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Employment Opportunities

Recruiting Announcements:

– There are no announcements at this time.

Applicants may download the application below and submit it with a resume. For more information, please contact Tanya Deal, HR Director Clerk Court Services, Room 114 Main Courthouse, email Tanya Deal, or call (850) 747-5123.

General Information

  • The Bay County Clerk’s office is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
  • Qualified applicants must have a high school diploma or a GED and must be 18 years old or older.
  • Clerical experience is essential.
  • A background check is required for all positions.

How to Apply

Option 1:

  1. Download, fill out, and print the application form below.
  2. Submit a completed application form and resume to:
    Human Resources
    PO Box 2269, Panama City FL 32402-2269
    or
    300 East 4th Street, Panama City FL 32401

Option 2:

  1. Download and save the application file below to the applicant’s local computer.
  2. Fill out the application form using Adobe Reader.
  3. After the application is completed click the “Click Here to Send Completed Application by Email” button at the bottom of the form. If applicants have an email client clicking this button will attach a saved copy to an email. In addition to the application also attach a resume to this email.

For additional information please email Tanya Deal.

Application Form

Download a Bay County Clerk of Circuit Court employment application form.

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Guardianship Audits and Reporting

Guardianship Audits

The Inspector General supports the Bay County Clerk of Court and Comptroller staff in an attempt to augment the court’s oversight process applicable to the protection of wards’ assets pursuant to Chapter 744, Florida Statutes.

Guardianship Reporting

Accountings should include all supporting bank statements, receipts, invoices and/or cancelled checks (if receipts are unavailable), as well as any other necessary documents for validation.

Plans should include a current Physician’s Report (unless exempt) and any other necessary supporting documentation.

Guardianship Reporting Calculator

CLICK HERE to open the Guardianship Reporting Calculator in a new tab.

Additional Resources

Probate Court Department, Clerk of Court & Comptroller

14th Judicial Website Forms

Office of Public & Professional Guardians (OPPG)

Florida Statute Chapter 744 Guardianship

Registered Professional Guardians (OPPG)

Florida Public Guardian Programs (OPPG)

National Guardianship Association, Inc.

Florida State Guardianship Association

FCCC 2021 Guardianship Audit Best Practice PDF

FCCC 2021 Guardianship Audit Best Practice – Checklist PDF

FCCC 2021 Guardianship Audit Best Practice – Appendix PDF

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Foreclosure Auctions

Online Bidding and Auction System

Online bidding and auctions require advanced registration and advanced placement of deposits. Visit our online auction system at www.bay.realforeclose.com.

  1. Start here by reading our Bay Foreclosure FAQ
  2. Register Online
  3. View Auction Calendar

Foreclosure Sales List in Adobe PDF Format

The Clerk’s office of Bay County runs a Foreclosure report weekly that will be posted each Friday. You can obtain information regarding future foreclosure sales by researching the legal ad section of the Panama City News Herald or Bay County Bullet. The foreclosures are published once a week for two consecutive weeks before the sale takes place. You can also obtain information by clicking on the links provided on www.bay.realforeclose.com.

It is not possible to register to bid by mail. Our bidding process is the highest bidder wins the bid.  Please see bidding instructions on www.bay.realforeclose.com for various deposit and payment methods.

The successful bidder must pay the balance of the bid amount due by 11:00 am the following business day. In addition, fees for documentary stamp taxes and registry deposit fees must be paid at the time the balance of the bid amount is paid. This amount is based upon the bid amount.

Failure to pay the balance due and authorized costs by 11:00 am the following business day will result in the re-advertisement of the sale, the cost of which will be paid from the deposit. Any remaining funds will be applied towards the judgment.

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Accessibility Policy

Court Proceedings

If you are a person with a disability who needs accommodation in order to participate in a court proceeding, please contact Court Administration at 850-747-5370 or email adarequest@jud14.flcourts.org.

Clerk & Comptroller’s Website

The Clerk & Comptroller, Bay County, is committed to making our website accessible to all visitors, as well as compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 accessibility standards. Accessible Web design provides benefits to individuals using assistive technology, users with text-based browsers, low-end processors, slow modem connections or users who do not have state-of-the-art computer equipment.

If you use assistive technology (such as a Braille reader, a screen reader, TTY, etc.) and the format of any of our website material interferes with your ability to access the information, please contact Tanya Deal at 850-747-5123 to be provided with further assistance. If you are hearing or voice impaired, you may call 711 and the Florida Relay Service will assist you with your call to our office.

To enable us to respond in a manner most helpful to you, please indicate the nature of your accessibility problem, the preferred format in which to receive the material, the web address of the requested material, and your contact information.

For more information about website accessibility, we recommend the below websites.

PDF Documents

We recommend downloading the latest version of the free Adobe Reader to view PDF files. Version 7.0 and higher of this software provides a number of features that improve access for users. For further information, please visit the Adobe website.

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Civil Forms

The forms above may be downloaded to your local computer and digitally filled out before printing.

  • Follow the link above and use the download button in the top right of the document to save the file locally.
  • It is recommended to use the PDF viewer Adobe Reader to open and fill out the form before printing.

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Official Records Forms

Forms below can be downloaded using the icon on the selected form’s page linked below. Download the selected form, complete any digital fields, and then print for signatures and filing. Adobe Reader is suggested for completing PDF documents with digital form fields.

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.

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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) 460-5667Contact: 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

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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 101, 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 – 11:30am 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 which can be paid by cash, credit (subject to 3.5% processing fee or by check (subject to $3.00 processing fee): Passport acceptance fee of $35.00, Passport Photo Fee of $15.00 (effective 4-1-2024), Passport Priority Mail Fee shipping fee of $9.85 (effective 4-1-2024) (which is subject to change by the USPS)

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/

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