The Okaloosa County clerk of courts is the honorable Don W. Howard. Mr. Howard is a lifelong resident of Okaloosa county. He is a graduate of Northwest Florida State College in 1971. He also graduated from the University of West Florida with a degree in accounting in 1974.

Mr. Howard was re-lected in 2008 to the Okaloosa county clerk of courts as a unopposed candidate. He was elected as deacon of his church in 2004 and has been married to his beautiful wife for 38 years.

The Okaloosa County clerk of courts is a public officer who is duly voted for and sworn in by the residents of Okaloosa county. The Clerk of courts has the privilege of serving four year terms. He is solely responsible for the Okaloosa judicial system and as an elected official, he must be responsible to the voters of Okaloosa county.

Some of the Okaloosa county clerk of courts office's responsibilities are to attend each session of court, file indictments, information and file final verdicts. He is also responsible for processing all civil and criminal cases. His office also will prepare records to the court of appeals and will oversee jury selection in his county. The Okaloosa county clerk of courts office also receives payments for fines, court costs, child support, alimony and also victim restitution. It is also the job of the Okaloosa County clerk of courts office to disburse judicial funds and supervise the processing of fines and forfeitures.

The County clerk of courts office will conduct property foreclosures sales. They will receive and audit guardianship annual reports. They can also issue marriage license and perform wedding ceremonies.

Mr. Howard is in charge of every aspect of the judicial proceedings in Okaloosa county. The following divisions of of courts in Okaloosa county are as follows, The Criminal division, the Civil division, the recording division and the traffic violations department. The Juvenile division and Probate division and also the division of mental health.

Mr. Howard's office also accepts money for traffic violations. They can also help you if you need to file an application for a passport.