Indian River County Court Records
Indian River County court records are managed by the Clerk of Court in Vero Beach. Located on Florida's Treasure Coast, Indian River County has a population around 165,000. The clerk files and stores all civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases for the county. Court records are public under Florida law unless sealed by a judge or made confidential by statute. Clerk Jeffrey R. Smith oversees the office and all court records operations. You can search Indian River County case filings online through the clerk's website or visit the courthouse in Vero Beach in person.
Indian River County Quick Facts
Indian River County Clerk of Court
The Indian River County Clerk of Court is the official custodian of all court records in the county. The main office is at the Indian River County Courthouse in Vero Beach, Florida. Call (772) 770-5185 for questions about records or clerk services. The office handles all case filings, maintains court documents, and releases copies to the public. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records in Indian River County are open to the public unless sealed by a judge or exempted by law.
Indian River County is part of the 19th Judicial Circuit along with Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties. This circuit covers much of the Treasure Coast region. The circuit court handles felony cases, civil cases above $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile matters. The county court in Indian River covers misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic cases. Both court levels use the same clerk's office in Vero Beach. If you are not sure which court handled your case, the clerk's staff can point you in the right direction.
The Indian River County Clerk of Court website is the main hub for court records and clerk services.
The site also has info on official records searches, marriage licenses, jury service, and other functions the clerk provides to Indian River County residents.
| Office | Indian River County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Jeffrey R. Smith |
| Phone | (772) 770-5185 |
| Website | indianriverclerk.com |
Indian River County Court Records Search
Indian River County court records can be searched 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 want copies of specific documents. Indian River County runs its own online search, giving you direct access to the clerk's database without going through a third-party system.
Search results show party names, case type, filing date, and case status. You can view some documents right from the results. Others may need an in-person visit or a written request. Indian River County has a moderate case volume for its population. Try to use a full name or case number for accurate results. Partial name searches can return a long list of matches, especially for common last names.
The Indian River County Clerk provides a dedicated court records search tool for case lookups.
The search tool is separate from the official records search, which covers deeds, liens, and other recorded documents. Make sure you are using the right search for what you need.
The clerk also maintains an official records search for non-court public documents in Indian River County.
If you need a property deed or lien record, use the official records search. For case filings from civil or criminal court matters, use the court records tool.
Note: Indian River County's online system may not contain every document from every case. Some older or sensitive filings may only be available in person at the Vero Beach courthouse.
Public Access to Indian River County Records
Court records in Indian River County fall under Florida's public access laws. Florida Statute Section 119.0714 requires the clerk to redact certain personal information from public records. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and similar data get removed before records are released. Filers in Indian River County also have a duty to strip confidential info from documents before they submit them.
Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 sets the rules for sealing and restricting court records. Most records are public. Juvenile cases, mental health proceedings, and records sealed by a judge are not available for public review. If you think an Indian River County court record is being wrongly withheld, you can file a challenge under Rule 2.420. This involves a written request to the court.
Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14 allows courts to post public documents on the internet. Indian River County participates in this. With a population over 160,000, the county has a good volume of records online. The legal right to access public records is the same in Indian River County as it is anywhere in Florida. A public record is a public record, regardless of which county holds it.
Getting Copies of Indian River County Court Records
You can get copies of Indian River County court records in person at the Vero Beach courthouse, through the online system, or by mail. Standard fees set by Florida law apply. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you need records for a court case or legal proceeding, the certified version is the way to go. In-person visits are the quickest option.
Common copy fees:
- Plain copies: $1.00 per page
- Certification fee: $2.00 per document
- Search fee: $2.00 per year per name
For a mail request, write to the Indian River County Clerk of Court in Vero Beach. Include the case number, the documents you want, and a check or money order for the fees. Call ahead for a cost estimate if needed. Mail requests can take a week or more. New court filings must be submitted electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal in most cases.
Note: Indian River County shares the 19th Judicial Circuit with Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties. Some circuit-level resources and forms may reference all four counties.
State Resources for Indian River County
Several statewide tools can assist with Indian River County court records. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website links to every county clerk in the state. The MyFloridaCounty portal processes online payments for court fees in Indian River County and the rest of Florida.
For appellate records, the Appellate Court Information System (ACIS) gives free access to case data from Florida's District Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court. If an Indian River County case was appealed, you can track it on ACIS. The Florida Courts Help center provides free forms and guides for self-represented parties. These cover common case types like divorce, custody, and small claims that come up in Indian River County courts.
Cities in Indian River County
Indian River County includes Vero Beach (the county seat), Sebastian, and Fellsmere. All court records for Indian River County are filed and stored at the clerk's office in Vero Beach. There are no major cities in Indian River County with separate pages on this site, but the same clerk's office serves all residents throughout the county regardless of where they live.
Nearby Counties
Indian River County sits on Florida's east coast between St. Lucie County to the south and Brevard 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.