Orange County Public Records

Orange County public records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts and dozens of county department custodians, all subject to Florida's open records law, which makes government documents available to any person upon request. This page covers how to search court records, official records, and other government files in one of Florida's most populous counties, along with access methods and contact information for key offices.

Public Records Law in Orange County

Florida's open records law is found in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. It makes all records created or received by public agencies open to any person by default. Orange County, as the home of Orlando, has one of the highest volumes of public records in the state, and the county takes the law seriously. You do not need to give your name or explain why you want a record.

The law says agencies must respond promptly. They cannot demand that you fill out a specific form, and they cannot require you to justify your interest in a document. The burden falls on the agency to prove an exemption applies, not on you. Exemptions are listed in Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes and include things like active criminal investigation files, certain victim data, and portions of some personnel records.

If a request is denied, the agency must tell you which exemption it is relying on. If you disagree, the Florida AG's mediation program at (850) 245-0140 is free and effective. The AG's Open Government page explains your rights and the process. The Florida First Amendment Foundation also assists when agencies push back on valid requests.

Orange County's contact directory for county departments is at orangecountyfl.net and lists the right contact for each agency. That is the fastest way to identify who holds specific records outside the Clerk's court system.

Orange County Clerk of Courts

Tiffany Moore Russell, Esq. serves as Clerk of Courts for Orange County. Her office is the primary custodian of 9th Judicial Circuit court records and of official records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens recorded in the county. Orange County has extensive online records access, one of the most robust systems in Florida.

The eCLERK online system at myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com provides advanced search tools for Orange County court records and official records. You can search by name, case number, document type, or date range. The system covers civil, criminal, family law, probate, and traffic cases filed in the 9th Judicial Circuit for Orange County, as well as recorded instruments going back many years.

The screenshot below comes from the Florida Statutes Chapter 119 page, which is the legal foundation for all public records access in Orange County and across Florida.

Chapter 119 shown above sets the rules for all Orange County public agencies, requiring them to provide access to records and specifying how fees, exemptions, and request timelines work across the state.

Orange County Corrections Records

The Orange County Corrections Department maintains its own records division separate from both the Clerk's court system and the Sheriff's Office. Corrections records include inmate records, booking information, and facility-specific documents.

Corrections records are public under Chapter 119 unless an exemption applies. Requests can be submitted by email, mail, or in person. You do not need to state a reason for the request. Fees follow the standard state structure: $0.15 per single-sided page, $0.20 per double-sided page, with no charge for the first 15 minutes of staff research time.

Searching Orange County Records Online

Orange County has one of the best online records systems in Florida. The eCLERK portal at myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com provides access to court records and official records without an account for basic searches. Civil, criminal, family law, probate, and traffic cases are all included. Recorded instruments in the official records system go back many years in the digital database.

For county department records outside the court system, the county's contact directory at orangecountyfl.net/browsecontacts.aspx is the right starting point. Each department has its own records custodian. Finding the right person saves time compared to sending a general inquiry to the county.

The statewide portal at myfloridacounty.com also covers Orange County official records. Property records are held by the Orange County Property Appraiser, and tax records go through the Tax Collector, each through their own online portals.

Fees for Orange County Public Records

Florida law sets the standard fee schedule. Administrative records cost $0.15 per single-sided page, $0.20 for double-sided. Certified copies from the Clerk run $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification statement. Court record certified copies also cost $1.00 per page.

Research fees apply after the first 15 minutes of staff time. The county charges the applicable hourly rate after that threshold. For large requests, ask for a cost estimate first. Many records in the eCLERK system are free to view and download online, so always check there before requesting physical copies.

Types of Records in Orange County

Orange County holds a massive range of public documents. Court records from the 9th Judicial Circuit include civil, criminal, family law, probate, and juvenile cases. Official records include deeds, mortgages, liens, marriage licenses, and other recorded instruments. Corrections records, Sheriff records, property records, and tax records are each held by their respective agencies.

Other records include county commission meeting minutes, zoning and land use files, building permits, inspection records, code enforcement files, and agency-specific documents from dozens of county departments. Orange County's size means there is a lot to search. The contact directory and the eCLERK portal together cover most common requests.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory lists every county clerk in the state and is useful when records cross into Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Brevard, Volusia, or Polk counties, which share borders with Orange.

Cities in Orange County

Orange County includes several cities with populations above the threshold for dedicated pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Orange and each has its own Clerk and public records access system.