The Holmes County Court Docket lists every case filed, every hearing set, and every order issued by judges in the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida. People use this docket to check court dates, look up case status, and get copies of court papers.
Holmes County court records sit at the Bonifay courthouse, where the Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps all files for the public. Florida law makes these docket records open to anyone, so you do not need to be a lawyer to search them.
Holmes County Clerk of Court Office
The Holmes County Clerk of the Circuit Court runs all court docket operations from the main courthouse in Bonifay. This office files new cases, logs every docket entry, stores all court papers, and issues certified copies to the public. The Clerk is an elected constitutional officer with a four-year term. The same office handles marriage licenses, tax deeds, and county budgets. Court records make up the largest part of the daily workload for staff at the Bonifay courthouse.
Holmes County has a small population of about 19,500 people, which means fewer cases than big urban counties. Walk-in visits to the clerk window are often the fastest way to get court docket copies. Staff at the front desk can pull case files the same day for most docket requests. Older cases from the 1990s or earlier may sit in off-site storage and need extra time to retrieve. Call the clerk first when you need records from old cases.
| Office | Holmes County Courthouse 201 North Oklahoma Street Bonifay, FL 32425 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (850) 547-1100 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | holmesclerk.com |
How to Search Holmes County Court Docket Online
You can search Holmes County court docket records through several free online tools. The clerk website at holmesclerk.com serves as the main entry point for local case data. The site lets you search by full name, last name, or case number. Search results show filing dates, case type, party names, and scheduled hearing dates for every case tied to the search term. The online portal updates each business day with new filings and current docket entries from the Holmes County Courthouse.
Statewide portals cover Holmes County cases as part of the 14th Judicial Circuit. The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal tracks every document filed electronically across all 67 counties. The ACIS system covers appellate cases from the Florida Supreme Court and all five District Courts of Appeal. You do not need a user account for basic public searches on these systems. The MyFloridaCounty portal helps you search official records that connect to court cases, such as liens, deeds, and civil judgments.
Online searches work best when you know the exact name or case number. Common name searches may return several people with the same name. Holmes County has a smaller docket volume, so name searches return fewer results than in large counties like Miami-Dade or Orange. You can narrow your search by adding a date of birth or a middle name when the system allows it.
Holmes County Docket Search by Case Number
Searching by case number gives you the most direct path to a Holmes County docket entry. Each case gets a unique number based on the year, court type, and sequence. For example, a 2024 felony case might read “24-CF-000123.” County civil cases use a “CC” prefix, circuit civil cases use “CA,” family cases use “DR” for dissolution of marriage, and probate cases use “PR.” Traffic infractions use “TR” and small claims use “SC.”
When you have the case number, enter it into the clerk’s online search tool. The system pulls up the full docket sheet with every entry from the day the case opened to the current date. You see motions filed, orders signed, hearing dates, and final judgments. The docket sheet serves as the official record of all court activity in that case. Each entry has a time stamp and the initials of the clerk who filed it.
If you lost the case number, call the clerk office at (850) 547-1100 during business hours. Staff can look up the number using the party’s full name and date of birth. This service runs at no cost. You can visit the courthouse in person and request the case number at the records window on the first floor.
Types of Holmes County Dockets
Holmes County runs several docket types based on case category. The criminal docket covers felonies, misdemeanors, and violations of state law. The civil docket covers lawsuits where one party sues another for money or property. The family court docket covers divorce, paternity, custody, and adoption cases. The probate docket covers wills, estates, and guardianship filings. The traffic docket covers moving violations, DUI cases filed as misdemeanors, and local ordinance tickets. Each docket type has its own filing fee, hearing schedule, and set of forms. The official docket for each case type lives on the clerk website under its own tab.
Each docket type follows its own schedule. Criminal dockets see new filings every week. Civil dockets have fewer new cases. Family dockets cluster around motion calendar days. Probate dockets run on a slower pace since estate cases last months or years. The clerk office posts each docket type’s schedule on the lobby bulletin board and on the website under the court calendar section.
Holmes County Hearing Docket and Trial Schedule
The Holmes County hearing docket shows every court appearance set for a given week. Judges set hearings during motion calendar days, which fall on specific dates each month. Arraignment hearings happen within 21 days of arrest for felony cases. Pretrial conferences take place 30 to 60 days after arraignment. Trials start after the discovery period closes and the judge issues a trial order. Status conferences happen on a rolling basis as cases move through the court pipeline.
You can check the daily docket by calling the clerk office or by visiting the courthouse lobby. Many hearings happen at 8:30 AM or 1:30 PM on scheduled days. Felony jury trials sit on Mondays and Wednesdays. Misdemeanor trials sit on Tuesdays. Civil non-jury trials run on Thursdays when court is in session. Juvenile hearings sit on Fridays and stay closed to the public under Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.
Hearing dates may change when judges grant continuance motions. Re-check the docket one week before your court date. The clerk office posts schedule changes on the website and on lobby bulletin boards. You can sign up for email alerts on the clerk website for any case you track, which sends a notice when the court adds a new entry.
Holmes County Weekly Docket and Monthly Docket
The Holmes County weekly docket covers all hearings, trials, and motion calendar events for a seven-day period. The clerk office posts the weekly docket each Friday afternoon for the following week. You can view it on the lobby bulletin board, on the website, or by calling the records desk. The weekly docket includes case number, party name, hearing type, judge name, time, and courtroom.
The Holmes County monthly docket covers all docket activity for a calendar month. The monthly docket includes new case filings, case closures, judgment entries, and final dispositions. Attorneys and self-represented parties use the monthly docket to track case progress over a longer period. The clerk office archives monthly dockets on the website going back ten years. Older monthly dockets sit in the state records archive in Tallahassee.
Holmes County Arraignment and Pretrial Dockets
The Holmes County arraignment docket lists every defendant who must appear in court for an initial plea. Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.160 requires arraignment within 21 days of the filing of charges for felonies and 10 days for misdemeanors. The arraignment docket shows the case number, the defendant name, the charge, and the scheduled plea date. Defendants who fail to appear at arraignment may have a warrant issued for their arrest.
The Holmes County pretrial docket lists every case set for pretrial conference. Pretrial conferences happen 30 to 60 days after arraignment. The judge reviews the case status, decides on motion deadlines, and sets a trial date at the pretrial conference. Defense lawyers use the pretrial docket to schedule depositions, file motions, and negotiate plea offers with the State Attorney’s Office.
Holmes County Magistrate Court Docket
Florida uses magistrates to handle specific types of hearings that do not need a full circuit judge. The Holmes County magistrate court docket covers child support enforcement, dependency reviews, juvenile delinquency pleas, and small claims pretrial matters. Magistrates sit as officers of the court under Florida Family Law Rule 12.490 and Florida Small Claims Rule 7.090. Their orders carry the same legal weight as circuit judge orders for the limited issues they handle.
You can check the Holmes County magistrate court docket on the clerk website under the court calendar tab. The docket shows the magistrate name, hearing type, and outcome for each case. Magistrates do not handle felony trials, divorce trials, or any case that needs a jury. Their work focuses on procedural and financial matters that move cases through the court pipeline faster.
Public Access Rights for Holmes County Court Dockets
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives the public a right to inspect and copy court docket records. This covers all records held by the Holmes County Clerk. You do not need to state a reason for your request. The law says that moving to digital records cannot take away the right of access. Providing records to the public is a duty of the clerk office. Anyone over 18 can request docket records for any case in Holmes County.
Some court docket records in Holmes County stay confidential. Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420 lists what records get sealed or restricted. Social Security numbers, bank account details, and medical details get redacted from public copies. Juvenile cases and adoption records are not available to the general public. Administrative Order AOSC24-65 from the Florida Supreme Court sets up 15 user roles for electronic access. The public can see case numbers, party names, and docket entries without registering. If you need deeper access to a Holmes County case, you may need to be a party to it or file a motion with the court.
Reading Holmes County Docket Entries
A docket entry shows the date, the document type, and a short description. Common entries include “Petition Filed,” “Summons Issued,” “Answer Filed,” “Order Setting Hearing,” “Judgment Entered,” and “Case Closed.” Each entry has a clerk stamp and a file stamp number. The entry shows which party filed the document and which judge received it. The docket entry list runs in chronological order from the date the case opened to the most recent filing.
Docket sheets use standard abbreviations. “Pltf” means plaintiff. “Deft” means defendant. “CR” means case. “MO” means motion. “ORD” means order. “HRG” means hearing. “JDG” means judgment. The clerk office can explain any entry that is unclear. Walk in during business hours and bring your case number. Staff at the records window can print a clean copy of the docket for a small fee per page.
How to Get Certified Copies of Holmes County Court Docket Records
You can order certified copies of Holmes County docket records in person, by mail, or online. In person visits work best for same-day pickup. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number. The clerk charges $1 per page for regular copies and $2 per page for certified copies. Florida law caps clerk fees for court records. The clerk charges a $7 search fee when the case number is unknown.
Mail requests need a written letter, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order. Online requests go through the clerk website using a credit card. Most certified copies arrive within five business days. Mail requests take seven to ten business days based on postal delivery time. The clerk office can rush certified copies for an extra fee when the request comes with a court deadline.
Holmes County Courthouse Location and Map
The Holmes County Courthouse sits at 201 North Oklahoma Street in Bonifay, Florida. The building serves as the seat of county government and the home of the 14th Judicial Circuit. Free public parking sits behind the building on Court Street. Handicapped parking sits at the front entrance. The clerk office occupies the first floor of the west wing. Courtrooms sit on the second floor of the east wing.
You can reach the courthouse from Highway 90 by turning north on Oklahoma Street. The drive from the Florida panhandle beaches takes about one hour. Visitors from out of state fly into Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), which sits 40 miles south of Bonifay. Local taxi and rideshare services cover the route from the airport to the courthouse.
Holmes County Courthouse Contact Details
Office: Holmes County Courthouse, 201 North Oklahoma Street, Bonifay, FL 32425
Phone: (850) 547-1100
Website: holmesclerk.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Frequently Asked Questions About Holmes County Court Dockets
Below are the most common questions people ask about searching, reading, and getting copies of Holmes County court docket records. Each answer gives the specific steps, fees, and time frames for the request. Florida law and clerk policy set the rules for public access. The Holmes County Clerk of Court follows these rules for every docket request, no matter the case type or the party name on file. The information below covers criminal, civil, family, probate, and traffic dockets as they apply in Holmes County.
1. How do I look up a Holmes County court docket for free?
You can search the Holmes County court docket for free through the clerk website at holmesclerk.com. The site lets you search by name or case number. You can use the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com for the same data. Both portals run at no cost for basic public searches. You see the docket sheet, the case type, the filing date, and the next hearing date. If you need certified copies, the clerk charges a small fee per page based on the current fee schedule posted on the website.
2. What does each entry on a Holmes County docket sheet mean?
Each docket entry shows a date, a document type, and a short description. Common entries include “Petition Filed” (the start of a case), “Summons Issued” (notice to the other party), “Order Setting Hearing” (judge picks a court date), and “Judgment Entered” (final ruling). The clerk stamps every entry. Use standard abbreviations like “Pltf” for plaintiff and “Deft” for defendant. The clerk office can explain any entry that is unclear when you visit the records window or call the office during business hours.
3. Can I view sealed or expunged Holmes County court records?
No. Sealed and expunged Holmes County court records stay private under Florida law. You cannot view them online or in person. Only the parties named in the case, their lawyers, and certain government agencies can see sealed records. Juvenile cases and adoption records stay confidential under Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420. If you need access to a sealed record, you must file a motion with the court and get a judge’s order. The clerk office cannot grant access without a court order on file.
4. How long does Holmes County keep old court docket records?
Holmes County keeps all court docket records permanently under Florida law. Older cases from the 1900s sit in the state archives in Tallahassee. Recent cases from the last 20 years stay at the Bonifay courthouse. You can request older records through the clerk office. The clerk can pull archived files within five to ten business days. Some very old paper records may show wear, but the clerk office has digital copies of most cases filed after 1990. Files from before 1990 may need extra time for the archive team to retrieve.
5. Can I get a copy of a Holmes County court docket entry by mail?
Yes. Send a written request to the Holmes County Clerk of Court at 201 North Oklahoma Street, Bonifay, FL 32425. Include the case number, the party names, and the specific docket entries you need. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for the copy fees. Most mail requests arrive within seven to ten business days. Certified copies cost $2 per page, and regular copies cost $1 per page under the clerk’s current fee schedule.
6. How do I find the next court date in a Holmes County case?
Look up the case on the clerk website using the case number or the party’s name. The docket sheet shows the next hearing date at the top of the page. You can call the clerk office at (850) 547-1100 during business hours. Staff can read the next court date to you over the phone. Hearing dates may change when judges grant continuance motions, so check the docket one week before the scheduled date. You can sign up for free email alerts on the clerk website for any case you track.
7. Are Holmes County traffic tickets on the public docket?
Yes. Holmes County traffic tickets show up on the public docket under the traffic case type. You can search by driver name or citation number. The docket shows the fine amount, the court date, and the final disposition. Paid tickets show “Case Closed – Fine Paid.” Unpaid tickets show upcoming court dates. Some traffic cases stay confidential if the driver was a minor at the time of the ticket. Minor drivers must complete a traffic school course to seal minor traffic infractions under Florida law.