Osceola County Court Records Search
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Osceola County is situated in central Florida with its county seat in Kissimmee. The county falls within the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida, which also serves Orange County. Court operations in Osceola County are split between the Circuit Court, which exercises general jurisdiction over felonies, major civil disputes, family law, juvenile matters, and probate, and the County Court, which handles misdemeanors, traffic infractions, small claims, and lower-value civil cases. The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller serves as the official custodian of all court records generated within the county, maintaining case filings, dockets, orders, judgments, transcripts, and documentary exhibits across every division.
Residents and members of the public looking for court records in Florida can draw on several official resources. The Osceola County Clerk of Court operates an online case search system, and public-access terminals are available at courthouse locations during business hours. Written requests may also be directed to the Clerk by mail or in person. For those seeking court case information across the state, FloridaStateCourts.us may assist in locating publicly available records and navigating Florida’s unified court structure. The Ninth Judicial Circuit’s own website provides division-specific information, hearing calendars, and procedural guidance for Osceola County courts.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Osceola County?
Several pathways exist for locating a court case in Osceola County, whether the searcher prefers online tools, an in-person visit, or a written request.
Online Case Search
The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains an online records search portal that allows members of the public to look up case indexes, dockets, and non-confidential document images free of charge. Searches may be conducted by:
- Party name (first and last)
- Case number
- Citation number
- Case type and date range
Search results typically display the case number, party names, case type, case status, and filing date. Access to certain document images beyond publicly available indexes may require registration through the Clerk’s electronic access program, as authorized under Florida Statute 28.2221(5)(a).
The Ninth Judicial Circuit Court website provides additional resources, including division assignments, judicial directories, and links to court forms.
In-Person Search
Requesters may visit the Clerk’s office or the Osceola County Courthouse to conduct searches at public terminals or request assistance from Clerk staff.
Osceola County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Address: 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741
Phone: (407) 742-3500
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Osceola County Courthouse
Address: 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741
Phone: (407) 742-2000
By Mail or Email
Written requests should be directed to the Clerk’s office at 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741. Requests should identify the case by number or party name and include prepayment for applicable copy fees. The Clerk’s office may also be contacted by phone at (407) 742-3500 for general inquiries about record availability.
Standard Copy Fees Under Florida Statute 28.24
Fees established by Florida Statute 28.24 govern charges for court record services statewide:
- Photographic copies (up to 14" × 8½"): $1.00 per page
- Photographic copies (larger than 14" × 8½"): $5.00 per page
- Certification of a court record: $2.00 per certification
- Search of court records: $2.00 per year searched
- Exemplified certificate: $7.00
- Sealing a court file or expungement processing: $42.00
Are Court Records Public in Osceola County?
Court records in Osceola County are presumptively open to public inspection. Two primary legal frameworks govern access. Florida’s Public Records Law, Chapter 119, establishes the general right of any person to inspect and copy public records held by government agencies, including the Clerk of Court. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 specifically addresses public access to judicial branch records and identifies the categories of records that are confidential or exempt from disclosure.
Records exempt from public access include:
- Internal memoranda and advisory opinions concerning court administration
- Complaints alleging judicial misconduct before formal proceedings are initiated
- Identities and qualifications of individuals seeking unpaid volunteer court positions
- Unexecuted arrest warrants, search warrants, and supporting affidavits
- Records designated confidential by federal or state law, or by the Florida or U.S. Constitution
- Records sealed pursuant to court order
Sensitive Information Protections
Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.425 imposes strict requirements on filers to minimize sensitive personal data in court documents. No filing may contain a complete Social Security number, bank account number, or credit or debit card number. Identification numbers, telephone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, and PINs must appear only in truncated form. Minors may be identified only by their initials.
Any person may submit a written request asking the Clerk to remove from its public website an image or copy of a military record, death certificate, or court file governed by the Florida Rules of Family Law, Juvenile Procedure, or Probate Rules. The request must specify the document and page number and may be delivered by mail, fax, electronic transmission, or in person. No fee is charged for this removal under F.S. 28.2221(5)©. Individuals whose Social Security or financial account numbers appear in a court record may also request removal.
Subscriber Access
The Florida Supreme Court has authorized clerks statewide, including the Osceola County Clerk, to offer tiered electronic access to court records based on the user’s identity and relationship to the case. Attorneys, parties to a case, governmental agencies, and law enforcement may apply for enhanced access by entering into a subscriber agreement with the Clerk’s office.
Osceola County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in Osceola County are heard by the Circuit Court for felony matters and by the County Court for misdemeanor offenses and criminal traffic violations. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains all records generated in criminal cases, including informations, indictments, arraignment minutes, plea documents, sentencing orders, and judgments.
How to Search Criminal Case Records
- Visit the Clerk’s online case search system and select the criminal case category. Enter the defendant’s name or case number and review results.
- Go to the Clerk’s office at 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741, during regular business hours to request records at a public terminal or through staff assistance.
- Submit a written request by mail to the Clerk’s office, including identifying details and applicable fees.
Arrest Records and Criminal Background Checks
Arrest records are maintained separately by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff provides an online inmate search tool for individuals currently in custody at the Osceola County Jail. Booking information and recent arrest data can typically be accessed through the Sheriff’s website.
For local background checks, requests may be directed to the Sheriff’s Records Section:
Osceola County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 2601 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, FL 34744
Phone: (407) 348-2222
Background check requests generally require the subject’s correctly spelled full legal name, date of birth, race, and sex. Any previously used surnames should also be included. Requests submitted by mail must include a self-addressed stamped envelope and the required fee.
Statewide and National Criminal History Searches
For searches beyond Osceola County, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) offers statewide criminal history record checks through its online system. FDLE’s Computerized Criminal History database can be queried by authorized users and, for certain purposes, by the general public. National criminal history checks may be obtained through the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division.
Accident Report Confidentiality
Under Florida Statute 316.066, crash reports containing personal information about the parties involved are confidential and exempt from public disclosure for 60 days after the date the report is filed. During this period, access is limited to the parties involved in the crash, their legal representatives, licensed insurance agents, insurers, law enforcement agencies, qualified media outlets, and victim services programs.
Osceola County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Osceola County is divided between the Circuit Court and the County Court based on the amount in controversy and subject matter. The Circuit Court handles civil actions where the amount in dispute exceeds the statutory threshold, including contract disputes, personal injury claims, mortgage foreclosures, and real property matters. The County Court adjudicates small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil matters below the circuit threshold. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains all civil case records, from initial complaints through final judgments.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case records are accessible through the same online records portal used for all case types. Users may search by party name, case number, or case type and date range to locate specific filings.
Selected Civil Filing Fees
Filing fees for civil cases in Florida’s circuit courts are established by F.S. 28.241 and apply uniformly across counties. Representative amounts include:
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Civil action (Circuit Court, exceeding $50,000) | $400.00 |
| Mortgage foreclosure ($50,001–$250,000) | $905.00 |
| Mortgage foreclosure ($250,001 or more) | $1,905.00 |
| Cross-claim, counterclaim, or third-party complaint | $395.00 |
| Garnishment action (per garnishee) | $85.00 |
| Reopening a circuit court case (F.S. 28.241) | $50.00 |
| Non-resident cost bond | $100.00 |
| Appeal from County Court to Circuit Court | $281.00 |
Additional charges apply for service of process, bond approvals ($8.50), and preparation of appellate records ($3.50 per instrument). The Clerk’s office can provide a complete and current fee schedule upon request.
Small Claims
County Court small claims actions carry lower filing fees that vary by the amount claimed. Small claims forms and procedural information are available through the Ninth Judicial Circuit Self-Help Center, which provides guides, court forms, and instructions for self-represented litigants in Osceola County.
Mediation Fees
Court-ordered mediation sessions in civil and family cases are assessed per session based on household income:
- Family income above $50,000 but below $100,000 per year: $120.00
- Family income below $50,000 per year: $60.00
Osceola County Family Court Records
Family law proceedings in Osceola County are heard by the Family Division of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court. This division handles dissolution of marriage, child custody and time-sharing disputes, child support enforcement and modification, paternity actions, domestic violence injunctions, name changes, adoptions, and juvenile dependency cases. The Ninth Judicial Circuit assigns family cases to specific divisions within Osceola County, and hearings may be conducted in person or through remote audio-video technology.
Searching Family Court Records
Family law case information may be located through the Clerk’s online records search by selecting the family law case type. In-person requests can be made at the Clerk’s office at 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741, by calling (407) 742-3500, or by mailing a written request.
Confidentiality Restrictions
Although most family court records are public, important categories remain confidential under Florida law:
- Juvenile dependency proceedings (Chapter 39, Florida Statutes)
- Adoption records
- Certain domestic violence injunction safety information
- Child abuse investigation records
- Records containing information about minors that is sealed by court order
Documents governed by the Florida Rules of Family Law may be removed from the Clerk’s public website upon written request under F.S. 28.2221(5)©, at no charge to the requester.
Selected Family Law Filing Fees
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Petition for dissolution of marriage | $397.50 |
| Counter-petition for dissolution of marriage | $392.50 |
| Cross-claim, counterclaim, or counter-petition (family) | $295.00 |
| Issuance of summons (each) | $10.00 |
| Final judgment of dissolution (Vital Statistics reporting, F.S. 382.023) | $10.50 |
| Institution of a family law case (Chs. 39, 61, 741, 742, 747, 752, 753) | $300.00 |
| Reopening a family case (F.S. 28.241) | $50.00 |
Marriage Licenses and Records
Marriage license applications in Osceola County are processed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification. The standard marriage license fee is $93.50, though Florida residents who have completed an approved premarital preparation course may qualify for a reduced fee. Florida law imposes a three-day waiting period for Florida residents unless the premarital course exception applies; no waiting period exists for non-residents.
Marriage and divorce records are also maintained by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, where certified copies may be ordered online, in person, or by mail.
Birth and Death Records
Vital records, including birth and death certificates, are maintained at the state level by the Florida Department of Health. Osceola County residents may request certified copies through the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or through the local county health department office. Birth records from 1917 to the present and death records from 2009 to the present are generally available, subject to eligibility requirements established by Florida law.
Osceola County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Osceola County are adjudicated by the Probate Division of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court. This division has jurisdiction over the settlement of decedents’ estates, probate of wills, summary and formal administration proceedings, determination of incapacity, appointment and supervision of guardians, administration of minors’ estates, and involuntary hospitalization cases.
Accessing Probate Records
Probate case records may be searched through the Clerk’s online records portal by selecting the probate case category. In-person requests may be directed to the Clerk’s probate department at the Osceola County Courthouse:
Osceola County Clerk – Probate Division
Address: 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741
Phone: (407) 742-3500
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Probate Filing Fees
Filing fees for probate cases in Florida circuit courts include:
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Disposition of personal property (estate under $1,000) | $235.00 |
| Summary administration ($1,000 or more) | $345.00 |
| Formal administration | $400.00 |
| Caveat or Notice of Trust | $41.00 |
| Guardianship petition | $235.00 |
| Filing verified inventory (Clerk’s fee) | $85.00 |
Standard copy fees of $1.00 per page and $2.00 per certification apply to probate records, as set by F.S. 28.24.
Hearing Procedures
Probate hearings in the Ninth Judicial Circuit may be conducted in person or through audio-video communication technology in accordance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.530. Non-evidentiary matters and shorter evidentiary hearings are frequently held via Zoom. Counsel and self-represented litigants should verify the hearing format with the assigned judge’s judicial assistant and review notices of hearing for specific instructions. Evidentiary exhibits should be submitted and marked in advance of the hearing as directed by the presiding judge’s standing orders.
Confidentiality of Probate Records
Most probate records are open to public inspection. However, certain categories carry confidentiality protections under Florida law:
- Guardianship examining committee reports containing medical information about alleged incapacitated persons
- Financial information in guardianship inventories and accountings where restricted by court order
- Records in involuntary commitment proceedings under the Baker Act
- Documents relating to minors’ estates that contain sensitive personal data
Documents governed by the Florida Probate Rules may be removed from the Clerk’s public website upon written request, consistent with F.S. 28.2221(5)©. No fee is assessed for such removal. Filers must follow Rule 2.425 minimization requirements when submitting probate documents to ensure that sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth are properly redacted or truncated before filing.