Hillsborough County Courts

Hillsborough County, located in Florida, is home to more than 1.4 million people, which is 6% of the state's total population of 23 million. The county seat is located in Tampa, the largest city in the county. Each year, the county's courts prosecute over 208,000 cases, including 147,738 civil matters, 31,205 criminal cases, 18,560 family matters, and 11,196 probate matters.

Circuit and County Courts make up the trial courts in Hillbourough County:

• The Thirteenth Judicial CircuitCourt, Hillsborough County, typically handles felonies and civil cases where the amount in contention exceeds $50,000. The court also deals with family law matters, juvenile issues, probate matters, and hears appeals from certain administrative bodies and the county courts.
• County Courts in Hillsboroughhandle cases involving misdemeanors, small claims, ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and civil matters with amounts less than $50,000.

How To Access Hillsborough County Court Records

Hillsborough County court records are accessible to the public, as outlined in Florida's Public Records Law and Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration. However, some court records are prohibited from public disclosure, such as adoption records, sealed records, and court records containing health case files, social security numbers, or birth certificates.

To access Hillsborough County court records, individuals must provide the case number and a valid government-issued photo ID. They may access these court records through various methods.

Online

The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Controller provides electronic access to many court records through its Online Viewing of Electronic Records Platform (HOVER). Also, anyone may view court cases on the Case Search portal, except for family law, probate, and juvenile cases. To view these records, individuals must register to become Hover Users. They may search case files by using the case number, case year, the offender's name, case type, or citation number as search criteria.

Additionally, individuals may access county court records through CourtCaseFinder. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts offers a tool called PACER Case Locator (PACER), which allows record seekers to access federal court cases in Hillsborough County. Through PACER, anyone may access federal court records online or at the courthouse, but they must create a free account and pay specific fees to view them.

In-Person

Individuals may obtain current court records by visiting the Clerk of Court and Comptroller's Office in Plant City and Tampa Courthouses. They may book an appointment to view court records, which contain criminal, juvenile, family law, and civil case files.

Record seekers may also access Hillsborough County court records through public access terminals in the clerk's office of the courthouses. A valid government-issued ID is required for in-person access to court records. Individuals may view court records for free; however, they must pay $1 fee per page and an additional $2 per document for certification.

Old and Archived Court Records

In Hillsborough County, old public records, including court records, are typically preserved and stored in the Florida State Archives. Individuals may access these records by contacting the State Archives at:

Alternatively, individuals may visit the Clerk of Court and Comptroller's office in Plant City and Tampa courthouses to request old court records.

How To File a Case in Hillsborough County

To initiate a filing process in Hillsborough County, an individual must determine the court that has jurisdiction to handle their case. They may contact the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and the Comptroller's Office to verify that the court has jurisdiction to handle their case. Individuals may file their case electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

Alternatively, an individual may file their case in person at the clerk's office in the courthouse. They may also file their case by mail, such as small claim cases, and documents like a declaration of domicile or notice of action. There are certain fees associated with the filing of a case, which depend on the type of case being filed. If individuals cannot pay the filing fees, they may apply for a fee waiver. The Florida Courts provides an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status Formthat allows filers to apply for fee waivers. The court will review the form and decide whether to grant the waiver.

The general outline for filing a case in Hillsborough County is listed below:

• Determine the appropriate courthouse and location - Identify the proper courthouse that handles cases they want to file.
• Prepare all required documents - Attach all case information sheets and supporting documents necessary for the case.
• Use Court-Approved Forms - Use the court-approved forms, which are available at the clerk's office.
• Pay the Filing Fee - If an individual is unable to pay the filing fee, they may apply for a fee waiver.
• File and Serve - File your documents with the courthouse and serve the opposing parties with a copy of the filed documents.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Across the United States, county court systems play a crucial role in delivering access to justice. Legal help and self-help resources are foundational to this access, particularly for self-represented litigants navigating civil, family, probate, or small claims matters. These resources vary by jurisdiction but commonly include self-help centers, online portals, legal aid organizations, and court-affiliated assistance programs.

There are various resource centers, including local courthouses, local legal aid organizations, and bar associations, where individuals may access free legal representation in Hillsborough County. They include the following:

• Free Legal Representation for Low-income Persons
• Bay Area Legal Services
• Gulfcoast Legal Services
• Private Lawyer Referral Service
• Hillsborough County Bar Association's Lawyer Referral & Information Service

The following statewide self-help resources are also available to residents of Hillsborough County:

• The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service
• Florida Free Legal Answers
• FloridaLawHelp.org

Residents of Hillsborough County may also access legal aid services and self-help resources, such as the following:

• ABA Free Legal Answer
• LawHelp.org
• The Hillsborough County Law Library

Types of Courts in Hillsborough County, Florida

In Hillsborough County, the trial court system comprises the Circuit Courts and County Courts. In most cases, the two courts are located in the same building, except for an additional County Court at the Old Courthouse in Tampa. There are two federal courts in the county.

Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court, Hillsborough County

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - The Circuit Courts handle felonies, family law, juvenile matters, probate, and civil matters exceeding $50,000. The court also hears appeals from the administrative center and the county courts. The County Courts have jurisdiction over traffic infractions, violations of city and municipal ordinances, and landlord-tenant disputes. The County Courts also deal with misdemeanors, small claims, and civil disputes with a value of less than $50,000.

The following are the designated court locations in Hillsborough County:

Address

George Edgecomb Courthouse (Circuit and County Courts)

Plant City Courthouse (Circuit and County Courts)

Brandon Regional Service Center (Circuit and County Courts)

Southshore Regional Service Center (Circuit and County Courts)

Ruskin, FL 33570

Old Courthouse (County Court- traffic cases only)

Tampa, FL 33602

Federal Courts in Hillsborough County

The following federal courts provide legal services for residents of Hillsborough County in Florida:

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - These courts handle matters such as civil rights violations, immigration matters, federal crimes, intellectual property disputes, and lawsuits involving federal agencies.
• Address and Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - This court deals with bankruptcy cases.
• Address and Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Hillsborough County Courts

Here are common questions about Hillsborough County courts: