Seminole County Court Records

According to rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, a court record is an official document the court maintains about a case. It includes transcripts, exhibits, electronic records, videotapes, or stenographic tapes of court proceedings. Court records are kept in the custody of the court clerk.

In Seminole County, Florida, a court record's content can vary depending on the case or type of case. The information contained in a court record typically includes:

• Case details/Summary (case number, case type, case style, division, judge, file date, case status, UCN, Jury trial, and future events)
• Case parties (party name, party type, contact, and attorney details)
• Dockets (Date, number, docket code, and description)
• Hearings (hearing type, date, and time, location, and judge
• Clerk's file date
• Charge details
• Fees and fines
• Bonds

Court records in Seminole County are part of Florida court records, which means they are subject to the state's general laws governing court records.

Are Court Records Public in Seminole County?

According to the Florida Public Records Act, court records are public record in Seminole County. The Public Records Act permits the inspection of court records in the state by members of the public. However, under certain circumstances, court records or some information in a court record may be sealed and inaccessible to the public. These records are only available to persons authorized by law or court order. Some examples of confidential court records include:

• Dependency cases
• Termination of parental rights
• Child abuse
• Neglect
• Abandonment
• Adoption records
• Medical test results such as HIV tests

Sensitive personal information, such as social security numbers, bank account, charge, credit, and debit card numbers, is also deemed confidential.

Generally, a court record may be sealed if confidentiality is required to obtain evidence relevant to the case, prevent a serious threat to the administration of justice, or protect an innocent third party.

Seminole County Court Records Search

Individuals can conduct a court record search in Seminole County via the following options:

• Contacting the Clerk of the Circuit Court
• Visiting the courthouse where the case was tried
• The online records search portal of the Court Clerk
• Various third-party websites

Seminole County Court Records Search by Name

A name-based inquiry is one of the most common methods for conducting a Seminole County court record search. One way to make a name-based inquiry in Seminole County is to do so in person at the Clerk of Court's office. The request may also be submitted to the office's email address. The court record obtained is an Electronic Certified (eCertified) copy. The eCertified copy costs $8 for the first page and $1 per additional page. To obtain a paper-certified copy instead, individuals can either visit the Records Center at:

1750 E Lake Mary Blvd
Sanford, FL 32773

Or mailed to:

Records Custodian

Attn: Land Records
P.O. Box 8099
Sanford, FL 32772

Alternatively, inquirers may conduct a court record search by name using the records search portal on the Clerk of Court's website. The user is required to input at least one letter of the party's last name to perform a search. After conducting a search, the user has the option to pay for an eCertified copy online. However, it is worth noting that a name search does not bring up results on confidential cases.

Seminole County Courts

Seminole County has two types of courts in operation (Circuit and County courts) and is a part of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Courts of Florida.

Some services offered by the Circuit Court include:

• Civil cases
• Family law matters
• Felonies
• Juvenile delinquency
• Guardianship
• Mental health
• Probate
• Some appeals from the county court

The following are the services offered by the County Court

• Certified questions
• Small claims
• Civil cases
• Misdemeanors
• Traffic

There are three courthouses in the county, and their addresses are listed below:

Seminole Civil Justice Center

301 N. Park Avenue
Sanford, FL 32771
(407) 665-4330

Seminole Criminal Justice Center

101 Eslinger Way
Sanford FL, 32773
(407) 665-4200

Seminole Juvenile Justice Center

190 Eslinger Way
Sanford FL, 32773
(407) 665-4200

Seminole County Superior Court Case Search

The Seminole County court system does not operate a superior court. The two operational court types are the Circuit and County court, with the Circuit court being the higher trial court.

Seminole County District Court Records

Like the superior court, Seminole County does not have a District Court. All cases are handled by the Circuit and County courts. Access to the court records can be obtained by contacting the Court Clerk, who holds custody of them.

Seminole County Criminal Records

When a person is arrested and taken into custody by a law enforcement officer, a record is created to document the arrest. This initial documentation generally marks the beginning of the individual's criminal record. Seminole County criminal records are accessible to the public per the Florida Public Records Act unless restricted by law or court order. Juvenile records are an example of criminal records that are kept confidential per state law. Seminole County arrest records that have been sealed or expunged are also inaccessible to the general public.

The Seminole Sheriff's Office is the primary custodian of criminal records in Seminole County and is also responsible for disclosing such information to the public. Requests for criminal records can be made to the Sheriff's Office Public Records unit. Requests can be made in person during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm) at:

Seminole County Sheriff's Office
Records Section
100 Eslinger Way
Sanford, FL 32773

A criminal record may also be requested through the following options:

• Phone: (407) 665-6690
• Fax: (407) 665-6655
• Email: records@seminolesheriff.org
• Mail:

Seminole County Sheriff's Office
Records Section
100 Eslinger Way
Sanford, FL 32773

The mail-in request should be along with a self-addressed stamped return envelope. Printing fees may apply with the use of the mail-in option.

• Records portal: Users can make an online request through the records portal, either by creating an account or submitting their requests anonymously. Anonymous requesters must check back using the given reference number to obtain the record.

To make the request, the requester must provide pertinent details, including the party's full name, date of birth or age, case number, involved deputy's name(s), and location.

Seminole County Criminal Court Case Lookup

A Seminole County criminal court record can be looked up in the following ways.

• Contacting the court where the case was heard
• The Clerk of Court's website criminal court case search portal: The search portal grants individuals remote access to criminal court records. Users can access documents on felony, misdemeanor, traffic, and infraction crimes. The search criteria include at least the first letter of the individual's last name and/or the first name, date of birth, case number, and a clerk filing date range. A search reveals the case number, name, case type, date of birth, file date, charges, judge, case status, and dues to be paid for cases matching the search criteria.

Get Seminole County Civil Court Records

A civil court record is a record generated by a court during a legal proceeding on civil cases. A civil case is a legal dispute between two or more parties. These non-criminal cases could range from property damage claims to contract disputes.

All courts in Seminole County maintain a repository of civil cases it heard. Individuals can obtain a civil court record by contacting the presiding court. Alternatively, the civil cases search portal on the Clerk of Court's website can be utilized to access civil court records electronically. Individuals can search using at least a letter of the person's last name and/or the first name and date of birth. The filing date, county, circuit, domestic (family), and probate filters can also be used to streamline the search further.

After locating the court record, the user will have the option to purchase an eCertified copy.

Seminole County Family Court Records

Family court cases are legal disputes pertaining to the family and domestic level. This includes cases such as Dissolution of marriage, injunctions, child support, and alimony. Family law in Seminole County is handled by the civil court. Family court records, like any other type of court record, preserve an official account of legal proceedings that may be useful subsequently.

Members of the public can obtain family court records at the Clerk of Court's office. They can also perform a civil court record search using the domestic (family) filter to streamline the search results to just family law cases. There are no special requirements for accessing family court records in the county. However, court records related to minors or records sealed by the court are accessible only to authorized persons.

Seminole Dissolution of Marriage Records

A dissolution of marriage, also known as a divorce, refers to the legal process of terminating an existing marriage union. Divorce matters fall under family law and are handled by the civil court. The civil court presides over the following types of dissolutions:

• Simplified Dissolution of marriage
• Dissolution with dependent or minor children
• Dissolution with property but no dependent or minor children
• Dissolution with no property but no dependent or minor children

Dissolution of marriage records can be obtained at the presiding courthouse or by conducting a family court record search on the Clerk of Court's website. During the search, utilize the domestic (family) filter and select the relevant record option.

Seminole County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Clerk of Court maintains Seminole County marriage records. Individuals intending to get married in the county obtain a marriage license from the Clerk, permitting them to get married. Once married, the couple returns the executed license to the Clerk's Office within 10 days to be officially documented as a public record.

Copies of the marriage license can be obtained at any of the Clerk's office locations or by mail at:

Post Office Box 8099
Sanford, FL 32772-8099

It costs $3 to obtain a certified copy of the marriage license.

A marriage license can also be accessed through the Clerk of Court's Offical record search portal.

After the documentation of a marriage record, the Clerk of Court forwards the record to the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics for permanent filing. The Bureau of Vital Statistics is responsible for the issuance of marriage certificates in the state.

The marriage certificate can be ordered online via an approved third-party vendor or directly from the Bureau. A direct order from the Bureau can be done in person or by mail. For convenience, requesters are advised to download the necessary forms and fill them out before proceeding with the order. In-person requests can be made during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm) at:

1217 N Pearl Street,
Jacksonville, FL 32202

Mail-in orders are to be forwarded to:

Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics,
P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

The following fees are associated with obtaining a Seminole County marriage certificate in the state:

• Search fee for one year along with a certified copy - $5
• Additional certified copies - $4
• Search fee per calendar year when the specific year is unknown -$2 (capped at $50)
• Rush fee (mandatory for records dating before 1970, applicable for same-day walk-in service, subject to availability) - $10
• Shipping and handling fee - $1

As previously explained, divorce records can be accessed through the Clerk of Circuit Court in person or online. Divorce certificates can be obtained through the Bureau of Vital Statistics-approved third-party vendor or directly from the Bureau. For a direct order, the requester is advised to download and fill out the relevant application forms before proceeding with the order. The order can be made in person or by mail, just like the marriage certificate. The fees associated with ordering a divorce certificate are the same as those associated with a marriage certificate.

Seminole Birth and Death Records

Seminole County birth and death records are maintained by the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics. These records serve as proof of either birth or death and are useful in many circumstances. Birth and death records are a constituent of Seminole County's vital records.

Births not up to 125 years old are confidential and can only be accessed by authorized persons listed below:

• The registrant (owner of the record) is at least 18 years of age
• The parent(s) documented on the birth record
• Legal guardian (with guardianship papers as proof)
• A person authorized by court order
• Spouse, sibling, child, or grandchild if the registrant is deceased

Interested parties can obtain a computer-generated copy of the birth certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The computer-generated birth certificate with a State File Number and embossed seal is just as valid as the paper certificate and is recognized by all agencies. A computer-generated birth certificate costs $18, with an additional charge of $8 per copy of the same person.

To obtain a birth certificate, the person can download the application and submit it in person at:

Florida Department of Health in Seminole County
400 West Airport Boulevard
Sanford, Florida 32773
Phone: (407) 665-3226

The application may also be mailed with a valid ID, and payment to:

400 West Airport Boulevard,
Sanford, Florida 32773

Alternatively, inquirers can make a request online via the Bureau of Vital Statistics-approved third-party vendor. This method incurs more costs due to the vendor's service charge.

Seminole County Tax Collector's Office also partners with the Department of Health to issue birth certificates. However, the office only issues certificates to the registrant or registrant's parents. To obtain a copy, the requester is required to fill out the application form and submit it alongside a picture ID at one of the following tax collector locations:

• Altamonte Springs
• Winter Springs
• Lake Mary
• Casselberry

Obtaining a birth certificate through the tax collector's office costs $21.25 (a $6.25 Tax Collector fee added to the base fee).

Note: Only birth records from 1917 till the present are available.

A Seminole County death record like a birth record can be requested by downloading the death record application form and submitting it in person or mailed to the addresses listed above. The request can also be made online through the approved third-party vendor.

Death records not containing the cause of death can be obtained by anyone of legal age (18 years and above). The first five digits of the deceased's social security number will also be withheld. Death records containing the cause of death and full social security number can only be issued to the following persons:

• The deceased's spouse or parent
• The decedent's child, grandchild, or sibling, if of legal age
• Individuals who present a will, insurance policy, or similar document indicating interest in the estate
• Individuals who provide documentation of their representation of any of the aforementioned parties.
• Persons authorized by court order

Death records less than years old are considered confidential and only accessible by the above persons. If the requester is not one of the mentioned persons, a notarized Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information (DH Form 1959) must be provided. The affidavit must be signed by one of the persons above and be submitted with a valid photo ID of the applicant and the person authorizing the release.

Seminole County Probate Court Records

A probate court record is generated by the court to document the distribution of the individual's estate to those eligible, usually according to the person's will. A probate record is created after the death of a person and typically contains the will, an inventory of the person's assets, and other relevant documents. The civil court handles Seminole County probate cases.

Probate court records can be accessed by contacting the court in charge of the case or utilizing the Clerk of Court website's online database. The records can also be accessed by conducting a civil court record search as described previously and applying the "Probate" filter, which ensures the search result displays only probate court records.

Seminole County Property Records

Property records contain information about a piece of real estate. The Clerk of Circuit Court and the county's Property Appraiser maintain Seminole County property records.

Records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens are only available at the Clerk of Court's office. A property record can be obtained by contacting the Clerk's office or searching the official records search page on the Clerk's website.

The property appraiser's website provides users with a search tool on its homepage. Users can search for real or tangible personal property using the owner's name, property address, parcel number, facility, and subdivision.

Individuals can also make a public record request to the property appraiser's office via the following means:

• In-person: A request may be made in written form or orally at the property appraiser's office located in the County Services Building in Sanford at 1101 E. First Street
• Email at katie@scpafl.org
• Phone: individuals can make a request through the phone at (407) 665-7506
• Mail: The request is to be put in writing and forwarded to
• Seminole County Property Appraiser

Public Records Request
1101 E. First Street
Sanford, Florida 32771

Obtaining copies of documents from the property appraiser's office costs 15 cents per one-sided copy and 20 cents per two-sided copy. The office may also charge a reasonable service fee if research requires extensive use of information technology resources or clerical or supervisory assistance.

Seminole County Court Records Online

Several unofficial online sources grant access to Seminole court records. These third-party aggregate sites, like courtrecords.us, make it more convenient to access court records by allowing the search of a wide range of records. While ease of access is assured with these sites, the results obtained should not be taken as 100% accurate. Because they are not directly from official sources, the results may not always directly reflect accurate data. They also do not have access to confidential court records.

These vendors charge a fee for their services, which varies depending on the vendor opted for.