Florida Background Check Resources
Background checks are governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Most state laws concerning public records and background checks are very liberal and straightforward. In the State of Florida, public records are readily available to anyone wishing to obtain them through appropriate official state agency channels. Background checks are instrumental in the parties' ability to enter into various legally binding contracts, and as such, are always a good idea. Background checks generally require a written permission prior to performing the inquiry. Occasionally, it is possible to obtain such reports without permission, but the results may lack in-depth details.
If the background check adversely affects the consumer, the party accessing public records must provide a copy of the report and a summary of the consumer's rights under FCRA, and allow the consumer reasonable time to contest the report. Due to the increasing threat of identity theft, some states (i. e. California) may now require the employer to provide a copy of the background check report to the consumer regardless of its content.
Call the telephone numbers listed below (or visit the listed websites) to learn how to access the specific background check information you're seeking. Public information may be accessible online or by phone, mail or in person.
It's always best to call before sending written inquiries in order to obtain exact addressing/ordering information.
FLORIDA STATE INFORMATION HOT LINE:
(602)542-4900
FLORIDA STATE WEB SITE:
www.state.fl.us
Attorney General's Office
Legislative Records
State Archives
Criminal Records
Department of Law Enforcement
User Services
PO Box 1489
Tallahassee FL 32302
(850) 410-7000
(850) 488-1413 (fax)
Florida Criminal History Request Info
Corrections Offender Network - Dept of Corrections
Florida Incarcerations
Driving Records
Department of Public Safety
Division of Drivers Licenses
PO Box 5775
Tallahassee FL 32314-5775
(850) 488-0250
(850) 487-7080 (fax)
www.hsmv.state.fl.us
Drivers License Status
Vehicle Ownership Information
Division of Motor Vehicles
Information Research
Kirkman Building
Tallahassee FL 32399
(904) 488-5665
(850) 488-8983 (fax)
www.hsmv.state.fl.us
Vital Statistics
(birth, death, divorce, marriage)
Office of Vital Statistics
PO Box 210
Jacksonville FL 32231
(904) 359-6993
(904) 359-6993 (fax)
www.doh.state.fl.us
Business/Corporate Records
Division of Corporations
Department of State
PO Box 6327
Tallahassee FL 32314
(850) 487-6053
(fax number not provided)
www.dos.state.fl.us
Corporation, Trademark, Judgments, Liens
UCCs and Federal Tax Liens
(state tax liens available only at county level)
UCC Division
Secretary of State
PO Box 5588
Tallahassee FL 32314
(850) 487-6055
Call the telephone numbers listed below (or visit the listed websites) to learn how to access the specific background check information you're seeking. Public information may be accessible online or by phone, mail or in person.
It's always best to call before sending written inquiries in order to obtain exact addressing/ordering information.
Note: Government agencies are continually updating and expanding online access to their records; consequently, this page is continually updated and expanded. Check back for the latest information!
City-County Cross Index
Clerk of Courts (53 Counties)
Alachua County
201 E. University Ave., Room 114
Gainesville, FL 32602
(352) 374-3636
ONLINE: Alachua County Circuit and County Courts
http://www.alachuacounty.us/government/clerk/
Recorder:
www.clerk-alachua-fl.org/clerk/pubrec.html
Baker County
339 E. MacClenny Ave.
MacClenny, FL 32063-2101
(904) 259-3121
ONLINE: Appraiser, Property
www.acpa.fl.org
Tax Collector
http://sctc.elementaldata.com/disclaimer.asp
Bay County
P.O. Box 2269
Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 763-9061
Bradford County
P.O. Drawer B
Starke, FL 32091-2110
(904) 964-6280
ONLINE: Deeds, Liens, Judgments, Marriages, Civil Court Records
www.mybradfordcounty.com
Property Appraiser
www.bradfordappraiser.com/Search_F.asp
Brevard County
700 South Park Ave., Bldg. 2
Titusville, FL 32780
(407) 264-5244
Broward County
515 S.W. 2nd Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-1801
(954) 765-4865
Calhoun County
425 E. Central Ave.
Blountstown, FL 32424
(850) 674-4545
Charlotte County
118 W. Olympia Ave.
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(941) 637-2199
Citrus County Clerk of Court
110 N. Apopka Ave.
Inverness, FL 34450-4245
(352) 637-9410
Clay County
825 N. Orange Ave.
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
(904) 284-6300
Collier County
3301 E. Tamiami Trail, Building H
Naples, FL 34112
(941) 774-8999
www.colliersheriff.org
Columbia County
P.O. Box 2069
Lake City, FL 32056
(904) 755-4100
Dade County
111 NW First St.
Miami, FL 33128
(305) 375-5124
De Soto County
P.O. Box 591
Arcadia, FL 34265
(941) 993-4876
ONLINE: Property Appriaser
http://qpublic.net/desoto/search.html
Dixie County
P.O. Box 1206
Cross City, FL 32628
(904) 498-1200
Duval County
330 E. Bay St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202-2919
(904) 630-2045
Escambria County
190 Governmental Center
Pensacola, FL 32501-5796
(850) 595-4170
Flagler County
P.O. Box 787
Bunnell, FL 32110
(904) 437-7433
Franklin County
33 Market St.
Apalachicola, FL 32320
(850) 653-8861
Gadsden County
10 E. Jefferson St.
Quincy, FL 32351-2406
(850) 875-8601
www.qpublic.net/gadsden/search.html
Gilchrist County
P.O. Box 37
Trenton, FL 32693-0037
(352) 463-3170
Glades County
P.O. Box 10
Moore Haven, FL 33471-0010
(941) 946-0949
Gulf County
1000 5th St., Room 148
Port Saint Joe, FL 32456-1648
(904) 229-6112
Hamilton County
207 N.E. 1st St., Room 106
Jasper, FL 32052
(904) 792-1288
Hardee County
417 West Main St.
Wauchula, FL 33873-2831
(941) 773-4174
Hendry County
P.O. Box 1760
La Belle, FL 33975-1760
(941) 675-5217
Hernando County
20 North Main, Recording
Brooksville, FL 34601-2850
(352) 754-4000
Highlands County
590 S. Commerce Ave.
Sebring, FL 33870-3705
(941) 386-6596
Tax Collector, Personal Property, Real Estate
www.collector.co.highlands.fl.us/search/index.html
Hillsborough County
P.O. Box 1110
Tampa, FL 33601
(813) 276-8100
Holmes County
201 N. Oklahoma St.
Bonifay, FL 32425-2243
(850) 547-1100
Indian River County
P.O. Box 1028
Vero Beach, FL 32961
(561) 770-5185
Jackson County
P.O. Box 510
Marianna, FL 32447
(904) 482-9552
Jefferson County
Jefferson County Courthouse
Monticello, FL 32344
(904) 997-3596
Lafayette County
P.O. Box 88
Mayo, FL 32066
(904) 294-1600
Lake County
550 W. Main St.
Tavares, FL 32778
(352) 742-4100
Lee County
P.O. Box 2278
Fort Myers, FL 33902
(941) 335-2283
Property Appraiser
www.leepa.org/Queries/SearchCriteria.htm
Leon County
301 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301-1853
(850) 488-7534
Levy County
P.O. Box 610
Bronson, FL 32621
(352) 486-5274
Liberty County
P.O. Box 399
Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-2215
Madison County
237 South Range
Madison, FL 32341
(850) 973-1500
Manatee County
P.O. Box 25400
Bradenton, FL 34206
(941) 749-1800
Marion County
P.O. Box 1030
Ocala, FL 34478
(352) 620-3925
Martin County
P.O. Box 94995
Stuart, FL 34994
(407) 288-5577
Monroe County
500 Whitehead St.
Key West, FL 33040-6547
(305) 294-4641
Nassau County
P.O. Box 456
Fernandia Beach, FL 32035-0456
(904) 321-5700
Okaloosa County
P.O. Box 1265
Crestview, FL 32579
(904) 651-7200
Okeechobee County
304 N.W. 2nd St., Room 101
Okeechobee, FL 34972-4146
(813) 467-1986
Orange County
201 S. Rosalind Ave., 4th Floor
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 836-7300
Osceola County
17 S. Vernon Ave.
Kissimmee,FL 34741
(407) 847-1300
Palm Beach County
P.O. Box 229
West Palm Beach, FL 33402
(407) 355-2996
Pasco County
7530 Little Rd., Room 220
New Port Richey, FL 34654
(813) 847-8190
Pinellas County
315 Court St., Room 170
Clearwater, FL 33756
(813) 464-3267
Tax Collector, Real Estate
www.visualgov.com/pinellascounty/
Polk County
P.O. Box 9000
Drawer CC-11
Bartow, FL 33831
(941) 534-4548
Putnam County
P.O. Box 758
Palatka, FL 32178
(904) 329-0256
Saint Johns County
158 Cordova St.
Saint Augustine, FL 32084-4415
(904) 829-6562
Saint Lucie County
P.O. Box 700
Fort Pierce, FL 34954
(561) 462-6900
ONLINE: Clerk of Circuit Court, Misdemeanors, Traffic, Bonds, Marriages
www.pasic.org
Santa Rosa County
P.O. Box 472
Milton, FL 32570-0472
(850) 623-0135
Sarasota County
2001 Main St., Room 102
Sarasota, FL 34237
(941) 951-5231
Seminole County
P.O. Drawer C
Sanford, FL 32772-0659
(407) 323-4330
Sumter County
209 N. Florida St.
Bushnell, FL 33513-9402
(352) 793-0215
Suwannee County
200 S. Ohio Ave.
Live Oak, FL 32060-3239
(904) 364-3539
Taylor County
P.O. Box 620
Perry, FL 32348
(850) 838-3506
Union County
55 W. Main St., Room 103
Lake Butler, FL 32054
(904) 496-3711
Volusia County
P.O. Box 6043
De Land, FL 32721
(904) 736-5912
Wakulla County
3056 Crawfordville Hwy.
Crawfordville, FL 32327
(850) 926-3331
Walton County
571 U.S. Highway 90 East
De Funiak Springs, FL 32433
(850) 892-8118
ONLINE: Land Records, Grantor/Grantee
www.co.walton.fl.us/clerk/orsearch/Default.aspx
DID YOU KNOW...
The Investigative Directories page of Background Check Gateway contains one of the most comprehensive listings of public records directories on the Internet.
Washington County
1293 Jackson Ave., Suite 101
Chipley, FL 32528-0647
(850) 638-6285