Court records in Osceola County, Florida, are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. OsceolaCourt.us helps find public information on county court records. Additionally, you can use the Osceola Clerk of the Circuit Court portal, the Ninth Judicial Circuit case search system, and other state resources to obtain official documents, hearing schedules, and forms.
Osceola Court System Overview
Osceola County is part of the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida, which also serves Orange County. The main courthouse is located in Kissimmee. Circuit Courts in Florida are courts of general jurisdiction of first instance, while the County Court operates as a court of limited jurisdiction within the same county. Appeals from the Osceola Circuit Court are heard by the Sixth District Court of Appeal.
Courts Serving Osceola
Residents of Osceola County are served by several state and federal judicial institutions.
| Court | Address / Contact |
|---|---|
| Ninth Judicial Circuit Court (Circuit Court) | 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741 |
| Osceola County Court | 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741 |
| U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (Orlando Division) | 401 W. Central Blvd., Suite 1100, Orlando, FL 32801 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida (Orlando Division) | 400 W. Washington St., Suite 5100, Orlando, FL 32801 |
There are no municipal courts in Florida — all local-level cases are heard by the County Court.
What Types of Cases Osceola Courts Hear
Osceola County courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil cases: lawsuits of any amount, small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony, paternity establishment
- Probate: estate administration, guardianship
- Juvenile cases: offenses, child protection, adoption
- Traffic violations and DUI cases
More details on each category are in the following sections.
District Court Cases in Osceola
The Circuit Court in Osceola County handles the most serious cases. These include major criminal offenses (felonies), civil lawsuits over $50,000, divorce cases, child custody, probate matters, and appeals from the County Court. Criminal cases typically begin after the State Attorney files an information or the Grand Jury issues an indictment. A Circuit Court judge is assigned to a case according to internal distribution. Information on criminal cases can be found through the criminal court division of the clerk at the email address Records.Request@osceolaclerk.org.
Magistrate Court Cases in Osceola
The County Court is a court of limited jurisdiction in Osceola County. It hears misdemeanors, traffic violations, DUI cases, and civil claims up to $50,000. Small claims are limited to $8,000 according to Florida law. Preliminary hearings in felony cases may also be conducted at this level before being transferred to the Circuit Court.
A significant portion of the County Court's workload involves traffic violations and minor civil disputes. The Clerk of Court accepts payment for fines related to traffic and criminal cases and provides access to court records.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Osceola
Family Law. Divorce, child custody, alimony, protective orders, and paternity establishment cases are heard by the Circuit Court. The final judgment of divorce is kept with the clerk; certified copies of divorce records can also be ordered through the Florida Department of Health. For local marriage or divorce certificates, contact the Vital Statistics office in Osceola County.
Probate. The Circuit Court also handles estate administration, guardianship appointments, and trusts. These cases are generally open to public access, although some documents may be sealed by a judge's order.
Juvenile Matters. Proceedings involving juvenile offenses and child protection (Child Protective Act) are confidential under Florida law. Access to these records is restricted.
How Cases Move Through the Osceola Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with an arrest or the filing of an information. A civil case starts with the filing of a complaint or petition with the court clerk.
- Judge Assignment. The clerk assigns a case number and distributes it among judges according to the Ninth Judicial Circuit's internal rules.
- Initial Hearings. In criminal cases, an arraignment (first hearing where the defendant pleads guilty or not guilty) is held. In civil cases, a scheduling conference is set to determine the timeline for proceedings.
- Pretrial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery) and file motions. Plea negotiations may occur in criminal cases.
- Trial. The case concludes with a jury or judge's verdict, settlement, plea agreement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. In criminal cases, sentencing occurs. Either party may appeal. In civil cases, enforcement of the judgment takes place.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Osceola
The Ninth Judicial Circuit's court administration is managed by the Chief Judge of the circuit along with the Trial Court Administrator. Local court rules for this circuit are available on the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court website.
According to the Florida Public Records Act (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes), most court records are public. Exceptions include juvenile cases, sealed or expunged records, and certain family case documents. To request a public record, use the request form on the clerk's website.
Hearings in Osceola County are generally open to the public. Some hearings may be held remotely — confirm the format of a specific hearing through the case schedule or by calling the court at (407) 742-3708.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Osceola
- Case Search. Use the Osceola Clerk of Court portal to search by case number, party name, or case type. An official records database is also available for searching documents filed with the clerk.
- Criminal Records. Requests for criminal records are handled by the criminal court division of the clerk at Records.Request@osceolaclerk.org.
- Records Center. The Records Center stores archival court documents and official county records.
- Appellate Cases. Appellate case documents are available through the Florida Appellate Case Information System.
- Arrest Warrants. Check for active warrants through the FDLE Wanted Persons Search or contact the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
- Inmate Information. Information on individuals in custody is available through Osceola County Corrections & Jail Services. Statewide search is available on the Florida Department of State portal.
- Sex Offender Registry. The FDLE Sexual Offenders and Predators Search allows searches by name, city, or county.
- Police Records Request in Kissimmee. Residents can request arrest and incident reports through the Kissimmee Police Records page.
- Sheriff's Public Records. To obtain arrest and booking reports, use the Sheriff's Office public records request form.