Franklin County Public Records: Court, Deed, Property, Arrest & Tax Records
Franklin County public records are split among the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Health. A court case, deed, parcel record, tax bill and arrest entry are different records.
Start with the record type you need, open the correct official source, and save the strongest identifier you find—such as a case number, instrument reference, parcel number or Sheriff’s case number.
Which Franklin County Office Has the Record?
| Record | Official source | Best starting detail |
|---|---|---|
| Civil, criminal, traffic, probate or family court case | Franklin County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller | Case number or party name |
| Deed, mortgage, lien, judgment, plat or tax deed | Clerk Official Records | Name, instrument reference, book/page or document type |
| Parcel owner, assessed value or property details | Franklin County Property Appraiser | Parcel, owner or property address |
| Property-tax bill or payment | Franklin County Tax Collector | Property number, owner, address or tax bill number |
| Recent arrest entry | Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Log | Name and arrest date |
| Sheriff incident or offense report | Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Public Records | Sheriff case number, date, location or involved name |
| Birth or death certificate | Florida Department of Health in Franklin County | Name, event date, ID and eligibility information |
How to Search Franklin County Court Records
The Franklin County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller provides separate online searches for court cases and Official Records.
- Select Search Court Records.
- Use a case number when you already have one.
- Otherwise search using the supported party information.
- Confirm the case type, parties and filing details.
- Contact the Clerk when an official or certified copy is required.
Online result vs. official court document
Use the online search to identify the case and docket information. If the record will be filed with another court, used in a legal proceeding or submitted to an agency, ask the Clerk what type of certified copy is required.
Franklin County Arrest Records and Sheriff Reports
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office publishes a public Arrest Log that shows recent entries including the person’s name, city, arresting agency, arrest date and listed charges.
- Look for the person’s legal name.
- Confirm the arrest date and arresting agency.
- Review the listed charge information carefully.
- Use the Clerk’s court search separately to check whether a case was filed and how it was resolved.
Requesting a Sheriff’s incident report
The Sheriff’s Public Records Unit says a case number is helpful. If you do not have one, prepare the incident location, date and time, or the name of the person who contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
- Gather the case number when available.
- Otherwise provide the location, date, time and relevant names.
- Send the request to the Sheriff’s public-records contact.
- Be aware that exempt information may be removed before release.
The Sheriff’s Office states that public-record requests are processed Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. Extensive requests can result in additional service charges when substantial staff or technology resources are required.
Search Franklin County Deeds, Liens and Official Records
Franklin County Official Records include deeds, mortgages, liens, court judgments, marriage licenses, plats and tax deeds.
- Select Search Official Records.
- Search using the indexed party name or recording information you know.
- Narrow the results with document type or date when available.
- Open the matching instrument and verify the names and legal description.
- Order the required copy through the Clerk when certification is needed.
Franklin County’s older records are unusually useful online
The Clerk has placed historical Official Records online, including Official Records from 1953 through 1986 and Real Estate Conveyances from 1874 through 1953.
Property fraud alerts
The Clerk’s online-services area also includes a Property Fraud Alert service. It can help monitor newly recorded documents associated with registered information, but it does not replace reviewing the actual public record.
Search Franklin County Property Records
The Franklin County Property Appraiser is the correct office for parcel identification, owner display, assessed values, exemptions and property characteristics.
- Open the property-search service.
- Use the parcel number when you already have it.
- Otherwise search by owner or property location.
- Verify the parcel before carrying the information into the tax system.
- Use Clerk Official Records separately when you need the recorded deed.
Search Franklin County Property Tax Records
The Franklin County Tax Collector’s online system lets users search current and historical tax records using several different identifiers.
- Use only one search option at a time.
- For an owner search, enter the last name first; the Tax Collector recommends trying only the last name for broader results.
- For location searches, choose a specific tax year rather than All Years.
- You can also search by property number or tax bill number.
- Open the matching tax bill and verify the property before making a payment.
Franklin County Vital Records
The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County provides local birth- and death-certificate services. Marriage certificates follow a different Florida process.
Birth certificates
The local Health Department can issue Florida birth certificates for births from 1930 to the present. Earlier Florida birth records must be requested through the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville.
- Review who is eligible to receive the certificate.
- Prepare valid photo identification.
- Complete the birth-certificate application.
- Choose the official in-person, mail or authorized online ordering route.
Death certificates
Florida death certificates from 2009 to the present can be requested through the Franklin County Health Department. Deaths before 2009 must be requested through the state Bureau of Vital Statistics or the state’s authorized online route.
- Check whether you qualify for the certificate version requested.
- Cause-of-death information has additional eligibility restrictions.
- Prepare valid identification.
- Follow the local mail, in-person or authorized online instructions.
How to Find Franklin County Records That Are Not in the Main Portals
Franklin County’s government website has a Public Records search page and separate links to constitutional offices including the Clerk, Sheriff, Tax Collector and Property Appraiser.
- Confirm whether the record belongs to the county government or a constitutional office.
- Use the linked public-record database when appropriate.
- For court or recorded documents, use the Clerk instead.
- For Sheriff’s reports, send the request to the Sheriff’s Public Records Unit.
- For parcel or tax questions, use the Property Appraiser or Tax Collector.
What to Do When a Franklin County Search Returns Nothing
| Problem | Try next |
|---|---|
| No court case found | Use the case number if known, simplify the name and confirm Franklin County is the correct jurisdiction. |
| Older deed is missing | Use the Clerk’s historical Official Records Archive for older record series. |
| Parcel found but deed is missing | Move from the Property Appraiser to Clerk Official Records. |
| Tax address search fails | Try only the street name and choose a specific tax year. |
| Sheriff report cannot be located | Provide the case number, incident location, date, time or reporting person’s name. |
| Recent arrest has no final outcome | Search the Clerk’s court records for the related criminal case and disposition. |
| Online result is not accepted | Request the required certified copy from the official custodian. |
Franklin County Public Records Offices
Apalachicola, FL 32320
Phone: 850-653-8861
Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Apalachicola, FL 32320
Phone: 850-653-9236
Eastpoint, FL 32328
Main phone: 850-670-8500
Franklin County Courthouse map
The Clerk and Property Appraiser are both in the Franklin County Courthouse complex at 33 Market Street in Apalachicola, but they are separate offices with different responsibilities.
Before You Rely on a Franklin County Record
- Confirm the correct person, property, agency and county.
- Do not treat an arrest or listed charge as proof of conviction.
- Use the actual recorded instrument when a parcel record does not answer a title question.
- Respect confidential, sealed and exempt information.
- Request a certified copy when an official recipient requires one.
Franklin County Public Records FAQs
1. Where do I search Franklin County Florida court records?
Use the Franklin County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller Records Search page and choose the Court Records search.
2. Where do I search Franklin County deeds and liens?
Use the Clerk’s Official Records search for deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, plats and other recorded instruments.
3. How far back are Franklin County historical land records available online?
The Clerk provides online historical record series including Official Records from 1953 through 1986 and Real Estate Conveyances from 1874 through 1953.
4. Where do I find a Franklin County property owner or assessed value?
Use the Franklin County Property Appraiser for parcel, owner, assessment and property information.
5. Where do I check Franklin County property taxes?
Use the Franklin County Tax Collector property search. It supports owner, property location, property number and tax bill number searches.
6. Where can I see recent Franklin County arrests?
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office publishes an Arrest Log showing recent arrest entries and listed charges. Check the Clerk separately for the related court case and outcome.
7. How do I request a Franklin County Sheriff’s report?
Use the Sheriff’s Public Records Unit. A Sheriff’s case number is useful; otherwise provide the incident location, date and time or the reporting person’s name.
8. Where do I get a Franklin County birth certificate?
Use the Florida Department of Health in Franklin County for Florida birth certificates from 1930 to present, subject to identification and eligibility requirements.
9. Where do I get a Franklin County death certificate?
The Franklin County Health Department can issue Florida death certificates from 2009 to present. Earlier death certificates are handled by the state Bureau of Vital Statistics or its authorized ordering route.
10. Why might a Franklin County public record not appear online?
The record may be maintained by another agency, indexed differently, stored in a historical archive, recently filed, confidential, sealed, exempt or unavailable through remote public access.