Seminole County, founded in 1913, covers a total land area of 309.4 square miles in central Florida. As of 2020, about 470,000 people live in the county. Popular cities in the county include Oviedo, Winter Springs, and Longwood. The county seat is the City of Sanford.

Courts in Seminole County

The 18th Judicial Circuit Court serves as the highest court of general jurisdiction in Seminole County. The court has locations in Sanford, Casselberry, and Altamonte Springs. All civil and criminal cases beyond the jurisdiction of other lower courts are handled at Seminole County Circuit Court. Examples of civil cases heard at the apex court include monetary disagreements above $15,000, mental health matters, probate, and guardianship. The court also hears and pronounces judgments on felony-related crimes.

There are four County Courts in Seminole County. These lower trial courts handle specific civil and criminal matters. Misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and ordinance violations are examples of criminal matters handled at County Courts. Residents can take civil lawsuits like small claims cases, landlord-tenant disputes, and simple dissolution to the court. Note that Seminole County courts only handle small claims that involve below $15,000 financial disputes.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Seminole County

The Clerk of Court in Seminole County is in charge of maintaining and disseminating public court records. Residents can find the following public court records at the Clerk of Court’s office.

• Court Dockets
• Transcripts
• Plea bargains
• Indictments
• Affidavits
• Depositions
• Verdicts
• Jury lists

Record seekers in Seminole County can find court records online. Online copies are free of charge but are not certified. To obtain certified paper documents, requesters may visit the Clerk of Court office or send emails. Residents interested in sending mail requests must complete the Records Order Form and send it to the mail address on the document.

Types of Public Court Records in Seminole County

Requesters can find the following public court records in Seminole County:

• Civil cases
• Criminal cases (Criminal Traffic, Felony, and Misdemeanor)
• Traffic citations
• Foreclosures
• Property records
• Divorce filings and decrees
• Probate court records
• Guardianship records
• Small claims court records

Confidential Court Records

Confidential court records, listed under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, are not open to the public. Some court records are confidential according to state and federal laws to protect the recordholders’ privacy. Examples of these records include the following:

• Personal identifying information such as social security numbers, addresses, and telephone numbers
• Financial information such as credit card and bank account numbers
• Medical records
• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Baker Act records
• Substance abuse records
• Victim and Witness Information
• Confidential Informant Information
• Grand jury records
• Trade secrets

Other confidential court records are sealed by record holders. Record seekers may access confidential records in Seminole County by petitioning the court and providing valid legal reasons for access.

Juvenile Delinquency in Seminole, FL

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

In 2017, a total of 1704 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Seminole County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1704 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Seminole County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Sanford
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1913
Total Square Miles:	345
2019 Population:	462,659
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	1101 E 1St St County Services Building Sanford , FL 32771-1468 http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/

Seminole County, FL Courts