Hillsborough County Court Records

Court records in Hillsborough County, Florida, are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. HillsboroughCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Hillsborough County. Additional access points include the clerk's electronic records portal, the 13th Judicial Circuit Court website, and in-person visits to the courthouse.

Hillsborough Court System Overview

Hillsborough County is served by Florida's 13th Judicial Circuit, which covers only Hillsborough County. The circuit includes both the Circuit Court (general jurisdiction) and the County Court (limited jurisdiction). The Chief Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit oversees court administration for the county. Appeals from the circuit go to Florida's Second District Court of Appeal, based in Lakeland. The main courthouse is the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse in downtown Tampa.

George E. Edgecomb Courthouse

Courts Serving Hillsborough

Federal cases can be searched through PACER or the Middle District of Florida website. Hillsborough County does not operate separate municipal courts; county and circuit courts handle all state-level matters.

What Types of Cases Hillsborough Courts Hear

Courts in Hillsborough County handle a wide range of case types across both the circuit and county court levels:

• Felonies and misdemeanors
• Criminal traffic and civil traffic infractions
• Civil litigation (all dollar amounts)
• Small claims
• Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence injunctions
• Probate — estates, guardianships, trusts
• Juvenile — delinquency and dependency
• Adoption and termination of parental rights

The sections below explain which court handles each category.

District Court Cases in Hillsborough

The Hillsborough County Circuit Court functions as the trial court of general jurisdiction. It hears felony criminal cases, civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000, family law matters, probate, juvenile cases, and appeals from county court. Felony cases typically begin with an arrest and first appearance in county court before being filed by the State Attorney in circuit court. A circuit judge presides over each case, and assignments are made through the clerk's office based on case type and division. Post-conviction motions — including petitions to seal or expunge records — are also handled at the circuit level.

Magistrate Court Cases in Hillsborough

The Hillsborough County Court handles cases of more limited jurisdiction. This includes misdemeanor criminal cases, criminal traffic offenses, DUI arraignments, civil traffic infractions, and civil disputes where the amount in controversy is $50,000 or less. Small claims cases — those involving $8,000 or less under Florida law — are also filed in county court. County court judges preside over these matters. Due to Hillsborough's large population, judges are often assigned to specific divisions such as traffic, misdemeanor, or small claims to manage caseloads. Felony preliminary hearings and first appearances after arrest also take place in county court before cases are transferred to circuit court.

Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Hillsborough

Family Law: Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence injunctions, and termination of parental rights are handled by the Circuit Court's Family Law Division. Parties may file petitions at the clerk's office or electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

Probate: The Circuit Court's Probate Division oversees decedent estates, guardianships, trusts, and related matters. Guardianship cases in Hillsborough require court-appointed examining committees and ongoing reporting to the court.

Juvenile: Juvenile delinquency and dependency (child protective) cases are heard in the Circuit Court's Juvenile Division. Juvenile court records are confidential under Florida law and are not available through public search portals. The Hillsborough Juvenile Detention Center West serves the county for detained youth.

How Cases Move Through the Hillsborough Court System

1. Filing / Initiation: A case begins when a complaint, petition, or information is filed with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. Criminal cases are initiated by the State Attorney or by arrest.
2. Case Assignment: The clerk assigns the case to a judge based on case type and division. Each case receives a unique case number.
3. Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear at arraignment; civil parties attend a case management or scheduling conference.
4. Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in mediation or plea negotiations.
5. Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to a jury or bench trial, or they resolve through plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
6. Post-Judgment: After disposition, parties may file appeals, motions for new trial, or enforcement actions. Criminal sentences are carried out, and the clerk records the final judgment.

Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Hillsborough

The Chief Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit is the chief administrative officer for all courts in Hillsborough County. A Trial Court Administrator assists with day-to-day operations. Local administrative orders and rules for the 13th Circuit are published on the 13th Judicial Circuit website.

Public access to records: Under Florida's Public Records Act (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes), most court records are open to the public. Exceptions include sealed or expunged records, juvenile records, certain family law filings involving minors, and records protected by court order. The Florida Supreme Court also sets statewide policies on electronic access to court records.

Attending hearings: Most hearings in Hillsborough County are open to the public. Some proceedings are conducted remotely via Zoom or telephone, particularly in certain civil and family law divisions. Check the 13th Judicial Circuit website or contact the division clerk for hearing format details.

Trial Court Administrator's Office

Court Records and Related Court Resources in Hillsborough

• Court case search: The HOVER portal provides electronic viewing of circuit and county court case records for the 13th Judicial Circuit, including case dockets, filings, and disposition information.
• Official records search: Use the official records search to find recorded documents such as deeds, liens, and marriage licenses. Copies are $1.00 per page; certified copies cost an additional $2.00 per document.
• Public records requests: The clerk handles requests for court records, marriage records, divorce records, and other documents through the public records request page.
• Arrest and jail inquiry: The HCSO Arrest Inquiry tool shows current inmates, charges, bond amounts, and booking photos. Arrest records are public under Florida law unless sealed or expunged.
• Statewide criminal history: For background checks beyond Hillsborough, contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at (850) 410-8109.
• Florida Department of Corrections inmate search: The FDC website offers an offender search for individuals in state prison or on community supervision.
• Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are available through the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County. Divorce reports cost $5.00 for the first certification.
• Court forms and self-help: The Florida Courts website provides approved court forms for family law, small claims, landlord-tenant, and other common case types.
• Law library: The James J. Lunsford Law Library in the Hillsborough County Public Library system is open to the public for legal research.
• Property records: The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser maintains ownership, assessed value, and exemption data for all parcels in the county.