Q. Can you give background on the deceptive mail campaign posing as the County Records Office?
A. Several residents have reached out to my office about a letter from a Tampa-based company claiming to be the County Records Office. The letter informs the recipient their deed has been recorded in the Official Records and lists the new property owner’s name. The company offers to sell the property owner a copy of the recorded deed for $89.
In Florida, the Clerk of Courts and County Comptrollers are the recordkeepers for official records, such as deeds and mortgages. Residents are encouraged to contact my office or visit our website to obtain a free copy of their deed.
Q. If a deed or document is recorded with a property owner’s name on it, how can the property owner be notified?
A: The Clerk’s Office provides a free recording notification service. If you subscribe to the Property Fraud Alert system, you will receive an email alert when a document including your name is recorded into the Official Records of St. Johns County.
The alert provides an early warning system for subscribers to become aware of what may have otherwise gone undetected. Subscribers armed with this notification system will be able to take prompt, appropriate action if they determine the activity to be fraudulent.
Q. With summer travel around the corner, do you have any updates on the timelines to apply for and receive a passport?
A. Yes, at this time, the U.S. Department of State has stopped accepting expedited applications for passports. If you are traveling in less than nine weeks, you must call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 in order to make an appointment for passport services at a U.S. Department of State Passport Agency. If you are planning to travel in more than nine weeks and need a new passport, consider visiting our recording department in the St. Johns County courthouse or making an appointment at our annex locations in Julington Creek or Ponte Vedra Beach. To schedule an appointment, call (904) 819-3632. F
Q. What is the best way for residents to contact you?
A. Residents can call my office at (904) 819-3601 or my cell at (904) 599-8688. My email address is BPatty@stjohnsclerk.com. A lot of questions can be answered by visiting our website, www.stjohnsclerk.com, which is most commonly used to pay traffic citations or search court records.
