The state of Florida is considered an open state after the Freedom of Information Act has been implemented. With this, the local residents can request for any of the Florida Public Records anytime. Since the documents are opened to the general public, other individuals can request it if they have permission to do so.
The public documents in Florida are categorized into two: personal files and criminal records. Birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates all belong to the personal documents of the state where it is used to prove the identity of an individual. Arrest, police and criminal records are part of the criminal files that the state of Florida issues to individuals who violate the laws of the state and nation.
Residents of Florida request for their personal documents to use it in several ways. Birth, marriage and death certificates are the resources used when conducting a genealogy research. The information that is found on these documents is important in updating the family history. Divorce records are also used but not as much as the other documents. Most transactions in the government would call for any of the personal records. It is used as proof of one’s identity and status. Marriage and divorce files are sometimes used to conduct a background check especially on the marital status of an individual. Criminal background check is the primary use of any of the criminal records. Employers use it to check the background of their people and authorities use it when conducting their investigation.
In order to get a copy of any of the public document in the state of Florida, one has to prepare fees for the retrieval process. Fees would vary depending on the document being requested as well as the place of request. The basic detail about the record that is being obtained has to be known and indicated on the request form. Although, the documents are opened to the public, only the person himself and his immediate family are allowed to request for the documents. This is the reason why the application form required individuals to provide their contact details. Getting a copy of a public document may take several days. Delays can be experienced if issues are faced during the retrieval process.
Birth, marriage death and divorce files are managed by the state’s Vital statistics office under the Department of Health. Criminal records, on the other hand, can be requested at the state’s Department of Public Safety. The local county clerk office and court house can also assist in getting the needed documents if going to the state office is not possible. Both offices accept mail in requests. But it usually takes longer than the usual delivery time. This is why the Internet is used as a medium to deliver information to the public.
Requesting for public records through the Internet can also be done. This method can help hasten the process. It saves one from going to any office since the request can be done anywhere that has Internet connection and the results are displayed in just seconds instead of days.
The most critical step in conducting Free Florida Public Records is selecting the source. Come and share our research findings on Government Public Records and make the right choice.