Leon County court records, Florida, are available for search through several channels. LeonCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be viewed through official online court portals, directly at the Clerk of Court's office, or at public terminals in the courthouse in Tallahassee.
Leon Court System & Jurisdictions
Leon County is part of the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida. There are two main levels of courts here — the Circuit Court and the County Court, each handling different categories of cases.
Circuit Court
This is a court of general jurisdiction. It handles the most serious cases:
- Criminal cases for felonies
- Civil lawsuits over $50,000
- Family law — divorce, child custody, alimony, domestic violence
- Real estate and foreclosure cases
- Probate — the legal process of settling inheritance matters
- Appeals from County Court decisions
The address of the Circuit Court according to Florida Courts:
County Court
Most people encounter this court. It handles:
- Minor criminal offenses (misdemeanors)
- Traffic violations
- Civil lawsuits up to $50,000
- Small claims cases — up to $8,000
- Eviction cases
Additionally, the Second Judicial Circuit has specialized programs — Leon County Felony Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court. Appellate cases from all state courts are available through the Florida Appellate Case Information System.
Leon Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week, use several resources.
- Second Judicial Circuit website — announcements about hearings, administrative orders, and changes in judges' schedules are published on the main page of the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
- Leon County Online Services — through the Online Services portal, you can find court records and check the status of a case, which will help determine scheduled hearing dates.
- Personal visit — at the Clerk of Court's reception on the first floor of the courthouse, you can request the current calendar of a specific judge or department.
- Cases of public interest — the Clerk of Court publishes a list of cases that attract significant public attention on the media page.
The calendar is updated daily, so check the information the day before the scheduled hearing — postponements occur frequently.
How to Get a Copy of a Leon Court Document
Copies of court documents in Leon County are issued by the Clerk of Court & Comptroller's office. There are two types of copies — certified and regular, and the method of obtaining them depends on your needs.
Certified Copy
Required for official purposes: submission to another court, immigration applications, confirmation of a court decision. The clerk places an official seal and signature on the document. The cost is usually higher than a regular copy.
Uncertified Copy
Suitable for review or personal archive. It can be obtained faster and cheaper.
Ways to Obtain
- Online: through the Leon County official records portal, you can find and view many documents. Some are available for free download, others require payment.
- In person: visit the clerk's office at the address below. Bring the case number or full name of the party — this will speed up the search.
- By mail: send a written request specifying the case number, type of document, and form of payment.
For requests regarding public records of the Leon County government (not court-related), there is a separate request procedure. Note: some records — such as juvenile cases, sealed or expunged criminal cases — have restricted access according to Florida law.
Leon Court Records Fees & Payment
The fees for court documents in Leon County are set according to Florida Statutes, specifically § 28.24. Below are the approximate rates applied by the Clerk of Court. It is better to clarify the exact amount directly at the clerk's office or on the online services portal, as some fees may change by administrative orders.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Record search (by name, by year) | $2.00 per year of search |
| Regular document copy | $1.00 per page |
| Certified document copy | $2.00 per page (plus certification fee) |
| Certification fee | $2.00 per document |
| Copy of divorce decree | Depends on the number of pages; a divorce certificate can also be ordered through the Florida Department of Health |
Payment Methods
- Cash, check, or money order — when visiting in person
- Credit or debit card — usually available both in-office and online (an additional service fee may be charged)
If you need information about criminal history at the state level, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) provides access through the Public Access System. This service has its own fee schedule, separate from the county clerk's fees.