Record keeping is a crucial aspect of judicial administration inPasco County, Florida. Clerks of courts are tasked with maintaining documents and materials collected or collated from legal proceedings to preserve case history. These documents, which include recordings, transcripts, judgments, dockets, evidence, and other files submitted during court cases, form an integral part of Florida court records.
Each court record is critical to upholding a fair justice system, ensuring public accountability, and maintaining transparency in the legal process. The records aid lawyers in legal research, help judges make informed decisions, and keep members of the public updated about legal cases.
Are Court Records Public in Pasco County?
Yes. TheFlorida Sunshine Lawestablishes that court documents are part of the Pasco County public records. According to the law, files and other information created and maintained by taxpayer-funded agencies, including the courts, are open for public inspection.
However, specific court records are exempt from public access underFS 119.0714andFS 119.071.
Further,Article V, Section 2of the Florida Constitution grants the State Supreme Court rulemaking powers that allow it to regulate access to court records.Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin 2.420(c)lists specific court records that are considered confidential. They include:
- Unexecuted search and arrest warrants
- Records sealed by court order
- Records during certain juvenile proceedings
- Sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and debit, charge, or credit card numbers;
- Information that may reveal the identity of respondents and petitioners in domestic, sexual, dating, and repeat violence cases;
- Records marked confidential by court rule, federal law, or state statute.
Pasco County Court Records Search
Pasco County court records searches involve approaching specific agencies or bodies to view and obtain Pasco County court case documents or information. Members of the public generally have the following options to search court cases in Pasco County:
- Visiting, calling, or mailing records centers maintained by thePasco County Clerk and Comptroller's office;
- Using the Clerk and Comptroller's office's remote access database;
- Using third-party aggregate websites.
Pasco County Court Records Search by Name
Interested members of the public may find Pasco court records by providing custodians with the names of parties involved in the case. The name could be that of a business, an individual, or an attorney's name (in some cases). Name searches can be conducted online, by mail, or at the Clerk & Comptroller's office locations. The office may charge a fee for assisted record searches by name.
While name-based court record searches are available in Pasco County, using other known case information, like a case number, can help narrow search results.
Pasco County Courts
Pasco County residents are served byFlorida's 6th Judicial Circuit, which consists of circuit and county courts. Below are the courthouse addresses in Pasco County:
Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center
38053 Live Oak Avenue
Dade City, Florida 33523
West Pasco Judicial Center
7530 Little Road
P.O. Box 338
New Port Richey, Florida 34656
Pasco County Superior Court Case Search
The state of Florida operates20 judicial circuits. Each circuit court performs functions similar to superior courts in some states. Circuit courts are the highest trial courts and, as authorized by statute, serve as the first appellate courts in some instances.
Pasco County is served by the 6th Judicial Circuit, which comprises circuit criminal, civil, family, and probate divisions. The courts have jurisdiction over civil disputes with over $50,000 in disputes, felonies, juvenile cases, and tax and property boundary disputes. Circuit courts also manage cases regarding minors, the incapacitation of individuals, and estates.
Court records produced during these cases can be accessed through the Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller's office. The office provides the following methods for researching and obtaining court records:
- Searching Online: The office runs anonline database(Online Court Records Search) where users can search for records from any of the circuit court's divisions. Inquirers may search the database using a case party's name or case details like the year filed, sequence number, party identifier, and branch location. They can also filter cases by filing dates with the name-search tool.
- Viewing Paper Files: The Clerk's office has data centers in Dade City and New Port Richey that the public can visit during official hours toview physical case files. The office recommends that people call beforehand and provide the relevant case numbers. Individuals may have to pay for assisted records searches. Below are the addresses of the Clerk's record centers:
East Pasco Records Retention Facility
38319 McDonald Street
Dade City, Florida 33525
Phone: (352) 521-4489
Mailing Address:
38053 Live Oak Avenue
Dade City, Florida 33523-3805
Jack Albert Records Retention Facility
8902 Government Drive
New Port Richey, Florida 34654-5555
Phone: (727) 847-8962
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 338
New Port Richey, Florida 34656-0338
Requesting court documents: Inquirers may also visit, call, or mail the Clerk & Comptroller's data centers to request certified or plain copies of circuit court records for a fee.
- $1 per page for copies
- $2 to certify a document
Pasco County District Court Records
County courts in Florida are the second-tiered trial courts under circuit courts. They are similar to district courts in some U.S. jurisdictions (e.g., Washington) with limited jurisdiction over legal matters.
The county courts in Pasco County comprise different court divisions, such as civil, criminal, traffic, and small claims, and have original jurisdiction in the following cases:
- Civil disputes where the controversy is worth less than $50,000.
- Simplified marriage dissolution proceedings
- Most disputes between landlords and tenants
- Misdemeanor proceedings that lack concurrent felony allegations or charges
- County and municipal ordinance violations
- Traffic offenses
- Disputes involving property or financial disagreements valued at up to $8,000, excluding additional legal costs
Individuals can obtain copies of county court records through the Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller's office. For instance, a person may access the Clerk's Online Court Records Search portal to find basic case information, which can facilitate record searches at the Clerk's data centers.
Pasco County Criminal Records
Pasco County criminal records are created when law enforcement agencies arrest people suspected of committing crimes. These records can be obtained by approaching the local sheriff's office and other local enforcement bodies.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office
ThePasco County Sheriff's Officeprovides different types of public records upon request, including criminal records. Interested persons can submit requests for criminal records in person or by regular mail, email, telephone, or fax. Below are the address details:
Pasco Sheriff's Offices Public Records Department
20105 Central Boulevard
Land O' Lakes, FL 34637
Phone: (813) 235-6118
Fax: (813) 235-6119
Email: PublicRecords@pascosheriff.org
Inquirers may also submit their Pasco County arrest records requests online through the sheriff'sPublic Records Center portal. Creating an account allows one to track their request.
Note that the sheriff's criminal record checks service is limited to the sheriff's jurisdiction within Pasco County. Inquirers may contact the appropriate (arresting) agency for requests for other arrest records.
Also, requests for records tied to an active or pending investigation may not be fulfilled until the investigation is concluded.
Pasco County Criminal Court Case Lookup
Members of the public can query the County Clerk and Comptroller's office for Pasco criminal case records, i.e., court records generated in the county's criminal courts. Inquirers may access the Clerk'sOnline Court Records Search portalto view case information, inquire at any of the Clerk's record centers, or send a written request by mail. Any request requires the provision of a name or case number.
Note, however, that records retrieved online are not considered the official court record. Further, users can only view case details like the case type and status, docket information, filing date, and other court events. They cannot view or download criminal case documents online.
Get Pasco County Civil Court Records
Civil court records are produced during non-criminal proceedings involving two or more disputing parties. These proceedings include professional malpractice, automobile negligence, condominium lawsuits, product liability, real property, eminent domain, contract indebtedness, mortgage foreclosure, land-tenant disputes, and so on.
Pasco County civil casesare heard in the county's circuit, circuit probate, county civil, and county small claims courts. Certain cases heard in county traffic and circuit family courts can also be considered civil court cases.
Inquirers can obtain records produced from these cases through the office of the county Clerk and Comptroller. They can visit the office's locations in person, send mail-in requests, or contact them by telephone. They can also use the Clerk and Comptroller'sonline search portalto track and view basic information about civil cases.
Pasco County Family Court Records
Pasco County family law cases are handled by the 6th Judicial Circuit's family division. They include child support, adoption, child custody and visitation, domestic violence, dependency, delinquency, parental responsibility, and juvenile matters.
Requesters can visit the Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller's office to view case information and obtain copies of documents from the division. However, certain family law case records are restricted from public access and may only be accessible to specific entities, such as case parties.
Queries may also be made through the office'sonline court records search database. The Person Search option allows users to check the Domestic Relations/Family box under court type and enter the party name to search for the case details. They can also use the Case Search option to select the court type and enter the case number and filing date details to start the search.
Persons seeking official and certified copies of documents must submit requests to the Clerk and Comptroller's office by mail, telephone, or in-person submission. They are required to provide the case number or pay $2 per name per year for assisted name record searches.
Pasco Dissolution of Marriage Records
Dissolution of marriage (annulment or divorce) casesare family law matters and within the purview of the circuit court's family division. Records from these cases are categorized as Pasco County vital records. They are public records that may be needed as evidence in legal matters or help verify people's marital status. However, certain information may be considered confidential by state statute or federal law.
The Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller's office records dissolution of marriage cases. The office then files the report with theFlorida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statisticsafter 60 days.
Members of the public who want to order these records through the bureau will pay the following:
- Search per calendar year plus certified copy: $5
- Additional certified copies: $4
- Delivery: $1
- Search fee for each calendar year when the searcher does not know the specific year of record: $2 ($50 maximum).
Inquirers may visit
1217 North Pearl Street,
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
They may also mail their requests to
the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics,
P.O. Box 210,
Jacksonville, Florida 32231-0042.
Requesters must fill outform DH260or include the following in their requests:
- Full name of persons as displayed on record
- Dissolution date
- The county where the case was handled and concluded
- Requester's full name, mailing address, relationship to any person on the dissolution record, signature, and phone number
If 60 days have not passed since the dissolution was granted or the dissolution was recorded before June 6, 1927, interested persons can contact the Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller's office.
Pasco County Marriage and Divorce Records
Members of the public can access Pasco County divorce records through the office of the Clerk and Comptroller or the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Records, as shown earlier.
Pasco County marriage records, such as licenses and certificates, can also be obtained from both offices. To order a Pasco County marriage certificate through theBureau of Vital Statistics, individuals must fill out formDH261or include the following details in their application:
- Date of birth and full names of each spouse before marriage
- Date of marriage
- Place of marriage
- License-issuing county
- Full name, mailing address, and signature of the applicant
- Requester's relationship with any spouse on record
Requesters will pay the same search and order fees as dissolution of marriages.
Individuals seeking marriage licenses cancontact the Clerk and Comptrolleroffice.
Pasco Birth and Death Records
Birth and death records are crucial Pasco County vital records that help in various scenarios. Pasco County birth records aid in proving legal identity, nationality, and age and may be required for enrolling in school, voting, and obtaining a passport. Pasco County death certificates are crucial for legal matters such as inheritance, insurance, settling estates, and accessing pension benefits.
TheFlorida Department of Health in the countymaintains and dispenses birth and death records to eligible individuals. Members of the public can request these records through the department's third-party vendor. They can also request by mail or in-person submissions at the Pasco County Department of Health office at10841 Little Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654.
Certified copies of birth certificatescost $12, and $8 for each additional copy in the same order. Each copy of acertified death certificatecosts $10. Fees are different if the third-party vendor processes the order.
Requesters must note that only people authorized byFS 382.02can obtain Pasco County birth certificates recorded less than 125 years ago. In the same vein, death records less than 50 years old can only be obtained without cause of death and social security information unless the applicant is eligible to view those details.
Members of the public can procure death records from 2009 and later from the office. However, people seeking earlier death records must go through theJacksonville State Office of Vital Statistics.
Pasco County Probate Court Records
The 6th Judicial Circuit's probate and guardianship division handles various probate-related matters, including probate of estates, guardianships, trusts, and mental health. Members of the public can order probate court records through the Clerk and Comptroller's office just like other records.
However, the office also provides a dedicated webpage formental health cases. Users can only search for these cases using case numbers.
Pasco County Property Records
Pasco County property records include real documents such as deeds, releases, mortgages, and liens. The county's Clerk and Comptroller, Property Appraiser, and Tax Collector also preserve and disseminate these records.
The Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller's Office
Members of the public can view property records, including plat maps, liens, deeds, transfers, easem*nts, mortgages, and so on, using the Clerk'sofficial records search page. The website provides an index of every publicly available recording regarding real estate from 1975. Users can search by name, instrument, or book and page.
Individuals who want to request certified copies of these documents or images not available through the online portal can do so by sending their applications via mail or calling the Clerk and Comptroller's office using the following information:
Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller
Official Records Department
38053 Live Oak Avenue
Dade City, FL 33523-3805
Phone: (352) 521-4408, (727) 847-8086
The Pasco County Tax Collector's Office
ThePasco County Tax Collectoris responsible for collecting taxes levied on real estate within the county. Individuals can contact the office for these records. They can use the Tax Collector'sreal estate tax record search toolto look up property tax information. They can also request copies of documents in person or by regular mail, email, or telephone using the following contact details:
Pasco County Tax Collector
Attn: Public Records Request
P.O. Box 276
Dade City, FL 33526
Email: PRR@pascotaxes.com
Phone: (352) 521-4338
The Pasco County Appraiser's Office
ThePasco County Appraiseris in charge of assessing every property's value to determine fair taxes. The office maintains property records, including appraisal and sales history, property documents, building information, tax area, and maps.
Members of the public can use the appraiser'sonline records search toolto find details about any property. They can initiate the search using different parameters, including parcel number, owner name, and address.
The appraiser also offers aninteractive map search tool, allowing users to view and click buildings to gather appraisal information. They can click the parcel information link from there to access other details.
Pasco County Court Records Online
Persons seeking Pasco County court and vital records online may opt to search through the official resources provided by the custodial agencies. However, third-party aggregate sites offer a convenient, more centralized alternative to official web resources. Sites likecourtrecords.us, operate independently of government-owned databases but aggregate the information generated across several jurisdictions. They are especially suitable where limited search parameters are available to the researcher or inquirer. Notwithstanding, inquirers may not use records obtained from these resources as official records as they may not be up-to-date. Rather, requesters are advised to verify the documents with those obtained from official resources.
