Hillsborough County Court Records
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Court records in Hillsborough County document the full arc of legal proceedings—from initial filings and affidavits through final judgments and orders. These documents come in many forms, including written pleadings, audio and video recordings, photographs, dockets, transcripts, and documentary exhibits, all governed by Florida Statute 28.24. The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller is the official custodian of these records for Hillsborough County, Florida, maintaining everything from minor civil disputes to felony criminal proceedings.
If you're just getting your bearings, FloridaStateCourts.us offers a useful orientation to Florida's judicial structure and statewide case lookup options. For Hillsborough County specifically, records are accessible through the Clerk's online portal, in person at courthouse locations, by mail, and at public-access terminals inside court facilities. The sections below walk through each method for each record type so you can find the fastest path to what you need.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Hillsborough County?
Start with the Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records (HOVER) system, maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. HOVER gives the public free electronic access to court case indexes, dockets, and non-confidential document images—no account required for basic searches.
Searching on HOVER
The HOVER case search supports several search methods:
- Case number or uniform case number
- Citation number
- Party or business name
- Date range, combined with court type and case type
- Court hearing lookup by case number
In-Person Access
If you want to inspect a physical case file, you'll need to pre-order it before showing up at a courthouse. Here's how that process works:
- Search for the case on HOVER to confirm the file exists and check its availability in the Event and Document tab.
- Click the Order button within HOVER to choose an inspection location—either Tampa Edgecomb or Plant City.
- Enter your name and email address so you'll receive a pickup notification.
- Join the queue or schedule an appointment before you arrive.
- Check the Before You Visit guide for location-specific instructions.
By Mail
Mail your request to the courthouse that handled the case. Include the case number, party names, a list of the documents you need, your contact information, and a self-addressed stamped envelope with payment enclosed.
Certified Copies
Certified copies can be ordered through HOVER or via the eCertify portal. Certification costs $2.00 per document. Photocopies of instruments up to 8.5 × 14 inches run $1.00 per page; oversized pages (larger than 8.5 × 14 inches) cost $5.00 per page. For documents not yet available online, in-person and mail requests typically take up to four business days to process.
Are Court Records Public in Hillsborough County?
Florida's open-government framework—commonly called the Florida Sunshine Law—creates a strong presumption of public access to government records, including court records. Most Hillsborough County court documents are therefore available to any member of the public on request.
The practical details of that access are spelled out in Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420, which governs how court records are classified and protected. That rule also identifies specific categories that are confidential and not open for general inspection.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
- Adoption records (sealed by statute)
- Records involving child abuse, neglect, abandonment, or dependency proceedings
- Termination of parental rights and guardian ad litem matters
- Juvenile delinquency records in most circumstances
- Personal financial identifiers embedded in any filing—including Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit/debit card numbers—which must be redacted before public release
- Case files governed by the Florida Probate Rules, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, or Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure, whose document images cannot appear on publicly accessible websites under Florida Statute 28.2221(5)(a)
Sealed and expunged records are also withheld from public view. The Clerk charges $42.00 to seal a court file or expunge a record, with additional costs for copies and certification.
Hillsborough County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in Hillsborough County are handled by the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court, which has felony jurisdiction, and the county courts, which cover misdemeanors, criminal traffic offenses, and domestic violence-related misdemeanor matters. Records from both court levels are searchable through HOVER at no charge for indexes and dockets.
Court Locations for Criminal Matters
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| George E. Edgecomb Courthouse | 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602 | (813) 276-8100 |
| Plant City Courthouse | 301 N. Michigan Avenue, Plant City, FL 33563 | (813) 276-8100 |
| Brandon Regional Service Center | 311 Pauls Drive, Suite 110, Brandon, FL 33511 | (813) 276-8100 |
| Southshore Regional Service Center | 410 30th Street SE, Ruskin, FL 33570 | (813) 276-8100 |
Arrest Records
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office publishes basic arrest record information on its public website. Detailed arrest reports are generally restricted to authorized parties such as law enforcement and the judiciary. For final case dispositions, contact the Clerk of Court directly.
Statewide Criminal History Searches
If you need a background check that goes beyond Hillsborough County, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) offers name-based criminal history searches for $24.00 per search, plus a $1.00 credit card processing fee. Payment must be by debit or credit card. Searches are available as instant, certified, or ORI-based depending on your purpose.
Under Florida's Sunshine Law, criminal and arrest records are generally public and can be requested by any resident. Records that have been sealed or expunged, however, are exempt from public disclosure and cannot be released to most requesters.
Hillsborough County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Hillsborough County are divided between two court levels based on the dollar amount in dispute. County courts handle civil claims where the value does not exceed $50,000—including small claims, evictions, and disputes over property, car repairs, payment of judgments, and return of personal property. Circuit courts take over for civil matters above that threshold, including land disputes and cases seeking injunctive or equitable relief.
The Clerk's Circuit Civil division manages filings for higher-value disputes and maintains all related case documentation. County-level civil matters are handled by the county civil desk.
Online Access
HOVER provides free access to civil court indexes, dockets, and non-confidential document images. Registered and guest users have the same base level of access, though the system restricts image viewing for certain case types governed by specific Florida procedural rules.
Civil Filing Fees (Selected)
The Clerk publishes a complete fees and fines schedule on the official website. A sample of civil-related fees includes:
- Issuing a summons: $10.00
- Receiving money into the court registry — first $500: 3%; each subsequent $100: 1.5%
- Certificate of transfer of liens to security: $15.00 (plus $7.50 per additional lien)
- Certifying copies: $2.00 per document
- Photocopying (up to 8.5 × 14 inches): $1.00 per page
Requesting Civil Records In Person or By Mail
For paper files not yet digitized, pre-order through HOVER, then schedule an appointment and visit either the Tampa Edgecomb or Plant City courthouse. Allow up to four business days for processing. Mail requests require the case number, party names, a document list, and prepayment by check or money order made payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller.
Hillsborough County Family Court Records
Hillsborough County does not have a standalone family court. Instead, all family law matters fall under the circuit courts within the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. The Clerk's Family Law division processes filings and maintains case records for divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence injunctions, and adoption proceedings.
Online Access Restrictions
Family court records carry an important restriction. Under Florida Statute 28.2221(5)(a), unregistered HOVER users cannot view document images in cases governed by the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure. Civil Sexual Violence Injunction cases are not searchable or viewable online at all, though case progress dockets may still be accessible. Registered users with proper authorization may access non-confidential family records through HOVER.
Marriage and Divorce Records
Hillsborough County marriage records date back to 1836. Records from 1972 onward can be searched online through the Official Records index using at least one spouse's name at the time of marriage. For older records predating 1972, the University of South Florida's digital archive is your best resource. Statewide marriage data is maintained by the Florida Office of Vital Statistics.
Certified copies of marriage records cost $3.00 and can be ordered through several channels:
- Online:eCertify for Official Records
- By mail: Clerk of Court Marriage, P.O. Box 3249, Tampa, FL 33601-3249 (processing: 4–6 business days; payment by check or money order payable to Clerk of the Circuit Court)
- By phone: (813) 276-8100 (processing: 2–3 business days; payment by credit card with a 3.5% processing surcharge)
- In person: Any Clerk office location; same-day service; cash, check, money order, or credit card accepted (3.5% surcharge for credit card)
Divorce records are searchable through HOVER. Copies can be ordered online, by phone at (813) 276-8100, by mail, or in person at any Clerk location. Call (813) 276-8100 to confirm the applicable fee before submitting a mail request.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death records are frequently needed alongside family court filings, though they are maintained separately from court files. Hillsborough County birth certificates are restricted until 100 years after issuance and are available only to the subject (if age 18 or older), a parent, or a legal guardian. Death certificates are generally public, though cause-of-death information carries additional restrictions.
Direct requests to:
Florida Department of Health – Hillsborough County, Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 5135, Tampa, Florida 33675-5135
Phone: (813) 307-8002 | Fax: (813) 903-3370
Email: DLCHD29WebsiteDistribution@flhealth.gov
Additional guidance is available on the Florida Health pages for birth certificates and death certificates.
Hillsborough County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Hillsborough County belongs to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, specifically through its Probate, Guardianship, and Trust Department. This department maintains files on probate estates, wills, trusts, and guardianships for both minors and incapacitated adults, and it also stores deposited wills. You can find more information about the department's scope on the Probate, Guardianship, and Trust page of the Clerk's official website.
What Is Public and What Is Restricted
Most probate records are public under Florida law, but two important exceptions apply:
- Inventories and accountings filed in estate proceedings are confidential—accessible only to authorized individuals, personal representatives, or interested parties as defined under Florida probate statutes.
- Document images in cases governed by the Florida Probate Rules cannot appear on publicly accessible websites, so the Clerk cannot post these images on HOVER for unrestricted public viewing.
Non-confidential probate cases can be viewed online by authorized parties through HOVER. Dockets and case indexes for probate matters remain searchable even when document images are restricted.
Accessing Probate Records
- Online: Search HOVER by party name, case number, or date range. Authorized users may be able to view non-confidential document images.
- In person: Pre-order the file through HOVER, then schedule an appointment or join the queue at the Tampa Edgecomb or Plant City courthouse. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number if you have it.
- By mail: Submit a written request to the Clerk's office holding the file. Include the case number, party names, a list of requested documents, your contact information, and payment. Allow up to four business days for processing.
Probate Fees
Fees follow the same schedule as other court records: $1.00 per page for standard photocopies, $2.00 to certify a document, and $5.00 per page for oversized documents. Court forms are available through the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit's website, with paper copies ranging from $5.00 to $20.00 depending on the form. Florida Supreme Court forms are also available to download at no charge from the same site.
Guardianship Matters
Guardianships for both minors and incapacitated persons are filed within the Probate, Guardianship, and Trust Department. Florida law generally requires attorney representation for most guardianship petitions. For eligible petitioners—particularly those seeking guardian advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities who do not require full guardianship—the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit provides Guardian Advocacy Forms. Individuals who are hearing impaired and involved in guardianship proceedings may reach the court by TTY at (800) 955-8770.