SJC Clerk & Comptroller
Monthly Report
|
|
Thank you for your interest in the work of the St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Our top mission is to protect your trust in our government here in St. Johns County. Our office serves as an independent partner to the court system and St. Johns County government. With transparency and accountability among our foremost goals, I'm excited to share program and event news with you each month.
In this month's newsletter, you'll find information about:
- Our Passport Saturday special event on Aug.6
- The Sept. 1 deadline to claim court-related unclaimed monies
- Our summer internship program
- Service spotlight on searching county official records
- The Aug. 7 finale to the state Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
I am honored to serve as your Clerk and Comptroller. Please don't hesitate to contact our office at 904-819-3600 or me directly at 904-599-8688 if I can ever be of service to you.
Brandon
|
|
Passport Saturday special event is Aug. 6 |
The St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller will hold a special Passport Saturday event on Aug. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to make applying for a first-time or new passport more convenient for St. Johns County residents. No appointment is necessary.
Applying for a new passport involves a visit to one of our office locations. We recognize the challenges of working adults and parents who have to coordinate schedules to bring in their children for a passport. Considering the standard Monday-through-Friday business hours of the courthouse, holding a special Saturday event is one way we can meet the needs of our residents, particularly before school resumes or to get a jump on the upcoming winter holiday travel season.
Anyone who is traveling overseas is required to have a passport, including infants, and every applicant for a first-time or new passport must appear in person, regardless of age. Minors must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
What's the difference between a first-time or new passport and a renewal? First-time passports are just what it sounds like -- when you've never had a passport before. A new passport is a replacement if your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago, your name has changed, you are a minor under age 16, or if your passport was lost, stolen or damaged. You must apply in person for first-time or new (replacement) passports. But if your passport has expired more recently and you simply need to renew your passport, follow the U.S. Department of State's do-it-yourself process using Form DS-82.
Before coming on Aug. 6, please visit our website for important information and details about required documentation, forms of payment accepted by the State Department, and any special requirements. You can find passport application links to the State Department on our website.
|
|
Last call to request your unclaimed court-related funds |
Nearly $11,000 in unclaimed funds is waiting to be claimed from the St. Johns County Clerk and Comptroller's office. Funds become “unclaimed” when a check is returned to the Clerk’s office or is simply never cashed.
While most of this money will be held in our accounts and remitted to the state next April, just over $2,160 in unclaimed court-related funds will be forfeited to the state on Sept. 1, per Florida statutes. Once unclaimed funds are sent to the state, you can still request your funds from the Florida Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property division. Visit www.FLTreasureHunt.org to see that list.
Meantime, be sure to check our webpage to see if you are among the 119 individuals or entities who have unclaimed funds from more recent cash bonds, outstanding juror checks, civil registry and bond deposits or other outstanding checks collected by the Clerk's office.
|
|
|
|
Thank you to our July interns! |
The Clerk’s Internship Program is designed to expose college students and high school juniors and seniors to a career in local government and how the Clerk and Comptroller fits into the bigger local government picture. An internship in the Clerk’s office offers students with a real-life civics lesson and opportunities to develop professional skills and gain work experience. Thank you for your service to St. Johns County this July: Anuj Elhence, Creekside High School (Minutes and Records), Blake Hagedoorn, University of North Florida (Finance Department), Sarah Stack, St. Augustine High School, (Family Division), Ashley Wilson, Stetson University College of Law-Gulfport (Civil Division), and Brooke Purvis, University of Central Florida (Criminal Division).
|
|
Service Spotlight: Records |
|
Whether you're a history buff or need an important record, you can search county Official Records online |
|
As the official record keeper and recorder of deeds and other important documents for St. Johns County, our office is responsible for securely maintaining and managing access to documents that span multiple functions of government.
Our Records team curates the county’s official records, digitizing thousands of documents every year for easy access and long-term retention.
You can find marriage certificates, death certificates, deeds, judgments, military discharges and much more on our Official Records webpage. Be sure to sign up for FREE Property Fraud Alerts to be notified if and when your Official Records change.
|
|
Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday ends Aug. 7 |
Through Aug. 7, 2022, sales tax is not due on clothes, school supplies, computers and computer-related accessories.
|
|
|
|
Our highest priorities: Integrity, accuracy and
top-notch customer service
|
We value your feedback, whether it's praise or suggestions on ways we can better serve you. Please send your comments to me at bpatty@stjohnsclerk.com. |
|
|
|
Follow us on social media for news and announcements! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
