Photo of Bill Kinsaul

Privacy Policy

General

The Bay County Clerk & Comptroller’s Web site is for informational purposes only and is offered as a convenience for our customers. We make no warranty or guarantee regarding the accuracy or reliability of the content on this site. The Clerk & Comptroller’s office shall not be liable for errors or for any damages in connection with the use of the information appearing on this or other referenced websites.

This website does not provide legal advice. Please contact a qualified attorney for guidance about a particular legal issue.

By using the information, services and products available through this website, you agree to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of use as set forth herein.

The terms and conditions set forth in the PPTOU may be updated from time to time without notice to you. It is your responsibility to review it from time to time to be aware of any such change. Your continued use of this service will indicate your agreement to any such change.

Public Records

Florida has a very broad public records law. As a result, any written communication created or received by Bay County Clerk & Comptroller officials and employees will be made available to the public and media, upon request, unless otherwise exempt. Furthermore, under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact our office by phone or in writing.

Collection of Personal Information

When you engage in activities on this site, you may be asked to provide certain information about yourself by filling out and submitting an online form. It is completely optional for you to engage in these activities.

Depending upon the activity, some of the information that we ask you to provide is identified as mandatory and some as voluntary. If you do not provide the mandatory data with respect to a particular activity, you will not be able to engage in that activity online. Instead, you will need to use a non-Web option for transacting that business with the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller.

Protection of Your Personal Information

The Bay County Clerk & Comptroller recognizes and appreciates the importance of responsible use of information collected on this site. Information may be saved for a designated period of time in order to comply with the State of Florida’s archiving policies. However, information will not be disclosed to third parties or other government agencies, unless required by state or federal law.

Use of Cookies

When you visit the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller’s Web site, you can surf the site anonymously and access information without revealing your identity. In order to improve our site, we may use “cookies” to assist your visit. A cookie is small amount of data that is transferred to your browser by a Web server and can only be read by the server that gave it to you. It can function as your identification card, recording your passwords, purchases, and preferences. However, it cannot be executed as code or deliver viruses.

Most browsers are initially set to accept cookies. You can set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie, giving you the chance to decide whether or not to accept it.

For some Web pages that require an authorization, cookies are not optional. Users choosing not to accept cookies will probably not be able to access those pages. While certain Web pages use cookies to assist your visit to the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller Web site, and while our Web servers automatically log the IP address of your computer, this information does not identify you personally, and you remain anonymous unless you have otherwise provided personal information to a specific Web page.

User Accounts

When registering to use a feature, it is solely your responsibility to keep your private account information, such as username and password, secure. You must not disclose your private account information to anyone except other authorized persons.

You are entirely liable for all activities conducted through your account. You agree to immediately notify the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller of any unauthorized use of your account or any breach of security.

The Bay County Clerk & Comptroller will never ask you for your password in an unsolicited phone call or in an unsolicited e-mail. Also remember to sign out of your account and close your browser window whenever you have finished your work.

Security

Data transmission over the Internet is not guaranteed to be 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information transmitted to us or received from our online products or services. Once we receive a transmission, we make our best effort to ensure it is secure on our systems.

Your Responsibilities

You are responsible for all charges associated with connecting to the Internet. You agree that any telephone or other communications fees and charges incurred are your sole responsibility.

Prohibited Uses

As a user of the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller’s website, you agree to use this service only for its lawful, intended purposes. Use of this service for transmission, distribution, retrieval, or storage of any information, data, or other material in violation of any applicable law or regulation is prohibited. You also agree not to use the service to:

  • Provide false information or to impersonate someone else;
  • Distribute computer viruses, worms, or any software intended to damage or alter a computer system;
  • Violate any applicable local, state, national or international law.

System and Network Security

Violations of system or network security of the service are prohibited, and may subject you to criminal and/or civil liability. The Bay County Clerk & Comptroller will investigate potential security violations, and may notify applicable law enforcement agencies if violations are suspected.

You may not attempt to circumvent the authentication procedures or security of any host, network, network component, or account to access data, accounts, or systems that you are not expressly permitted to access.

You may not interfere or attempt to interfere with service to any other user.

Violation of Terms of Use

In the event of any violation of the terms contained herein, the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller reserves the right to suspend or terminate, either temporarily or permanently, any or all services provided. Users who violate terms contained herein may additionally incur criminal and/or civil liability. The Bay County Clerk & Comptroller may refer violators to civil or criminal authorities for prosecution.

Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller and its subsidiaries, affiliates, telecommunications providers, service providers, officers, employees and agents harmless from any claim, liability, loss, expense or demand, including attorneys’ fees, related to a user’s violation of the terms and conditions or the use of the services and information provided at this Web site.

Limitation of Liability

In no event will the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller, its suppliers, its service providers, or other third party affiliates be liable for any damages whatsoever including but not limited to:

  • Direct, indirect, incidental punitive and consequential damages arising out of the use, inability to use, or the results of use of this service;
  • Any Web sites linked to the service, the materials or information contained at any or all such sites;
  • Content anywhere on the internet, whether based on warranty, contract, tort or any other legal theory;
  • Including without limitation those damages resulting from lost profits, lost data or business interruption;
  • Aggregate liability of the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller or any of its suppliers, service providers, or third party affiliates.

In no event shall the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special and exemplary damages, or any damages whatsoever, arising from the use or performance of this Web site or from any information, services or products provided through this Web site, even if the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

If you are dissatisfied with this Web site, or any portion thereof, your exclusive remedy shall be to stop using the website.

Termination

If a user’s conduct fails to conform to the letter or spirit of these terms and conditions or if the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller believes the user’s conduct may create liability for its affiliates, then that user’s service will be terminated.

The Bay County Clerk & Comptroller reserves the right to restrict access of any user of this service and may at any time in its sole discretion with or without notice and with or without cause immediately deny access to the service and may remove all account information.

Disclaimer of Warranties

This service is provided by the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller on an “as is” basis. Neither the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller nor its partners, providers, or affiliates make any representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of the service, its contents, or any information made available by or through the service.

The Bay County Clerk & Comptroller disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or any infringement. Furthermore, the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller does not warrant that use of the service will not be interrupted, available at any time or from any location, secured and error-free. Corrected defects are not warrantable and the service is not guaranteed free of viruses or other harmful components.

Jurisdictional Issues

The PPTOU shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida as it is applied to contracts entered into by residents of the State of Florida including the public records law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes). You also consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in Bay County, Florida, and you further consent to the exercise of personal jurisdiction of the courts therein.

If any provision(s) of the PPTOU is found to be contrary to law, then such provision(s) shall be construed, as nearly as possible, to reflect the intentions of the parties with the other provisions remaining in full force and effect.

The Bay County Clerk & Comptroller’s failure to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the PPTOU shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision unless acknowledged and agreed to by the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller in writing. You and the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller agree that any cause of action arising out of or related to this PPTOU or the service must commence within one (1) year after the cause of action arose; otherwise, such cause of action is permanently barred.

The section titles in this PPTOU are solely used for the convenience of the parties and have no legal or contractual significance. These terms and conditions constitute the entire agreement between you and the Bay County Clerk & Comptroller with respect to the subject matter herein and supersede any and all prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements. You may not assign this agreement to any other party.

In this section:

Office Directory

Clerk of Circuit Court Bill Kinsaul

300 East 4th Street, Panama City, FL 32401
P.O. Box 2269, Panama City, Florida 32402
Email Bill Kinsaul’s office

Administration

Phone (850) 763-9061
Fax (850) 747-5188
Email the Administration office

Appeals

Phone (850) 763-9061
Fax (850) 747-5263
Email the Appeals office

Board Finance

225 McKenzie Ave
Panama City, FL 32401
Phone 850-767-3253
Fax 850-747-5212
bccfinance@baycoclerk.com

Circuit/County Civil

Room 111
Phone (850) 763-9061
Fax (850) 747-5249
Email the Circuit/County Civil office

Collections

Room 111
Phone (850) 763-9061
Fax (850) 747-5163
Email the Collections office

Estates, Wills

Room 105
Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 2
Fax (850) 747-5163
Email the Probate office

Evictions

Room 111
Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 4
Fax (850) 747-5209
Email the Evictions office

Felony

Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 2
Fax (850) 747-5263
Email the Felony office

Guardianship

Room 105
Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 2
Fax (850) 747-5163
Email the Guardianship office

Jury Duty

Room 111
Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 6
After 5 p.m. on the day before service call (850) 747-5176
Fax (850) 747-5163
Email the Jury Duty office

Marriage License

Room 110
Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 5
Fax (850) 747-5199
Email the Marriage office

Mental Health

Room 105
Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 2
Fax (850) 747-5163
Email the Mental Health office

Misdemeanor/Intake

Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 2
Fax (850) 747-5164
Email the Misdemeanor office

Recording

Room 110
Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 3
Fax (850) 747-5199
Email the Recording office

Substance Abuse

Room 105
Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 2
Fax (850) 747-5163
Email Substance Abuse care of the Probate office

Tax Deeds

Room 110
Phone (850) 747-5109
Fax (850) 747-5199
Email Tax Deeds c/o the Recording office

Tourist Development Tax

225 McKenzie Ave
Panama City, FL 32401
Phone 850-747-5226
Fax 850-747-5212
tdc@baycoclerk.com

Traffic

Room 111
Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 1
Fax (850)747-5163
Email the Traffic office

Value Adjustment Board

225 McKenzie Ave
Panama City, FL 32401
Phone (850) 767-3314
Fax (850) 747-5199
Email the VAB office

Family Law/Divorce

Phone (850) 763-9061 ext. 5
Fax (850) 747-5359
Email the Family Law/Divorce office

Child Support

Phone (850) 747-5112
Fax (850) 747-5359
Email the Child Support office

Domestic Violence

Room 109
Phone (850) 747-5165
Fax (850) 747-5359
Email the Domestic Violence office

Juvenile Delinquency

Phone (850) 747-5119
Fax (850) 747-5781
Email the Juvenile Delinquency office

Juvenile Dependency

Phone (850) 747-5119
Fax (850) 747-5781
Email the Juvenile Dependency office

In this section:

Make a Payment

Pay Fine or Traffic Citation
Pay Child Support Online
Pay Child Support E-Check

The Bay County Clerk’s office makes it easy to do business by allowing you to pay online for both traffic tickets and child support payments. Please review our detailed fee schedule.

Pay a Traffic Citation

Traffic citations may be paid in three different ways.

  • Online using nCourt 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is a convenience fee to use this service.
  • By calling (855) 796-5762 Monday – Friday 7 A.M. – 12 A.M. and Saturday and Sunday 9 A.M. – 6 P.M. EST. You can use a debit or credit card and there is a convenience fee.
  • You can mail your payment with a Money Order or Cashier’s Check only to:
    Bill Kinsaul, Clerk of Court
    PO Box 2269
    Panama City, FL 32402
  • In-person payments may be made Monday-Friday 8 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. in room 111 of the Bay County Courthouse. Cash, personal checks ($3.00 fee) and debit/credit cards (3.5% fee per statute) are all accepted.

Make a Child Support Payment

Child support payments may be paid in two different ways.

my florida county.com accepted payment options, mastercard, visa, amex, discover, paypal, apple pay, google pay, venmo, echeck

In this section:

Search Official Records

Search Official Records Now
Search Prior to 1987
Search Older Alpha Index / Plats

By accessing these services, you agree to any terms and instructions defined below.

The Official Records Search allows you to search the entire Bay County Official Records database for final judgments, land records, and other public documents recorded after January 1st, 1987.

The search will return a list of Parties, the date the document was recorded, the type of document that was recorded, the Book type, the Book/Page and Clerk Instrument Number of the document.

The copies viewed on this website are not legal official documents. Official legal document copies are available only from the Clerk’s Official Records Department.

With information obtained online, you may easily retrieve and identify documents available at the Official Records Division of the Clerk’s Office. These documents can be obtained in the following manner:

  • By visiting the Bay County Official Records search page for free uncertified copies.
  • By contacting the Official Records Division of the Clerk’s Office (by phone (850)763-9061 opt 3 or by email recording@baycoclerk.com) and requesting that certified copies be mailed to you at a cost of $1.00 per page for copies and $2.00 for certifications.
  • Electronic Certifications are also available from our website by choosing the purchase certified documents option on the homepage or by following this link.
  • How do I obtain a certified copy of a Marriage License?
    If you are local, all you need to do is come to our office (in room 110 at the Bay County Courthouse). Make sure and know both parties names and the time of the marriage and the year of the marriage. You may pay by cash or a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit or debit card. Note: if you choose to use a credit or debit card you will be charged a convenience fee.

    If you are from out of town, you’ll need to send a letter requesting those copies. Be sure to include both names at the time of the marriage and the year of the marriage. Payment must be sent by money order (we do not accept checks) made payable to Bill Kinsaul, Clerk. The day we receive your request we will process it and send your certified copies back out to you. Send your request to the following address:

    Bay County Clerk’s Office
    ATTN: Marriage License Department
    P.O. Box 2269
    Panama City, FL 32402

    Requests can also be sent via email by completing and attaching saved copies of the Marriage License Request Form and the Recording/Marriage License Department Credit Card Payment Form (both linked below). Forward the attachments to recording@baycoclerk.com for processing.

    Request for Marriage Record
    Recording/Marriage License Department Credit Card Payment Form

    Or you may contact the Office of Vital Statistics:

    Department of Health
    Office of Vital Statistics
    P.O. Box 210
    Jacksonville, FL 32231
    904-359-6900

INSTRUCTIONS on using our Search Page – Click HERE.

Effective January 1, 2024, in accordance with Florida Statute 695.26 and the requirements for recording instruments affecting real property, the Clerk will not record an instrument by which title to real property or interest is conveyed, assigned, encumbered, or disposed of unless:
• The name of each witness is legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped immediately beneath the signature of the witness.
• The post office address of each witness is legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped on each instrument.

Property Fraud Alert

Bay County Clerk of Court offers property owners a free service to alert themselves of potential property fraud.

According to the FBI property and mortgage fraud is one of the fastest growing white-collar crimes. Scammers file fraudulent deeds making it appear as if they own the property. This type of fraud can go undetected if the property owner does not periodically check the Official Records. Although checking does not prevent the actual fraudulent activity from occurring it does provide an early warning of what may have otherwise gone undetected.

Properly Fraud Alert emails notifications to subscribers when a deed, mortgage, or other land record with their registered name on it has been recorded into the Clerk’s Official Records.

Property Fraud Alert is a free service that alerts subscribers when a mortgage, deed or other land document is recorded in their name in Bay County’s official records. Notifications are emailed within 24 hours of the document being recorded. Sign up and start protecting your most valuable investments.


If You Receive an Alert

If a document is recorded that matches your monitoring criteria, you will receive an email and/or text alert within 24 hours. The alert will include a link to the document being recorded in the Clerk’s Official Records.

If the name and property are not yours or if you recognize the filed document, no further action must be taken.

If the property is yours, but you do not recognize the document filed, you may be a victim of property fraud.

If you believe you have been the victim of property fraud, correcting your title can be a complicated process. The Bay County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller has created this list of steps you should take immediately to correct your title and affirm your ownership.


Steps to Take for Victims of Property Fraud

  1. Report the Crime to the Appropriate Law Enforcement Agency

    Deed forgery and property fraud is a criminal act under Florida Statute 817.535. Bay County’s local law enforcement agencies take this crime seriously and have detectives on staff to investigate these crimes with the hope of bringing the fraudsters to justice. The police report that is created will be helpful to you in correcting or restoring the title on your property.

    Contact local law enforcement immediately if you suspect you have been victimized

    – Bay County Sheriff’s Office: (850) 747-4700

  2. File a Complaint with the Circuit Court to Quiet Title Based on Fraudulent Conveyance (Fla. Stat. Sec. 65.091 and 817.535(8)(a))

    Through this new legislation there are forms to help you remove the fraudulent document. A Complaint to Quiet Title based upon a Fraudulent Conveyance is a civil lawsuit that will request the Court to declare the offending document as fraudulent.  All applicable filing fees will apply. A final judgment “quieting title” will direct the Clerk to remove the fraudulent document from the Official Record. On our website you will find instructions and a simplified form to assist you in filing a complaint to quiet title. For easy access please click here to view the form.

  3. Record a Lis Pendens in the Official Records of Bay County

    A lis pendens puts the public on notice that there is a lawsuit involving the property and helps prevent any subsequent sales or transfers of the property until the court resolves the dispute. The court case (step #2) must be filed prior to recording the lis pendens.

  4. Contact the Property Appraiser and Tax Collector

    – Property Appraiser’s Office: (850) 248-8401
    – Tax Collector’s Office: (850) 248-8501

    In a fraudulent recording, a recorded document may change the property owner in the Property Appraiser’s and Tax Collector’s systems. As a result, TRIM notices and property tax bills may be sent to a different address. Unpaid taxes can eventually result in the property being sold at Tax Deed Auction.

  5. Sign Up for Property Fraud Alert

    If you have not already done so, sign up for Property Fraud Alert, a free service offered by your Bay County Clerk. Property Fraud Alert notifies you within 24 hours of any documents filed that affect your property. While it cannot prevent a fraudulent document from being filed, it can allow you to respond quickly to address any problems.

Sign Up

  1. Visit the Recording Activity Notification page to register.
  2. Enter your personal or business name and email address.
  3. To register a Trust, enter the Trust as a business name

Notice

On or after October 1, 2002, any person preparing or filing a document for recording in the Official Records Department may not include a social security number, a bank account, credit, debit or charge card number in such a document unless required by law.

Any person has the right to request the Clerk/County Recorder to redact /remove social security, bank account, credit, debit or charge card numbers from any image or copy of an Official Record that has been placed on the Clerk’s publicly available website.

The request must be legibly written, signed and delivered in person, by mail or by fax to the Clerk’s Official Records Department. The request must specify the identification book and page number that contains the information to be redacted. No fee is charged for this service.

You may access the link to our Forms Page to print a request form or write your own request and hand deliver to the Bay County Courthouse, Room 110. Or mail to:

Bay County Clerk’s Office
Attention Official Records
P.O. Box 2269
Panama City, FL 32402

or

Bay County Clerk’s Office
Attention Official Records
300 East 4th Street
Panama City, FL 32401

**Because of the risk of computer viruses attached to electronic signatures, this office will not accept electronic requests.

In this section:

Free Property Fraud Alert

Property Fraud Alert is a free service that alerts subscribers when a mortgage, deed or other land document is recorded in their name in Bay County’s official records. Notifications are emailed within 24 hours of the document being recorded. Sign up and start protecting your most valuable investments.

Sign up for a free property fraud alerts. Click here for more details.


If You Receive an Alert

If a document is recorded that matches your monitoring criteria, you will receive an email and/or text alert within 24 hours. The alert will include a link to the document being recorded in the Clerk’s Official Records.

If the name and property are not yours or if you recognize the filed document, no further action must be taken.

If the property is yours, but you do not recognize the document filed, you may be a victim of property fraud.

If you believe you have been the victim of property fraud, correcting your title can be a complicated process. The Bay County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller has created this list of steps you should take immediately to correct your title and affirm your ownership.


Steps to Take for Victims of Property Fraud

  1. Report the Crime to the Appropriate Law Enforcement Agency

    Deed forgery and property fraud is a criminal act under Florida Statute 817.535. Bay County’s local law enforcement agencies take this crime seriously and have detectives on staff to investigate these crimes with the hope of bringing the fraudsters to justice. The police report that is created will be helpful to you in correcting or restoring the title on your property.

    Contact local law enforcement immediately if you suspect you have been victimized

    – Bay County Sheriff’s Office: (850) 747-4700

  2. File a Complaint with the Circuit Court to Quiet Title Based on Fraudulent Conveyance (Fla. Stat. Sec. 65.091 and 817.535(8)(a))

    Through this new legislation there are forms to help you remove the fraudulent document. A Complaint to Quiet Title based upon a Fraudulent Conveyance is a civil lawsuit that will request the Court to declare the offending document as fraudulent.  All applicable filing fees will apply. A final judgment “quieting title” will direct the Clerk to remove the fraudulent document from the Official Record. On our website you will find instructions and a simplified form to assist you in filing a complaint to quiet title. For easy access please click here to view the form.

  3. Record a Lis Pendens in the Official Records of Bay County

    A lis pendens puts the public on notice that there is a lawsuit involving the property and helps prevent any subsequent sales or transfers of the property until the court resolves the dispute. The court case (step #2) must be filed prior to recording the lis pendens.

  4. Contact the Property Appraiser and Tax Collector

    – Property Appraiser’s Office 850-248-8401
    – Tax Collector’s Office 850-248-8501

    In a fraudulent recording, a recorded document may change the property owner in the Property Appraiser’s and Tax Collector’s systems. As a result, TRIM notices and property tax bills may be sent to a different address. Unpaid taxes can eventually result in the property being sold at Tax Deed Auction.

  5. Sign Up for Property Fraud Alert

    If you have not already done so, sign up for Property Fraud Alert, a free service offered by your Bay County Clerk. Property Fraud Alert notifies you within 24 hours of any documents filed that affect your property. While it cannot prevent a fraudulent document from being filed, it can allow you to respond quickly to address any problems.

Sign up for a free property fraud alerts. Click here for more details.

In this section:

Passports

The Bay County Clerk’s Office accepts passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. U.S. citizens planning international travel may apply for their passports weekly Monday through Friday at the Bay County Clerk’s office 300 E 4th Street Room 110, Panama City, Florida 32401. Please call our office at 850-747-5100 option 3 for information and to set an appointment.

DS-11 passport applications are accepted between the hours of 8:00am – 11:00am and 1:30pm – 3:30pm. Appointments are preferred to avoid wait times, however, walk ins are accepted with completed applications, proof of citizenship, proof of identification and the application fee payable to U.S. Department of State ($100.00 under the age of 16) and $130.00 (ages 16 and above)which must be paid by personal check, money order or cashier’s check. Additional $60.00 fee due for expedited service and an optional $21.36 (1-2 day return service) on expedited passports only.

The Clerk of Court is due the following fees:
Passport acceptance fee of $35.00
Passport Photo Fee of $15.00
Passport Priority Mail Fee shipping fee of $10.45 (which is subject to change by the USPS)

Accepted forms of payment:

  • Cash
  • Money Orders, Cashier’s Checks & Business Checks
  • Credit/Debit Cards- Subject to 3.5% processing fee of total transaction

Please complete your passport application prior to your appointment time by visiting travel.state.gov and choose the application that meets your needs. Please print the application and bring to your appointment along with your proof of citizenship, picture identification and required methods of payment. A passport picture is also required. The Bay County Clerk’s office does provide this service if needed.

Please read below for specific information regarding passport issuance, passport fees, and documents needed

Passports are issued by the U.S. Department of State.

Passport Card

Customers have the option of applying for a passport book, a passport card or both. The passport card may only be used for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. The passport card will provide a less expensive, smaller and more convenient alternative for those who travel to these destinations.

For more information about the difference between the passport book and passport card, please see “Should I get a passport book or card?” from the Department of State.

New Applicants

You must apply in person and complete the Passport Application Form DS-11 if any of the following are true:

  • You have never had a U.S. passport
  • You are under age 16
  • Your most recent passport was issued more than 15 years ago
  • Your most recent passport was lost or stolen

All applicants, including children, must apply in person and bring the following documents:

Proof of Citizenship – Provide one of the following:

  • Previous U.S. Passport
  • Certified copy of your birth certificate (must have names of both parents)
  • Certificate of Naturalization

Proof of Identity – Provide one of the following:

  • Previous U.S. Passport
  • Valid Driver’s License (A temporary license does not meet this requirement)
  • State Identification Card
  • Certificate of Naturalization

The Clerk’s office will offer passport photos on site for an additional cost.

Note: Payments to the Department of State must be made by personal check, cashier’s check or money order ONLY (no cash or credit cards). A separate application fee to the Clerk & Comptroller’s office may be paid by cash, personal check, cashier’s check, money order, MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover.

*If a customer’s passport has been expired for LESS than five years, the passport must be renewed by mail. Customers whose passports have been expired for MORE than five years must reapply in person and may use the expired passport as proof of citizenship and identification.

Passport Renewal (By Mail)

All Passport renewals require the completion of Form DS-82. You may renew your passport by mail if:

  • You hold a passport and it is not more than 5 years past the date of expiration and not more than 15 years since being issued.
  • You were at least 16 years of age when it was issued.

Instructions:

  • Complete, sign and mail Form DS-82.
  • Include your most recent passport with two new passport photos.
    • If the name you are using differs from the name on your most recent passport, you must
      • Submit a certified copy of the marriage certificate or
      • Certified copy of Court order showing the change.
  • If your passport is mutilated or damaged, you must
    • Use the DS-11 application form and
    • Apply in person at one of the acceptance agencies with a certified copy of your birth certificate (must have the names of both parents on it).

Passport Reapplication

If your most recent passport was issued less than 1 year ago, use DS-5504 form for the following:

  • Change of name
  • Correction of descriptive date
  • Extend the validity of a Limited Passport

Instructions:

  1. Complete, sign and date the Reapplication Form DS-5504.
  2. Mail your application to one of the addresses listed on page 2 of the DS-5504 form.

Note: There is no fee if your passport was issued less than 1 year ago, unless you request expedited processing.

If your most recent passport was issued more than 1 year ago AND you have the passport, use Form DS-82.

Instructions:

  1. Complete, sign and mail your application to the address listed on the back of the DS-82 form.
  2. Include the appropriate payment/fee.

If your most recent passport was issued more than 1 year ago AND you do not have the passport, use DS-11 form.

Instructions:

  1. Complete the DS-11 form
  2. Bring it to an acceptance agency for processing.

Applications for Minors

Children under age 16 (For new and renewal passports). Minors must be present when applying.You must complete the New Applicant DS-11 form and include:

  1. Proof of Citizenship
    • Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state (must have the names of both parents on it)
    • Certificate of Naturalization
  2. Proof of Identity
    • Previous U.S. Passport
    • Certificate of Naturalization
    • Government issued identification card

Both parents must appear together to sign the application DS-11 form, or one parent must be present to sign the application, and the absent parent MUST submit a completed and notarized “Statement of Consent” Form DS-3053 AND a photocopy (front and back) of their ID. The notarized consent form cannot be more than three months old.

For more information on obtaining passports for minors, see the Department of State website.

Fees

See Service Charges & Fees

How Long Passports Are Valid

Adults (16 years of age and older) – Ten (10) years
Children (15 years and younger) – Five (5) years

Passport Processing – Time Requirements

Please consult http://www.travel.state.gov for the most up-to-date processing times.

To check the status of your Passport Application:

  • Call 1-877-487-2778 from 6:00a.m. – Midnight EST, Monday through Friday (excluding federal holidays), or
  • Check online at http://www.travel.state.gov
  • If you are traveling within 9 weeks, you must make an appointment at the nearest Passport Agency by calling the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.
  • If you are traveling within 13 weeks, the Department of State strongly recommends that you request and pay for Expedited Service. For current expedited service fees, see Passport Fees & Costs.

For application forms, information on documentation required, fees, and a wealth of other passport and international travel information, visit the only official website for passport information: https://travel.state.gov/

In this section:

Pay Traffic Citation

Traffic citations may be paid in three different ways.

  • Online using nCourt 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is a convenience fee to use this service.
  • By calling 855-796-5762 Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 12 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST. You can use a debit or credit card and there is a convenience fee.
  • You can mail your payment with a Money Order or Cashier’s Check.
  • In person payments may be made Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in room 111 of the Bay County Courthouse. Cash, personal checks ($3.00 fee) and debit/credit cards (3.5% fee per statute) are all accepted.

Traffic Related Forms

The Clerk’s Office will accept only Credit/Debit Cards (Discover, MasterCard, Visa & American Express), Money Orders or Cashiers Checks for payment of all monetary business transactions.

Pay Your Traffic Ticket Online

If you mail your payment, DO NOT SEND CASH OR CHECKS. Pay the amount indicated on the back of your citation and/or the amount indicated on the pre-printed envelope that the office has given you. Enclose the yellow copy of the citation to ensure proper credit. Points, if applicable, will be assessed. If paying your traffic fine by mail, please make cashiers check or money order payable to Bill Kinsaul or complete a Credit Card Payment Form and send to:

Bay County Clerk of Circuit Court
Attn: Traffic Division
P.O. Box 2269
Panama City, FL 32402

In this section:

eRecording Information

eRecording is the secure online submission of documents to the Clerk’s office for recording in the Official Records of Bay County. eRecording streamlines the recording process by eliminating the need to mail or deliver documents to the courthouse, saving time and money for both the Clerk’s office and you. With eRecording, you scan your document and use a third-party vendor application to upload the document and associated data. No special equipment is required – just a computer with high-speed internet access and a scanner. Funds are transferred using Automated Clearing House (ACH) for recording fees, transfer taxes, and the fee that is paid to the vendor for this process.

The Bay County Clerk of Court and Comptroller is pleased to offer e-Recording services through the following vendors:

SIMPLIFILEPhone: 1(800) 460-5657Contact: https://www.simplifile.com/
CORPORATION SERVICE COMPANY (CSC)Phone: 1(866) 652-0111Contact: https://www.cscglobal.com/
ERECORDING PARTNERS NETWORK (EPN)Phone: 1(888) 325-3365Contact: https://www.goepn.com/
FILE AND GOPhone: 1(386) 845-8638Website: https://fileandgo.com/
Email: info@fileandgo.com
Recording customers should research the vendors and determine which one best fit their needs.

Benefits of eRecording

  • Submit documents for recording electronically 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Expedites recording process
  • Increases efficiencies, streamlines work flow
  • Original documents never leave your possession
  • Reduces time delay for recording

Documents That Cannot Be eRecorded

  • Bonds
  • Certain Miscellaneous Notices
  • Military Discharge (DD-214)
  • Notices of Bond
  • Notices of Contest of Lien
  • Notices of Homestead
  • Plat/Maintenance/Right-of-Way Maps
  • Transfers of Lien to Cash or Surety Bond

In this section:

Felony

NOTICE: Information or forms provided by the Clerk of Court should be considered as basic information only and may not be applicable to every situation. The information is not intended to be used as legal advice, but as basic and general information only. It is only a brief statement and does not explain all your options and/or rights. Specific guidance in answering questions about a particular situation should be directed to a qualified attorney.

A felony is a criminal offense which is punishable by imprisonment in a state facility. See Florida Statutes 775.081.

Felonies are classified as

  • Capital Felony
  • Life Felony
  • First Degree Felony
  • Second Degree Felony
  • Third Degree Felony

General Information on Felony Cases:

The Clerk’s Office receives the initial paperwork (Complaint and First Appearance sheet) from CCA after a felony arrest. The defendant is then first appeared, bond is set and a court date is scheduled for first arraignment.

An arraignment hearing is where the defendant is informed of the charges filed. At this time, the defendant enters a plea and pretrial date will be set.

At a pretrial hearing, the defendant may enter a plea or proceed to a trial docket.

When a defendant is sentenced, court costs and fines may be imposed. If these fees are not paid during the probation period, they become a lien of record. Being sentenced to jail or prison does not cancel the monetary obligation.

The Clerk’s Office cannot change your court date. You will need to contact your attorney in order to have the court date rescheduled. If you fail to appear for your scheduled court date, a warrant may be issued for your arrest and any bond that you posted may be forfeited. If you are arrested on a failure to appear warrant, you may be held in jail without bond.

Obtaining a Disposition of a Case:

To obtain this information you can visit the Clerk’s Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Or you may also obtain this information from the Case Search on the Clerk’s website. However, please be aware that there will be a delay of time in which the disposition will be entered into the Clerk’s Case Management System.

Requests for copies of case records shall be in writing.

  • You may mail your request or send your request by fax.
  • The average time to process your request is seven (3) to (7) working days.
  • The cost for copies is $1.00 per page and $2.00 per certification.
  • The Clerk’s Office does not take personal checks.
  • You may pay by Money Order, Certified Check or Cashier’s Check.

Information on How to Expunge/Seal Records:

Florida Statute 943.0585 and/or 943.059 will provide the requirements and conditions for having a criminal court case sealed or expunged from your record. Please read these statutes carefully.

If you have questions regarding your eligibility to have your records sealed or expunged, please contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

FDLE will require a completed application for the procedure which should be submitted directly to their office. Cost for such procedure is $75.00 to be paid to FDLE. Upon receipt of your application, FDLE will notify you of your eligibility.

Following notification of eligibility from FDLE, you must then prepare the proper forms required to proceed for court action. Examples of the forms required are available for review on the Clerk’s website. The fee for filing the completed forms with the Clerk’s Office is $42.00.

Locations & Contact Information

Public Defender’s Office 
Herman Laramore
432 Magnolia Ave
Panama City, FL 32401
Phone: 850-784-6155

Probation & Parole 
1013 Beck Ave
Panama City, FL 32401
Phone: 850-872-7139

State Attorney’s Office 
Glenn Hess
421 Magnolia Ave
Panama City, FL 32401
Phone: 850-872-4473

Pre-Trial Release 
Catherine Weherley
Phone: 850-747-5183

Callaway Office:
850-872-7375

In this section:

Civil Traffic FAQs

Where do I mail my traffic fine?

If your traffic citation was issued in Bay County, mail payment to:

Bill Kinsaul, Clerk of Court
 Traffic Division
P.O. Box 2269
Panama City, FL 32402

or

Bill Kinsaul, Clerk of Court
 Traffic Division
300 East 4th Street
Panama City, FL 32401

When must my traffic citation be paid?

Payment of a traffic citation must be received in the Clerk’s Office within thirty (30) calendar days of the citation issue date. Remember that if you are mailing your payment, it must be received by the 30th day, or it be considered delinquent and subjected to late fee and/or a suspension of your driver’s license.

May I get an extension of time beyond the 30 days to pay my citation?

Yes. Additional time to pay a traffic fine may be granted by coming to the Traffic Department of the Bay County Courthouse and paying a $25.00 processing fee.

Can I make partial payments on my traffic citation fine?

Yes. Partial payments are now accepted. You must enter into a Partial Payment Agreement with the Bay County Clerk of Courts. To initiate this process come to room 111 in the Bay County Courthouse, complete a Partial Payment Agreement Form and paying a non-refundable processing fee of $25.00. The fine must be completely paid within two payments. Partial Payments are not accepted if you chose to go to traffic school to withhold points.

If my citation was issued outside of Bay County, may I pay the fine in Bay County?

No. Citations issued in Bay County must be paid in Bay County. If your citation was issued outside of Bay County, please contact the Clerk in the county of issue.

What will happen if I fail to pay my traffic citation within 30 days?

You will be assessed a late fee and a report will be mailed to the Department of Highway Safety to suspend your driver’s license. Your driver’s license will remain suspended until payment, including the late fee, is paid. Upon payment in full of your citation, you will be issued a D6 clearance form. This clearance must be presented to any office of the Department of Highway Safety or if you are a resident of Florida and this in your only outstanding citation your driving privileges may be reinstated through the Clerk of Court’s Office.

How can I reinstate my driver’s license for failure to pay a traffic fine?

The Clerk’s Office can assist you in reinstating your license. If there are other reasons for the suspension, you will need to go to driver license office for reinstatement. A reinstatement fee is required.

How do I keep from having points assessed to my license?

You may elect to attend traffic school if you have not done so within the past 12 months and have not attended more than five times in your lifetime.

If I complete traffic school, will my insurance rates increase?

Your insurance company will make that decision. Please contact them with this question.

How do I contact a traffic school?

Florida law prohibits the Clerk or any government entity from referring individuals to a particular Traffic School; however, you can find Traffic Schools listed in the telephone directory yellow pages under the heading “Driving Instruction” or online at “Traffic School Providers“.

Can I attend traffic school anywhere?

Yes. You may attend traffic school anywhere in the State of Florida, including approved online schools.

How long will I have to complete traffic school?

Your certificate of completion of traffic school must be received in this office no later than 50 days after the date you signed for the Affidavit for Traffic School election. A certificate received after the 50th day will be considered delinquent and late fees and/or a suspension of your driver’s license may apply. It is advisable to contact and enroll in a traffic school as soon as possible to ensure the completion being filed on time.

If I went to traffic school recently for another citation, may I go again?

No. Traffic school may be elected only once within a 12-month period and no more than 5 times total in a lifetime.

In this section: