Court records of Seminole County, Florida, are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. SeminoleCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about court cases in this county. To obtain marriage, divorce, and other court records, you can also contact the Seminole County Clerk of Court at clerk@seminoleclerk.org or by phone at 407-665-4405. The official portal of Florida Courts and county government resources are additional access points.
Seminole Court System Overview
Seminole County is part of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, which serves two counties — Brevard and Seminole. The state court system is divided into two levels: Circuit Court and County Court. The Circuit Court handles serious criminal cases, large civil claims, family law, and probate matters. The County Court deals with misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil cases with smaller claims. Appeals from the Circuit Court go to the Fifth District Court of Appeal of Florida.
The main courthouse is located at:
Courts Serving Seminole
Residents of the county are served by several courts of different jurisdictions. Below is the contact information for each of them.
Seminole County Circuit Court
Handles felonies, civil cases over $50,000, family law, probate cases, and appeals from the County Court. Details about services are available on the court's page on the Florida Courts portal.
Seminole County Court
Handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, small civil claims, and small claims.
United States District Court — Middle District of Florida (Orlando Division)
The Middle District of Florida covers Seminole along with Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Volusia. It handles federal criminal and civil cases, as well as bankruptcy cases.
What Types of Cases Seminole Courts Hear
The courts of Seminole County have jurisdiction over a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations, including DUI
- Civil claims (large and small) and small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, alimony, protective orders
- Probate cases, guardianship, trusts
- Juvenile cases — offenses and child protection
- Adoption
The specific court that will hear your case depends on its type and the amount of the claim.
District Court Cases in Seminole
The Circuit Court is the higher-level court of general jurisdiction. It handles felony criminal cases after a preliminary hearing in the County Court, civil claims with demands over $50,000, and appeals from the lower court. The Circuit Court judge presides over trials involving murder, robbery, major fraud, and other serious crimes. Cases are administratively distributed among judges, taking into account specialization — some judges exclusively handle criminal or family cases. After a verdict or decision is issued, parties may appeal to the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
Magistrate Court Cases in Seminole
The County Court in Florida serves a role similar to magistrate courts in other states. It handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, preliminary hearings in felony cases, and DUI cases at the arrest and initial hearing stage. Civil claims up to $50,000 also fall under the jurisdiction of the County Court, while small claims cases are limited to $8,000 according to Florida law. Due to the high volume of traffic cases, some County Court judges specialize specifically in this category. If you need to contest a ticket or appear at an arraignment, this will take place here, in the same building at 301 N. Park Avenue.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Seminole
Family Law
Divorce (dissolution of marriage), child custody, alimony, paternity establishment, protective orders from domestic violence — all these are handled by the Circuit Court. To obtain a divorce certificate, you can also contact the Florida Department of Health, which keeps records since June 1927.
Probate and Guardianship
The Probate division of the Circuit Court handles cases regarding the estates of deceased persons, the appointment of guardians for incapacitated individuals, and trust management. Applications can be submitted through the clerk's office.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile offense cases and child protection (Child Protective Act) are heard by a specialized division of the Circuit Court. Juvenile case records are confidential under Florida law — access to them is restricted and requires a court order.
How Cases Move Through the Seminole Court System
- Initiating a Case. A criminal case begins with an arrest or the filing of an indictment. A civil case starts with the filing of a complaint or petition with the court clerk.
- Assignment of a Judge. The clerk registers the case, and the system assigns it to judges with the appropriate specialization.
- First Hearing. In criminal cases, this is an arraignment where charges are read to the defendant. In civil cases, it is a case management conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions. In criminal cases, plea negotiations are possible.
- Trial or Settlement. The case concludes with a jury verdict, judge's decision, settlement agreement, or guilty plea.
- Post-Judgment. Sentencing, filing an appeal, or enforcement of the court's decision.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Seminole
The administrative judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit coordinates the work of the courts in Seminole and Brevard. Information about judges, hearing schedules, phone directories, and court programs can be found on the 18th Judicial Circuit page.
Local rules of court procedure are published on the same portal and on the Florida Courts website.
Public Access to Records
According to the Florida Constitution and the Florida Public Records Act (Chapter 119), most court records are public. Exceptions apply to juvenile cases, certain family cases, sealed and expunged records. The state constitution also guarantees the right to privacy, which affects access restrictions to certain categories of documents.
Attending Hearings
Most hearings are open to the public. Some sessions are held remotely via video conferencing — check the format with the court office or on the 18th Judicial Circuit website before visiting.
Public Records Requests
To obtain county government records (non-court), submit a request through the Seminole County public records portal:
Request court records (marriage, divorce, criminal) directly from the court clerk: clerk@seminoleclerk.org, phone 407-665-4405.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Seminole
- Case Search. The Seminole County Clerk of the Circuit Court provides online access to the case registry. Additionally, appellate cases can be searched through the ACIS system on the Florida Courts portal. For a general search, also refer to SeminoleCourt.us.
- Court Hearing Schedule. The current hearing calendar is available on the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit website and at the court office.
- Court Forms and Self-Help Resources. Standard forms for family, civil, and probate cases are posted on the Florida Courts portal. The court also offers resources for individuals representing themselves (pro se litigants).
- Inmate Records. Information about individuals held at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility can be checked online. A statewide search is available through the Florida county jails and inmate searches catalog.
- Criminal Histories. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) maintains a centralized repository of state criminal records, including background checks.
- Sex Offender Registry. Information can be checked on the official FDLE Sexual Offenders / Predators Search site.
- Property Appraisal. The Seminole County Property Appraiser is a separately elected constitutional position, useful in real estate disputes.
- General County Resources. The official Seminole County Government website provides information about all departments and services.