St Petersburg City Court Records are public court files kept by the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The clerk’s office holds records for civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and small claims cases filed in St Petersburg.
Anyone can search these records online, in person, or by mail. This page explains how the system works, what records exist, and where to get them.
Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court
The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the main office that holds all St Petersburg City Court Records. St Petersburg is part of Pinellas County, even though it is the largest city in the county. The clerk’s main office sits in Clearwater, but St Petersburg has a branch courthouse to serve local residents. The 6th Judicial Circuit Court covers both Pinellas and Pasco counties, but each county runs its own clerk office.
The clerk stores records for every case type filed in Pinellas County. This includes civil suits, criminal charges, family law cases, probate matters, traffic tickets, and small claims disputes. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, these records are public. You do not need to show ID or give a reason to view them. St Petersburg residents use the same clerk system as everyone else in the county.
| Office | Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Main Address | 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 |
| Phone | (727) 464-7000 |
| Website | mypinellasclerk.gov |
How to Search St Petersburg City Court Records Online
The clerk’s View Records page is the starting point for online searches. From that page, you can access case searches, official records, and other lookup features. The system lets you search by name, case number, citation number, or date range. Basic searches are free. You can check case status, view docket entries, and see scheduled hearings from a computer or phone.
To start a search, go to mypinellasclerk.gov and click the View Records link. Pick the type of record you need. Enter the party’s full legal name, the case number, or the date range. The system pulls up matching cases. Click on a case to see charges, hearings, filings, and outcomes. Most case summaries show up right away. Document images may take a moment to load.
You can also search court records using a case number search or case docket number lookup. The docket number is the same as the case number. Enter it with the proper format. Felony criminal cases use the “CF” suffix. Misdemeanor cases use the “MM” suffix. Civil cases use the “CA” suffix. Knowing the format helps you search faster.
Types of Court Records in St Petersburg
Civil Court Records
St Petersburg civil court records cover disputes between people, businesses, or organizations. These cases include contract disputes, property conflicts, personal injury claims, and debt collection. Civil cases filed in Pinellas County go through the 6th Judicial Circuit Court. The clerk stores every document filed in these cases. Search results show the plaintiff, defendant, case status, and hearing dates. St Petersburg civil case filings are public once the case is active.
Criminal Court Records
St Petersburg criminal case records cover felony and misdemeanor cases. Felony cases go to circuit court. Misdemeanors go to county court. The clerk stores records for both. The clerk’s criminal and juvenile page has details on criminal case procedures in Pinellas County. You can search criminal records through the View Records portal. Results show charges, court dates, pleas, sentences, and outcomes. St Petersburg criminal court documents are public unless sealed.
Arrest records come from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office or the St Petersburg Police Department. The clerk handles only court records, not arrest reports. Sealed or expunged cases are kept out of public search results. St Petersburg sees a large volume of criminal cases each year. Court record retrieval for criminal cases requires only the defendant’s full name or case number.
Family Court Records
St Petersburg family court records cover divorce, child custody, paternity, adoption, and domestic violence cases. These cases go through the 6th Judicial Circuit Court. The clerk’s services directory can point you to the right forms and documents for each case type. Florida family law uses standard case number formats to identify case types.
Some family records have access limits. Child dependency cases are confidential under Florida law. Domestic violence injunctions are public, but victim addresses may be shielded. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 controls the sealing process. Sealed cases will not show up in public searches. Most family law cases are searchable by name through the View Records portal.
Probate Court Records
St Petersburg probate court records cover wills, estates, guardianships, and mental health proceedings. Probate cases go through the 6th Judicial Circuit Court. The clerk stores petitions, orders, inventories, and final distributions. Search results show the deceased’s name, the personal representative, and case status. Guardianship records are public but may have personal data redacted. Mental health proceedings are typically sealed.
Traffic Court Records
St Petersburg traffic court records cover moving violations, citations, and infractions. Traffic cases are filed in county court. The clerk stores the citation, plea, fine amount, and outcome. You can pay traffic fines online through the MyFloridaCounty portal. Drivers can also check their case status and view hearing dates through the clerk’s View Records portal. Traffic school completion can also be verified through the same portal.
Small Claims Court Records
St Petersburg small claims court records cover disputes for $8,000 or less. Small claims cases are filed in county court. Common claims include security deposit disputes, minor contract issues, and personal property damage. The clerk stores the claim, response, judgment, and payment records. Search results show the parties, claim amount, and case status. Small claims hearings are quicker than regular civil cases.
St Petersburg Municipal Court
St Petersburg has its own municipal court for city ordinance violations. The St Petersburg Municipal Court handles code violations, parking tickets, and certain misdemeanor criminal cases filed by the city. The court sits at 175 5th Street North, St Petersburg, FL 33701. Phone: (727) 893-7436. St Petersburg municipal court public records are kept by the city clerk.
Records from St Petersburg Municipal Court are kept by the city clerk, not the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court. You can search municipal court records through the City of St Petersburg website or by calling the court clerk. Municipal court hearings are open to the public. Case files can be viewed at the courthouse during business hours. The municipal court does not share its online records with the county clerk system.
St Petersburg Branch Courthouse
The Pinellas County Clerk runs a branch courthouse in St Petersburg. This branch handles many local court services so residents do not have to drive to Clearwater. The St Petersburg branch sits at 545 1st Avenue North, St Petersburg, FL 33701. You can file documents, pay fees, and request certified copies at this location. Court file access requests are handled at this branch as well.
Branch hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Some services require an appointment. Call (727) 464-7000 before you go. The branch handles civil, family, and criminal filings. For traffic tickets and small claims, the branch also handles payments and document requests. Public terminals at the branch let you search Pinellas County court filings for free.
How to Get Certified Copies of Court Records
Certified copies of St Petersburg City Court Records cost $1 per page. You can pick them up at the Clearwater courthouse, the St Petersburg branch, or request them by mail. For mail requests, send a written request to the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. Include the case number or full party names. Add payment for copies. Allow time for processing and return mail.
Non-certified copies cost $1 per page. You can print many case documents yourself from the View Records portal at no charge. Court filings, motions, orders, and judgments are usually available as PDF downloads. Bring photo ID for in-person certified copy requests. The clerk checks ID before releasing certified records. The clerk accepts cash, check, money order, and credit card for in-person payments.
Sealed and Expunged Records
Some St Petersburg court records are sealed or expunged by court order. Sealed records are not open to the public. Expunged records are physically destroyed or restricted. Florida law controls which cases can be sealed or expunged. Most sealing and expungement requests go through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement first, then the court. The clerk cannot release sealed records without a court order.
Sealed cases do not show up in public searches. Expunged cases are removed from the clerk’s online system. Only the Florida Department of Law Enforcement keeps a record of the original case. Under Florida Statute 943.0585, certain criminal cases can be sealed or expunged once the person completes their sentence. To view a sealed record, you need a valid court order showing you have the right to see it.
Florida Public Records Laws
Florida has strong public records laws. Florida Statute Chapter 119 makes most government records open to the public. Court records are public unless sealed by law. This includes criminal cases, civil suits, family law filings, probate matters, and traffic citations. Anyone can request a copy of a court record. St Petersburg public records requests can be made to the city clerk or the Pinellas County Clerk.
Florida Statute 119.0714 protects certain personal data. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit card numbers are automatically redacted from online court records. Driver’s license numbers and passport numbers are also redacted. The clerk removes this data before posting records online. St Petersburg residents do not need to file a separate request to have personal data redacted. The redaction happens automatically in the system.
St Petersburg Court Case Status
You can check the status of any St Petersburg court case through the clerk’s online portal. Enter the case number or party name. The system shows the current status, next hearing date, and any pending actions. Case status updates usually post within 24 hours of a new filing. Some updates post the same day. St Petersburg court case status checks are free and unlimited.
For cases that are not yet in the online system, call the clerk at (727) 464-7000. The clerk can look up the case in their internal system and tell you the current status. For real-time details during a hearing, watch the live court calendar on the clerk’s website. The calendar shows which cases are in session and which courtroom they are in. Some hearings are also live-streamed on YouTube.
E-Filing Court Documents in St Petersburg
Attorneys and self-represented filers can submit court documents through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. E-filing is required for attorneys in most case types. Self-represented filers can also use the portal. The portal is open 24/7. You upload your documents, pay the filing fee, and the clerk accepts the filing. Electronic court records Pinellas County is the system used for all e-filed documents.
How to E-File a Document
- Create an account on the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com
- Select the court (6th Judicial Circuit – Pinellas County)
- Pick the case type (civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims)
- Enter the case number or party name
- Upload your PDF document
- Pay the filing fee by credit card
- Wait for the clerk to accept the filing
The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal accepts civil, family, criminal, probate, and small claims filings. You need a valid email address to create an account. Court fees apply on top of filing. Most credit cards are accepted. The portal sends a confirmation email once the clerk accepts your filing. E-filed documents are available on the View Records portal once processed.
St Petersburg Court Locations
St Petersburg has two main court locations. The first is the Pinellas County Branch Courthouse at 545 1st Avenue North. The second is the St Petersburg Municipal Court at 175 5th Street North. The main Pinellas County Courthouse is in Clearwater at 315 Court Street, about 25 minutes from downtown St Petersburg. Court record retrieval can be done at any of these three locations.
Each location handles different case types. The branch courthouse handles civil, family, and criminal filings. The municipal court handles city ordinance violations and minor criminal matters. For jury duty, report to the main courthouse in Clearwater unless told otherwise. The clerk sends a jury summons with the correct location and date. St Petersburg has plenty of free parking near the branch courthouse.
Appellate Court Records
Appeals from St Petersburg court cases go to the 2nd District Court of Appeal, located in Lakeland, Florida. The 2nd DCA handles appeals from the 6th Judicial Circuit, which includes Pinellas and Pasco counties. Appellate records are separate from circuit court records. You can search appellate cases through the 2nd DCA’s website or the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. St Petersburg appellate court records are stored at the appellate level, not the county level.
The Pinellas County Clerk’s office does not store appellate records. For copies of appellate decisions, contact the 2nd District Court of Appeal directly. Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the final judgment in the lower court. The appellate process can take 6 to 18 months. Most appellate decisions are published and available online through the Florida Supreme Court website.
Older Records and Archives
Older St Petersburg court records may not be available online. The Pinellas County Clerk’s office stores records back to 1977 in the digital system. For records filed before 1977, the clerk maintains paper archives at the main Clearwater courthouse. You can request archived records by mail or in person. Processing times for archived records may take 2 to 4 weeks. St Petersburg court archive search requests go through the clerk’s records center.
For very old records, you may need to contact the State Archives of Florida. The state archives hold historical court records from across Florida. St Petersburg records from the early 1900s may be at the state level. Microfilm copies of older records can also be requested through the Pinellas County Clerk’s office for a fee. Court archive search fees vary by record type and page count.
Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers
The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers site connects all 67 county clerks. The site has statewide court record search features and forms. The Florida Courts Help center offers free forms and self-help documents. The MyFloridaCounty portal lets St Petersburg residents pay court fines and fees online. Pinellas clerk court records portal is the official entry point for all Pinellas County court records.
St Petersburg City Court Records are part of the statewide Florida court system. The Florida Supreme Court sets rules for court record access. The Office of the State Courts Administrator oversees the statewide e-filing portal. All 67 county clerks follow the same rules for record access and redaction. You can search records from any Florida county through the statewide portal.
Common St Petersburg Court Case Number Formats
St Petersburg court case numbers follow a standard Florida format. Civil cases start with “52” followed by the year and sequence number. Example: 52-2024-CA-001234. Criminal felony cases start with “52” followed by the year and CF for circuit felony. Example: 52-2024-CF-001234. Misdemeanor criminal cases use “MM” in the case number. Traffic cases use “TR” in the case number. St Petersburg case number search works with any of these formats.
Small claims cases use “SC” in the case number. Family law cases use “DR” for divorce, “IN” for injunction, and “DP” for dependency. Probate cases use “PR” or “GA” for guardianship. Knowing the case number format helps you search faster. If you have a case number from a court document, enter it exactly as printed. St Petersburg case file documents will reference the case number on the first page.
St Petersburg Public Records and Other Services
The Pinellas County Clerk’s office handles more than just court records. The clerk also keeps official records like deeds, mortgages, liens, and marriage licenses. These are separate from court records. The clerk runs a separate search page for recorded documents. Both pages are free to use for basic searches. St Petersburg Florida legal records search covers both court cases and recorded documents.
St Petersburg residents can also use the clerk’s office for passport applications, voter registration, and marriage licenses. The clerk accepts passport applications by appointment. The office is a passport acceptance facility, not a regional agency. You still send your application to the U.S. State Department for processing. The clerk’s office also issues marriage licenses for Pinellas County residents.
Contact Information for St Petersburg City Court Records
For questions about St Petersburg City Court Records, contact the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The main office is at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. Phone: (727) 464-7000. Website: mypinellasclerk.gov. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office closes on weekends and federal holidays. The St Petersburg court record access hotline is also (727) 464-7000.
The St Petersburg branch courthouse is at 545 1st Avenue North, St Petersburg, FL 33701. Phone: (727) 464-7000. The St Petersburg Municipal Court is at 175 5th Street North, St Petersburg, FL 33701. Phone: (727) 893-7436. For the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, go to myflcourtaccess.com. For statewide court records, visit flclerks.com. Search St Petersburg court cases online through any of these portals.
Frequently Asked Questions About St Petersburg City Court Records
Below are answers to common questions people ask about St Petersburg court records. Each question covers a real concern from people who need access to court files in Pinellas County. The answers are based on Florida law, Pinellas County Clerk rules, and current public records practice as of 2026. Free court records St Petersburg options are covered in the answers below.
How do I look up a court record in St Petersburg for free?
You can search St Petersburg court records for free through the Pinellas County Clerk’s View Records portal. Go to mypinellasclerk.gov and click View Records. You can search by name, case number, citation number, or date range. The basic search shows case status, charges, hearings, and docket entries at no charge. You can view most documents online as PDF files. Certified copies cost $1 per page. For in-person searches, visit the Clearwater courthouse or the St Petersburg branch. Bring the full legal name of the party or the case number for faster service. Free court records St Petersburg options cover all case types in the public system.
What is the difference between the Pinellas County Clerk and the St Petersburg Municipal Court?
The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court handles all circuit court and county court cases filed in St Petersburg. This includes felonies, misdemeanors, civil suits, family law, probate, traffic, and small claims. The St Petersburg Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations, code violations, and certain city-level criminal cases. The Pinellas County Clerk stores these records in their View Records system. The Municipal Court keeps separate records that you access through the City of St Petersburg website or by calling the court clerk at (727) 893-7436. Pinellas County court filings are stored by the county clerk, not the municipal court.
Can I view sealed or expunged St Petersburg court records?
No, sealed and expunged court records are not open to the public. Sealed records are restricted by court order. Expunged records are physically destroyed or removed from the public system. Only the Florida Department of Law Enforcement keeps a record of expunged cases. To view a sealed record, you need a valid court order. Florida Statute 943.0585 lists which cases can be sealed or expunged. The clerk will not release sealed records without proof that you have a legal right to see them. St Petersburg court document search results will not show sealed or expunged cases.
How long does it take to get certified copies of St Petersburg court records?
Certified copies from the Pinellas County Clerk cost $1 per page. In-person requests at the Clearwater courthouse or St Petersburg branch take 15 to 30 minutes. Mail requests take 5 to 10 business days plus return mail time. Online requests are not available for certified copies at this time. Bring photo ID for in-person requests. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for mail requests. The clerk accepts cash, check, money order, and credit card for in-person payments. St Petersburg court record retrieval for certified copies requires in-person or mail requests only.
Are St Petersburg traffic tickets public court records?
Yes, traffic tickets are public court records. They are filed in county court and stored by the Pinellas County Clerk. You can search traffic cases through the View Records portal by name, citation number, or case number. Search results show the citation, plea, fine amount, and outcome. You can pay traffic fines online through the MyFloridaCounty portal. Drivers can also check their case status and view hearing dates through the clerk’s website. St Petersburg traffic court records include red light camera tickets, speeding tickets, and moving violations.
How do I search a criminal case in St Petersburg?
To search a criminal case in St Petersburg, go to the Pinellas County Clerk’s View Records portal. Search by the defendant’s full legal name or case number. Criminal case numbers in Pinellas County start with “CF” for circuit felony, “MM” for misdemeanor, and “TC” for traffic criminal. Search results show charges, court dates, pleas, sentences, and outcomes. For arrest records, contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office or the St Petersburg Police Department. The clerk handles court records, not arrest reports. St Petersburg criminal court documents are searchable by anyone with a name or case number.
Can I access St Petersburg family court records online?
Yes, most St Petersburg family court records are available online through the View Records portal. You can search by name or case number. Divorce cases use “DR” in the case number. Injunctions use “IN.” Dependency cases use “DP.” Some family records are confidential. Child dependency cases are sealed by law. Domestic violence injunctions are public, but victim addresses may be shielded. Adoption records are sealed. You can request certified copies for $1 per page at any clerk location. St Petersburg family court records include divorce decrees, custody orders, and parenting plans.