address:
Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court
P.O. Box 787
Bunnell, FL 32110
Phone Number: (386) 313-4400
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
You can also visit the official website at flaglerclerk.com. The website has a section for “Online Records” where you can start your search. It also has a list of forms you can download and print at home. This saves you a trip to the office if you just need to read a form.
Common Questions About Flagler County Divorce Records
Many people have specific questions about how these records work. It is helpful to know the rules before you start your search. These questions cover the most common issues people face when looking for court papers in Bunnell.
How long does it take for a divorce to show up in the records?
Once a judge signs the final order, the clerk’s office must process the paper. This usually happens within twenty-four hours. In most cases, you can see the entry on the online portal the very next day. If the office is very busy, it might take two days. If you are standing at the courthouse when the judge signs the paper, you can sometimes get a copy right away. The staff must enter the data into the system and scan the page. This creates the digital file that everyone sees. If there is a holiday or a weekend, the time might be longer. The clerk’s office works hard to keep the records current. They know that people need these papers for important business. For cases that are very old, the time to find them is longer because they are in storage.
Can I see divorce records for anyone in Flagler County?
Yes, you can see most divorce records for any person. Florida has very broad laws about public files. These laws are meant to keep the government open and honest. You do not need to give a reason to look at a file. You do not need to be related to the people in the case. You can go to the courthouse and ask for any case by name. Some files are sealed by a judge, but this is rare. A judge only seals a file if there is a big safety risk or a secret that must be kept. For normal cases, the public can read the petitions, the motions, and the final orders. This transparency helps the community trust the court system. It also helps researchers and lawyers study how cases are handled in the county.
What if I find a mistake in my Flagler County Divorce Records?
Mistakes can happen when people type in data. If you see a wrong name or date, you should act. Start by talking to the clerk’s office. Sometimes it is a simple typo that they can fix. If the mistake is in the actual judgment signed by the judge, the clerk cannot change it. You must file a paper called a “Motion to Correct” or a “Motion for Rehearing.” You tell the judge what is wrong and show the correct facts. The judge will then sign a new paper called an “Amended Judgment.” This new paper goes into the file and becomes part of the permanent record. It is vital to have the correct info because other offices will use these papers. A wrong date of birth or a misspelled name can cause trouble with your bank or the social security office.
Are Flagler County Divorce Records available for cases from the 1900s?
The clerk’s office keeps records going back to the start of the county in 1917. Many of these older records are not on the internet. To see them, you must visit the courthouse or send a mail request. Some of the very old papers are stored in a climate-controlled room to keep them from falling apart. The clerk has scanned many old books into digital form, but not everything is online yet. If you are doing genealogy, these records are very valuable. They often list where people were born and the names of their parents. You might find a case from 1940 that tells a story about your family history. The search fee for these old records is seven dollars for every year searched. If you know the exact year, it makes the search much cheaper and faster for the clerk to handle.
Can I get a divorce record if the case was filed in another county?
No, the Flagler County Clerk only has records for cases filed in Flagler County. If the divorce happened in Volusia County or St. Johns County, you must contact the clerk in those places. Each county in Florida keeps its own records. They do not share a single database for the actual documents. However, the State of Florida has a central list of all divorces. If you are not sure where the divorce happened, you can check with the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. They can tell you which county has the file. Once you know the county, you can contact that specific clerk’s office. This is a common situation when people move around Florida. You must always go to the source where the judge signed the final decree to get the full legal papers you need.
Do I need a lawyer to get a copy of my records?
You do not need a lawyer to get a copy of Flagler County Divorce Records. Any person can walk into the courthouse and ask for a copy. The clerk’s office is there to serve the public. You only need the money for the copy fees and a name or case number. If you are the person in the divorce, it is easy to find your file. If you are looking for someone else, the process is the same. Lawyers often send their assistants to get copies for them. You can do the same thing yourself. The only time you might need a lawyer is if you need to change something in the file or if the file is sealed. For simply getting a copy of the final decree, the staff at the clerk’s office will help you through every step of the process.