Pasco County, Florida Court Records

Pasco County Court Records

Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Rule 2.420 defines court records as the contents of court files, including the progress docket and other similar records generated to document activity in a case. Pasco County court records include transcripts, electronic records, stenographic tapes or videotapes of court proceedings, depositions, or other proceedings filed with the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller, and documentary exhibits in the Clerk's custody.

The Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller is the custodian of all documents and evidence filed and submitted for court proceedings. The Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, the third-largest trial court, handles court operations in Pasco County. The court assigns cases to one of its 13 Court Divisions, nine at the circuit level and four at the county level.

Are Court Records Public in Pasco County?

Per the Florida Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), court records are part of Pasco County Public Records. Therefore, anyone can view or obtain copies of court records maintained by the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller. However, certain court records may be exempted from public disclosure by judicial order or Florida statute. Examples of such records are:

Juvenile records
Adoption records
Sexting infractions
Pre-need guardian
Petitions for injunctions
Guardianship settlements
Mental health cases filed by adult protective services

What Do Pasco County Court Records Contain?

In Pasco County, court records typically feature the following information:

Names of case parties
Gender
Race
Address
Cases
UCN
File date
Case type
Status
Charge sequence number
Statute

Where to Conduct a Pasco County Case Lookup

Court case records are typically generated during judicial proceedings. Most court records are available to the public, which allows anyone to be able to conduct a case lookup with the appropriate record custodian. Below is the list of record custodians that handle Pasco County court records:

How to Conduct a Pasco County Case Records Search

The Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller's Office offers individuals access to court records via the Online Court Records Search tool. The user must select an access option, which could be Public or Attorney. The "Public" option allows for anonymous access to court records, while the "Atrroney" option allows Attorneys of Record to see their cases. To use the Attorney option, a User Name and Password are required. To get this login detail, attorneys of record must submit an Attorney of Record Registration Agreement to the Information Technology Department of the Clerk & Comptroller's Office at:

Clerk & Comptroller's Office
Information Technology Department
14236 6th Street
Dade City, FL 33523-3414
Phone: (352) 521-4529

After the Clerk approves the user's registration request, a unique login ID and password will be sent to the user to access the permitted court records.

Alternatively, interested persons may call ahead to request court records at the Records Center in Dade City or New Port Richey if they know the case numbers of the files they wish to view. The Centers have public-access computers where in-person requesters can view court dockets and other electronic case information. Visits to any of the Records Centers should be between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. It is advisable to arrive at the Records Center prior to 3 p.m. if they want to request a large number of court records (12 or more). Below are the addresses of the Records Centers:

East Pasco Records Retention Facility
38319 McDonald Street
Dade City, FL 33525
Phone: (352) 521-4489

Jack Albert Records Retention Facility
8902 Government Drive
New Port Richey, FL 34654-5555
Phone: (727) 847-8962

The Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller's Office charges $1 per page for copies of court documents. Certified copies cost $2 per document, and assisted records searches cost $2 per name per year. The Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller's Office does not charge any fee for computer records searches and physical viewing of court records. Note that all fees are subject to legislative changes.

Acceptable forms of payment for court records fees are cash, money orders, bank checks, credit/debit cards, in-state business checks, and personal in-state checks with proper identification. Note that Debit/credit transactions incur a 3.5% transaction fee. Payments for court record fees must be remitted in U.S. currency. Cash payments through the mail are not acceptable. The check or money order must be made payable to the Clerk & Comptroller.

Pasco County Civil Court Case Records

A civil court case record is an official document that provides information about a non-criminal case where one private individual or business sues another person or business. Pasco County has two Civil Court Divisions:

County Civil Court: This court has jurisdiction over civil cases in which the amount in controversy is more than $8,000 but does not exceed $30,000. They also handle most landlord-tenant disputes, monies due, simplified marriage dissolutions, breach of contract, foreclosure on lien, towing liens, and unlawful detainer.
Circuit Civil Court: This court has jurisdiction over civil cases in which the amount in controversy exceeds $30,000. Civil cases might include condominium lawsuits, professional malpractice, product liability, real property, mortgage foreclosure, eminent domain, automobile negligence, and contract indebtedness.

Individuals can request civil court case records online or in person at the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller's Office. Online civil case lookups can be made through the Case Section/Division Lookup tool or the Online Court Records Search tool. Online requesters can streamline their searches by selecting the specific court type where the civil case was handled. In-person requesters can use the public-access computers at the Clerk & Comptroller's Office to view civil court records for free.

Pasco County Criminal Court Case Records

A criminal court case record is a legal document that provides information about a person's traffic and criminal convictions. Pasco County has two Criminal Court Divisions:

Circuit Criminal: This court has jurisdiction over all felony cases and misdemeanors arising from the same circumstances as a felony. A felony is a crime punishable by over a year in Florida prison. Examples of felony offenses are sexual offenses, capital murder, noncapital murder, worthless checks, drugs, theft, forgery, burglary, fraud, robbery, and other crimes against persons or property.
County Criminal: This court has jurisdiction over all misdemeanors with no concurrent felony charge and county/municipal ordinance violations. A misdemeanor is a criminal action for which the punishment can be up to one year in jail.

Felony, misdemeanor, and criminal traffic court records are available for public viewing online or in person unless the case has been sealed, expunged, or is confidential by law. Online requests can be made through the Case Section/Division Lookup tool or the Online Court Records Search tool. Individuals can visit the Clerk & Comptroller's Office to view criminal court records through the public-access computers for free. A sealed court record requires a court order to be unsealed before its contents can be viewed.

How to Get Court Records Online for Free

Florida Supreme Court Rules determine access to electronic court records in Pasco County. Here is how to access free Pasco County court records online:

Go to the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Office's official website
Click the "Court Services" Menu
Click the "Court Records" link
Click the "Search Court Records" link to view court records electronically
Click the "Online Court Records Search" button after reading and agreeing to the terms provided in the disclaimers.
Select the "Public" access option
Click the "I Agree" button to accept the Disclaimer
Conduct a search by person or case
Click the "Search" button to initiate the request

Courts in Pasco County

Below is an overview of the addresses of all the courts in Pasco County:

Dade City
Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center
38053 Live Oak Avenue
Dade City, FL 33523

New Port Richey
West Pasco Judicial Center
7530 Little Road
New Port Richey, FL 34654