Tampa city family court records are official court files that hold details about divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, and domestic violence cases filed by Tampa residents. These records sit with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court, not the Tampa City Clerk, because Florida runs its family court system at the county level under the 13th Judicial Circuit.
Anyone who lives in Tampa, owns property in Tampa, or got married or divorced in Tampa can have a family case file stored at the county clerk office on Twiggs Street in downtown Tampa.
Family court records serve three main jobs. They prove a marriage ended, they show who has legal rights to a child, and they back up court orders for money or visitation. Lawyers, parents, employers, immigration officers, and private citizens all ask for these files each year. The records stay on paper and in digital form at the clerk office for decades, and most of them count as public records under Florida law.
Who Maintains Tampa Family Court Records
Tampa sits inside Hillsborough County, so the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court holds every family court file for Tampa residents. The current clerk is Cindy Stuart, who won election to lead this office and runs the day-to-day record system for the whole 13th Judicial Circuit. The clerk acts as the official record keeper for the circuit court, which means every divorce petition, custody order, and support judgment passes through her office before it becomes a final public file.
The Hillsborough County Clerk office sits at 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, Florida 33602. The phone number for general clerk services is (813) 276-8100. The office opens Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closes on weekends and state holidays. Visitors pass through a security checkpoint at the front door and need a valid photo ID to enter the record search area.
Role of the Circuit Court
The 13th Judicial Circuit Court covers Hillsborough County and hears all family law cases for the area. Family cases get assigned to a circuit court judge who signs final orders, but the clerk office files and stores the paperwork. A judge cannot look up your case file for you. The clerk office holds the physical and digital file. When you want to see or copy a court order, you ask the clerk, not the judge.
Role of the State Court System
Florida runs a single unified court system under the Office of the State Courts Administrator. Hillsborough County sits in this state system, but the records stay at the local clerk level. The Florida Supreme Court sets the rules for public access, retention, and sealing of family court files. Statewide tools like the Florida E-Filing Portal pull their data from local clerks, including the Hillsborough County Clerk.
Types of Tampa Family Court Records
Tampa family court records cover many kinds of cases. Each type has its own forms, its own file number, and its own storage location inside the clerk office. The clerk keeps every case file separate so a divorce file does not get mixed with a custody file. The main case types appear in the list below.
- Divorce and dissolution of marriage
- Child custody and time-sharing
- Child support orders
- Paternity actions
- Adoption proceedings
- Domestic violence injunctions
- Guardianship of a minor
- Name changes for adults and minors
- Parental relocation petitions
Divorce Records
Divorce records start with a petition for dissolution of marriage and end with a final judgment. The file holds the petition, financial affidavits, marital settlement agreement, child support worksheet if kids are involved, and the signed final judgment. Tampa divorce court records search tools let you look up these files by case number or by the full legal name of either spouse. The clerk seals only the sensitive parts, like bank account numbers, and keeps the rest open to public view.
Child Custody and Time-Sharing Records
Child custody court records show who has the right to make decisions for a child and how much time each parent spends with the child. The file holds the parenting plan, the uniform child custody jurisdiction act affidavit, any mediation reports, and the final order. When a parent wants to change a custody order later, that new motion goes into the same file under the same case number. The clerk keeps Tampa child custody court records open to the parties named in the case and to their lawyers, but other people may need a court order to see sealed details.
Child Support Records
Child support records hold the support order, the financial worksheet, payment history, and any motion to modify the support amount. Hillsborough County child support case search tools pull this data from the clerk office and the Florida Department of Revenue, which tracks payments statewide. The Department of Revenue keeps a separate database for current support balances, but the court order itself lives at the clerk office in the original case file.
Paternity Records
Paternity records start when a mother, a father, or the state files a petition to decide who the legal father of a child is. The file holds DNA test results, the final order of paternity, and any later motion about custody or support that follows the paternity order. Tampa paternity court records stay sealed for the first 60 days after the case opens, and then the basic case data goes online while sensitive details stay redacted.
Adoption Records
Adoption records close to public view once the court issues a final adoption order. Before the order, the file holds the petition, the home study, the consent of the birth parents, and the placement paperwork. After the court issues the final order, the file goes into a sealed adoption record. Tampa adoption court records search tools only show the case number and a generic case type. To get details, you must ask the court for a court order that grants access.
Domestic Violence Injunction Records
Domestic violence records hold petitions for protective injunctions, temporary orders, and final judgments. The clerk keeps the case file, but the court also keeps a separate index of active injunctions that law enforcement checks on every call. A final injunction can stay in effect for a set time, and the clerk sends a copy to the local sheriff’s office. Most injunction files stay public unless the court seals them for safety reasons.
Tampa City Clerk vs Hillsborough County Clerk
Many people mix up the Tampa City Clerk and the Hillsborough County Clerk. The two offices sit close to each other in downtown Tampa and both deal with paperwork, but they handle very different jobs. The table below shows the split.
| Service | Tampa City Clerk | Hillsborough County Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Main address | 306 East Jackson Street, Tampa, FL 33602 | 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Main phone | (813) 274-8211 | (813) 276-8100 |
| Holds court records | No | Yes |
| Holds city council records | Yes | No |
| Issues marriage licenses | No | Yes |
| Files business tax receipts | Yes | No |
| Records deeds and mortgages | No | Yes |
You can call either office to ask a question. The Tampa City Clerk will tell you they do not hold family court files and will point you to the county clerk. The county clerk will help you search the file you need.
What the Tampa City Clerk Handles
The Tampa City Clerk runs the records for the City of Tampa government. This office saves city council minutes, local laws, contracts, and city board records. It also handles public records requests for city departments, like police reports from the Tampa Police Department if the case is closed. The city clerk does not hold divorce decrees, custody orders, or any other family court file.
What the Hillsborough County Clerk Handles
The Hillsborough County Clerk serves as the recorder for the county and the clerk for the circuit court. This office takes care of family court files, but it also takes care of deeds, mortgages, tax deed auctions, felony criminal files, and small claims cases. The clerk has separate departments for each type of file, and the family law department sits on the second floor of the Edgecomb Courthouse at 800 East Twiggs Street.
How to Search Tampa Family Court Records Online
The Hillsborough County Clerk offers free online search tools that work any time of day. The clerk website at hillsclerk.com lets you look up family cases by name, case number, or filing date. You do not need an account to use the basic search. The website also links to a family law page that explains the case types and gives you the forms you may need.
The Florida E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com gives you statewide search across all 67 Florida counties. You can use this tool when you do not know if a case was filed in Hillsborough County or another county. The portal shows the case number, the party names, the judge, the next hearing date, and the case status. The portal does not show full document images for family cases, but it shows the docket list.
What You Can See Online
Online tools show the case number, the case type, the names of the parties, the assigned judge, the filing date, the next hearing date, and the case status. The clerk calls this the docket view. Most public family court files in Tampa show the docket view without restriction. You can also see the list of motions filed in the case, the date each motion was filed, and who filed the motion.
What Requires an In-Person Visit
Full document images, certified copies, and sealed file access need an in-person visit to the clerk office. The online tool shows you that a document exists in the file, but it does not show the actual signed order. To read the full order or to get a copy with the court seal, you must come to the clerk office or send a mail request.
How to Request Records in Person
An in-person visit to the clerk office gives you the fastest result. You show your photo ID, pay the copy fee, and leave with certified or plain copies the same day. The clerk office has public search terminals on the second floor of the Edgecomb Courthouse where you can look up your own case. Staff at the counter can also help you search if you do not have a case number.
What to Bring
Bring a valid photo ID, such as a Florida driver license, a state-issued ID card, a U.S. passport, or a military ID. Bring as much case data as you have, including the case number, the full legal name of either party, and the year the case was filed. The clerk uses this data to pull the right file. If you want a certified copy, the file must still be open and the record must be available for certification.
Fees for Copies
Florida law sets the copy fees for court records. A plain copy costs $1.00 per page. A certified copy costs $2.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee. The clerk accepts cash, checks, money orders, and most major credit and debit cards. Payment for in-person requests happens at the cashier window before the clerk releases the copies.
Security and Parking
The Edgecomb Courthouse has metal detectors at the front door. Leave pocket knives, pepper spray, and other weapons in your car. You can bring your phone, but you cannot take pictures inside the courthouse without a court order. Parking lots sit near the courthouse on Twiggs Street, and the Tampa Riverwalk runs right past the building. You can also use the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit bus system to reach the courthouse.
How to Request Records by Mail
A mail request works when you cannot visit the clerk office during business hours. You send a letter that lists the case data, the copies you want, your contact data, and your payment. The clerk pulls the file, makes the copies, and mails the result back to you. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits, and the clerk cannot rush the process.
Required Mail Request Details
Your letter must include the case number, the full legal name of each party, the year the case was filed, the specific documents you want, and your current mailing address. You must also send payment in the form of a check or money order payable to the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. Do not send cash through the mail.
Processing Time and Limits
Mail requests take 7 to 14 business days to process, depending on the case volume at the clerk office. The clerk will not mail back a document that is sealed or restricted. If the clerk cannot find the case, the clerk will mail you a letter to tell you so. Make sure to include a daytime phone number in your letter so the clerk can call you if the clerk has a question.
Sealed and Restricted Tampa Family Court Records
Not every family court record stays open to the public. Florida law lets a judge seal parts of a file or the whole file in certain cases. Adoption files get sealed after the final order. Paternity files get partial sealing during the case. Domestic violence files can get sealed if the court finds that public access would put a party at risk. Juvenile dependency files get sealed automatically under Florida law.
What Records Get Sealed
Adoption final orders, juvenile dependency files, sealed paternity files, and any file where the court issues a specific sealing order all get restricted access. The clerk will not show these files to a member of the public without a court order. The parties to the case and their lawyers can still see the file through the clerk office.
How to Ask for Access to a Sealed File
You must file a motion to unseal with the circuit court that issued the sealing order. The motion must show a good reason to open the file. A judge reviews the motion and decides whether to grant access. The clerk will not unseal a file based on a phone call or a letter. Only a court order can open a sealed file.
Filing a New Family Court Case in Tampa
People who want to start a new family court case in Tampa file the petition at the Hillsborough County Clerk office. The clerk accepts the filing, assigns a case number, and sets the first hearing date. The clerk charges a filing fee at the time of filing, and the petitioner can ask the court to waive the fee if the petitioner cannot pay.
Where to File
File your family case at the Family Law Division on the second floor of the Edgecomb Courthouse at 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602. You can file in person during business hours. You can also file electronically through the Florida E-Filing Portal, which is faster and lets you pay the fee with a credit or debit card.
Common Forms Used
The clerk office and the Florida Supreme Court offer a standard set of family law forms that every petitioner uses. The forms include the petition, the summons, the financial affidavit, the uniform child custody jurisdiction act affidavit, and the certificate of mandatory disclosure. You can download these forms for free from the Florida Courts website or pick them up at the clerk office.
Filing Fees
Filing fees change each year, but the basic family law filing fee sits around $400. A petition for a simplified dissolution costs less, and a motion to modify an existing order costs less. The clerk accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards for in-person filings. The Florida E-Filing Portal charges a small convenience fee for electronic payment.
Contact Details for Tampa Family Court Records
The main contact for Tampa family court records sits at the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court office. Use the data below to reach the clerk office by phone, by mail, or in person.
- Hillsborough County Clerk of Court
- Address: 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, Florida 33602
- Phone: (813) 276-8100
- Website: www.hillsclerk.com
- Family Law Page: hillsclerk.com/court-services/family-law
- Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Tampa City Clerk: 306 East Jackson Street, Tampa, Florida 33602
- Tampa City Clerk Phone: (813) 274-8211
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the most common points that Tampa residents raise when they look for family court records. Each answer points to the right office, the right form, or the right fee so you can move forward with your record request without delay.
Can I look up Tampa family court records for free?
Yes, the Hillsborough County Clerk offers a free online search tool at hillsclerk.com. You can look up case numbers, party names, hearing dates, and case status without paying a fee. The free search does not give you full document images or certified copies. You pay only when you ask for a printed copy or a certified copy, and the fee follows Florida law at $1.00 per page for a plain copy and $2.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee for a certified copy.
How do I find a divorce decree in Tampa?
Search the Hillsborough County Clerk website using the full legal name of either spouse or the case number. The clerk website shows the docket list for the divorce case and the date the final judgment was filed. To get a certified copy of the final judgment, visit the clerk office at 800 East Twiggs Street with a valid photo ID, or send a mail request with a check for the copy fee.
Are Tampa family court records public?
Yes, most Tampa family court records count as public records under Florida law. The clerk redacts sensitive data like Social Security numbers and bank account details before showing the file to the public. Adoption files, sealed paternity files, and juvenile dependency files stay restricted, and you must have a court order to see those files.
What is the difference between the Tampa City Clerk and the Hillsborough County Clerk?
The Tampa City Clerk holds city government records like city council minutes, local laws, and business tax receipts. The Hillsborough County Clerk holds court records, deeds, mortgages, and other county-level files. Family court records sit with the county clerk, not the city clerk. The two offices sit about half a mile apart in downtown Tampa.
How long does the clerk keep Tampa family court records?
Florida law sets the retention period for court records. Divorce records, custody records, and support records stay on file permanently at the clerk office. Adoption files stay on file permanently in a sealed format. Older files may move to a state archive, but they remain available through the clerk office for record requests.
Can I see someone else’s family court file in Tampa?
You can see the docket view of a family court file for any Tampa case, because the docket list counts as a public record. You cannot see the full document images for a case in which you are not a party. The clerk will only release full document copies to the parties named in the case, their lawyers, or a person who has a court order granting access.
How do I seal a Tampa family court record?
File a motion to seal with the circuit court that heard the case. The motion must explain the good cause for sealing. A judge reviews the motion and holds a short hearing before deciding. The clerk will not seal a file based on a phone call. The party who files the motion must serve a copy of the motion on every other party in the case.