Divorce records in Hillsborough County, Florida, can be accessed through several channels. HillsboroughCourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information. You can also obtain records directly from the circuit court that issued the decree, the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court, or the Florida Department of Health's vital records office. The type of document you need — a full court file or a divorce certificate — determines which office to contact.
Hillsborough Divorce Records Search
Divorce records in Hillsborough County are maintained by two separate offices, each holding a different type of document. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller, serving the 13th Judicial Circuit, keeps the complete court case files — including the final judgment of dissolution of marriage, property settlement agreements, parenting plans, custody orders, and all motions and filings associated with the case. The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County maintains divorce certificates, which are shorter documents that verify a divorce took place without including the full case details.
Many court records can be searched electronically through the clerk's HOVER online portal, which provides electronic viewing of case information for the 13th Judicial Circuit. Under Florida's Public Records Act (Chapter 119), divorce records are generally public unless a court has ordered them sealed or made them confidential.
Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Hillsborough
In Florida, divorce cases (formally called "dissolution of marriage") are handled by the circuit court. In Hillsborough County, that is the Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial Circuit. After a judge signs the final judgment, the Clerk of Court files and maintains the complete case record. A separate divorce certificate is reported to the Florida Department of Health.
Which office you contact depends on what you need:
- Full court record (final judgment, settlement agreement, custody orders, filings): Contact the Clerk of Court.
- Divorce certificate (a brief verification that the divorce occurred): Contact the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County.
Hillsborough County Clerk of Court — Court Records
Search court records online through the clerk's court records search page or submit a public records request.
Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County — Divorce Certificates
The local health department office issues divorce certificates for divorces that were finalized in Hillsborough County. You can also request divorce records from the Florida Department of Health at the state level for divorces that occurred anywhere in Florida from June 6, 1927, forward.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Hillsborough
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce certificate (first certification) — DOH Hillsborough | $5.00 | Same day to several business days (in person) |
| Each additional certification of the same divorce record — DOH Hillsborough | $4.00 | Same day to several business days (in person) |
| Court record copies — Clerk of Court | $1.00 per page | Varies; typically 1–5 business days |
| Certified copy surcharge — Clerk of Court | Additional $2.00 per document | Varies; typically 1–5 business days |