The Clearwater city court docket lists every active and closed case filed in the Pinellas County Circuit Court, 6th Judicial Circuit, where Clearwater sits as the county seat. You can search this docket by name, case number, attorney, or hearing date through the Pinellas County Clerk’s online portal or by walking into the courthouse at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756.
This page gives you the full picture of how the docket works, which cases appear on it, what laws control public access, and how to solve common lookup problems.
At a Glance:
- Clerk of Court: Ken Burke, Pinellas County
- Court address: 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
- Phone: (727) 464-7000
- Main portal: mypinellasclerk.gov
- Court records search: courtrecords.mypinellasclerk.gov
- Appellate docket: acis.flcourts.gov
- E-filing portal: myflcourtaccess.com
- Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Court hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What the Clearwater City Court Docket Is and What It Shows
The docket is a running log that tracks every paper filed, every hearing held, and every order entered in a court case. For Clearwater cases, this log lives inside the Pinellas County Clerk’s electronic system, since the same courthouse handles all county-level and circuit-level cases for the city. Each entry on the docket carries a date, a short description, the party name, the judge assigned, and the case number.
When you open a Clearwater case in the online portal, the docket appears as a list of line items, one row per filing or event. The most recent entry shows at the top. The list covers the complaint, summons, motions, responses, orders, judgments, and any fees paid. A typical traffic case docket for Clearwater may only carry three or four entries. A civil lawsuit with motions and counterclaims can carry dozens of entries spanning months or years.
Each docket entry links to the scanned image of the actual document when the document is open to the public. You can read it, save it, or print it without leaving the portal. The docket itself is free to read. The clerk charges a fee per page for printed certified copies and a flat fee for the certification seal.
Who Maintains the Clearwater City Court Docket
The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Ken Burke, holds the legal duty to maintain the docket for every case in the 6th Judicial Circuit that touches Clearwater. His office records each filing, assigns the case number, scans the paper into the digital system, and makes the docket entry public unless a court order seals it.
The clerk’s office sits inside the Pinellas County Courthouse at 315 Court Street, Clearwater. This courthouse serves as the main trial court for Clearwater residents, even though some satellite branches handle specific hearings in other parts of the county. Civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic dockets for Clearwater are all filed and tracked from this single clerk location.
The 6th Judicial Circuit covers Pinellas County and Pasco County. Clearwater is the only county seat in Pinellas, so residents from Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Seminole, and the barrier islands all file in the same clerk system. The Pasco County docket is a separate system, even though both counties share the same circuit court administration for appeals and administrative orders.
How to Search the Clearwater City Court Docket Online
The main public search tool for the Clearwater city court docket lives at courtrecords.mypinellasclerk.gov. The portal is open 24 hours a day and runs on any modern browser. You do not need an account to read docket entries. You do need a Captcha check to confirm you are a real person before each search session starts.
To start a search, choose how you want to look up the case. The system gives you four main search fields:
- Party name (full or partial)
- Case number (full 20-character UF number)
- Attorney bar number
- Date range (filing date or hearing date)
For Clearwater traffic tickets, the case number on the citation works in the portal. For criminal and civil cases, the case number looks like 21-CA-001234 or 21-MM-005678 depending on the case type. The CA prefix marks a civil case. The MM prefix marks a misdemeanor. The CF prefix marks a felony. The DR prefix marks a domestic relations or family case. The CP prefix marks a probate case. The TC prefix marks a traffic criminal case.
After you submit a search, the results page shows every matching case with the party name, case number, filing date, judge, and case status. Click the case number to open the full docket. From there, click any docket entry to see the scanned image of the paper that created it. Each image opens in a new tab and can be saved as a PDF.
Searching the Clearwater Court Docket by Case Number, Name, and Date
Searching by case number gives the fastest, most accurate hit. Each Clearwater case gets a unique UF-style number that does not change. If you have a traffic ticket, the number sits at the top of the citation. If you have a civil or criminal case, the number sits on every order, summons, or letter the clerk mailed you.
Searching by name works well for civil, criminal, and family cases. The system searches last name first, then first name. Wildcard searches using partial names help when spelling is unclear. A few search tips for the Pinellas portal:
- Use the full last name when you know it
- Add a date range to cut down on common-name results
- Try one first initial at a time when a name is common in Clearwater
- Switch from “starts with” to “contains” for nicknames and aliases
Searching by date works best when you want to see every case filed in a specific week or month. Lawyers, journalists, and background check services use this method to track new Clearwater filings, monitor hearing calendars, or pull a list of fresh misdemeanor charges for a given week. The portal lets you set a start date and an end date for any search field.
Types of Cases on the Clearwater City Court Docket
The Pinellas County docket splits into separate case types, each with its own set of rules and its own judge rotation. Clearwater residents appear on every docket type below.
Clearwater Civil Court Docket
Civil cases cover disputes between people, businesses, or landlords. The docket entry types include complaints, answers, motions, orders, and judgments. Clearwater landlord-tenant cases, contract disputes, small claims, and personal injury claims all sit on this docket. The Pinellas County civil division hears cases where the amount in controversy is over $8,000.
Small claims cases under $8,000 go through the county court branch of the same courthouse. The case number prefix is CC for county civil or SC for small claims. These cases often resolve in one or two hearings and produce a short docket. Eviction filings, which are common in Clearwater’s rental market, carry the CC or EV prefix and move through the civil docket on a fast track.
Clearwater Traffic Court Docket
The traffic court docket for Clearwater holds moving violations, non-moving violations, and criminal traffic charges. The most common entries on this docket include:
- Speeding tickets issued by Clearwater Police or Florida Highway Patrol
- Careless driving citations
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Driving without a valid license
- Driving on a suspended or revoked license
- Leaving the scene of a crash
- DUI first offense
- Failure to register a motor vehicle
Each entry shows the citation number, the violation, the fine amount, the court date, and the statutory reference. You can pay a traffic ticket online through the Pinellas clerk’s traffic payment portal without going to court, as long as you do not need to contest it. The docket entry updates within one business day after payment clears. Drivers who choose to contest a ticket see a not-guilty plea entry and a trial date appear on the docket within 30 days.
Clearwater Criminal and Misdemeanor Court Docket
The criminal docket for Clearwater covers misdemeanors, felony filings at the circuit level, and pretrial motions. Misdemeanor cases use the MM prefix and county court judges. Felony cases use the CF prefix and circuit court judges. Each case type follows a separate path on the docket.
A typical Clearwater misdemeanor docket starts with the arrest affidavit, then the first appearance, then the arraignment, then pretrial conferences, then trial or plea. The docket records every one of those events with a date and a result. Defendants can check the next court date from any device. Bond conditions, plea offers, and sentencing orders all show up as separate docket entries with linked document images.
The felony docket for Clearwater includes grand theft, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, and burglary charges. Felony cases take longer to resolve. The docket often stretches over 6 to 18 months from arrest to sentencing. Each motion hearing, discovery filing, and plea negotiation creates a new entry.
Clearwater Family, Probate, and Juvenile Court Docket
Family court cases include divorce, paternity, custody, support, adoption, and domestic violence injunctions. The docket uses the DR prefix for family and the IN prefix for injunctions. Sealed records are common in family cases. The public docket shows case number, party initials, and event list, but skips the document image for sealed events.
Probate cases use the CP prefix. They cover wills, trusts, estates, guardianships, and mental health commitments. The probate docket is public but often carries long gaps between entries because probate cases move slowly. Clearwater probate filings include formal administration, summary administration, and ancillary probate for out-of-state residents who own property in Pinellas County.
Juvenile cases use the JJ prefix and are sealed by Florida law. The public docket shows almost nothing for a juvenile case. Parents, attorneys, and judges with proper clearance can see the full record. Juvenile delinquency, dependency, and termination of parental rights cases all fall under this sealed docket.
Clearwater Arraignment and Pretrial Court Docket
Arraignment dockets and pretrial dockets are subsets of the criminal docket. The clerk publishes a daily list of every arraignment and pretrial hearing scheduled for the next court day. You can read the daily arraignment docket the night before on the Pinellas clerk’s website under the court calendar section.
The arraignment is the first formal court date in a criminal case. The judge reads the charges, the defendant enters a plea, and a future date is set. The pretrial conference follows, where the prosecutor and defense attorney work out motions, discovery, and possible plea offers. Each event adds a new entry to the public docket with a short description and the attorney’s name of record.
Clearwater Daily Court Calendar and Hearing Schedule
The Pinellas clerk posts a daily court calendar the evening before each court day. The calendar lists every hearing, every courtroom, every judge, and every time slot. The docket for each case links to the calendar entry, so you can move between the docket and the calendar in one click.
For Clearwater hearings, the calendar shows whether the hearing is in person, by Zoom, or by phone. Most civil, family, and probate hearings now allow remote attendance. Most criminal and traffic arraignments still require in-person attendance unless the judge has approved a written plea. Pre-trial conferences in misdemeanor cases often run by Zoom to save court time and reduce the jail transport load.
Public Access Laws That Govern the Clearwater City Court Docket
Florida’s public records law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, gives every person the right to read and copy court docket entries unless a statute or court order seals the record. The law puts the duty on the clerk to provide access, not on the requester to show a need. Automation, software changes, or staff limits cannot reduce this right.
Administrative Order AOSC24-65 from the Florida Supreme Court sets the access levels for electronic court records. The order creates four tiers that apply to every Florida county, including Pinellas:
- Public tier: case number, party name, docket entries, hearing dates
- Registered user tier: same as public plus sealed case number references
- Attorney of record tier: same as registered plus all non-confidential images
- Judge and authorized staff tier: full record including sealed images
Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 controls which personal details get redacted. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, medical records, and minor children’s names get removed from public docket images before the clerk posts them. Financial account numbers linked to a court judgment are also redacted in the public view.
VOR Requests, Sealed Records, and Confidentiality on the Clearwater Court Docket
Some docket entries show a VOR label. VOR means View On Request. The clerk reviews the document before releasing it to the public. This step exists to apply redactions under Rule 2.420. Most VOR requests clear in minutes. Complex VOR requests with multiple pages of financial or medical data can take up to two business days.
A sealed case or a sealed document does not show up on the public docket at all. The clerk removes the case from public search results. Only parties, attorneys of record, and authorized government staff can see sealed records. Florida law lists the grounds for sealing. They include juvenile cases, expunged criminal cases, adoption records, mental health commitments, and cases tied to personal safety.
Expunged criminal cases are removed from the public docket entirely. The clerk retains a paper record in a separate restricted file. The clerk’s office does not confirm or deny the existence of an expunged case, even when asked directly. A person who has had a Clearwater arrest expunged can lawfully state that the arrest never happened on most job and housing applications.
Confidential records sit in a different bucket. They are not sealed, but they are restricted to a small group. Examples include adoption pre-placement records, HIV test results filed in a court case, and certain family court evaluations. The clerk stores them in a separate digital folder with strict access controls.
Common Problems When Searching the Pinellas Court Docket Portal
The portal works well on most browsers but can cause a few headaches. Knowing the fixes ahead of time saves trips to the courthouse.
- Captcha loop: Refresh the page or switch browsers if the Captcha image fails to load. Some ad blockers can break the Captcha widget.
- Session timeout: The portal logs you out after periods of inactivity. Save case numbers as you find them so you do not lose the list.
- No results for a known case: Check the year prefix on the case number. Old cases move to the historical archive and need a separate search path on the same portal.
- VOR document stuck in review: Call the clerk at (727) 464-7000 and ask for the records department to push the review. The records team can see the review queue.
- Wrong name format: Try the search with last name first, then first name. Use the contains option for partial matches and nicknames.
- Sealed case error: A “case not found” message on a case you know exists usually means the case is sealed. The clerk will not confirm this over the phone.
- Browser hangs: Clear the browser cache and cookies, close extra tabs, and disable extensions. The portal works best in a clean Chrome or Edge session.
Using one browser window at a time keeps the session stable. Closing extra tabs reduces session interruptions and keeps the Captcha from triggering extra checks. Mobile users on slow networks may need a Wi-Fi connection to load document images quickly.
Using the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and ACIS for Clearwater Cases
The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com gives attorneys and self-represented filers a way to file papers into a Clearwater case and to read the docket at the same time. Over 770,000 users file through this portal statewide. It runs around the clock. The system processes more than 30 million filings a year across all 67 Florida counties.
Self-represented filers pay a small convenience fee per filing. Registered attorneys pay no portal fee. The portal gives you the option to serve papers on other parties through the e-service system. Each e-service event adds a docket entry automatically. The portal also stores a copy of every filing on your dashboard for future reference.
For appellate cases coming out of the 6th Circuit, the ACIS portal at acis.flcourts.gov hosts the appellate docket. ACIS stands for Appellate Court Information System. The portal is open to the public and needs no login. You can search by case number, party name, or lower tribunal case number. Clearwater criminal cases that have been appealed appear in ACIS with the full appellate docket, including briefs filed, oral argument dates, and the final mandate.
Visiting the Clearwater Courthouse in Person
Walking into the clerk’s office at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756, gives you the most options. Public terminals sit in the lobby. A clerk staff member can pull up your case on the terminal, print copies, or certify a document on the spot. You can file new papers at the filing counter. You can pay fines, fees, and traffic tickets at the cashier window.
The courthouse opens at 8:00 a.m. on weekdays. The clerk’s office closes at 5:00 p.m. Most court hearings run from 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Holiday closures follow the Pinellas County holiday calendar. Parking is available in the courthouse garage on Court Street, with hourly rates posted at the garage entrance. Street parking near the courthouse has time limits enforced by the City of Clearwater.
Bring a photo ID. Bring your case number. Bring a method of payment for copies or fines. The clerk accepts cash, check, money order, and credit card for most transactions. Some transactions carry a flat convenience fee for credit card payments. Self-represented filers who need to file a new case can use the self-help center on the first floor to fill out forms.
Clearwater Courthouse Contact, Hours, and Location
Clerk of Court: Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Address: 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: (727) 464-7000
Website: mypinellasclerk.gov
Court Records Search: courtrecords.mypinellasclerk.gov
Official Records Search: officialrecords.mypinellasclerk.gov
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Court Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
E-Filing Portal: myflcourtaccess.com
Appellate Docket Search: acis.flcourts.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I look up a Clearwater case by citation number?
The citation number on a Clearwater traffic ticket works as a case number in the Pinellas clerk’s online portal. Open courtrecords.mypinellasclerk.gov and enter the full citation number in the case number search field. The portal returns the matching case, the violation, the fine, and the court date. You can pay the fine online, set a court date, or view the full docket from the same page.
If the citation does not return a result, wait two business days. New citations take a short time to enter the system. If the ticket is more than five years old, the case lives in the historical archive. Call (727) 464-7000 to ask the clerk to pull the archived record. The clerk will search the paper files by hand and can email you a copy of the docket for a small fee.
For criminal citations and arrest numbers, the same rule applies. The arrest number becomes the case number once the state attorney files the charge. Arrest numbers with no case number filed will not return results. The portal only returns filed cases, not pending investigations. Once a case is filed, the public docket opens the same day in most cases.
2. Can I see sealed Clearwater court records?
No, you cannot see sealed records through the public portal. Florida law removes sealed cases from public search results. The clerk’s office does not confirm the existence of a sealed case. The only people who can read a sealed record are the named parties, attorneys of record, judges, and government agencies with a specific legal right to the information. A judge can unseal a record, but only after a written motion and a court hearing.
Juvenile cases are sealed by law. Expunged criminal cases are removed from public view by law. Adoption records are sealed. Mental health commitment records are sealed. Domestic violence injunction petitions can be sealed on a judge’s order. Each type of sealing has its own process and its own set of people with access rights under Florida law.
If you need a sealed record for a job, a license, or an immigration case, ask the clerk’s office about the certificate of eligibility process. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement handles most certificate requests. The court can order the clerk to release a sealed record to a specific person for a specific purpose. A motion to unseal must show good cause and pass a court review.
3. What does “VOR” mean on a Clearwater docket entry?
VOR stands for View On Request. A docket entry with the VOR label means the clerk must review the document before posting it for public view. The clerk applies redactions to the document under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420. Redactions remove Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, medical records, and minor children’s names. The VOR process keeps personal details out of public records.
Most VOR requests clear in minutes. The clerk sees the document, runs the redaction, and posts a clean copy. Larger documents with financial statements, medical records, or many pages of discovery can take up to two business days. The portal shows the VOR status as pending until the clerk releases the document. No notification goes out when the document clears, so check back on the docket.
You can speed up a VOR request by calling the clerk’s records department at (727) 464-7000. The records staff checks the queue and can flag a request for quick review. Emergency requests tied to a same-day hearing get pushed to the front of the queue. Attorney of record users on the portal can also use the expedited review button for active cases.
4. Is there a fee to search the Clearwater court docket?
No fee applies to read the docket or to view a public document image. The Pinellas clerk’s online portal is free for the public side. The clerk charges a fee for printed copies, certified copies, and a few special services. Certified copies of court orders, judgments, and marriage licenses cost more than regular copies because of the clerk’s seal and signature.
The clerk charges a small convenience fee for credit card payments on fines and fees. Cash, check, and money order payments have no added fee. The clerk charges a fee for paper filings in person, but the E-Filing Portal fee is lower for most case types. Attorney trust accounts have no fee per filing, only a per-document charge for certain civil motions.
Attorneys who file many documents each month can set up a payment account with the clerk. The account pulls filing fees from a trust balance. Self-represented filers pay per filing through the portal’s secure payment system. The portal lists each fee before you submit the filing. The system accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and electronic checks from U.S. banks.
5. Can I attend a Clearwater court hearing remotely?
Yes, many Clearwater hearings now allow remote attendance. The judge sets the format for each hearing. Civil motions, family law hearings, and probate matters often run on Zoom or by phone. The daily court calendar on the Pinellas clerk’s website shows the format for each hearing. Look for the Zoom or Phone label on the calendar entry.
Criminal arraignments, criminal pretrials, and criminal trials usually require in-person attendance. The judge must see the defendant in person for a plea or a trial. Traffic arraignments and traffic trials also run in person. A judge can approve a written plea for some traffic and misdemeanor cases when the defendant cannot attend. The defendant must file the written plea form and any supporting documents before the court date.
To join a remote hearing, follow the Zoom link on the calendar. The link opens 15 minutes before the hearing. Have your case number ready. The clerk calls each case in order. You join the waiting room until the judge calls your case. Test your camera and microphone before the hearing to avoid delays. Phone attendees dial in 5 minutes early and stay on the line until the judge releases the call.
6. How do I get a certified copy of a Clearwater court order?
You can order a certified copy of a court order online through the Pinellas clerk’s website, in person at the clerk’s office, or by mail. Online orders process fastest. The clerk charges a fee per page plus a certification fee. The certified copy carries the clerk’s raised seal and signature. Courts, government agencies, and most employers will only accept a certified copy.
To order by mail, send a written request with the case number, the document title, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include a check or money order for the fee. Mail the request to the Pinellas County Clerk’s office at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. The clerk mails the certified copy within five business days. Add a contact phone number so the clerk can reach you if there is a problem with the order.
To order in person, visit the clerk’s office on the first floor of the courthouse. The clerk’s public counter accepts walk-in orders. The clerk can print and certify the document while you wait for most standard orders. Larger case files with hundreds of pages need a short wait time. Bring a photo ID and your case number. Pay the fee with cash, check, money order, or credit card.
7. What happens if I miss my court date in Clearwater?
A missed court date triggers a few automatic actions on the docket. The judge can issue a bench warrant for your arrest in a criminal case. The judge can dismiss the case in a civil case. The clerk adds a failure to appear entry to the docket. This entry stays on the public record for years. The failure to appear entry can show up on background checks run by employers, landlords, and lenders.
For traffic and misdemeanor cases, the judge can impose a new fine, add court costs, or issue a license suspension through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The clerk can issue a writ of bodily attachment. A writ lets law enforcement take you into custody to bring you before the judge. The writ stays active until you appear in court or the judge recalls it.
The fastest fix is to call the clerk’s office at (727) 464-7000 and ask about a motion to recall the warrant. Many judges will recall a warrant for a first missed date if you appear in court the next day with a good reason. Hiring a traffic attorney or a criminal defense attorney is the safer path for a felony case. The attorney can file a written motion to recall the warrant and set a new court date without a trip to jail.