Hernando County is famous for its springs and forests, earning it the title of Florida’s adventure coast. As of the 2020 census, the county has a population of 194,515 people with a median household income of $61,462. The county’s seat is Brooksville City.

Courts in County

Hernando County is home to the Fifth District of the Florida Circuit Court and the Hernando County Court.

The Circuit Court is the highest trial court in Hernando County.  It has broad jurisdiction over several matters arising from the county but typically handles cases beyond the authority of the County Court. The civil division of the court adjudicates contractual disputes, claims for money and property, torts, and other civil claims involving more than $30,000. The jurisdiction of the court’s criminal division covers all felonies punishable by incarceration in state prison.

The court also has a juvenile division that handles criminal matters involving minors, juvenile dependency, and child protection matters. The probate division handles wills, administration of estate, guardianship, and mental health cases. Family and domestic matters like domestic violence injunctions, divorce, child custody and support, paternity, and adoption fall within the jurisdiction of the family court division.

The Hernando County Court has limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters in the county. It hears misdemeanors, traffic matters, small claims, and civil cases involving $30,000 or less. Small claims have a maximum limit of $8,000, and the procedures are informal and do not require attorney representation. 

Where to Find Public Court Records in Hernando County

The Hernando County Clerk maintains records of court cases in the county. These records are made available online via the Hernando County online court records search portal. Members of the public can also access and get copies of these records by requesting them at the Clerk’s office. The Clerk may charge copy and certification fees, depending on the nature of your request.

Types of Public Court Records in Hernando County

Court records are documents and materials containing details of a court case, such as case information and parties' arguments. Some examples of court records are:

• Case dockets
• Filings
• Parties’ pleadings
• Exhibits
• Judgements and orders

Hernando County court records are considered public unless a law or court order directs otherwise.

Confidential Court Records in Hernando County

Florida laws exempt certain court records from public access in Hernando County. Some examples of such confidential court records are:

• Juvenile case records
• Adoption records
• Mental Health records
• Records sealed by court order

Juvenile Delinquency in Hernando, FL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Hernando County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Florida often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 481 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Hernando County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 481 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Hernando County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Hernando County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Hernando County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Brooksville
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1843
Total Square Miles:	589
2019 Population:	186,553
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	20 N Main St County Government Center Brooksville , FL 34601-2817 http://www.co.hernando.fl.us

Hernando County, FL Courts