Search Seminole County Public Records

Seminole County public records are held by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Sanford, and Florida's open records law allows any person to inspect or copy them without providing a name or reason. This page covers how to find court filings, official recorded documents, and government records in Seminole County, including how to use the Clerk's online system, what fees apply, and other record sources in the county.

Open Records Law in Seminole County

The legal foundation for public records access in Florida is Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, which treats records created or received by public agencies as open by default. Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution guarantees this right to all Florida residents and visitors. Seminole County agencies, including the Clerk's office, the Sheriff's Office, the Property Appraiser, and county and municipal governments, all operate under these requirements.

You do not need to identify yourself to request a record. You do not need to explain why you want it. The agency must respond promptly to your request. If an agency withholds a record, it must cite the specific exemption in Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes that authorizes withholding. Common exemptions cover active criminal investigation files, victim identity information, certain law enforcement personnel data, and sealed court records. If you believe a denial was wrong, the Florida Attorney General provides free mediation at (850) 245-0140 to help resolve the dispute without litigation.

Seminole County is part of the 18th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Brevard County. Court records filed in Seminole County are kept by the Seminole County Clerk and are separate from those in Brevard County. The 18th Circuit covers a large geographic area, and the two counties maintain their own distinct records systems.

Seminole County Clerk and Comptroller

Grant Maloy serves as the Clerk and Comptroller for Seminole County. His office in Sanford is the central custodian for court records filed in the 18th Judicial Circuit's Seminole County division and for official recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments that affect Seminole County property. It is the main source of court and official records in the county, handling civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters.

The Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday during standard business hours. The main courthouse is in Sanford, which serves as the county seat. Seminole County is part of the greater Orlando metropolitan area, and the volume of court filings and recorded instruments reflects the density and activity of the region. Staff at the Sanford office can direct you to the right division or online tool when you call.

The image below is a screenshot from the Seminole County Clerk and Comptroller's official website.

The Clerk's site shown above is the primary online portal for Seminole County court record searches, official records access, and other clerk services.

Searching Seminole County Records Online

The Seminole County Clerk's website at seminoleclerk.org provides online access to court records and official recorded instruments. Court records can be searched by party name or case number, and you can view case status, scheduled hearings, and available scanned documents for cases filed in Seminole County. Official records such as deeds and mortgages are also searchable through the online system.

Seminole County is a suburban county in the Orlando area, and it generates a high volume of court filings and recorded documents. Most recent records are available in the digital system. Older archived records may require a written request or an in-person visit to the Sanford courthouse. For very old documents, particularly those predating the digital era, calling the Clerk's office at (407) 665-4330 before visiting is a good idea to confirm what is available and in what format.

The myfloridacounty.com portal offers a multi-county official records search that includes Seminole County. This can be useful when you need to check records across neighboring counties like Orange, Osceola, or Brevard in the same search session. The portal is run by the Florida Association of Court Clerks and is a useful supplement to county-level searches.

Fees for Seminole County Records Copies

Florida law sets uniform copy fees that apply to all public agencies, including those in Seminole County. Standard paper copies cost $0.15 per one-sided page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification statement. Research time beyond the first 30 free minutes may be billed at an hourly rate.

Documents available through the online system can often be downloaded as PDFs at no charge. This is the simplest way to get a non-certified copy of a public court filing or recorded instrument. For certified copies, submit a written request to the Clerk's office in person or by mail with payment. The Clerk's website has the current fee schedule and lists accepted payment methods. For large requests, call (407) 665-4330 to get a fee estimate before you submit.

Other Seminole County Public Records Sources

Beyond the Clerk's court and official records, other Seminole County agencies hold public records you can request under Chapter 119. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and incident reports for unincorporated areas. Municipal police departments in cities like Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, and Winter Springs maintain their own records. The Property Appraiser keeps assessment and ownership data for all county parcels.

For statewide criminal history, use the Florida Department of Law Enforcement central repository, which covers all 67 Florida counties. The Florida Clerks directory lists contact information for every county clerk in the state. Legal aid for income-eligible Seminole County residents is available through Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association and similar organizations. The Florida Free and Accessible Futures foundation also provides legal referral resources for residents across Florida.

Cities in Seminole County

Several cities in Seminole County have dedicated public records pages based on population.

Nearby Counties

Seminole County borders four other Florida counties. Each has its own clerk and separate records system.