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Seminole Court Records | Free Public Search Online
Search Seminole court records without guessing the wrong portal. This guide shows where to find civil cases, criminal cases, court events, traffic citations, official records, certified copies, fees, locations, public-record requests, and sheriff records for Seminole County, Florida.
Quick answer: For Seminole County, Florida court records, start with the official Seminole County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. The Clerk’s case-search page links to civil cases, criminal cases, court events, traffic citations, dependency cases, juvenile delinquency cases, foreclosures, tax deed sales, official records, and pre-trial release register tools. Use the Official Records system for recorded property documents, and call the Clerk before ordering certified copies or relying on a private record website.
I Want To…
Choose the task first. Seminole County has separate routes for court cases, official records, traffic citations, sheriff reports, and county department records.
Use the Clerk case-search page for civil, criminal, traffic citations, dependency, juvenile delinquency, court events, foreclosures and more.
Go to case searchUse Official Records for deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, plats, maps, satisfactions, and eCertified records where eligible.
Go to Official RecordsPay, request a hearing, ask for no contest withhold, elect traffic school if eligible, or check extension rules.
Open traffic optionsUse the Clerk phone directory for civil, criminal, probate, juvenile, official records, tax deeds, and small claims routing.
Open phone directoryWhich Seminole Record Search Should You Use?
Do not start with a name search until you know the record category. The same person or business can appear in several different Seminole County systems.
| What you need | Use this official route | Search/request details | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil lawsuit, small claims, family, foreclosure, court events | Clerk case-search page | Name, case number, court event, case type, date range. | Some records may be confidential, sealed, exempt, or not visible online. |
| Criminal case, felony, misdemeanor, criminal fine or fee | Criminal case search route | Defendant name, case number, citation, court date, payment information. | A court docket is not a complete statewide criminal history check. |
| Traffic citation, traffic school, hearing, no contest request | Traffic citation page | Citation number, name, election type, deadline, proof documents. | Most options are deadline-sensitive and can affect points or suspension. |
| Deed, mortgage, lien, plat, map, final judgment in Official Records | Official Records search | Party name, document type, instrument number, date range, book/page. | Official Records are not the same as full court case files. |
| County department records | Seminole County public records request | Department, subject, date, address, record description. | The county directs court, divorce, and marriage records to the Clerk. |
| Police report or sheriff incident record | Sheriff public records | Report number, date, location, names, incident type. | A police report is not a court judgment, sentence, or docket sheet. |
How to Search Seminole Court Records Online
Start from the Clerk, not a search ad
Open the official Clerk “Search for a Court Case” page. It is the hub for civil cases, criminal cases, court events, traffic citations, dependency, juvenile delinquency, foreclosures, tax deed sales, official records, and pre-trial release register tools.
Select the right record library
Choose civil, criminal, traffic, court events, dependency, juvenile delinquency, foreclosure, official records, or tax deed sales before searching by name.
Use the strongest identifier first
Case number, citation number, instrument number, book/page, or exact party name usually works better than a broad name search.
Check the details before relying on a result
Confirm the case number, filing date, party role, case type, status, court events, payments, and whether the record is a docket, recorded document, or court file.
Request the correct official copy
For agency use, legal filing, title work, employment, licensing, housing, or immigration, ask the Clerk whether you need a plain copy, certified copy, eCertified copy, exemplified certificate, or transcript.
Seminole Traffic Citations: Pay, School, Hearing, No Contest or Extension
The Clerk’s traffic citation page lists several options for eligible noncriminal traffic infractions. Payment is not always the only choice. Some options can affect points, deadlines, license status, or school requirements.
Payment can be made online, by calling 407-547-3318, or by visiting a Clerk location. Payment can be treated as a conviction and points may be assessed if applicable.
If eligible, the Clerk says you get 60 days to complete the course and turn in the certificate. Missing the deadline can add fees, points, or suspension risk.
A hearing request may be made online, in person, by mail, fax, or email. Include your name, citation number, mailing address, and phone number.
| Situation | What to prepare | Important deadline or rule |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic school election | Citation, payment, school affidavit, approved school, completion certificate. | The Clerk lists 60 days to complete and submit the certificate after election. |
| No contest withhold request | Signed request, driving history review context, payment readiness. | The Clerk says it must be submitted within 30 days of the violation date and is limited to once in 12 months and no more than three times in a lifetime. |
| Hearing request | Name, citation number, full mailing address, phone number. | Notices are mailed after processing for mail, email, or fax requests. |
| Expired license, registration, or insurance proof | Valid proof showing status at time of stop, if applicable. | If proof was valid at the time of stop, the Clerk lists a $10 dismissal fee; otherwise the full statutory penalty may apply. |
Official Records vs Court Case Records
The Clerk is also the County Recorder. Official Records can include deeds, mortgages, notices of commencement, liens, declarations, final judgments, military discharges, death certificates, probate documents, satisfactions of mortgage, court papers, plats, maps, and other recorded documents.
You need a civil case, criminal case, traffic citation, court event, dependency case, juvenile delinquency case, foreclosure, or court docket.
You need a recorded document, property-related record, deed, lien, mortgage, recorded judgment, eRecording, or eligible eCertified Official Records copy.
Certified Copies, eCertified Copies, Search Fees and Record Costs
Use online search for basic lookup. Use official copies when the document must be submitted to a court, agency, title company, employer, school, licensing board, immigration matter, or attorney.
| Item | Official fee or rule shown by Clerk | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Record search | $2 per year searched. | You need staff-assisted searching beyond what you can find online. |
| Official Records copy | $1 per page for copies not larger than 14″ × 8.5″; larger pages listed at $5 per page. | You need a copy of a recorded document or eligible Official Records item. |
| Certification | $2 for certifying copies of any instrument in public records. | The receiving office asks for a certified copy, not a plain printout. |
| Exemplified certificate | $7 including signing and sealing. | A receiving court or agency specifically asks for exemplification. |
| eCertified Official Records document | $5 for eCertifying a document from Official Records. | The document is eligible for online eCertification. |
| Mailing | Certified or registered mail costs are actual postage cost. | You need records mailed or returned by certified/registered mail. |
Seminole Court Records Phones, Locations and Hours
The Clerk’s main phone directory lists 407-665-4300 for many divisions, including civil, county civil, criminal division, domestic relations, small claims, marriage licenses, passports, and administration. Use the official phone directory for current routing.
| Need help with | Phone / email | Location or note | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Clerk case questions | 407-665-4300; clerk@seminoleclerk.org | P.O. Box 8099, Sanford, FL 32772-8099 | General routing, civil/criminal/small claims, case lookup help. |
| Criminal Justice Center | 407-665-4300 | 101 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773; Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM | Full-service civil and criminal courts. |
| Records Center / Official Records | 407-665-4405; officialrecords@seminoleclerk.org | 1750 E. Lake Mary Blvd., Sanford, FL 32773; Official Records Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM | Official Records, property records, recorded documents, eCertified copies. |
| Juvenile and Probate | Juvenile 407-665-5350; Probate 407-665-4369 | 190 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773; Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM | Juvenile and probate services where access is permitted. |
| Casselberry Branch | 407-665-4300 | 376 Wilshire Boulevard, Casselberry, FL 32707; Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-5:00PM | Branch services and marriage ceremonies during listed availability. |
| Court administration public records | 407-665-4200 | Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Seminole court administration | Judicial branch administration records, not Clerk case-file copies. |
| Sheriff reports | 407-665-6690; records@seminolesheriff.org | Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Records Section | Police reports and law-enforcement public records. |
Map: Main Clerk Service Location for Civil and Criminal Court Help
For many civil and criminal Clerk services, the current official locations page points users to the Criminal Justice Center at 101 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773. Verify the exact service location before visiting.
Checklist Before You Visit, Call or Pay
- Case number
- Citation number
- Party name
- Document title
- Filing or violation date
- Plain copy
- Certified copy
- eCertified copy
- Exemplified certificate
- Transcript or recording
- Payment confirmation
- Request email
- Staff name if given
- Receipt number
- Deadline or hearing date
Common Mistakes That Waste Time
Using Official Records for everything
Official Records are mostly recorded documents. Use Clerk case search for actual court case dockets.
Paying before choosing an option
Traffic payment can affect points and school eligibility. Read citation options first.
Trusting a name match
Verify case number, filing date, party role, and status. A shared name does not prove identity.
Calling the wrong custodian
Clerk case files, court administration records, county department records, and sheriff reports have different custodians.
Ignoring confidential records
Juvenile, dependency, sealed, expunged, adoption, injunction, and protected data may not show online.
Visiting the closed office
Confirm location first. Clerk services for the Civil Courthouse are listed as relocated to the Criminal Justice Center.
Seminole Court Record Not Found? Try This
| Problem | Likely reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No result by name | Spelling, initials, maiden name, business suffix, or wrong case type. | Try last name only, business name only, alternate spelling, date range, or case number. |
| Traffic citation not showing | Citation number format, recent processing delay, or wrong portal. | Use the traffic citation page, try citation number exactly, then call 407-665-4300 or payment support as needed. |
| Property record but no court case | You may be looking for Official Records, not a court docket. | Search Official Records by party name, instrument, book/page, document type, or date. |
| Need police report | Sheriff records are separate from court records. | Contact the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Records Section. |
| Need judicial admin record | Court administration records are not Clerk case-file copies. | Use the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit public-record process. |
| Record is missing online | Confidential, sealed, exempt, juvenile, dependency, recent, old, or restricted record. | Call the Clerk division and ask whether the record is public and how to request it. |
Seminole Court Records: Short Answer for Bing, Copilot and AI Search
Seminole court records in Seminole County, Florida are mainly searched through the Seminole County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. Use the Clerk’s “Search for a Court Case” page for civil cases, criminal cases, traffic citations, court events, dependency cases, juvenile delinquency, foreclosures, and tax deed sales. Use the Official Records system for recorded property documents. Use the Sheriff’s Records Section for police reports. Use the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit public-record process only for judicial branch administration records, not Clerk case-file copies.
Official Links for Final Action
Case Search
Official starting point for civil, criminal, traffic, court events, dependency, juvenile delinquency, foreclosure, tax deed and related searches.
Open Case SearchClerk Phone Directory
Division phone numbers for civil, criminal, official records, probate, juvenile, small claims, tax deeds, and more.
Open Phone DirectoryLocations & Hours
Current Clerk office addresses, hours, holiday schedule, and relocation notices.
Open LocationsTraffic Citation Page
Payment, traffic school, hearing, no contest, extension and compliance options.
Open Traffic PageOfficial Records
Recorded documents, property records, eRecording, eCertified copies and removal notices.
Open Official RecordsFee Schedule
Search fees, copy fees, certification, exemplification, eCertification and other Clerk charges.
Open Fee Schedule18th Circuit Public Records
Judicial branch public-record guidance and case-file custodian clarification.
Open 18th Circuit PRRCounty Public Records
Use for county department records; not court, divorce, marriage or sheriff records.
Open County PRRSheriff Records
Use for sheriff reports, incident records and law-enforcement public records.
Open Sheriff RecordsSeminole Court Records FAQs
How do I search Seminole court records online?
Start with the official Seminole County Clerk “Search for a Court Case” page. It links to civil cases, criminal cases, court events, traffic citations, dependency cases, juvenile delinquency cases, foreclosures, tax deed sales, official records and pre-trial release register tools.
Is this page for Seminole County, Florida?
Yes. This guide is for Seminole County, Florida. If you mean Seminole County, Oklahoma or another Seminole location, use that jurisdiction’s official court clerk website instead.
Can I search Seminole court records by name?
Yes. Many Clerk search tools allow name searches, but exact case number or citation number is usually stronger. Try last name only, business name, alternate spelling, maiden name or a broader date range if no result appears.
Where do I search Seminole criminal cases?
Use the Clerk’s official case-search page and choose the criminal case search route. For criminal fine or fee payments, start from the official Clerk pay-online pages and verify the case before paying.
Where do I search Seminole civil cases?
Use the Clerk’s civil case search route from the official “Search for a Court Case” page. Civil searches may include lawsuits, small claims, evictions, foreclosures, injunctions and related court events where public.
Are Seminole Official Records the same as court case records?
No. Official Records usually involve recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, final judgments, plats, maps and other recording items. Court case records are searched through the Clerk’s court case tools.
How do I pay or handle a Seminole traffic citation?
Use the official Clerk traffic citation page. It explains online payment, phone payment, traffic school election, no contest withhold requests, hearing requests, extensions and documentation-related options.
How do I get certified copies of Seminole court records?
Contact the Clerk division tied to the case or record type. Ask whether you need a plain copy, certified copy, eCertified copy, exemplified certificate or transcript, and confirm the current fee before ordering.
Why can’t I find a Seminole court case online?
The case may be under another spelling, in a different case type, in another county, recently filed, old, sealed, expunged, confidential, juvenile-related, dependency-related or not available through public online search.
Who do I contact for Seminole police reports?
For police or sheriff records, contact the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Records Section at 407-665-6690 or records@seminolesheriff.org. Police reports are separate from court case files.
What is the main Seminole Clerk phone number?
The Clerk phone directory lists 407-665-4300 for many divisions, including administration, civil, county civil, criminal division, domestic relations, small claims, marriage licenses and passports.
Can I email Seminole court or county offices safely?
Florida public-records notices warn that email addresses received by public offices may be public records. If you do not want your email address released, contact the office by phone or in writing instead.
Best Next Step
Start with the official Seminole Clerk case-search page. Choose the right record type before searching: civil, criminal, traffic citation, court events, dependency, juvenile delinquency, foreclosure, tax deed, or official records. If you need the record for anything official, call the Clerk and confirm the correct copy type, fee, deadline and location before paying or visiting.
Official-source check completed July 15, 2026. Court portals, fees, phone numbers, deadlines, locations, public-access rules and payment routes can change. Verify directly with the official Clerk, court, county or Sheriff source before relying on any record.