Court records in Pasco County, Florida, are maintained by the Clerk & Comptroller and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. PascoCourt.us will help you find publicly available information about county court records. Additionally, you can use the Florida Courts Portal, submit a public records request, or visit the clerk's office in person.
Pasco Court System Overview
Pasco County is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida, along with Pinellas County. The county's court system consists of two levels: Circuit Court and County Court. The Circuit Court handles more serious cases — felonies, large civil claims, family law, and probate matters. The County Court deals with less complex categories: misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic violations.
Appeals from both courts are directed to the Second District Court of Appeal. The main judicial complex is located in Dade City:
The second main building — West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey — serves the western part of the county.
Courts Serving Pasco
State Courts
Federal Court
There are no municipal courts in Pasco County — all local level cases are handled by the County Court.
What Types of Cases Pasco Courts Hear
The county courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations, including DUI
- Civil claims of any scale, as well as small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony, paternity
- Probate matters, guardianship, trust management
- Juvenile cases: offenses and child protection
- Adoption
Each of these categories is distributed between the Circuit Court and County Court depending on the severity or amount of the claim. Details are in the following sections.
District Court Cases in Pasco
The Circuit Court in Pasco is a court of general jurisdiction that handles the most significant cases in the county. These include criminal cases involving felonies after a preliminary hearing in County Court, as well as civil claims over $50,000. Additionally, the Circuit Court serves as an appellate court for County Court decisions.
A judge is appointed automatically during case registration. Criminal cases are initiated by the State Attorney after an indictment or grand jury decision. Civil cases begin with the filing of a complaint. The court also considers motions after sentencing, including for sentence review or expungement.
Magistrate Court Cases in Pasco
The County Court acts as a court of limited jurisdiction. It handles misdemeanors and minor offenses, traffic violations, and initial hearings in felony cases. Civil claims up to $50,000 also fall under this court's jurisdiction.
Small claims are limited to $8,000 according to Florida law. DUI cases start here — with the defendant's first appearance and preliminary hearings. Due to the high volume of traffic cases, some County Court judges specialize in this category. If a case involves a violation of municipal ordinances, it also goes to County Court.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Pasco
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, alimony, protective orders, paternity establishment, and termination of parental rights are all handled by the Circuit Court in the family law division. Supreme Court of Florida-approved family law forms are available for self-completion. A divorce certificate can be ordered through the Florida Department of Health.
Probate Matters
The Probate division of the Circuit Court handles estate administration, appointment of guardians for incapacitated persons, and trust issues. The process usually begins with the filing of a petition and the appointment of a personal representative or guardian.
Juvenile Matters
Cases involving juvenile offenses and child protection from abuse are handled by a separate division of the Circuit Court. Juvenile case records are confidential according to Florida law. Access is limited to parties in the case, attorneys, and authorized individuals.
How Cases Move Through the Pasco Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with an arrest or an indictment by the State Attorney. A civil case starts with the filing of a complaint with the clerk's office. Family and probate cases are opened with a petition.
- Judge Assignment. The clerk registers the case, and the system automatically assigns it to a specific judge.
- Initial Hearings. In criminal cases, this is an arraignment — the defendant hears the charges and enters a plea. In civil cases, it's a scheduling conference where the judge sets the timeline.
- Pretrial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery) and file motions. In criminal cases, plea bargaining may occur.
- Trial. The case concludes with a trial, settlement, guilty plea, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. Criminal cases move to the sentencing phase. Any party may appeal to the Second District Court of Appeal. Civil judgments are subject to enforcement.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Pasco
The administrative judge of the 6th Judicial Circuit coordinates the work of the courts in Pasco and Pinellas. The Trial Court Administrator manages daily operations — from scheduling hearings to personnel management.
Local rules of the 6th Judicial Circuit define procedural requirements: filing deadlines, motion format, hearing procedures. You can review them on the official Florida Courts website.
Public Access
According to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes (Florida Public Records Act) and Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, most court records are public. Confidential records include juvenile cases, certain family cases, records with personal information (social security numbers, bank details), and materials sealed by court order. According to Section 28.2221 of the Florida Statutes, the Clerk & Comptroller is required to provide internet access to official records.
Participation in Hearings
Hearings can be attended in person at either of the two judicial complexes. Some categories of cases allow for remote participation via Zoom — check with the clerk's office or in the summons.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Pasco
- Case Search. The Clerk & Comptroller provides online access to civil, criminal, and official records registries. To request records, contact through the public records request page or directly at the Clerk of Court's office.
- Appellate Cases. Documents and registries of appellate cases are available through the Florida Appellate Case Information System.
- Forms and Self-Help. Family law forms approved by the Supreme Court of Florida are available for free. The clerk's office can also provide forms for small claims and other categories.
- Criminal History. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) maintains the central repository of state criminal records.
- Inmate Search. Information on individuals in custody can be found through the state department's jail registry and inmate search.
- Property Records. The Pasco County Property Appraiser provides access to property records and assessed values.
- General County Information. The official Pasco County website contains reference information about services, department contacts, and request procedures.
- Sex Offender Registry. The registry is maintained by the FDLE and is available on their official website for search by address or name.
If you need further assistance in finding records, use PascoCourt.us for initial guidance or contact the Clerk & Comptroller's office directly.