Hillsborough County Clerk of Court: Records, Fees & Contact

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Hillsborough County, Florida Clerk Guide

Hillsborough County Clerk of Court: Records, Fees & Contact

The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller is the official office for many court records, online case lookups, certified court documents, traffic payments, civil and criminal filings, probate records, marriage services, passport appointments, official records, and public-facing clerk services in Hillsborough County, Florida.

This guide helps you choose the right official link, understand common Clerk fees, find the correct Tampa, Plant City, or Brandon service location, and use the Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records system, commonly called HOVER.

Search Court Records on HOVER Request or Preorder Case Files Locations, Hours & Google Map

Independent guide last reviewed September 2026. Always confirm current fees, office hours, holiday closures, and record access rules on the official Clerk website before visiting, filing, or ordering documents.

Quick Facts: Hillsborough County Clerk of Court

Official office name Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller.
Main phone 813-276-8100.
Online court search HOVER provides remote access to many court records, indexes, dockets, and non-confidential document images.
Main court service location George E. Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602.
Records, marriage, recording, passports Pat Collier Frank Courthouse, 419 Pierce Street, Room 140, Tampa, FL 33602.
Other service locations Plant City Courthouse and Brandon Regional Service Center handle many common Clerk services.
Useful search details Case number, uniform case number, citation number, party or business name, court date, and case type.
Best first step Search HOVER first. Then request copies, eCertified records, or paper file review only when needed.
Local search tip: Hillsborough court records, traffic tickets, official records, marriage records, tax deeds, and BOCC records may use different Clerk tools. Do not assume one search box covers every record type.

How to Search Hillsborough County Court Records Online

The official court-record search system is HOVER, short for Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records. It is used to search court records maintained by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller.

HOVER can be used by the general public, attorneys of record, and self-represented litigants. Public users can search case indexes and view case-progress dockets and images that are not sealed, confidential, or restricted by court rule or court order.

Official case searchHOVER: Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records

Use HOVER for court case lookups, docket review, court-date searches, high-profile cases, sealing orders, and available non-confidential court document images.

After opening this link:

  1. Choose how you want to search: case number, uniform case number, citation number, party/business name, date range, court type, case type, or court date.
  2. If you have a traffic ticket, start with the citation number because it is usually more precise than a name search.
  3. If you have a civil, family, probate, or criminal case, use the case number when available.
  4. If searching by name, try full legal name first, then narrow by court type, filing year, or case type.
  5. Open the matching case and review the docket or events/documents area before ordering copies.
  6. If a document is not visible or the file is paper-only, use the Clerk’s case-file preorder or copy request process.
Case number search Best for civil, criminal, probate, family, and foreclosure case files when you already know the court case number.
Citation number search Best for traffic tickets, traffic court dates, ticket status, payment amount, and compliance checks.
Party or business name Useful when you do not have the case number, but common names may return many results.
Court date search Helpful when you need to check a traffic, misdemeanor, or felony court calendar.
If nothing appears: the record may be sealed, confidential, not digitized, too old, entered under a different name, or limited by access rules. Try a narrower search or contact the Clerk before assuming the case does not exist.

Request Court Record Copies, Certified Copies, and Paper Case Files

HOVER may let you view or print non-certified copies of many available court documents at no charge. For certified copies, electronic certification, paper files, older files, or restricted access questions, use the Clerk’s official records and case-file request tools.

The Clerk’s website explains that paper case files can be ordered through HOVER when the case file is in paper format. Paper case files are held for a limited period after receipt, and non-party requests may require extra time for redaction review.

Official paper filesPreorder Case Files from the Hillsborough Clerk

After opening this link:

  1. Start by searching the case in HOVER.
  2. Open the case information and go to the events/documents area.
  3. Look for the paper-records button or message showing that paper court records exist.
  4. Select the location where you want to view the paper case file, such as Tampa or Plant City when available.
  5. Enter your name and email so the Clerk can notify you when the file is ready.
  6. Wait for the email notification before going to the courthouse to review the file.

Electronic certificationOrder eCertified Court Records and Official Records

After opening this link:

  1. Search for the record in the online court record search or the online official records index.
  2. Click the Certify icon beside the record you want electronically certified.
  3. Add the record to your eCertify shopping cart.
  4. Review document price, certification fee, page count, vendor fee, and card-processing fee before paying.
  5. After payment, watch for two emails: one payment confirmation and one email with download links for the certified document.
  6. Use Adobe Reader, the clickable cover-page link, or the QR code to validate the eCertified document when needed.
Plain copy vs certified copy: a plain copy is often enough for personal review. A certified copy is usually needed when a bank, agency, licensing office, another court, or government department requires an official court-stamped record.

Hillsborough County Clerk Fees and Payment Notes

Clerk fees are based on Florida statutes, court rules, administrative orders, county ordinances, and special charges. Always check the official fee page before sending payment because large copy requests, mailing, certification, eCertify, and redaction needs can change the total.

$1.00 Common statutory copy fee per page for standard public-record copies.
$2.00 Common statutory certification fee per document.
$6.00 eCertify vendor fee per electronically certified document.
$1/page + $2 Common eCertified document structure: statutory page copy fee plus certification fee.
3.5% Credit-card payment processor fee listed for eCertify orders.
$42.00 Listed fee for sealing a court file or expungement request, with copy and certification costs additional.
Postage Requester may be responsible for certified or registered mail postage when documents are mailed.
Varies Large requests, special formats, redaction, research, or official records may have different charges.

Official feesHillsborough Clerk Fees and Fines

After opening this link:

  1. Choose the fee category that matches your task, such as court records, civil, criminal, traffic, marriage, passports, recording, or expungement.
  2. Check whether the listed amount is per page, per document, per name, per year, per filing, or per transaction.
  3. Add certification, mailing, payment processor, or vendor charges when they apply.
  4. If your request involves many pages or staff review, wait for the Clerk’s fee estimate before paying.
  5. Save the receipt or confirmation number after payment.
Do not guess the total: certified copies, eCertified documents, mailed copies, old case files, and official records can have different fee rules. Use the official fee page or contact the Clerk before mailing payment.

Hillsborough County Clerk Contact, Address, Phone, and Google Map

The main customer phone number for the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller is 813-276-8100. For many in-person court services, the main downtown Tampa service location is the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse at 800 E. Twiggs Street.

For records, marriage license, recording, passport, tax deed, and some official-record services, the Clerk also lists the Pat Collier Frank Courthouse at 419 Pierce Street, Room 140, Tampa, FL 33602.

George E. Edgecomb Courthouse

Address: 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602

Phone: 813-276-8100

Customer service center: Room 101, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Common services: civil court, criminal court, family court, probate, juvenile, traffic, child support, restraining orders, mental health, jury, court-date help, and file review services.

Open Edgecomb Courthouse in Google Maps

Official locationsService Options, Office Locations, Hours, and Maps

After opening this link:

  1. Scroll to “Service Locations and Information.”
  2. Choose your service first, such as civil court, criminal court, family, probate, traffic, marriage license, passports, recording, tax deeds, or restraining orders.
  3. Confirm which location offers that service: Edgecomb Courthouse, Pat Collier Frank Courthouse, Plant City Courthouse, or Brandon Regional Service Center.
  4. Use the official driving directions or Google Map link before leaving.
  5. Check holiday closures and any service-specific time limits, especially for passports and restraining orders.

Hillsborough Clerk Office Locations and What Each Location Handles

Hillsborough County has several Clerk service locations. The right location depends on the service. Downtown Tampa has multiple court buildings, so check whether your service is at 800 E. Twiggs Street or 419 Pierce Street before you park or enter security.

George E. Edgecomb Courthouse

Address: 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602

Phone: 813-276-8100

Hours: Customer Service Center Room 101, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Often used for civil court, criminal court, family, probate, juvenile, traffic, restraining orders, mental health, jury, and case-file review.

Pat Collier Frank Courthouse

Address: 419 Pierce Street, Room 140, Tampa, FL 33602

Phone: 813-276-8100

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Commonly listed for records, marriage licenses, recording, passports, tax deeds, and other Clerk services. Passport walk-in or appointment rules should be checked before visiting.

Plant City Courthouse

Address: 301 N. Michigan Ave., Room 1071, Plant City, FL 33563

Phone: 813-276-8100

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Handles many civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, marriage, passport, recording, and restraining-order services.

Brandon Regional Service Center

Address: 311 Pauls Drive, Suite 110, Brandon, FL 33511

Phone: 813-276-8100

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Handles many common Clerk services, including civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, marriage, passport, and recording services when listed by the Clerk.

Best visit strategy: choose your service before choosing the building. Hillsborough’s downtown court campus has more than one Clerk counter, and going to the wrong building can cost time.

Hillsborough County Clerk Court Services

The Clerk supports many court and public-service functions. Some services are available online 24/7, some can be handled by phone, and some require an appointment, courthouse visit, or case-file review at a Clerk location.

Court records and reports HOVER, high-profile cases, court dockets, public data files, court hearing lookup, sealing orders, and confidential information resources.
Civil court services Circuit civil, county civil, small claims, evictions, foreclosure sales, court registry, and e-filing support.
Criminal court services Circuit criminal, county criminal, bond instructions, juvenile delinquency, expungement, sealing, collections, and payment plans.
Family and probate Family law, divorce, guardianship, probate, trust matters, child support, juvenile dependency, and restricted access questions.
Traffic and ticket services Ticket lookup, court-date requests, traffic school election, no-contest plea, proof of compliance, and payment amount lookup.
Public services Marriage licenses, ceremonies, passports, recording, tax deeds, property fraud alert, value adjustment board, and BOCC records.

Official servicesHillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller Official Website

After opening this link:

  1. Use the top navigation to choose Traffic, Court Services, Other Services, or Records & Reports.
  2. Select the specific division, such as Circuit Civil, County Civil, Family Law, Probate, Circuit Criminal, County Criminal, E-Filing, Marriage License, Passports, or Recording.
  3. Read the “What are my options for customer service?” section when shown.
  4. Use HOVER first when the task is only to look up a case or docket.
  5. Use Service Options and Locations when you need an in-person counter or appointment.

Traffic Tickets, Criminal Payments, Court Dates, and Driver’s License Issues

For traffic and criminal cases, the Clerk offers online and phone self-service for many simple tasks. You can look up a ticket, check a traffic court date, check the amount due, request a traffic hearing date when allowed, submit proof of compliance, and pay eligible traffic or criminal court costs.

Before paying Check whether the ticket requires a court appearance or has another eligibility restriction.
Traffic school Traffic school election may be available for certain eligible tickets, but deadlines matter.
Compliance proof For some tickets, you may need to submit proof of correction, registration, insurance, or driver’s license compliance.
Collections If a case has gone to collections, additional collection fees or separate payment handling may apply.

Official self-serviceHillsborough Clerk Self-Service Options

After opening this link:

  1. Go to the “Pay,” “Schedule or Request,” or “Search, View or Look Up” section.
  2. Choose the task: pay traffic ticket, request traffic hearing date, check ticket status, check amount due, or check court date.
  3. Use the citation number, case number, or driver information requested by the system.
  4. Review the due date, amount, court appearance warning, and payment confirmation carefully.
  5. Save proof of payment or proof of submission in case a license-clearance issue appears later.

Court Records vs Official Records vs County Public Records

Hillsborough County record searches can be confusing because the Clerk handles both court records and many official records, while other agencies handle other public records. Choosing the right record type saves time.

Use HOVER for court records

  • Civil lawsuits and small claims.
  • Criminal, traffic, misdemeanor, felony, and juvenile delinquency records.
  • Family law, divorce, probate, guardianship, and mental-health case dockets.
  • Court dates, case progress, docket events, and available document images.
  • High-profile cases and court sealing/unsealing order information.

Use Official Records search for recorded documents

  • Deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, and satisfactions.
  • Notices of commencement and other recorded property documents.
  • Marriage certificates and certain recorded instruments.
  • Official Records subscription access and certified official records.
  • Property Fraud Alert and recording-related services.

Official records searchSearch Hillsborough County Official Records Online

After opening this link:

  1. Use this system for recorded documents, not general court dockets.
  2. Search by party name, document type, recording date, book/page, instrument number, or related details when available.
  3. Open the document summary and confirm it is the correct recorded instrument before ordering a copy.
  4. Use eCertify when an electronic certified official record is acceptable to the receiving agency.
  5. For court case documents, return to HOVER instead of the Official Records index.

Public recordsHillsborough Clerk Public Records Request

After opening this link:

  1. Read the public-records request instructions and identify the record category you need.
  2. Include enough detail for staff to locate the record, such as case number, date range, record type, or department.
  3. Do not send Social Security numbers, bank details, or unnecessary personal information.
  4. Watch for a cost estimate if the request requires substantial staff time, redaction, or copying.

Appointments, ClerkExpress, Forms, E-Filing, Marriage, and Passports

Many Clerk tasks can be started online before you visit. ClerkExpress may let you get in line or schedule appointments for services such as marriage licenses, marriage ceremonies, passport applications, family law, traffic ticket business, probate, child support, civil cases, criminal cases, juvenile matters, home solicitation permits, and case-file review at certain locations.

AppointmentsClerkExpress Appointment and Get-in-Line System

After opening this link:

  1. Select whether you want to make an appointment or get in line.
  2. Choose the service you need, such as marriage license, passport, civil case, criminal case, traffic, probate, or family law.
  3. Choose the location that offers that service.
  4. Enter your contact information carefully so the Clerk can confirm or update your place in line.
  5. Bring the documents, IDs, forms, and payment methods listed for your service.

E-filingFlorida Courts E-Filing Portal

After opening this link:

  1. Create or log in to your Florida Courts E-Filing Portal account.
  2. Select Hillsborough County and the correct court division.
  3. Upload the correct PDF documents and select the matching filing type.
  4. Review filing fees, payment method, and service options before submitting.
  5. Save the confirmation and watch for acceptance, rejection, or correction notices.

MarriageHillsborough County Marriage License and Ceremony

After opening this link:

  1. Review identification, eligibility, premarital course, and waiting-period information.
  2. Choose online appointment or in-person service if available for your situation.
  3. Confirm which Clerk location offers marriage license or ceremony services.
  4. Bring government-issued photo ID and any required divorce, death, or court-order information when applicable.

PassportsHillsborough Clerk Passport Services

After opening this link:

  1. Confirm whether you need a new passport, child passport, replacement, or renewal.
  2. Choose the Clerk location that accepts passport applications for your situation.
  3. Prepare proof of citizenship, government ID, photo, application form, and separate payments when required.
  4. Check the service hours before visiting because passport acceptance hours can differ from general office hours.

Confidential, Sealed, Expunged, and Restricted Records

Some Hillsborough County records are not available to the general public online. Confidentiality rules may apply to sealed cases, expunged records, juvenile matters, adoption records, mental-health records, domestic violence protection matters, victim information, Social Security numbers, financial account information, and other protected details.

If you are an attorney of record, a party, or a self-represented litigant, your access level may be different from anonymous public access. If you cannot view a file online but believe you are authorized, use the Clerk’s access instructions instead of repeatedly searching as a public user.

Access rulesConfidential Information in Court Records

After opening this link:

  1. Review what types of information may be confidential or protected in court records.
  2. Do not assume a missing online document is a Clerk mistake; it may be restricted by law or court order.
  3. If you are a case party, follow the Clerk’s instructions for authorized access instead of using public search only.
  4. For sealing or expungement questions, use the Clerk’s criminal court resources and consider legal advice.

Sealing and expungementHillsborough Clerk Expungement and Sealing

After opening this link:

  1. Read the Clerk’s expungement and sealing overview first.
  2. Check whether FDLE certificate of eligibility steps are required for your case type.
  3. Confirm outstanding fines, fees, court costs, and processing fees before filing.
  4. Do not confuse a sealed or expunged record with a paper file that is simply not visible online.

Privacy, Accuracy, and Legal Use Notice

This page is an independent informational guide. It is not the official Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller website, and it cannot verify your case status, record eligibility, or payment balance.

This website is not a consumer reporting agency. Do not use this guide or any linked court-record search for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance eligibility, or any other Fair Credit Reporting Act purpose.

Verify before acting: court records can be updated, corrected, sealed, expunged, restricted, or incomplete online. Always confirm important case details, payment balances, court dates, copy fees, and access limits directly through the official Clerk, court, or agency source.

Official Hillsborough Clerk Links Used in This Guide

These official resources are the safest starting points for court records, service locations, fees, appointments, eCertified records, official records, and contact questions.

Hillsborough County Clerk Official Website HOVER Court Records Search Preorder Case Files Order eCertified Records Service Options and Locations Fees and Fines Self-Service Options Official Records Search ClerkExpress Appointments Florida Courts E-Filing Portal Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court Public Records Request

Hillsborough County Clerk of Court FAQs

1. What is the official Hillsborough County Clerk of Court website?

The official website is HillsClerk.com, operated by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller. Use it for court records, HOVER search, fees, locations, payments, official records, and Clerk service information.

2. How do I search Hillsborough County court records online?

Use HOVER, the Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records system. You can search by case number, uniform case number, citation number, party or business name, date range, court type, case type, or court date.

3. What is HOVER?

HOVER is the Clerk’s online court-record viewing system. It provides remote access to many court records, indexes, dockets, and non-confidential document images maintained by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller.

4. Where is the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court located?

The main court service location is the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse at 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602. The Clerk also lists the Pat Collier Frank Courthouse at 419 Pierce Street, Plant City Courthouse, and Brandon Regional Service Center.

5. What is the Hillsborough County Clerk phone number?

The main customer phone number is 813-276-8100. Have your case number, citation number, party name, filing year, or service type ready before calling.

6. How much are Hillsborough County court record copies?

Common statutory fees include $1.00 per page for many copies and $2.00 per document for certification. eCertified records can include vendor and card-processing fees, so always verify the total on the official Clerk fee or eCertify page.

7. Can I get electronically certified Hillsborough court records?

Yes. The Clerk offers eCertified court records and official records through Clerk eCertify. Search the record, click the Certify icon, review the cart, pay the listed fees, and download the certified document from the email link.

8. Why can’t I see a Hillsborough court document on HOVER?

The document may be sealed, confidential, restricted, paper-only, not digitized, too old, or unavailable to anonymous public users. Search the docket first, then use the preorder case file, copy request, or authorized access process if needed.

9. Does the Clerk handle deeds and official records?

Yes, the Hillsborough Clerk provides an Official Records search for recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, notices of commencement, and certain marriage records. Use HOVER for court case records and the Official Records search for recorded instruments.

10. Is this page the official Hillsborough Clerk website?

No. This is an independent guide. For official records, payments, fees, certified copies, locations, appointments, maps, and court access rules, use the official Hillsborough County Clerk links provided in this article.

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