Access Pinellas County Court Records
Pinellas County court records are held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in Clearwater, Florida. The clerk handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic filings for the 6th Judicial Circuit. With close to 980,000 residents, Pinellas County is one of the most densely populated counties in the state. Court Records View is a free online tool that lets anyone search non-confidential case files from home. You can also visit the clerk's office at 315 Court Street in Clearwater to view court records in person.
Pinellas County Quick Facts
Pinellas County Clerk of Court
Ken Burke, CPA serves as the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller for Pinellas County. The clerk's office is the official keeper of all court records in the county. This includes every case filed in Circuit Court and County Court within the 6th Judicial Circuit. The office takes in new filings, stores case files, issues copies, and gives the public access to records under Florida law.
The main office of the Pinellas County Clerk is at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, Florida 33756. You can call (727) 464-7000 for help with court records in Pinellas County. Walk-in visitors can view case files during business hours. Staff can help you look up cases by name or case number and can make copies for you. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records in Pinellas County are open to the public unless sealed by a judge or made confidential by a specific law. The clerk strips out social security numbers, bank account numbers, and other protected data from public view on its own, as required by Section 119.0714.
The Pinellas County Clerk homepage at mypinellasclerk.gov shows all the services available to the public.
From this page, you can reach court records search, official records, and other clerk services in Pinellas County.
| Clerk | Ken Burke, CPA |
|---|---|
| Address | 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 |
| Phone | (727) 464-7000 |
| Website | mypinellasclerk.gov |
Search Pinellas County Court Records
Court Records View is a free online service from the Pinellas County Clerk. It is the main tool for searching court records in the county. The public access search lets you look up cases by name, case number, attorney, or court calendar. You do not need an account for basic searches. Just type in what you know and the system pulls up matching results from Pinellas County court records.
When you search, each case listing shows the case number, party names, case type, and status. Documents with a Public icon are available for viewing right away. If a document has a Confidential or Sealed status, only users with proper account rights can see it. Some documents have a View On Request (VOR) tag, which means the clerk will review your request before granting access to those Pinellas County court records. The system uses a Captcha to verify users, and it may log you out after a period of no activity for security.
The View Records page on the Pinellas County Clerk's site explains how the search tool works and what you can expect to find.
The page walks through different search options and document access levels for Pinellas County court records.
Under Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14, the clerk can post public court document images online for viewing. Many documents in Pinellas County are now available as images you can read on screen. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 controls what stays public and what stays sealed. The clerk follows these rules when deciding which Pinellas County court records to display. Sealed cases and documents protected by statute will not appear in search results.
Note: Juvenile delinquency and dependency court case information is currently not available through the online search tool in Pinellas County.
Pinellas County Official Records Search
The clerk maintains official records that are separate from court records in Pinellas County. Official records include deeds, mortgages, liens, and other documents filed for recording. The Pinellas County official records portal lets you search these by name, instrument number, or document type. This system is free and open to the public.
Do not confuse official records with court records when searching in Pinellas County. Court records come from lawsuits, criminal cases, family law matters, and other cases filed with the court. Official records come from documents that people record with the clerk, such as property deeds and satisfaction of liens. If you need a case file, use Court Records View. If you need a recorded document, use the official records portal for Pinellas County. Both are free for basic lookups, but they pull from different databases.
Copies of Pinellas County Court Records
Getting copies of court records in Pinellas County depends on the type of case. The clerk has set up different contact points for each division. For civil court record copies, email civilcert@mypinellasclerk.gov. For probate records, email probate@mypinellasclerk.gov. Criminal case copies go through circuitcrim@mypinellasclerk.gov. Official records copy requests use orcopy@mypinellasclerk.gov. Using the right email gets your request to the right team faster in Pinellas County.
Certified copies must be sent by mail from the Pinellas County Clerk's office. These carry the clerk's seal and serve as proof of the record. Uncertified copies are simpler and can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to you. If you need copies on a regular basis, the clerk offers a deposit account. You can set one up through the Clerk's Accounting Department at 315 Court Street, Room 449, Clearwater, FL 33756, or fax your request to (727) 453-7666. The deposit account lets you pay in advance and draw down the balance as you order Pinellas County court records.
The Find-A-Service page on the clerk's site can help you figure out which division handles the records you need in Pinellas County.
This page also links to forms, payment options, and contact details for each division of the Pinellas County Clerk's office.
Court Records by Case Type in Pinellas
The 6th Judicial Circuit handles many kinds of cases in Pinellas County. Civil cases include lawsuits over money, property disputes, and foreclosures. Family law cases cover divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and domestic violence injunctions. Probate cases deal with wills, estates, trusts, and guardianships. Each case type creates its own set of court records that the Pinellas County Clerk files and stores.
The criminal and juvenile division handles felony and misdemeanor cases in Pinellas County. Felonies go to Circuit Court. Misdemeanors go to County Court. Traffic cases and small claims also fall under County Court. Criminal court records include arrest warrants, charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and probation records. All of these are public in Pinellas County unless sealed by a judge. Juvenile cases are the exception. Most juvenile records are confidential under Florida law and not available through the public search system.
Each case in Pinellas County has a progress docket that logs every action. This docket is part of the court record. It shows when documents were filed, when hearings took place, and what the judge ordered. Under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, the public can access all judicial branch records except those covered by a specific exemption. Draft opinions and internal memoranda are among the items that do not go in the public file for Pinellas County court records.
Legal Help in Pinellas County
Free and low-cost legal help is available in Pinellas County from several groups. Gulfcoast Legal Services has offices in Clearwater and St. Petersburg. They help with family law, housing, public benefits, and consumer matters. If you qualify based on income, they can help you with court filings at no cost. Community Law Program also provides free legal help to residents of Pinellas County who cannot afford an attorney.
The Florida Courts Help center offers free court forms and self-help guides. All Florida court forms are approved by the Supreme Court and can be used in Pinellas County. The 6th Judicial Circuit has a self-help center where staff can help you find the right forms and explain the filing process. They cannot give legal advice, but they can point you to the right resources. For e-filing, the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal handles all new filings in Pinellas County around the clock.
Note: The MyFloridaCounty.com portal lets you pay court fees and fines online for Pinellas County and all other Florida counties.
Cities in Pinellas County
Pinellas County has several large cities. All court records for these cities are filed at the Pinellas County Clerk of Court in Clearwater. Select a city below to learn more about court records access in that area.
Other cities in Pinellas County include Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Park, Seminole, and Tarpon Springs. All of these file court cases through the Pinellas County Clerk.
Nearby Counties
Pinellas County sits on a peninsula west of Tampa Bay. If your case involves parties in a neighboring county, check which county has jurisdiction before you file. You must use the correct county clerk for your court records.