Osceola County, established in 1887, is named after the Seminole leader Osceola from the Second Seminole War. Located in central Florida, it has a population of approximately 430,000 and covers an area of about 1,506 square miles. Its county seat in Kissimmee is home to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, a vast natural preserve known for hiking and camping. 

Courts in Osceola County

The judicial system in Osceola County comprises Circuit and County Courts. The Osceola County Circuit Court is the primary trial court in the county, having general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. Criminal cases include felonies and misdemeanors, while civil cases heard by the courts include contract disputes, employment disputes, and boundary disputes. The Circuit Court also handles Family law cases such as divorce and legal separation. It presides over Probate matters, including wills, trusts, and guardianships, as well as Juvenile cases, including child protection and juvenile delinquency cases.

The County Court has limited authority over civil and criminal cases. They preside over civil claims for disputes under $15,000 and most misdemeanor criminal cases. The County Courts also preside over violations of municipal and county ordinances.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Osceola County

Public court records in Osceola County refer to the papers and documents from the courts that are open to the public for inspection, viewing, and copying. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is responsible for the judicial process and maintaining public court records. Records seekers may access Osceola County public court records using the Case Search tool. Additionally, the court entertains in-person and mail requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Osceola County

Access to public court records can help educate citizens on the county’s legal process, helping them to know their rights and responsibilities under the law. The following court records are publicly available to Osceola County residents:

• Civil Court Records: Employment disputes, contact breaches, small claims, boundary disputes, and foreclosure lawsuits
• Criminal Court Records: Misdemeanors, including simple assaults and petty theft. Felonies, such as arsons and drug trafficking court records
• Probate Records: Estates, wills, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships
• Traffic Records: Driving under the influence, speeding tickets, illegal parking, and driving without valid licenses
• Family Law Records: Child custody, child support, spousal support, divorce, and annulments

Confidential Court Records in Osceola County

Confidential court records in Osceola County are the papers and documents from legal proceedings in court, exempt from public view. Confidential court records are sealed to protect the privacy and security of the individual named on the court document. Confidential court records in Osceola County include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Mental health and medical records
• Proprietary business information
• Substance abuse treatment records

Similarly, personal data in court documents are confidential and restricted from public view. Personal identifiers are information on public court records used to identify an individual. Personal identifiers redacted from public court records in Osceola County include:

• Social Security numbers
• Tax identification numbers
• Drivers license numbers
• Bank account and credit card information
• Email and home addresses

Juvenile Delinquency in Osceola, FL

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

In 2017, a total of 1094 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Osceola County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1094 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Osceola County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Kissimmee
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1887
Total Square Miles:	1,506
2019 Population:	352,180
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	1 Courthouse Sq County Courthouse Kissimmee , FL 34741-5440 http://www.osceola.org

Osceola County, FL Courts