Seminole County, Florida Court Records
Seminole County court records are official documents filed or issued in lawsuits adjudicated by local courts. Some examples of these documents include statements of claim and defense, motions and affidavits, exhibits, court orders, and the final judgment. These documents are compiled and maintained by the Seminole County Clerk of Circuit Court. The Clerk serves as the record keeper for the Superior Court, the court where legal disputes are typically first heard and resolved in the county.
Seminole County court records don’t exist in isolation. Rather, they are part of a larger public records ecosystem. Because government activities are interconnected, most court records are triggered by actions from another department. For instance, an arrest report may form the basis for prosecution in a criminal court.
Are Seminole County Court Records Public?
Seminole County court records are presumed public and accessible, unless they are considered confidential by statute or sealed by a court order. Therefore, anyone can submit a request for specific records. The Seminole County Clerk of Circuit Court has a duty to provide the record if it exists and if public access is not restricted by statute or court order.
Some records that may be restricted under state law include:
- Juvenile-related court records
- Identifying information of victims
- Court records that may jeopardize ongoing investigations
- Expunged court records
- Mental health records of offenders and victims
What Information is Available in Seminole County Court Records?
The content of Seminole County court records is sometimes case-specific. However, certain information or documents appear consistently across all record types. These include:
- Details of parties involved
- Judgments
- Case transcripts
- Dockets
- Arrest information
- Pleadings
- Hearing schedules
- Filing dates
- Motions and supporting affidavits
Seminole County Court Records Search
Interested individuals can access Seminole County court records through a variety of methods, including online searches, mail, and in-person visits.
For online searches, record seekers can use the Search for a Court Case portal on the Clerk’s website. The portal provides online access to all civil, criminal, tax, and traffic cases heard in the Circuit Court. Users can search for specific court records by case number, party name, filing date, and other specified search criteria. Those who prefer to view court records in person can go to the Clerk’s office. They should be prepared to provide information that sufficiently describes the record, such as a litigant’s name, date of birth, case number, and filing date.
The Clerk’s office is located at:
Criminal Justice Center
101 Eslinger Way,
Sanford, FL 32773
Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm
The Clerk of the Circuit Court may also be contacted via phone at
(407)665-4300 or by sending a postal mail request to:
Seminole County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller
Post Office Box 8099
Sanford, FL 32772-8099
Regardless of the preferred search method, record seekers must provide the necessary information and required fees to ensure an effective record search in Seminole County.
Fees for Court Records in Seminole County
A regular court records search attracts a service fee of up to $2.00 per year searched. Requesters may also be charged up to $1.00 per page for making copies of public records not larger than 14"*8.5", and up to $5.00 per page for copies larger than 14"*8.5".
It is pertinent to note that additional requests may incur additional costs. For instance, the Office of the Clerk charges an additional fee of up to $2.00 for certification of court records and up to $5.00 for eCertification of vital records. Also, postal costs for mailing court records may be covered by the requester.
Seminole County Courthouse Locations
Seminole County runs full-service civil and criminal courts at the Criminal
Justice Center, which is located at:
Criminal Justice Center
101 Eslinger Way,
Sanford, FL 32773
(407)665-4300
All civil, criminal, and family court cases are handled in the Criminal Justice Center. Probate and juvenile cases, on the other hand, are heard at the Juvenile Justice Center, which is located at:
Juvenile Justice Center
190 Eslinger Way,
Sanford, FL 32773
Juvenile:(407)665-5350
Probate: (407)665-4369
Criminal Records Access in Seminole County
In Seminole County, state-level criminal history checks are done by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The FDLE maintains a central criminal record repository containing records of all interactions with the state’s criminal justice system. The Department compiles and maintains arrest and booking records, jail records, and criminal court records submitted to it by county sheriffs, police, and courts across the state.
There are three ways to conduct a criminal history records check in Seminole County.
- Instant Search: This option provides immediate online access to criminal history information, allowing users to print search results by themselves or have them sent to them by email. However, records obtained via this medium are not certified, and each search costs up to $24.00, plus an additional credit card processing fee of up to $1.00.
- Certified/Non-Certified Search: This involves the use of demographic information provided by the requester. Searches are conducted by an FDLE staff, attracting a fee of up to $24.00. Search results are not immediate. Processing time may take up to 7 business days for certified results.
- ORI Search: This involves the use of an ORI number for a criminal history check. This ORI number can be obtained from the concerned agency before the search. The cost of this search is dependent on the state statute, the state agency, or authorized entity.
For criminal records within Seminole County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains them. To see these records, visit the Clerk’s Office or contact the Office by phone at (407)665-4300. An alternative option might be to use the Search a Court Case page of the Clerk’s website to gain remote access.
Note: If the criminal incident did not happen in Seminole County, the Clerk of the Circuit will not have the record. The appropriate approach in such cases is to check with the FDLE.
Seminole County Probate Records
Seminole County probate records are court documents that reflect the legal process involved in settling a deceased person’s estate, including identifying assets, paying debts, and distributing properties to the rightful beneficiaries. While there are standard probate procedures, it is noteworthy that each of these processes can take a different turn, depending on the existence and terms of a will. As a result of this, the contents of Seminole probate records may vary across different cases. Nevertheless, a typical probate record in Seminole County will contain the following:
- Wills and probate filings
- Estate records
- Guardianships and conservatorships
- Appointment of administrators
- Letter of administration
Like other court information, the aforementioned details are public and accessible to all requesters per the Florida Sunshine Law. However, the Clerk restricts access to some probate records for privacy reasons. These restricted records include:
- Inventories of assets
- Financial Statements
All probate matters are handled by the Seminole County Probate Court, and as such, the resulting records are compiled and maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. To obtain Seminole County probate records, interested individuals can use the Search for a Case portal on the Clerk’s website or visit the probate court in person at:
Juvenile Justice Center
190 Eslinger Way,
Sanford, FL 32773
Probate: (407)665-4369
Seminole County Family Court Records
Seminole County family court records are legal documents that detail the process involved in resolving family-related cases. These include:
- Domestic violence cases
- Marriage dissolution and divorce
- Legal separation
- Child and spousal support cases
- Child custody and visitation cases
These cases are handled by the Eighteenth (18th) Judicial Circuit Court, the family court division of Seminole County Circuit Court. Details of these cases are compiled and maintained by the county’s Clerk of the Circuit Court, who is the primary custodian of all court records in the county.
Interested individuals can obtain family court case information from the Search for a Case page of the Clerk’s website or visit the Clerk’s Office in person to request it. Notably, a family court records search attracts a fee of up to $2.00 per year searched, and an additional fee of up to $2.00 for certification.
Federal Court Records in Seminole County
The Seminole County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases within the county. However, cases like bankruptcy and certain federal felonies fall outside its scope of authority. Such cases are handled by the Orlando Division of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The court is the branch of the U.S. federal court serving Seminole County, and it handles cases that fall within federal jurisdiction in the county.
Federal court records in Seminole County are public and accessible upon request. The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system is the online repository for federal court records. Individuals can use this system to inspect and review their specific records.
The first step in using PACER is to register for a free PACER account. After this, the requester can log in and conduct case searches using the court names. The PACER Case Locator User Manual provides detailed information on how to register and use the PACER portal to obtain federal court records in Seminole County. Each page of a court record obtained on PACER attracts a fee of up to $.10, and the total cost of a single document is up to $3.00.
Federal court records can also be obtained in person at the courthouse, located at:
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Orlando Division)
401 West Central Boulevard,
Orlando, FL 32801
(407)835-4200
