Retrieve Free Hillsborough County Divorce Records (Resource)

Free Hillsborough County Divorce Record Search
Find out if someone in Hillsborough County, Florida is divorced, free of charge.

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How To Conduct a Free Hillsborough County Divorce Records Search

The Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts & Comptroller is the key custodian of divorce records in the county.1 You can request the actual divorce documents through methods including the Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records (HOVER) search portal, by mail, phone, or even in person.

The Clerk of Courts website provides the HOVER search tool that assists with case searches and can be used to conduct a free public divorce records search.2 However, it covers all types of judicial records within Hillsborough County and thus may need some refining for specific searches.

To narrow down results without a particular case number, you can use party names. To do this, first, you will need to type in a party’s name and then select the option of ‘Family’ from the drop-down menu – narrowing down the search results.

Next, you will need to choose the option of ‘Dissolution of Marriage’ to search for divorce records. Once you have entered all of the details, hit search and wait for the system to go through the database.

A screenshot of the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller website displaying case search results, including case options and payment, view option, case number, citation, case style, case status, date filed, and case type.
Source: Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller2

After this, the system will provide the uncertified copies of the divorce records on your screen; details can further be gleaned by choosing the view option. This opens up access to extensive data containing information about the record along with precise issuance date of divorce decrees available.

A screenshot showing case information shows details such as the case number, uniform case number, full names of persons involved, case number and citation, case and financial information, judge assignment, and others.
Source: Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller2

Obtaining a certified copy of a divorce certificate or records in Hillsborough County can be done through multiple channels, including online through HOVER, mail, phone, or in-person visits.

However, there’s a nominal fee involved:

  • $2 for each year searched
  • $1 per page if you need copies
  • Additional $2 to certify the documents

If you decide to pay by check or money order, then ensure to include details that will help in finding the divorce records, such as the name of the parties involved or the year when the solution occurred.

To get records by mail or phone, the County Court Clerk’s website recommends calling beforehand at 813-276-8100, as they will confirm the cost before you make payment and guide you through the process.

For those who prefer face-to-face interaction, the clerk’s office provides online appointments. The offices of the Clerk of Court can be visited at the following:3

Name of the Courthouse Address & Office Hours Phone
Edgecomb Courthouse 800 East Twiggs St.
Tampa, Florida, 33602
Office Hours: Weekdays (8 AM – 5 PM)
813-276-8100
Pat Collier Frank Courthouse 419 Pierce St.
Tampa, Florida, 33602
Office hours: Weekdays (8 AM – 5 PM)
813-276-8100
Plant City Courthouse 301 North Michigan Avenue, Room 1071
Plant City, Florida, 33563
Office hours: Weekdays (8 AM – 5 PM)
813-276-8100
Brandon Regional Service Center 311 Pauls Drive, Ste. 110
Brandon, Florida, 33511
Office hours: Weekdays (8 AM – 4 PM)
813-276-8100

Perform a Divorce & Dissolution Record Lookup via Cities in Hillsborough County Florida

When you start a search on the county level, you can find plenty of results. This is because the data in those databases cover all cities within that particular county. However, there may be times when a city-level search proves to be more useful.

Some benefits stand out when requesting records from city agencies; for example, local agency searches save time and work more efficiently than their county counterparts; plus, the staff can cater to your needs better while helping with your search process.

City of Tampa: The City of Tampa now offers an online service for accessing public records. With the creation of a Public Records Center Portal, you can make a public records request online.

To use this portal, first off, make an account on the website. By using this account, you will be able to request and pay for your desired record. Now that you have requested a public record through the portal, wait for two things: an email confirmation and a reference number.

The assigned team will review your application and send you an invoice.

There is a nominal payment involved in the process, as low as 15 cents per copy for documents sized less than or equal to 14 by 8.5 inches. Also, note that certified copies cost up to $1 each. Any hard copies will involve additional postage fees, though.

Plant City: If you are looking for divorce records in Plant City, Florida, then you will need to get in contact with the Office of the City Clerk at the following:

Office of the City Clerk
302 West Reynolds St.
Plant City, Florida, 33563

Phone: 813-659-4200
Email: [email protected]

The city clerk acts as the custodian of public records and keeps all records safe for everyone in the city. However, to get copies of divorce papers that are part of the public record, you will need to pay a nominal fee.4 For a one-sided page, it’s $0.15 and two-sided pages are $0.20 each.

If you want certified copies, then it’s $1 per piece. Also remember there are added mailing charges, such as envelope cost and postal fees.

City of Temple Terrace: Divorce records for the city of Temple Terrace are available at the City Clerk’s Office.5 This office is where all public records of the city are maintained, created, and kept. All official record research for citizens and departments happens here upon request.

You can inspect or examine these documents anytime under reasonable conditions and supervision at the following:

Office of the City Clerk
11250 North 56th St.
Temple Terrace, Florida, 33617

Phone: (813)-506-6440
Fax: (813)-506-6441
Email: [email protected]

Find Divorce Records for the Entire State of Florida via the Bureau of Vital Statistics

The Bureau of Vital Statistics provides access to Florida divorce records, which date from June 6, 1927 to the current day. These documents are recorded by the Clerks of the Circuit Courts and the rules of Florida’s Chapter 119 allow anyone to look at public records that any department holds.6, 7

However, some divorce records may remain private or undisclosed if sealed by the courts. The process begins with downloading and filling out the Application for Florida Dissolution of Marriage Certificate Form.8

A screenshot showing an application for a Florida dissolution of marriage certificate (divorce or annulment) that requires details such as the mailing address, the applicant's name, city, phone, email address, signature, final judgment information, and others.
Source: Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics8

To view divorce records, the Bureau of Vital Statistics provides two options: walk in or mail. If you choose to send in the request through mail, then the form mentioned above has to be filled and mailed to the following address:

Florida Department Of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Post Office Box 210
Jacksonville, Florida, 32231-0042

You can also walk-in with the form and submit it to the Bureau of Vital Statistics Office at the following:

Florida Department Of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
1217 North Pearl St.,
Jacksonville, Florida, 32202

Office hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

When placing an order via mail, you must make payments via check or money order made payable to Vital Statistics. Meanwhile, walk-in customers can pay using cash as well as Visa and Mastercard.

The cost involves a search fee along with copying charges which varies based on how many copies you require and whether you know the exact year of divorce. A $5 search fee is charged to cover one year of documentation, there is also an extra charge of $4 if certified copies are needed.

If you don’t know the exact year, then you will be charged $2 per calendar year with added postal charges. Processing time generally takes approximately 3-5 business days for recent records dating from 1970 onwards.

However, older records can take longer due to additional processing needs. Since divorce records are considered court records, they can also be found through third-party record maintaining sites.

If, however, you or someone you know is engaged in an informal union like a common law marriage, then this union is deemed illegal under the virtue of the 2016 Florida Statutes section 741.211.

The statute declares common law marriages established after 1968 null and void, and due to this, getting a common law divorce is also not possible within the state.

Are Details of Divorce Accessible to Everyone in Hillsborough County?

When looking for dissolution records in Hillsborough County, there can be instances where you find that the divorce occurred in the nearby county or somewhere else in Florida.

In these cases, officials handling Hillsborough County records can’t help, and you will need to get in contact with the Bureau of Vital Statistics Office, which maintains a divorce index for cases occurring from 1927 till date.9

The office has an extensive database covering all counties across Florida, giving you a wider scope for your search. The Bureau of Vital Statistics provides easy access through walk-in or mail-in services.

You must begin with obtaining and filling out the Application for Florida Dissolution of Marriage Certificate Form. The search fee is $5 for one calendar year, and each certified copy will cost an additional $4.

For orders via mail, payment can be made via check or money order. If opting for a walk-in service, payments can be rendered using cash and credit card, such as Visa and Mastercard. It is also important to know that third-party websites such as VitalChek also offer searches on these court records.

In conclusion, you can find Hillsborough County divorce records by searching through local court records or by using the services of state-level agencies.


References

1Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved February 05, 2024, from <https://www.hillsclerk.com/About-Us>

2Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. (n.d.). Case Search. Retrieved February 05, 2024, from <https://hover.hillsclerk.com/html/case/caseSearch.html>

3Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. (n.d.). Service Options and Locations. Retrieved February 05, 2024, from <https://www.hillsclerk.com/About-Us/Service-Options-and-Locations>

4Plant City Florida. (n.d.). FAQs. Retrieved February 05, 2024, from <https://www.plantcitygov.com/faqs>

5City of Temple Terrace. (n.d.). Custodian of Public Records & Requesting Information. Retrieved February 05, 2024, from <https://www.templeterrace.gov/107/Public-Records-Requesting-Information>

6Florida Courts. (2024, February 02). Trial Courts – Circuit. Retrieved February 05, 2024, from <https://www.flcourts.gov/Florida-Courts/Trial-Courts-Circuit>

7The Florida Senate. (2023). 2023 Florida Statutes – Chapter 119: Public Records. Retrieved February 05, 2024, from <https://m.flsenate.gov/statutes/119.01>

8Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. (2023, June 30). Application for Florida Dissolution of Marriage Certificate Form. Retrieved February 05, 2024, from <https://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates/certificates/marriage/_documents/DH260-diss-marr-app-6-30-2023.pdf>

9Florida Department of Health. (2023, November 15). Divorce. Retrieved February 05, 2024, from <https://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates/certificates/divorce/index.html>