Hillsborough County Clerk of Court: Records & Services
The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller is where many Tampa-area court-record and county-record tasks begin—but the right tool depends on the record. Court cases use HOVER. Deeds, liens, plats and marriage records usually use the Official Records Index. Certified PDFs use eCertify. In-person services use the Clerk’s Tampa, Plant City or Brandon locations.
Independent guide reviewed September 2026. Always verify current fees, access restrictions, hours, holiday closures and certified-copy requirements on the official Clerk website before relying on a record.
Which Hillsborough Clerk Record Search Should You Use?
A lot of frustration happens because people search the right name in the wrong system. The Clerk’s office maintains different record groups for court cases, official recorded documents, county commission materials and Clerk/comptroller records. Start by choosing the record family.
Use for civil lawsuits, evictions, criminal cases, traffic citations, divorce, probate, family, small claims and other court case records.
Open HOVER court recordsUse for recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, notices of commencement and marriage-related recorded documents.
Open Official Records searchUse after finding the record when you need an electronically certified court record or official record delivered as a secured PDF.
Order electronic certified copiesUse when the information is not available through HOVER, Official Records, BOCC records or other online records pages.
Submit or review request instructionsUse when you need a counter service, appointment, paper file review, passport application, traffic help or injunction filing.
Check current locationsUse for “get in line now” or appointments where offered. It is especially helpful before driving to Tampa, Brandon or Plant City.
Open ClerkExpress informationHow to Search Hillsborough Court Records on HOVER
HOVER stands for Hillsborough On-line Viewing of Electronic Records. It provides remote viewing of court records maintained by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller, subject to access rules, sealed-record limits and user-role restrictions.
- Open the official HOVER home page. Use hover.hillsclerk.com/html/home.html.
- Choose the search method that matches your clue. HOVER supports searching by case number, Uniform Case Number, citation number, party or business name, date range, court type and case type.
- Start narrow when you have a case number. A case number or citation number usually creates fewer false matches than a name-only search.
- Use party/business name search carefully. Try legal name, former name, business name without punctuation, and spelling variations only after checking the first result set.
- Open the likely case and compare identifiers. Check court type, filing date, party role, case status, latest event and any hearing information.
- Review the Events, Judgments and File Location information. A docket event may exist even when the document image is not remotely viewable.
- Use the correct copy path. Non-certified documents may be viewable/printable when available. Electronically certified copies require eCertify.
Official Records Search: Deeds, Liens, Plats, Marriage Records & Notices
The Official Records Index is different from HOVER. It is for recorded public documents, not ordinary court case dockets. Use it when your question is about a deed, mortgage, lien, plat, notice of commencement, recorded judgment, easement, marriage record or other recorded instrument.
Official Records examples
- Property deeds and mortgages
- Liens and releases
- Notices of commencement
- Subdivision plats and easements
- Marriage records recorded by the Clerk
- Recorded judgments and other recorded instruments
Court case records
Traffic citations, criminal cases, evictions, lawsuits, divorce case dockets, child-support cases and probate case activity belong in HOVER or the relevant court-record route, not the Official Records Index.
- Open the Official Records Index. Use the official search at pubrec6.hillsclerk.com/ORIPublicAccess/customSearch.html.
- Choose the search type that fits the document. Name search is useful for grantor/grantee or party names; instrument details help when you already have a book/page, instrument number or date clue.
- Search names slowly. Try last name first, then business name variations, then punctuation-free versions.
- Check document type and recording date. A name match is only a lead until the document type, date, parties and legal description make sense.
- Open the image if available. Review the recorded document, not only the index row.
- Use eCertify if you need certified proof. A screen print or ordinary download is not the same as a certified record.
eCertify: When You Need an Electronically Certified Court or Official Record
Hillsborough’s Clerk eCertify service can provide electronically certified court records and official records online. The certified document is delivered as a secured PDF and is designed to be self-validating and tamper-evident.
Examples
Lawsuits, evictions, criminal cases, divorce records, traffic, foreclosures and other court documents when eligible through HOVER.
Examples
Marriage certificates, deeds, plats, notices of commencement, liens and other recorded documents when eligible through the Official Records Index.
All pages in event
The Clerk states that eCertify purchases are for every page in the event document; specific-page purchases are handled in person or by mail.
- Search the correct system first. Use HOVER for court records or the Official Records Index for recorded documents.
- Open the record and look for the certify icon. If the record is eligible, place it in your Clerk eCertify shopping cart.
- Check the full document and cost. eCertify generally certifies the whole event document, not a single page from a multipage record.
- Use a valid email address. The certified PDF is delivered electronically.
- Validate the PDF if someone sends one to you. The Clerk explains that certified PDFs include a cover sheet with validation features, including a QR code or authentication link.
Public Records Requests: Court Records vs. Official Records vs. County Records
A public-records request is not always the first step. The Clerk’s public-records page points users to online searches first for court records, official records, BOCC records and financial reports. Use a request when the record is not available through those tools or when you need help from the custodian.
| Record need | Start here | Use a request when |
|---|---|---|
| Court case record | HOVER court-record search | The record is not viewable, the case file is paper, or you need written access assistance from the court-record custodian. |
| Official recorded document | Official Records Index | The document is older, restricted online, unclear, or not found through the index. |
| BOCC document | BOCC records search | You cannot locate minutes, documents, contracts, voting records or zoning master records through the online route. |
| Financial or audit record | Clerk or county financial reports | The report or dataset is not published online or needs clarification. |
Custodian contact path for court records
The Clerk’s public-records page states that requests for access to judicial branch records must be in writing and directed to the custodian. It lists PublicRecords@hillsclerk.com for court-record requests.
Mailing address listed by the Clerk for public-records contact:
Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 13th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
Hillsborough Clerk Services: What You Can Usually Handle Online or at a Service Center
The Clerk’s office is more than case search. It handles court services, recorded documents, certified records, marriage licenses, passport applications, traffic business, restraining-order filing support, jury services and comptroller records. The fastest route is to check whether the service is self-service, appointment-based or counter-based before visiting.
| Service | Best first step | Local tip |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic tickets | Use HOVER or the Clerk’s traffic self-service/payment and hearing-date options. | Have citation number, case number, driver information and payment deadline ready before calling or visiting. |
| Marriage license and ceremony | Check the Clerk’s marriage page and appointment options. | The Clerk notes that marriage ceremonies are available at Tampa, Brandon and Plant City locations; verify the current appointment rules. |
| Passport application | Use the passport service page and appointment scheduling. | Passport application acceptance has limited hours; do not assume the general office closing time is the passport cutoff. |
| Restraining order / injunction | Use the Clerk’s restraining-order page or service-location instructions. | The Clerk lists weekday service at Tampa and Plant City, with additional limited weekend/holiday hours at the Tampa courthouse for restraining orders. |
| Review case files | Use HOVER first; if paper files exist, follow HOVER’s file-order or location instructions. | If the online image is missing, look for file-location information rather than repeating the same name search. |
| Official records recording | Use the Official Records / Recording page for eRecording, mail or in-person recording options. | Recording and copy rules are different from court-case filing rules. |
Hillsborough Clerk Locations and When to Use Them
Hillsborough’s Clerk locations serve different needs. Always verify the current page before traveling because holidays, passport cutoffs, courtroom schedules and service availability can change.
| Location | Address | Common uses and hours notes |
|---|---|---|
| Edgecomb Courthouse | 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602 | Customer Service Center, Jury, restraining orders and mental health services. The Clerk lists weekday customer-service hours of 8 AM to 5 PM and additional limited weekend/holiday restraining-order hours at this Tampa location. |
| Pat Collier Frank Courthouse | 419 Pierce Street, Tampa, FL 33602 | Downtown Tampa official-records and passport-related services. The Clerk notes passport walk-ins end earlier than the general office day, so check before going. |
| Plant City Courthouse | 301 North Michigan Avenue, Room 1071, Plant City, FL 33563 | Court services, restraining orders and mental health services; listed weekday hours are 8 AM to 5 PM. |
| Brandon Regional Service Center | 311 Pauls Drive, Suite 110, Brandon, FL 33511 | Regional service center for selected services; the Clerk lists weekday hours of 8 AM to 4 PM. |
No Record Found? Use This Recovery Path
“No result” is not the same thing as “no record.” In Hillsborough County it often means you searched the wrong record family, used the wrong spelling, selected the wrong court type, looked for a restricted image, or searched a record that is held by another custodian.
| Problem | Likely reason | Best next move |
|---|---|---|
| Court case not found in Official Records | Court dockets belong in HOVER, not the Official Records Index. | Search HOVER by case number, citation, party/business name or court type. |
| Deed or lien not found in HOVER | Recorded-property documents belong in Official Records. | Search the Official Records Index by party name, instrument details or recording date. |
| Case appears but no document image | The document may be restricted, not imaged, delayed, sealed, confidential or stored as a paper file. | Check Events, Judgments and File Location tabs; use file-order or public-records instructions if needed. |
| Name search returns too many results | Common name, business variation or broad court-type selection. | Add date range, case type, citation number, middle initial, business suffix variation or party role. |
| Older marriage or deed index is missing | The record may be in archived records rather than the modern online index. | Use the Clerk’s archive/Official Records instructions instead of repeating the modern search. |
| Federal bankruptcy or federal court record missing | The Hillsborough Clerk does not maintain federal court records. | Use PACER or the correct federal court system. |
Hillsborough Clerk Record Terms You’ll See
Official Sources for Hillsborough Clerk Records and Services
These links are included because they help complete a real task. Use official Clerk pages first before relying on third-party background-check, people-search or document-resale websites.
Hillsborough County Clerk of Court FAQs
1. What is the official Hillsborough County Clerk of Court website?
The official website is hillsclerk.com. Use it to reach HOVER court records, Official Records, eCertify, ClerkExpress, service locations, public-records requests, forms, traffic information, marriage services, passport services and other Clerk services.
2. How do I search Hillsborough County court records online?
Use HOVER, the Hillsborough On-line Viewing of Electronic Records portal. You can search by case number, Uniform Case Number, citation number, party or business name, date range, court type and case type, subject to access restrictions.
3. Is HOVER the same as the Official Records search?
No. HOVER is for court case records such as civil, criminal, traffic, eviction, divorce, probate and family cases. The Official Records Index is for recorded documents such as deeds, liens, mortgages, plats, notices of commencement and marriage-related records.
4. Can I print Hillsborough court documents for free?
When non-confidential court documents are viewable in HOVER, the Clerk’s FAQ says users can view and print non-certified copies at no charge. Certified copies require the Clerk’s certified-copy process, such as eCertify when eligible.
5. How do I get a certified Hillsborough court record or official record?
Search for the record in HOVER or the Official Records Index, then use the certify option if it is available. Hillsborough’s Clerk eCertify service provides electronically certified court records and official records as secured PDFs.
6. Why can’t I see a document image in HOVER?
The document may not be imaged, may be stored in a paper file, may be sealed, confidential or restricted, or may not be remotely viewable under access rules. Check the Events, Judgments and File Location information, then follow the Clerk’s file-order or public-record request instructions if needed.
7. Where is the Hillsborough Clerk located in Tampa?
The Clerk lists major downtown Tampa service locations at the Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs Street, and the Pat Collier Frank Courthouse, 419 Pierce Street. Confirm the correct room, service and hours before visiting.
8. Can I make an appointment with the Hillsborough Clerk?
Yes, for many services. The ClerkExpress system allows users to make an appointment or get in line now for selected services, depending on the service type and location.
9. How do I request Hillsborough public records if I cannot find them online?
First check HOVER, Official Records, BOCC records and Clerk financial/report pages. If the information is not available online, use the Clerk’s public-records request instructions. Court-record requests should be directed in writing to the court-record custodian.
10. Does the Hillsborough Clerk handle federal court or bankruptcy records?
No. Federal court and bankruptcy records are not maintained by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. Use the correct federal court system, usually PACER, for U.S. District Court, Bankruptcy Court and federal appellate records.