Definition of Terms

Absentia: Absent; proceedings without the defendant present.

Acquit, Acquittal: A finding of not guilty by a judge or jury.

Adjudication: Judgment rendered by the court after a determination of the issues.

Adjudication Withheld: A manner of disposition in which the court does not pronounce a formal judgment of conviction.

Affidavit of insolvency: A detailed form signed by the defendant, under oath, attesting to his/her indigence.

Arraignment: After being arrested a person must be arraigned. This is to ensure that a person is aware of the charges and has the opportunity to defend him or herself. The accused can admit guilt at the arraignment, or enter a plea of not guilty.

Arrest: An arrest is typically seen as the act of taking someone to jail but technically it includes the issuance of a summons to appear in court on a criminal matter.

Bond: Cash or surety posted to procure the release of a defendant by insuring his/her future attendance in court, and compelling him/her to remain in the jurisdiction of the court.

Surety Bond: A certificate posted by a bonding company to the sheriff for release of the defendant

Cash Bond: is the total amount of the bond set in cash.

Bench Trial:Trial without a jury in which a judge decides the facts. This is also known as a non-jury trial.

Bench Warrant: An order issued by a judge for the arrest of a person. This is also known as a “capias.”

Capias: A writ to the sheriff or other authorized agent to arrest the named person (nationwide).

Certified copy: A court document that is authenticated, signed and sealed by the clerk or deputy clerk.

Civil Infraction: A non-criminal traffic violation that is not punishable by incarceration and for which there is no right to a trial by jury or a right to court-appointed counsel as defined under Rule 6.040, Florida Rules of Traffic Court.

Community control: A form of probation restricting the defendant’s movements to an extreme degree.

Complaint: Formal written charge that a person has committed a criminal offense.

Conviction: A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant.

County Probation: This is similar to the Department of Corrections however it is at the county level. It is the agency that supervises misdemeanor probationers, conducts pretrial monitoring, and runs misdemeanor diversion programs (among other things).

D- 6: A court report to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of a person’s failure to appear in court, leading to suspension of the driver’s license.

Demand for discovery: Demand by the defense attorney to the State Attorney to furnish material information on a case.

Department of Corrections(DOC): The Department of Corrections operates all the prisons (see below) in Florida and supervises all defendants placed on probation or community control. It also runs the felony diversion programs. This is a statewide agency.

Docket: A list of cases to be heard by a court or a log containing brief entries of court proceedings.

Felony: A crime that is punishable by incarceration that can extend over 365 days in length.

Third Degree Felony: Punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 fine. Not eligible for withhold of adjudication if two prior felony offenses.

Second Degree Felony: Punishable by up to 15 years in prison and $10,000 fine. Not eligible for withhold of adjudication except under special circumstances.

First Degree Felony: Punishable by up to 30 years in prison and $10,000 fine. Not eligible for withhold of adjudication.

Life Felony: Punishable by life in prison and $15,000 fine.

Capital Felony: Punishable by death.

First Appearance: When a person is arrested the Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.130 requires that the arrested person be brought before a judicial officer within 24 hours. The Judge will inform the Defendant of the charge and certain Rights. At this time the judge will also determine the conditions of pretrial release.

Hung jury: Jury unable to reach a verdict.

Incarceration: Also known as imprisonment. When you are sentenced you are ordered to spend a specific amount of time in jail or prison and you are thereby incarcerated.

Jail:Jail and prison are terms that are often used interchangeably, however there are differences. In Florida jails are county correctional institutions. They house inmates that have been arrested and have not, for whatever reason, bonded out before trial and house inmates that have already been sentenced to terms of incarceration that are less than a year in length.

Information: A formal charging document issued by the State Attorney, that the named person committed a specific offense.

Judgment / Sentence: The official document of a judge’s disposition (decision) of a case and sentence of a defendant.

Jury trial: A trial in which the jury judges the facts and the judge rules on the law.

Juvenile: A juvenile is any person under the age of 18 unless they have been given adult status by a court.

Misdemeanor: This is a crime that is punishable by up to a year incarceration depending on the degree. A misdemeanor offense has no impact on your civil rights unless it is charged as domestic violence.

First Degree Misdemeanor: Punishable by up to 365 days in jail and $1,000 fine.

Second Degree Misdemeanor: Punishable by up to 60 days in jail and $500 fine.

No information: Document which states no formal charge will be filed by the State Attorney

Nolle Prosequi: This is a Latin term that means the Office of the State Attorney, after charging you with an offense, has decided to terminate the prosecution.

Notice to Appear: As defined under Rule 3.125 (a), Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, a written order issued by a law enforcement officer in lieu of physical arrest requiring a person accused of violating the law to appear in a designated court or governmental office at a specified date and time.

Nunc pro tunc: An entry made now for an act done previously and to have the effect as if it were done on a prior date.

Order to Show Cause: Is a court order requiring a person to appear and show why some action should not be taken.

Plea: Defendant’s answer to the charge – guilty, not guilty or nolo contendere. In a criminal proceeding, it is the defendant’s declaration in open court that he or she is guilty or not guilty.

Guilty Plea: A plea by the defendant in a criminal or traffic prosecution admitting the commission of an offense with which he/she is charged or a lesser included offense.

Nolo contendere: A person neither admits nor denies the charges, letting them stand as is.

Pretrial Conference: This is a court date that is scheduled after the arraignment and before the trial. It is used by the courts as a method to keep track of cases.

Pre-sentence investigation: A background investigation of the defendant by the Department of Corrections, returnable to the sentencing judge on or before a certain date.

Pre-trial intervention: A program to aid certain qualifying defendants by diverting them from court proceedings upon successful completion of the program.

Pre-trial release (PTR): Form of (bail)release supervised through the Pre-Trial Release Office

Prison: A facility operated and maintained by the Department of Corrections that houses people found guilty of Felony offenses who have been sentenced for over 365 days of incarceration.

Probation: It is a supervision program. While on probation you must abide by a list of general conditions. The court may also require you to complete additional conditions called special conditions. If you violate any of the general conditions or special conditions or commit a new law offense your probation will be violated. See “Violation of Probation“ below.

Pro se: In one’s own behalf

Prosecutor: A trial lawyer representing the government in a criminal case and the interests of the state in civil matters. In criminal cases, the prosecutor has the responsibility of deciding who and when to prosecute.

Public Defender: A court appointed attorney for those defendants declared indigent (unable to hire private counsel).

Recall Capias/Warrant: Court order recalling a warrant or capias.

Recusal: A judge excusing himself/herself from a case.

Release on own recognizance (ROR): Release of a prisoner by a judge with no bond requirement.

Scoresheet: Uniform guidelines for sentencing using points system mandated by the Legislature.

Subpoena: Command to a person to appear and testify in a specific proceeding.

Subpoena Duces Tecum: A court order commanding a witness to bring certain documents or records to court.

Summons: A document signed by a deputy clerk ordering a person to appear before the court.

Sworn complaint affidavit: A sworn, witnessed complaint filed with the Clerk of the Court.

Time served: Actual number of days served in jail.

Traverse: A formal denial of allegations.

Vacate: To set aside. To vacate a judgment is to set aside that judgment.

Verdict: The findings of a judge or jury at the end of the trial.

Voir dire: Examination of a jury panel by an attorney for the defendant or plaintiff, the judge, and the prosecution.

Warrant: Most commonly, a court order authorizing law enforcement officers to make an arrest or conduct a search.

Withhold adjudication: The judge withholds a judgment of guilt.

Written plea of not guilty: Is a defendant’s plea in writing to the court.

Violation of Probation: A violation of probation occurs when the probationer violates a condition of probation.

Types of Documents

AFFIDAVIT	AFF	Affidavit, Declaration of Domicile
AGREEMENT	AGR	Agreement, Assumption Agreement, Bill of Sale, Consent, Future and Advanced Agreement, Lease, Merger, Promissory Note, Trust, Subordination
AGREEMENT AND/OR CONTRACT FOR DEED	AGD	Agreements for Deed, Contracts for Deed
ASSIGNMENT	ASG	Assignment of Anything (Mortgages, Liens, Court Papers)
BOND	BND	All Bonds (Ie. Performance), Appearance Bond, Bail Bonds
CERTIFICATE	CTF	Articles of Incorporation, Certificate
CERTIFIED COPY OF A COURT JUDGMENT	CCJ	Certified copy of a Previously Recorded judgment
CONDOMINIUM, DECLARATION OF	CND	Declaration of Condominium
COURT PAPER	CP	Circuit and County Court Papers (Except Probate): Administrative Orders, Appeal, Decree, Dismissal, Execution, Injunction, Letter, Mandate, Motion, Notice of Court Paper, Verdict, Vacation
DEATH CERTIFICATE	DC	Death Certificate
DEED	D	Certificate of Title, CO-OP Lease, Deed, Personal Representative Deed, Quit Claim Deed, Property Lease, Timeshare Deed, Tax Deed, Trustee Deed, Warranty Deed, 99-Year Lease
EASEMENT	EAS	Easement, Right-of-Way, Conservation Easement (Per 704.06)
FINANCING STATEMENT/UCC	FIN	Financing Statement, UCC-1, UCC-3, Continuations of UCC, Terminations of UCCs-Anything/Everything Related to Financing Statements
GOVERNMENT-RELATED	GOV	Ordinance, Resolutions, Supervisor of Elections Precincts, Notice of encumbrance Annexation, Vacation of Road
JUDGMENT	JUD	Court judgment: Bankruptcy, Default judgment, Final judgment on Foreclosure, Quiet Title judgment, Stipulation of Final judgment, Summary judgment, Vacation of judgment
LIEN	LN	Assessments, Certificate of Indebtedness, Claim of Lien, Code Enforcement, Board Lien, Federal Tax Lien, Lien, Hospital Lien, Tax Lien, Tax Certificate, Tax Warrant
LIS PENDENS	LP	Lis Pendens
MARRIAGE RECORD	MAR	The One Page Form of Marriage Application, LIcense, and Certificate
MODIFICATION	MOD	Modification of Anything (Mortgage, Liens, Court Papers), Extensions of Anything, Continuations of Anything
MORTGAGE	MTG	Mortgage, Chattel Mortgage
NOTICE	NOT	Appointment, Approval, By Laws, Commission, Designation of Homestead, Document of Unknown Purpose, “Garbafe” Document, Memorandum, Miscellaneous Document, Notice (Not of Court), Notice of Bond, Oaths, Waiver (Not of Court)
NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT	NOC	Section 713 Notices of Commencement (Including Bonds when Attached to the Notice of Commencement)
NOTICE OF CONTEST OF LIEN	NCL	Notice of Contest of Lien
ORDER	ORD	Orders from the Circuit and County Courts: Final Order, Final Order/Action, Order, Order of Taking
PARTIAL RELEASE	PR	Partial Release of Anything (Mortgages, Liens, Court Papers)
PLAT	PL	Plat
PLAT RELATED	PLR	Surveyor’s Certificate/Affidavit, Affidavits/Certificates of Correction to Plat, Surveys, Lot Split Surveys, Vacations of Plat
POWER OF ATTORNEY	POA	Power of Attorney
PROBATE DOCUMENTS	PRO	Probate Anything: Non-Taxable Certificate, Estate Tax Closing Letter, Guardianship Letter, Letter of Administration, Will
RELEASE	REL	Release of Anything (Mortgages, Liens, Court Papers), Cancellations of Anything (Mortgages, Liens, Court Papers)
RESTRICTIONS	RES	Subdivision Restrictions, Condo restrictions, Covenants, Homeowners’ Association Bylaws
SATISFACTION	SAT	Satisfaction of Anything (Mortgage, Liens, Court Papers)
TERMINATION	TER	Termination of Power of Attorney and Notice of Commencement
TRANSFER	TRA	Transfer of Lien to Cash, Transfer of Lien to Bond, Transfer of Lien to Security

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 4^th 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 $22.05 (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 $11.00 (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:

Complete, sign and date the Reapplication Form DS-5504.
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:

Complete, sign and mail your application to the address listed on the back of the DS-82 form.
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:

Complete the DS-11 form
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:

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
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 6:00AM – 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/

Administrative

An Administrative Court Order is a directive necessary to properly administer courts’ affairs, consistent with Florida Constitution, State court Rules, and Florida Supreme Court administrative orders.

The purpose of an Administrative Court Order is to set administrative responsibilities of the chief judges of the circuit courts and the other judges that the chief judges may designate. When these rules refer to the court, they shall be construed to apply to a judge of the court when the context requires or permits.

All Bay County Administrative Court Orders are recorded in our Official Records. Please click on the website link below to search the index for the Administrative Court Order you are interested in viewing.

Visit the 14th Judicial Circuit website

Domestic Violence

violence – means any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death, by a person against any other person.

Domestic Violence (Florida Statutes 741.28)

means any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member.

Family or household member

means spouses, former spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are presently residing together as if a family or who have resided together in the past as if a family, and persons who are parents of a child in common regardless of whether they have been married with the exception of persons who have a child in common, the family or household members must be currently residing or have in the past resided together in the same single dwelling unit.

Repeat Violence

means two (2) incidents of violence or stalking committed by the respondent, of which must have been within six (6) months of the filing of the petition, which are directed against the petitioner or the petitioner’s immediate family member.

Any person who is the victim of repeat violence, or the parent or legal guardian of any minor child who is living at home and who seeks an injunction for protection against repeat violence on behalf of the minor child, has standing in the circuit court to file a sworn petition for an injunction for protection against repeat violence.

Dating Violence

means violence between individuals who have had or still have a continuing and significant relationship of a romantic or intimate nature. The term does not include violence in a casual acquaintanceship or violence between individuals who only have engaged in ordinary fraternization in a business or social context. The existence of a continuing and significant relationship shall be determined based on the consideration of the following factors:

A dating relationship must have existed within the past six (6) months
The nature of the relationship must have been characterized by the expectation of affection or sexual involvement between the parties
The frequency and type of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship must have included that the persons have been involved over time and on a continuous basis during the course of the relationship
Any person who is the victim of dating violence and has reasonable cause to believe he or she is in imminent danger of becoming the victim of another act of dating violence, or any person who has reasonable cause to believe he or she is in imminent danger of becoming the victim of another act of dating violence, or the parent or legal guardian of any minor child who is living at home and who seeks an injunction for protection against dating violence on behalf of that minor child, has standing in circuit court to file a sworn petition for an injunction for protection against dating violence.

If you are a victim of stalking, you can use this form to ask the court for a protective order prohibiting stalking. Stalking means the repeated following, harassment, or cyberstalking of one person by another. Cyberstalk means to engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose.

This cause of action for an injunction shall not require that the petitioner be represented by an attorney.

The clerk of court shall provide a copy of this section and clerical assistance for the preparation and filing of such petition by any person who is not represented by counsel. The forms are completed on www.turbocourt.com. The clerk has a public terminal for customers that do not have internet access.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October 1^st we will be implementing the Hope Card program in our office. The program provides a digital or wallet-sized card to a person in Florida who is issued a final injunction for protection against domestic violence, stalking, repeat violence, sexual violence, dating violence, or abuse or exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult.

Why a Hope Card? These are smaller and easy to carry in your wallet or purse instead of the original signed final injunction for protection order paperwork.
How do I obtain a Hope Card?
- Reach out to the Clerk’s office where the original petition was filed.
- Within 3 business days after receipt of a request for a Hope Card, the clerk’s office will supply the petitioner with a Hope Card. The card can be provided electronically (via email), in-person, or by mail.
This card is supplied free of charge.
A Hope Card is valid for two years after the date of issuance or the final order of expiration of the injunction, whichever comes first. A Hope Card may be renewed after the two-year period if the injunction is still in effect.

Probate Fees

Item	Fee
Caveat/Notice of Trust	$41.00
Petition and order to admit foreign wills, authenticated copies, exemplified copies, or transcripts to record	$231.00
Disposition of personal property without administration	$231.00
Summary Administration Less Than $1,000	$235.00
Summary Administration $1,000 or more	$345.00
Formal Administration, guardianship, ancillary, curatorship, or conservatorship proceedings	$400.00
Guardianship proceedings of person only	$235.00
Veterans Administration Guardianship	$235.00
Petition for determination of incapacity	$231.00
Exemplified certificates	$7.00
Case Re-Open	$50.00
For the opening of any estate of one document or more, including but not limited to, petitions & orders to approve settlement of minor’s claims; to open safe deposit box; to enter rooms and places; for the determination of heirs, if not formal administration;and for foreign guardian to manage property of a nonresident, but not including issuance of letters or order of summary and family administration.	$231.00
Guardianship Audit Fee, Initial Inventory, above $25,000	$85.00
Guardianship Audit Fee, Annual Financial Return For Estates $25,000 or Less	$20.00
Guardianship Audit Fee, Annual Financial Return For Estates $25,000 to $100,000	$85.00
Guardianship Audit Fee, Annual Financial Return For Estates $100,000 to $500,000	$170.00
Guardianship Audit Fee, Annual Financial Return For Estates more than $500,000	$250.00

Please be informed that fee increases are added during Legislative Session.

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

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Why a Hope Card? These are smaller and easy to carry in your wallet or purse instead of the original signed final injunction for protection order paperwork.
How do I obtain a Hope Card?
- Reach out to the Clerk’s office where the original petition was filed.
- Within 3 business days after receipt of a request for a Hope Card, the clerk’s office will supply the petitioner with a Hope Card. The card can be provided electronically (via email), in-person, or by mail.
This card is supplied free of charge.
A Hope Card is valid for two years after the date of issuance or the final order of expiration of the injunction, whichever comes first. A Hope Card may be renewed after the two-year period if the injunction is still in effect.

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 that 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 AM – 4:30 PM 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

Plead Not Guilty

To plead not guilty, you must make a request for a hearing to the Clerk within thirty (30) days of the date the ticket was received by completing and filing the Plea of Not Guilty form with the Clerk’s Office.

Plea Not Guilty

If you are unable to appear in person for the hearing, you must post an appearance bond at the time you request the hearing. You will be notified by mail of your court date.

To post an appearance bond, you must pay the fine at the time you send in your request to plead “Not Guilty”.

DO NOT SEND CASH. 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.

Please make cashiers check or money order payable to Bill Kinsaul, Clerk of Court. Enclose the request, the cashiers check or money order and the yellow copy of your ticket and send to:

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

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

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 AM – 12 AM and Saturday and Sunday 9 AM – 6 PM 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 AM – 4:30 PM 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