Tampa Court Records

Tampa court records are held by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court at 800 E. Twiggs Street in downtown Tampa. As the county seat of Hillsborough County, Tampa is home to the main courthouse and all circuit and county court operations for the 13th Judicial Circuit.

Hillsborough County Clerk of Court

The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court is the official custodian of all court records in Tampa. This office files, stores, and maintains case records for every division of court in the 13th Judicial Circuit. Civil suits, criminal cases, family law matters, and traffic citations all go through this one clerk's office.

Tampa is the county seat. That means the main courthouse sits right in the city. You can walk in and ask to see a case file during business hours. The clerk also runs branch offices around the county, but the downtown Tampa location is where most filings happen. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records are public. Anyone can look them up. You do not need to give a reason or show ID to view a case file in Tampa.

The Hillsborough County Clerk's homepage gives you direct access to court records, official records, and other services for Tampa residents.

From the site you can also check jury duty status, look up marriage licenses, and find forms for self-represented litigants. Tampa residents handle a lot of court business online now, which cuts down on trips to the courthouse.

Search Court Records in Tampa

The HOVER portal is the main way to search court records in Tampa online. HOVER lets you look up cases by name, case number, or date range. The system covers civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases filed in Hillsborough County.

Basic searches are free. You can check a case status or look up a court date without paying anything. HOVER shows party names, filing dates, docket entries, and scheduled hearings for most Tampa cases. Some document images are also available for viewing.

If you need copies, certified copies cost $1 per page. You can order them from the clerk's office in person or by mail. The clerk also provides electronic copies through its website. Under Florida Statute 119.0714, the clerk must keep certain personal data out of public view. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and dates of birth are redacted from online records in Tampa without you having to file a request.

For searches that come back with too many results, add a middle name or narrow the date range. The HOVER system runs 24 hours a day, so you can search Tampa court records at any time.

Family Law Records in Tampa

Family court records in Tampa include divorce filings, child custody orders, paternity cases, and domestic violence injunctions. The clerk's family law page has info on filing procedures, forms, and fee schedules for these case types.

The family law section of the Hillsborough clerk site walks you through the filing process for Tampa residents.

Some family records have limits on who can see them. Child abuse and dependency files are confidential by law. Domestic violence injunctions are public, but victim addresses may be kept out of the file. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 sets out what records can be sealed or made confidential. If a judge issues a sealing order, those records will not show up in a public search in Tampa.

Tampa residents can file family law documents through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. E-filing is required for attorneys and available for self-represented parties. The portal is open 24/7. Filing is free, but you still pay court fees. Credit card processing fees apply.

Records and Reports

The clerk's records and reports page gives Tampa residents access to official records, recorded documents, and court-related reports. This includes deeds, liens, judgments, and other instruments that get recorded with the clerk. You can search by name or document number.

Official records are different from court case records. A court case has a docket with filings and orders. An official record is a document that has been recorded for public notice, like a deed or a lien. Both types are public in Tampa. The search tools are separate, though, so make sure you are looking in the right place.

The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers site connects all 67 county clerks in the state. You can use it to pay fines, search records, or find a clerk's contact info. For Tampa, you will be directed to the Hillsborough County Clerk. The Florida Courts Help center offers free forms and guides for people who need to handle court matters on their own.

Criminal Court Records in Tampa

Criminal cases in Tampa go through the 13th Judicial Circuit. Felonies are heard at the circuit court level. Misdemeanors and ordinance violations stay in county court. The clerk stores records for both levels. You can search criminal cases through the HOVER portal.

Arrest records and booking info come from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, not the clerk. The clerk handles court records only. If you want to check on a pending criminal case in Tampa, the HOVER system shows charges, court dates, and case status.

Per Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14, the clerk can post court document images online for public viewing. Sealed or expunged cases are excluded from search results. Tampa sees a large number of criminal filings each year given its size, so use specific search terms when looking up cases. The MyFloridaCounty.com portal lets you pay court fines and fees online for Tampa cases.

How to Get Court Records in Tampa

There are three ways to get court records in Tampa. You can search online, go in person, or send a mail request.

Online is the fastest option. Use the HOVER portal for court case records. Search results show up right away. For official records like deeds or liens, use the records and reports tool on the clerk's site. Both are free to search.

In person, visit the clerk at 800 E. Twiggs Street in downtown Tampa. The office is open Monday through Friday during business hours. Bring a photo ID if you plan to pick up certified copies. You can also view case files at the courthouse. Staff at the front desk can point you in the right direction.

By mail, send a written request to the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court at the Tampa address. Include the case number if you have it, or the full names of the parties and an approximate filing date. Add payment for copies if needed. The clerk will process your request and mail back what you need. Allow extra time for mail delivery. Tampa is part of Hillsborough County, and the clerk handles records for the entire county from this office.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Tampa in the Tampa Bay area. Court records for each city are handled by their county clerk's office.