Osceola County Court Records
The term "court record" refers to the recordings and contents of the court files including progress dockets and similar case information generated to record events in a court of law. This includes transcripts filed with the clerk of court, exhibits, videotapes, or other proceedings filed with the clerk.
Since court records contain events, activities, and outcomes of several court cases within the county, they can be simply acquired by individuals who desire to find legal precedents. For legal research purposes, one may seek references from similar court cases filed and decided in the county courts. If well maintained, court records may provide information concerning the expungement, sealing, or appeal of a specific court case, in other ways providing clarity on how the Florida court system works.
Serving Osceola and Orange Counties, the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court serves more than 1.9 million county residents and covers over 2,500 square miles, with the Clerk of Courts as the chief custodian under Rule 2.120. Thus, all court records shall be kept in the office and the custody of the clerk. Unless authorized by court order, these court records shall not be taken from the clerk’s office or the courtroom.
Are Court Records Public in Osceola County
Yes, most court records are available for public inspection and copying in Osceola County as covered by the judicial requirements of The Florida Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Subject to the rulemaking authority of the Florida Supreme Court per Article V, section 2, Florida Constitution and the provisions of Section 119.07, the courts are at liberty to institute public disclosure to and the preservation of the records of all judicial jurisdictions within the state.
Per Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.420, some categories of court records are restricted from public disclosure by state laws and judicial order. This means that some or all portions of this record and case information are withdrawn or redacted from viewing, inspection, and copying.
For instance, confidential court records like Trial and Appellate Court memoranda, drafts of opinions and orders, court conference records, all records made confidential under the Florida and United States Constitutions, any court record determined to be confidential in case decision or court rule, adoption records, Social Security Number, Juvenile delinquency records and more.
Where to Conduct an Osceola County Case Lookup
Members of the public can conduct an Osceola County case lookup thus:
- Osceola County courthouse.
- Osceola County Circuit Court Clerk and Comptroller’s Office.
- The Osceola Electronic Case Management System
- Email requests to the Clerk of Court
How to Conduct an Osceola County Case Records Search
Here's how to conduct a Jefferson Parish case records search utilizing the methods mentioned above:
- Osceola County Circuit Court Clerk and Comptroller’s Office
As the chief custodian of all court records in Osceola County, including Civil Court, Criminal Court, and Probate Court. The Clerk is instituted with the legal authority to grant or withdraw access to any court record.
As such, members of the public who desire to conduct a court records search must first confirm whether the records are available for viewing or grouped under the confidential records per the above statute. Confidential records typically maintained by the Juvenile Department may be requested in person with proper identification by parties listed in the Juvenile Court’s Section.
One may visit the Clerk of Court in person during official work hours or call the official line. Note: the clerk’s office only responds to general court case inquiries via phone: (407) 742-3500
- In-Person Courthouse Visit
Requesters may visit the court house in-person to conduct a case record search in Osceola County. Physical visits are most appropriate during regular business hours. The County Clerk and Comptroller’s office may offer physical case reviews and registered court records search access.
Requesters should have the party’s name, case number, or citation number to conduct a court case search. The Clerk offers free access to court records for members of the public. However, electronic court records search comes at a subscription fee in compliance with the Supreme Court of Florida, No. AOSC14-19.
Registered users are expected to fill and submit a copy of an application form to the Osceola County Clerk of the Circuit Court for unlimited user access to the court management system, Benchmark.
Fill-in PDF of Application:
Email completed forms to helpdesk@osceolaclerk.org.
Note: Attorneys must include their Florida Bar Number and Firm Name in the body of the message.
The clerk also offers bulk data purchases of specific court types via InformationRequest@osceolaclerk.org.
More information on this can be found on the Benchmark Court Records Registration via the Court of Clerk’s website.
- The Osceola Electronic Case Management System
Inquirers can search for court cases filed and maintained by the Osceola Court of Clerk through the free Case Search Portal.
Members of the public may review and inspect case records through this search system but user registration is often required to obtain certified copies of these court records. Nonetheless, the court publishes dockets for free viewing access.
- Fees:
The Clerk’s Office takes cash, cashier’s checks, money orders, business checks, Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express card payments only. Personal checks are not accepted.
Making a copy of any instrument in the public record costs $1. Certifying copies of any instrument in the public record costs $2. Conducting searches of records, for each year searched costs $2.
Osceola County Civil Court Case Records
Osceola County civil court case records are typically files generated from a legal proceeding between litigants in a civil court. In Osceola, civil court cases include minor legal disputes among parties where the dollar amount involved is $8,000 or less. Such cases are usually handled in the Small Claims Court (sometimes called “Peoples Court”).
The Osceola Clerk and Comptroller’s County Civil Division handles all small claims and landlord-tenant notice and eviction disputes. Interested parties may review and get Civil Court Case Records through the Online Case Search Portal or in person. Requesters may also contact the Probate Court for civil case courts regarding Wills, bonds, commissions, declaration naming, and the rest.
Osceola County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal cases like felonies and misdemeanors punishable by death or imprisonment in a state penitentiary or county correctional facility often result in litigation and the generation of County Criminal Court records.
In Osceola, the Circuit Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all defendants accused of committing crimes that have been designated by the State Legislature as felonies, delinquent acts, or violations of law.
On the other hand, the Osceola County Court has jurisdiction over all defendants accused of committing crimes that have been designated as misdemeanors, and criminal traffic cases.
The County Criminal Division of the Comptroller and Court Clerk's Office maintains these records. One may receive access to these records via the courthouse where the case was filed. Interested parties may also send Criminal Record Searches / Requests via Records.Request@osceolaclerk.org or call (407) 742-3650.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Anyone who wants to get court records online for free in Osceola County may do so through the above-mentioned Case Search Portal provided by the county. Also, certain third-party sites provide this service to interested persons.
Courts in Osceola County
Here is a full listing of the courts and legal departments in Osceola County, Florida:
Clerk of Circuit Court & County Comptroller
2 Courthouse Square
Kissimmee, FL 34741
Phone: (407) 742-3500
Osceola County Historic Courthouse
3 Courthouse Square
Room 204 (2nd floor)
Kissimmee, FL 34741
Clerk’s County Civil Division
Osceola County Courthouse building
2 Courthouse Square
2nd floor
Kissimmee, FL 34741
Phone: (407) 742-3479
