Access Clearwater Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Clearwater are maintained by the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Search records online or visit the clerk's office in downtown Clearwater.

Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court

Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County. The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court handles all civil court records for Clearwater and every other city in the county. Ken Burke serves as clerk. His office manages civil filings, court documents, and official records. The main courthouse is right in downtown Clearwater, so residents do not need to travel far for civil court matters.

The Pinellas County Clerk website has online tools for searching civil court records. You can look up cases by party name or case number. The search covers civil, family, probate, and other case types across Pinellas County, including all Clearwater civil court records.

The Clearwater city government website provides general city services but does not handle civil court records directly. You can view the city's site for other local information.

For all civil court matters, go through the Pinellas County Clerk.

How to Search Clearwater Civil Court Records

You can search Clearwater civil court records two ways. The Pinellas County Clerk's website has a case search tool. Enter a name or case number and results come up right away. The tool covers all civil cases in the county, so Clearwater cases appear alongside those from St. Petersburg, Largo, and other Pinellas cities.

The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal offers another way to search. This statewide system connects to all 67 county clerks. You can search for Clearwater civil court records and file new cases through the portal. Registration is free.

The portal works from any device with an internet connection.

Since Clearwater is the county seat, the main courthouse is right in the city. Visit the Pinellas County Clerk's office at 315 Court St in Clearwater. Staff can look up civil court records and make copies for you. Bring your ID. Plain copies cost a small fee per page. Certified copies cost more.

Pinellas County is one of the most populated counties in Florida. A lot of civil cases move through the court system each year. The online search tools help you find what you need without waiting in line at the courthouse in Clearwater.

Civil Court Structure for Clearwater

Clearwater sits in the 6th Judicial Circuit. This circuit covers Pinellas and Pasco counties. Civil cases from Clearwater go to one of two court levels.

Circuit Court handles civil cases with claims above $30,000. Contract disputes, injury lawsuits, and property actions fall here. Family law, probate, and guardianship cases also go to Circuit Court. County Court takes cases up to $30,000. Small claims up to $8,000 and eviction cases are handled in County Court.

The Clearwater courthouse at 315 Court St handles both Circuit Court and County Court civil cases. Call (727) 464-3341 if you need help figuring out which court level is right for your case.

Pinellas County Civil Court Records

All civil court records in Clearwater are managed at the county level. For full details on the Pinellas County Clerk's office, court procedures, fee schedules, and search tools, visit our Pinellas County civil court records page. It covers everything you need for civil cases in the county.

Clearwater shares the same clerk with St. Petersburg, Largo, and all other Pinellas County cities. One clerk handles civil court records for the whole county.

Public Records Law and Clearwater Civil Court Records

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes most government records open to the public. Civil court records in Clearwater fall under this law. You do not need to be a party in a case. Anyone can ask to view a public civil court file, and the clerk must let you see it within a reasonable time.

Some records stay private. Social security numbers and bank account numbers must be kept out of public files. Records sealed by a judge are not available. But most civil court records in Clearwater are open for anyone to see.

Confidential Information in Clearwater Civil Court Records

When filing civil court papers in Clearwater, you must follow rules about private data. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 requires the Notice of Confidential Information form for any filing that has sensitive data. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and other protected details must be flagged so the clerk can keep them out of public view.

If confidential info appears in a public civil court file from Clearwater, anyone can ask the clerk to remove it. Submit a redaction request with the case number and the page where the data appears. The clerk removes it from the public version at no charge.

Self-Help Resources for Clearwater Civil Cases

The Florida Courts self-help page has forms and guides for people handling civil cases on their own. You can find packets for small claims, evictions, and other common civil case types. These forms work for Clearwater civil cases filed through the Pinellas County Clerk.

DIY Florida is a free tool built into the E-Filing Portal. It asks you questions and fills out court forms step by step. More than 20 form types are available for civil cases. Once done, you file the forms through the portal to the Pinellas County clerk's office. Filing fees still apply for Clearwater civil court cases.

Need help with electronic filing? The E-Filing Portal support desk is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern at (850) 577-4609. Training videos show how to set up an account, submit papers, and pay fees for civil cases in Clearwater.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Clearwater. Civil court records in each city go through that city's county clerk. Make sure you file in the right county for your case.