Pinellas County, Florida court records are available through several channels. PinellasCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, the official Clerk of the Circuit Court portal offers online record searches, and visitors can use public terminals directly in court buildings. For detailed information, you can also contact the clerk's office in person, by mail, or by email.
Pinellas Court System & Jurisdictions
Pinellas County has two main levels of courts — the Circuit Court and the County Court, both part of Florida's Sixth Judicial Circuit.
Circuit Court handles more serious cases:
- Criminal cases involving felonies
- Civil lawsuits over $50,000
- Family cases — divorce, paternity establishment, adoption, name change, and protective orders from domestic violence (more details on the Family Court page)
- Probate cases (the legal process of distributing a deceased person's estate)
- Juvenile cases — dependency and delinquency
A felony case is handled here. The Criminal Division of the clerk's office keeps records of all felony and misdemeanor charges, as well as juvenile justice cases.
County Court is the court most residents encounter more frequently. It handles:
- Minor criminal cases (misdemeanors)
- Traffic violations and tickets
- Civil lawsuits up to $50,000
- Small claims — up to $8,000
- Eviction cases
Both courts are served by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, who maintains all county court documents.
Pinellas Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To learn about scheduled hearings for today, tomorrow, or the week, use the online record search tool on the clerk's website. The View Records page provides access to the Public Access Records Search, where you can find information about a specific case by case number or party name.
Steps to follow:
- Go to the View Records page on the clerk's website.
- Select the search type — by case number or by name.
- Enter the data and view the results — the case card usually displays scheduled hearing dates.
Note: The Florida legislature has limited the amount of publicly available information on clerks' websites statewide, so some details may not be available online. In such cases, contact the office directly through the contact page or visit the court in person, where public terminals provide more complete access to calendars.
How to Get a Copy of a Pinellas Court Document
Copies of court documents come in two types — uncertified and certified. A certified copy contains the clerk's official seal and is usually required for submission to another court, government agency, or when completing legal procedures.
Online: through the record search portal, you can view available documents. To order certified copies, you often need to send a request by email through the Pinellas County Court Records Inquiry or contact directly.
In person: visit one of the clerk's locations:
Civil and family cases:
Criminal cases:
By mail: send a written request specifying the case number, document type, and desired format (uncertified or certified copy) to the clerk's main office address:
Include payment in the form of a check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. For clarification on the amount and payment methods, contact the office in advance.
Regarding divorce certificates: the court order (judgment) itself is held by the county clerk where the decision was made. A statistical record can also be requested through the Florida Department of Health.
Pinellas Court Records Fees & Payment
The fees for court documents in Pinellas County are set according to Florida Statutes, specifically §28.24. Below are approximate rates — it is recommended to verify exact amounts directly with the clerk's office, as they may change.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Record search (by name, per year) | $2.00 per year searched |
| Uncertified copy (per page) | $1.00 |
| Document certification | $2.00 per document |
| Copy of document from Official Records | $1.00 per page |
Payment is accepted in person at the clerk's offices. For mail requests, include a check or money order. For electronic payments, check available options on the official clerk's website.
Some records — such as adoption cases, certain juvenile cases, and documents sealed under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 — are not public, and access to them is restricted by law.