Pinellas County, Florida court records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller and are accessible through various online tools and official portals. PinellasCourt.us will help you find public information about court cases in this county. Additionally, you can use the Clerk's Record Search Portal, visit the Clerk's office in person, or submit a public records request through the Pinellas County Government Public Records page.
Pinellas Court System Overview
Pinellas County is part of Florida's 6th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Pasco County. The Circuit Court handles serious criminal, civil, and family cases, while the County Court deals with less severe offenses, traffic violations, and small claims. Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Ken Burke is responsible for maintaining all court records and serves as the county's registrar.
The main judicial complex is located in Clearwater:
Criminal cases are handled in a separate complex:
Courts Serving Pinellas
Residents of the county are served by several courts at the state and federal levels.
| Court | Address | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Pinellas County Circuit Court (6th Judicial Circuit) | 315 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756 | Civil Division: see Civil & Family page |
| Pinellas County Court | 14250 49th St. N., Clearwater, FL 33762 (Criminal Division) | Criminal Division: see Criminal Court page |
| U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (Tampa Division) | Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse | Phone: (813) 301-5400 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida (Tampa Division) | 801 N. Florida Ave., Suite 727, Tampa, FL 33602 | Phone: (813) 301-5162 |
Municipal courts as separate entities do not exist in Florida. Violations of city ordinances are typically handled by special magistrates at municipalities or referred to the county court.
What Types of Cases Pinellas Courts Hear
The county courts handle a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations, including DUI
- Civil claims of various amounts and small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony, paternity
- Probate and guardianship cases
- Juvenile cases: offenses and child protection
- Adoption
A detailed distribution between the Circuit Court and County Court is described in the following sections.
District Court Cases in Pinellas
The Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction in Florida. It handles felonies after indictment or grand jury decision, civil cases with claims over $50,000, appeals from the County Court, and post-conviction cases. It also includes family cases, probate cases, and guardianship matters.
Cases are assigned to Circuit Court judges according to the internal administrative orders of the 6th Judicial Circuit. The State Attorney's Office (6th Circuit) prosecutes criminal cases. Civil cases are initiated by filing a complaint with the Clerk's office.
Magistrate Court Cases in Pinellas
The County Court functions as a court of limited jurisdiction. It handles:
- Misdemeanors and ordinance violations
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil cases with claims up to $50,000
- Small claims — up to $8,000
- Traffic violations and DUI cases
Most county residents first encounter the court system here — through a traffic ticket or small claim. County Court judges are assigned to specific case categories due to high caseloads. For document filing, contact the Clerk's contact page.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Pinellas
Family Law. The Family Division of the Circuit Court handles divorce, name changes, paternity establishment, protective orders from domestic violence, and adoption. A divorce certificate can be obtained from the Florida Department of Health, and the court order itself from the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Probate and Guardianship. The Circuit Court also handles probate cases, guardianship appointments, and trust management. Filing begins through the Clerk's office at the courthouse on Court Street.
Juvenile Matters. The Criminal and Juvenile Division processes both juvenile offenses and child protection (dependency) cases. Juvenile case records are confidential under Florida law and are not publicly accessible.
How Cases Move Through the Pinellas Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with an arrest or indictment; a civil case starts with the filing of a complaint or petition with the Clerk's office.
- Judge Assignment. The case is assigned to a specific judge based on category and county rules.
- Initial Hearing. In criminal cases, this is the first appearance and arraignment. In civil cases, it's a case management conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions, and in criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Trial or Resolution. The case may end with a trial, plea, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. Sentencing in criminal cases, filing an appeal, or enforcing a judgment in civil cases.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Pinellas
The courts of the 6th Judicial Circuit are administered by the Chief Judge of the circuit and the Trial Court Administrator. Local rules of the 6th Judicial Circuit govern procedural matters that supplement Florida's Rules of Court.
According to the Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes §119, court records are public, except for cases sealed or closed by court order under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420. The state legislature has recently limited the amount of information available on clerks' websites — some data can only be obtained in person or through the record search system.
Hearings in county courts are generally open to the public. Some hearings are conducted remotely via video conferencing — check the format with the relevant department's office or the court's website.
Requests for public records from the county government can be submitted through the Pinellas County Public Records Portal:
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Pinellas
- Court Case Search. The Clerk's View Records Portal allows searching for cases filed in the county by name or case number. Full documents may require registration or an in-person visit.
- Official Records. The Clerk's Recording Services is responsible for recording documents into the county's official records — deeds, mortgages, liens.
- Arrest and Inmate Search. The Sheriff's Office Arrest Inquiry shows individuals currently or recently in the county jail. The Who's in Jail page offers a similar search.
- Arrest Warrants. The Sheriff's Warrants Section allows checking for warrants, though local county warrants may not be displayed.
- Crime Map. The Pinellas County Crime Viewer visualizes crime data from several county law enforcement agencies.
- Statewide Inmate Search. The Florida State Department Directory contains links to all county jails and the Department of Corrections inmate search.
- Property Records. The Pinellas County Property Appraiser provides assessment and value data, while the County Tax Collector offers property tax payment information.
- Clerk Contacts. General inquiries about court records, fine payments, or document filing can be addressed through the Clerk's contact page or by visiting one of the offices in person.