Indian River County
Indian River County was named after the Indian River Lagoon after its creation in 1925. Popular cities in the county include Sebastian and Vero Beach, which serves as the county seat. Indian River County's population is 160,986 residents, and it occupies a land area of 503 square miles in southeastern Florida.
Indian River County has two trial courts: Circuit and County Courts. The Circuit Court, a part of Florida's 19th Judicial Circuit, has general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases in Indian River County. Its Criminal Division adjudicates felony-related cases involving possible death sentences or at least one-year jail terms. On the other hand, the Circuit Court's Civil Division handles tort actions, malpractice matters, product liability issues, and other monetary claims for more than $50,000. Other cases resolved at the Circuit Court include probate, juvenile, and family law cases. Appeals from County Court judgments are reviewed at the Circuit Court in Indian River County. Meanwhile, the County Courts hear misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil actions where the amount in controversy is $50,000 or less. They also resolve landlord-tenant disputes and small claims cases involving up to $8,000 in financial settlements.
Indian River County court records typically contain information on court proceedings, such as filing dates, litigants' names, dockets, transcripts, and court orders. The Indian River Clerk of the Circuit Court typically maintains these records in paper or electronic formats. According to the Florida Sunshine Laws, court records should be open to the public to ensure that the county's judiciary remains accountable and abides by the rule of law. As such, anyone can request the following court records from the Circuit Court Clerk:
- Criminal court records
- Civil records
- Traffic records
- Probate records
However, only authorized persons, including the record owners, can obtain juvenile and adoption court records. Confidential court records containing personal and sensitive details are not publicly accessible in Indian River County. Interested persons can request Indian River County public court records by visiting the clerk at:
Indian River County Courthouse (Records Service Center)
2000 16th Avenue
Vero Beach, Florida 32960
Phone: (772) 226-3100
Court records are also accessible online via the Online Case View provided by the Circuit Clerk. Requesters can search as guests or registered users using litigants/offenders' names or case numbers.
