Access Hernando County Court Records

Hernando County court records are managed by the Clerk of Court in Brooksville. The county sits along Florida's Nature Coast, north of Tampa, with a population around 194,000. The clerk handles all filings for civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases. Court records are public under Florida law unless a judge seals them or a statute makes them confidential. Clerk Doug Chorvat Jr. runs the office and oversees all court records operations. You can search Hernando County court records online through the clerk's website or visit the courthouse in Brooksville in person.

Hernando County Clerk of Court

The Hernando County Clerk of Court is the official custodian of all court records in the county. The main office is at the Hernando County Courthouse in Brooksville, Florida. You can reach the clerk at (352) 754-4402 for questions about records or services. The office handles all case filings, stores court documents, and provides copies to the public. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records in Hernando County are public unless sealed by a judge or exempted by law.

Hernando County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Citrus, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties. This is a large circuit covering central Florida. The circuit court handles felony cases, civil cases over $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile matters. The county court in Hernando covers misdemeanors, small claims up to $8,000, and traffic cases. Both types of court records go through the same clerk's office in Brooksville.

The Hernando County Clerk of Court website is the main hub for court records and clerk services.

The site also has information on official records, marriage licenses, recording services, and jury duty for Hernando County residents.

Hernando County Court Records Search

You can search Hernando County court records online through the clerk's court records page. The system lets you look up cases by party name, case number, or case type. It covers civil, criminal, family, and traffic filings. Searching is free. Fees apply if you need copies of specific documents. Hernando County's clerk office runs its own online search system, which gives you direct access to case data without going through a third-party portal.

The search results show party names, case type, filing dates, and case status. You can view some documents online. Others may need an in-person visit or mail request. Hernando County sees a fair number of filings each year given its population of close to 200,000. The system handles a good volume of cases, so be as specific as you can when searching. Use a full name or case number for the best results.

The Hernando County Clerk also provides an official records search for non-court documents like deeds and liens.

If you are looking for a property record or a lien, use the official records search. For case filings from a civil or criminal matter, use the court records tool instead.

Note: Hernando County's online search system may not include every document from every case. Some items may only be available at the clerk's office in Brooksville.

Public Access to Hernando County Records

Court records in Hernando County are subject to Florida's public access laws. Florida Statute Section 119.0714 tells the clerk to redact personal details from public records. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and similar data get removed before records go online or are handed out. People who file documents in Hernando County must also strip out confidential info before they submit them to the clerk.

Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 sets the rules for which court records are open and which can be restricted. Most records are public. Juvenile cases, mental health records, and files sealed by court order are not. If you believe a Hernando County court record has been wrongly kept from view, you can file a challenge under Rule 2.420. It involves submitting a written request to the court with your reasoning for why the record should be public.

Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14 allows Florida courts to publish public court documents on the internet. Hernando County takes part in this. With a population nearing 200,000, the county has a decent volume of records online. The rules for access are the same as in any other Florida county, big or small. Your right to see a public court record does not change based on where you are searching.

Getting Copies of Hernando County Court Records

Copies of Hernando County court records are available in person at the Brooksville courthouse, through the online system, or by mail. The clerk charges fees set by Florida law. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you need records for a legal matter, the certified version is usually what you want. Walking into the courthouse in Brooksville is the fastest option.

Standard copy fees include:

• Plain copies: $1.00 per page
• Certification fee: $2.00 per document
• Search fee: $2.00 per year per name

For mail requests, write to the Hernando County Clerk of Court in Brooksville. Include the case number, the documents you need, and payment by check or money order. Call the clerk's office first if you need a fee estimate. Mail requests can take a week or more. For new filings, Florida requires electronic submission in most cases. Use the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal for that.

Note: Hernando County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit, so some circuit-level resources and forms may reference all five counties in the circuit together.

State Resources for Hernando County

Statewide tools can help with Hernando County court records. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers site links to every county clerk in the state. The MyFloridaCounty portal handles online payments for court fees in Hernando County and the rest of Florida.

For appellate records, the Appellate Court Information System (ACIS) gives free access to case data from all Florida District Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court. If a Hernando County case went up on appeal, track it through ACIS. The Florida Courts Help center offers free forms and guides for self-represented litigants. These cover common case types like divorce, small claims, and custody disputes.

Cities in Hernando County

Hernando County includes the city of Brooksville (the county seat) and the large unincorporated community of Spring Hill. All court records for Hernando County go through the clerk's office in Brooksville. Pick a city below for more info on court records in that area.

Nearby Counties

Hernando County sits between Pasco County to the south and Citrus County to the north. Each neighboring county has its own clerk and court records system. Use the links below if you need records from a different county.