Orange County Courts

With a population of over 1.5 million people, Orange County is the fifth-most populous county in Florida. Orlando, the county seat, is the largest and most populous city in the county. The county is served by circuit, county, and federal courts. The Circuit and County Courts are part of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Both courts are located in four cities within the county. The county courts handle different types of cases, including civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile cases, depending on each court's jurisdiction:

• Orange County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases, but typically handles felonies, divorces, annulments, legal separations, civil cases with claims exceeding $50,000, child support, paternity, child custody, and appeals from the County Court. It may also hear juvenile matters, wills, estates, guardianships, trusts, and mental health cases.
• County Court of Orange County generally handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, civil cases with claims under $50,000, landlord/tenant issues, and municipal ordinance violations.

Trial court statistics from the county reveal that the Orange County Circuit Court hears approximately 13,500 criminal cases, 14,000 civil cases, 18,000 domestic relations matters, and 7,000 probate cases annually. Similarly, the County Court of Orange County handles an average of 95,000 civil cases and 13,000 criminal cases each year.

How To Access Orange County Court Records

The Florida Public Records Law grants the public the right to inspect and obtain copies of Orange County court records, provided those records are not restricted from public access by law or court orders. Anyone, typically with a valid ID, may access most court records from the county courts. They will usually require a case number, party name, or citation number for the search.

However, certain court records in Orange County are restricted from public access for security or privacy reasons. These records typically include juvenile records, grand jury records, adoption records, expunged/sealed court records, medical and mental health records, and child protection orders. In addition, portions of public court records containing restricted information may be redacted. Information typically redacted in the county includes trade secrets, Social Security Numbers, financial accounts, and information that could compromise personal or public safety. The following methods may be used to access court records in Orange County:

Online

Orange County court records may be accessed through the My eClerk platform. Records of all cases heard in the county's courts may be accessed on the portal, including those involving civil, criminal, traffic, domestic relations, and probate cases. Court records may be searched by citation number, case number, or party names.

Additionally, interested individuals may access the county's court records on CourtCaseFinder. The website provides reliable access to court records from counties across the United States by aggregating publicly available court records. Furthermore, persons seeking court records of federal cases heard in Orange County may access them through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). They will typically have to register on the platform before they can access the records.

In-Person

Record seekers may access Orange County court records in person by visiting the Orange County Clerk of Courts. The Clerk maintains records from both the Circuit and County Courts. Requesters may be required to submit completed application forms or written requests, providing relevant details about the desired court records. They will usually be required to pay certain fees to obtain copies of court records in the county. In addition, they may use dedicated public-access computers in courthouses to access the county's court records.

Old and Archived Court Records

Orange County's old and archived court records that are not available on the My eClerk platform may be accessed at the Clerk of Court's office. Record seekers may contact the Orange County Clerk of Courts to make the requests.

Furthermore, the State Archives of Florida may have some old and historic court records that are no longer available in the county courthouses. Individuals interested in accessing such court records may contact the state archives at:

State Archives of Florida

How To File a Case in Orange County

To file a case in Orange County, one must first determine the court that has the authority to hear the case and the statute of limitations for the case. Prospective plaintiffs may contact the County Clerk of Courts to ascertain which court can handle the case they intend to file. Once the court has been identified, they may file the case in person, by mail, or electronically through the Florida Courts E-filing platform.

The plaintiff may need to prepare the complaint detailing the circumstances that warranted the lawsuit, the details of the parties involved, and the relief the plaintiff is seeking from the court. Each case type has its specific requirements, and the plaintiff must ensure they submit all required documents, exhibits, and evidence to the court.

The required filing fees vary, depending on the court and case type. The Clerk of Court's Office provides a fee schedule for civil and probate cases. Individuals unable to pay the filing fees may apply for fee waivers. To get a waiver, one may file a Request for Determination of Civil Indigent Status form and supporting documents with the Clerk of Courts. The court will review the request and grant it if the applicant is eligible.

After filing the case, the plaintiff may serve the defendant through the Orange County Sheriff's Office or private process servers. The steps for filing a case in Orange County include the following:

• Determine the case type and the Court that has jurisdiction.
• Prepare the necessary documents and complete the required forms. Ensure all relevant documents, exhibits, and evidence to support the case are attached.
• Choose your filing method
• Pay the required filing fees or obtain fee waivers, if eligible. Orange County court Fees may be paid by cash, credit/debit cards, check, or money order.
• File the case with the relevant court and serve the opposing party (defendant).

However, it is recommended that plaintiffs consult with attorneys when filing cases in Orange County. Individuals with low incomes may contact legal aid groups in the county for pro bono legal services.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Across the United States, county court systems play a crucial role in delivering access to justice. Legal aid and self-help resources are foundational to this access, particularly for self-represented and indigent litigants. These resources usually include self-help centers, legal aid groups, court-affiliated assistance programs, and online portals. However, government officials in the county are generally not allowed to provide legal advice or act as personal attorneys.

Litigants who cannot afford legal representation in Orange County may get help from pro bono panels and local legal aid organizations. These groups typically assist in personal cases, including cases involving seniors, housing, domestic and sexual violence, veterans, public benefits, and sex trafficking. The following self-help and legal aid resources may be available to low-income litigants in Orange County:

• Free Legal Representation for Low-income Persons
• Florida Legal Services
• Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association
• Americans for Immigrant Justice
• CAIR Florida
• Community Legal Services
• Innocence Project of Florida
• Pro Bono Florida
• Kids in Need of Defence
• Disability Rights Florida
• Private Lawyer Referral Services
• Orange County Bar Association Referral Program
• American Bar Association Program

Other legal aid services and self-help resources available to Orange County residents include the following:

• Orange County Clerk of Courts' Self-Help Center (family law, small claims, and residential eviction cases)
• FAMU College of Law's Economic Justice Clinic
• Florida Health Justice Project
• Florida Justice Institute
• Florida's Children First
• Latino Justice
• Layers for Children America
• Southern Legal Counsel

Types of Courts in Orange County, Florida

The court system in Orange County comprises Circuit, County, and Federal Courts. Below is a list of each court's jurisdiction and contact details:

Orange County Circuit Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: felonies, divorce, annulment, legal separation, child support, alimony, adoptions, traffic violations, civil cases with claims exceeding $50,000, contract breaches, employment disputes, mortgage foreclosures, professional malpractices, liens, tort, automobile personal injury cases, juvenile delinquency, truancy, and protective orders.

Orange County Circuit Court

Address and Contact Information

Orange County Circuit Court - Apopka Branch

Address and Contact Information

Orange County Circuit Court - Juvenile Division

Address and Contact Information

Orange County Circuit Court - Winter Park Branch

Address and Contact Information

Orange County Circuit Court - Ocoee Branch

Address and Contact Information

County Court of Orange County

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: municipal ordinance violations, county ordinance violations, traffic offenses. landlord/tenant relations, and civil cases with claims under $50,000.

County Court of Orange County

Address and Contact Information

County Court of Orange County - Apopka Branch

Address and Contact Information

County Court of Orange County - Ocoee Branch

Address and Contact Information

County Court of Orange County - Winter Park Branch

Address and Contact Information

Federal Courts in Orange County

The following federal courts serve Orange County, Florida:

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Criminal and civil cases that involve the United States Constitution, federal laws, and the U.S. Government. It also handles cases involving parties from different states or countries, and where the claims exceed a predefined threshold.
• Address and Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Bankruptcy cases, including liquidation and reorganization.
• Address and Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Orange County Courts

Answers to some frequently asked questions about the Orange County Courts are provided below: