Bay County is located in the northwest area of Florida.  As of the 2020 Census, the county had a population of 175,216 residents and a median household income of $66,245. The county’s seat is Panama City.

Courts in Bay County

Bay County is home to a Circuit Court which is its highest trial court. The civil division of the court hears a wide range of claims involving $30,000 and above. It also hears forfeiture, negligence, and malpractice cases. The court’s criminal division hears felony cases and lesser-included offenses. Additionally, the court has a family division that handles domestic matters, including divorce, child support, and domestic violence cases. The division also handles cases on adoption, paternity, and name change. The Circuit Court’s probate division handles cases relating to wills, trusts, administration of a deceased estate, and mental health. Likewise, the juvenile division hears juvenile delinquency and dependency cases.

In addition to the Circuit Court, Bay County has a County Court which has limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. The civil jurisdiction of the County Court covers civil cases where the plaintiff's claim is for an amount between $8,001 and $30,000. It also hears small claims of less than $8,000 and claims for equitable reliefs. Misdemeanors, ordinance violations, and traffic cases are also within the authority of the Bay County Court.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Bay County

Bay County court records are in the custody of the Bay County Clerk of Court. Members of the public can access these records by sending a written request to the Clerk’s office via mail or fax. The Clerk also grants online access to Bay County court records through the county’s case search portal.  Note that court records in Bay County cost $1 per page and $2.00 per certification.

Types of Public Court Records in Bay County

Public records in Bay County are materials containing details of cases adjudicated by the court. They range from court-generated documents like case dockets and calendars to documents submitted by parties such as filings and pleadings. Examples of public court records in Bay County are:

• Civil infraction case records
• Circuit criminal case records
• County criminal case records
• Circuit civil case records
• Small claims records
• Probate case records

Confidential Court Records in Bay County

Confidential court records in Bay County refer to case records that are restricted from public access by law. Some examples include:

• Adoption records
• Juvenile records
• Mental health records
• Records sealed by court order.

Juvenile Delinquency in Bay, FL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Bay County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Florida often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1027 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Bay County. Of that total, 99% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1018 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Bay County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Bay County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Bay County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Panama City
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1913
Total Square Miles:	1,033
2019 Population:	183,563
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	840 W 11Th St County Courthouse Panama City , FL 32401-2336 http://www.co.bay.fl.us

Bay County, FL Courts