Pinellas County FL Clerk of Court: Records & Services
The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is where many everyday record questions eventually land: court dockets, traffic cases, civil filings, official recorded documents, marriage records, certified copies, payments and public-record requests. The trick is knowing which Clerk system to open first—because court records, official records, payments and copy requests do not all use the same portal.
Independent guide reviewed September 2026. Confirm records, fees, payment balances, certified-copy availability and office hours on the official Pinellas Clerk website before relying on any result.
Which Pinellas Clerk System Should You Use?
Pinellas has more than one official record tool. People often lose time because they use the Official Records site for a traffic ticket, the court-record portal for a deed, or the payment system when they actually need a certified copy. Start with the task, then open the correct system.
Use Guest Access for Adult Name/Case Lookup, Traffic Name/Citation Lookup and related court-record searches.
Open Court Records Guest Access →Use Official Records for recorded documents and searches by name, instrument number, record date, book/page, case number or legal description.
Open Official Records Search →Use the Public Request Center when the document is not available through the dedicated records websites or you need Clerk assistance.
Open Public Request Center →Use the Clerk’s eCertification tools to order, download or verify available electronically certified records.
Open eCertification Download →Use the Clerk’s online payment service only after confirming the case number and balance.
Open Court Case Payment →Some records are not posted for general online display. Use the official Clerk request path or division instructions.
Request assistance →How to Search Pinellas County Court Records Online
Pinellas Clerk Guest Access is the practical starting point for public adult court dockets and traffic matters. It is designed for personal viewing, not bulk research, and guest use is limited. If you need repeated high-volume searches, the Clerk offers electronic-access subscription options.
- Open the official Guest Access page. Use Pinellas Clerk Public Records Guest Access.
- Choose the correct court-record option. Guest Access lists Adult Name/Case Lookup, Traffic Name/Citation Lookup and Uniform ↔ Pinellas case-number conversion.
- Use a case or citation number first. This is usually cleaner than searching a common name.
- If searching by name, try spelling variations. The Clerk’s systems advise users to search possible spelling variations to maximize results.
- Open likely matches and compare the details. Match the name, court type, case number, filing date, citation number, charge/civil type and latest docket entry.
- Do not treat a docket line as the whole story. A filing, motion or hearing setting is not the same thing as a final judgment or disposition.
- Use copy-request or eCertification tools when proof is needed. A screen view is not the same as a certified court copy.
Official Records Search: Deeds, Liens, Book/Page, Instrument Numbers & More
The Official Records search is not the same as a court docket search. Use it for documents recorded in the Clerk’s Recording Services system, such as deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, notices, plats and other recorded instruments where public access is allowed.
| Official Records search option | Best when you know | Micro-step that helps |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Search | You need a guided route, such as locating a deed or lien. | Start here if you are not sure which field applies to your document. |
| Name | A grantor, grantee, person, business or organization name. | Try legal name, shorter business name and spelling variations. |
| Instrument Number | The recorded instrument number. | Enter the number exactly from the document, notice or prior search result. |
| Doc Type | A document category, such as deed, mortgage, lien or release. | Combine document type with date or name when the result list is too broad. |
| Record Date | The exact or approximate recording date. | Use a date clue from a closing, lien filing, judgment recording or release notice. |
| Book/Page | A recorded book and page reference. | Keep book type, book number and page number together; do not mix them with court case numbers. |
| Case Number | A court case number connected to a recorded official-record document. | Search the case number, then compare document type and recorded date. |
| Legal Description | You have property legal-description text. | Use distinctive subdivision, lot, block or parcel language instead of only a street address. |
Pinellas Clerk Services: What Belongs Here and What Does Not
The Clerk is a court-record office, county recorder and comptroller office—but not every public record in Pinellas County is a Clerk record. Use this table to avoid sending the same request to the wrong agency.
| Need | Use the Clerk when | Do not confuse it with |
|---|---|---|
| Civil court records | You need dockets, case numbers, filings, judgments or certified court copies for public civil cases. | Private background-check sites or attorney-only systems. |
| Criminal / juvenile records | You need public adult criminal case information or authorized help with restricted records. | Sheriff incident reports, jail records or FDLE background checks. |
| Traffic, parking or ordinance cases | You need citation lookup, docket status or court-related payments. | Driver license status from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. |
| Official Records | You need recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, releases or tax deed records. | Property value records from the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. |
| Marriage licenses | You need Clerk-held marriage-license services or related official-record access. | Birth or death certificates from vital-record agencies. |
| Comptroller / spending information | You need county spending, finance, board records or Clerk comptroller information. | Individual department records held by a separate county agency. |
How to Get Copies or eCertified Pinellas Clerk Records
A search result is helpful, but it is not always the document you need. If a bank, employer, court, agency, title company or school asks for an official copy, you may need a certified copy or an eCertified copy rather than a screenshot.
Free unofficial copy
Many unofficial Court and Official Records documents may be available at no cost through the dedicated records websites.
Copy request
Use the Public Request Center when the document is not online, needs review, or requires staff help.
eCertified copy
Use eCertification when a record is eligible for electronic certification and the receiving party accepts it.
Micro-steps before placing a copy request
Use the exact identifier from the docket, document image or Official Records result.
Examples: judgment, final order, deed, mortgage, lien release, notice, marriage record or probate filing.
Filing date, recording date, judgment date, citation date or approximate year.
Plain copy, certified copy, eCertified copy, clerk search request or other assistance.
Ask the receiving agency whether it accepts eCertified documents before ordering one.
Why Some Pinellas Records Are Not Posted Online
Florida public access does not mean every document image appears on a public website. Pinellas Guest Access states that the Clerk is not authorized to post records on the site relating to military discharges, death certificates, or court records in Family, Juvenile or Probate matters. That does not always mean the record cannot be requested; it means ordinary public web display is restricted.
Use Clerk instructions or the Public Request Center for authorized access, copies or status questions.
Juvenile records are often protected. Do not expect ordinary name-search access.
Probate records may require the proper request path even when a case exists.
Florida law restricts general public web display of these document images.
Paying Pinellas Court Cases, Traffic Tickets and Clerk Balances
Payment tools are convenient, but they should come after verification. Before paying, confirm the case number, person or business name, citation number, court type, amount due and whether payment affects a court appearance requirement.
- Search the case or citation first. Confirm the record belongs to the right person and court matter.
- Open the official Clerk payment service. Use Pinellas Court Case Payment.
- Enter the court case number exactly. If there is no result, compare the format with the docket or notice.
- Read any warnings before checkout. A payment may not resolve every court obligation or hearing requirement.
- Save the receipt. Keep the confirmation number, payment date and case number together.
Pinellas Clerk Office Details That Save Time
Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
315 Court St.Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: (727) 464-7000
Hours listed by the Clerk: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Custodian of Public Records Contact
Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and ComptrollerAttn: Public Records Liaison
315 Court Street, Room 400
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: (727) 464-3341
Email: clerkinfo@mypinellasclerk.gov
The Clerk lists wait-time areas such as Clearwater Civil Office, Clearwater Probate Office, Clearwater Recording, Justice Center, North County Branch and St. Pete Branch.
Case number, citation number, instrument number, book/page, date and document title are more helpful than a name alone.
Court records, official records and Clerk finance records are not the same as Sheriff incident reports, property appraisal records or Tax Collector records.
The Clerk notes that email addresses are public records under Florida law. If you do not want your email released, contact the office by phone or in writing.
Terms You Will See in Pinellas Clerk Searches
Official Links Used for This Pinellas Clerk Guide
These links are included because they help complete a real task: search records, request copies, verify documents, pay a case or contact the correct office.
Pinellas County Clerk of Court Records & Services FAQs
1. What is the official Pinellas County Clerk of Court website?
The official website is mypinellasclerk.gov for the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Use it to route court records, official records, payments, copies, eCertification, office locations and Clerk contact information.
2. Where do I search Pinellas County court records online?
Use the Clerk’s Public Records Guest Access system for adult court case lookup, traffic name or citation lookup, and case-number conversion. Guest access is intended for personal public viewing and is limited to 100 transactions per day.
3. What is the difference between Court Records and Official Records in Pinellas County?
Court Records relate to cases filed in court, such as civil, criminal and traffic matters. Official Records are recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, releases and other instruments recorded by the Clerk’s Recording Services department.
4. Can I search Pinellas Official Records by name?
Yes. The Official Records search supports name searches along with instrument number, document type, record date, consideration, book/page, case number and legal-description searches. Try spelling variations and business-name variations when a name search is too narrow.
5. Why can’t I see Family, Juvenile or Probate records in ordinary online access?
Pinellas Guest Access states that the Clerk is not authorized to post records on the site pertaining to military discharges, death certificates, or court records governed by Family, Juvenile or Probate rules. Use the official Clerk request path for authorized access or copy help.
6. How do I get a certified copy from the Pinellas Clerk?
Start with the document’s case number, instrument number, book/page or record date. If an eCertified copy is available, use the Clerk’s eCertification tools. If the document is not available online or needs staff review, use the Public Request Center for a copy request.
7. Are unofficial Pinellas court or official-record copies free online?
The Public Request Center notes that unofficial copies of most Court and Official Records documents are available at no cost through dedicated websites. Fees may apply when records require a request, preparation, certification or staff assistance.
8. Where is the main Pinellas Clerk office?
The Clerk lists the main address as 315 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. The main phone number is (727) 464-7000, and the listed business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
9. Can I pay a Pinellas court case online?
Yes, the Clerk provides an online court case payment service. Before paying, verify the case number, party name, court type, balance, due date and whether payment resolves or changes any required court appearance.
10. Who do I contact for Pinellas public-record requests?
For Clerk-held public records, the Clerk lists the Public Records Liaison at 315 Court Street, Room 400, Clearwater, FL 33756, phone (727) 464-3341, email clerkinfo@mypinellasclerk.gov. If the record belongs to another agency, request it directly from that agency.