Orange County County Court Overview
Florida's trial system has two levels at the county. The County Court is the lower court, and the Circuit Court is the higher one. The Orange County County Court handles the high-volume cases that touch daily life. That includes misdemeanors, criminal traffic, traffic infractions, small claims, eviction, and civil disputes that fall within the county-court limit. It is often the court most residents deal with first.
The County Court sits within the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which serves Orange and Osceola counties. It shares the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando with the Circuit Court. The clerk keeps the records and runs the online search for both levels.
The Florida Courts site explains how the County Court fits the state system.
The statewide site shows the split between county and circuit trial courts across Florida.
What the Orange County County Court Handles
The County Court covers a broad set of everyday matters. Most traffic and misdemeanor cases start and end here. Small claims and eviction cases are also county-court matters, which makes the court important for renters, landlords, and small businesses. The list below shows the main categories.
- Misdemeanor criminal cases.
- Criminal traffic and traffic infractions.
- Small claims and lower-dollar civil disputes.
- Eviction and landlord-tenant cases.
- County and municipal ordinance cases.
The clerk's case-type codes mark these matters, such as Misdemeanor (MM), Criminal Traffic (CT), and Traffic Infractions (TR). These codes appear in the case number and help a searcher confirm which court holds a file before opening it.
County Court vs. Circuit Court
The two courts split the work by case type and seriousness. The County Court takes lower-level criminal, traffic, and smaller civil matters. The Circuit Court takes felonies, family law, probate, and larger civil cases. A case can move from the County Court to the Circuit Court on appeal in some situations. The comparison below shows the split.
| County Court | Circuit Court | |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal | Misdemeanor and criminal traffic | Felony cases |
| Civil | Small claims and lower-dollar civil | Larger civil disputes |
| Traffic | Infractions and criminal traffic | Not the main forum |
| Family and probate | Not handled | Handled here |
How to Search Orange County County Court Records
County Court records search through the clerk's my eClerk system at myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com. Pick the case type that matches the matter, such as Misdemeanor (MM) for a misdemeanor or Traffic Infractions (TR) for a ticket. A name search needs both first and last name. Anonymous users clear a CAPTCHA before each search.
- Open the clerk's my eClerk case search.
- Choose a County Court case type, or use Search All.
- Enter a full name, case number, or citation number, then search.
For a traffic ticket, the citation number is the fastest way to find a case. See the traffic court records page for more.
Where the County Court Sits
The County Court holds court at the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando, the same building as the Circuit Court. The room and floor depend on the division and the calendar, so check the hearing notice before traveling. Plan for courthouse-style security at entry. Many County Court services, such as a traffic payment or a case search, can be done online without a visit.
Orange County Courthouse
425 North Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Ninth Judicial Circuit
Small Claims and Eviction in County Court
Small claims handle lower-dollar money disputes with a simpler process built for people without lawyers. Eviction, also called landlord-tenant, moves quickly because of the housing stakes. Both are County Court matters in Orange County. The clerk offers form packets, and Florida Courts publishes self-help resources for these case types.
A party can search an eviction or small claims case through the same my eClerk system used for other records. Sensitive personal data is redacted on the public view. A small claims case follows a streamlined path with a pretrial conference, and many resolve without a full trial. An eviction moves on a tight timeline because of the housing stakes, so a tenant who receives notice should respond quickly and review the clerk's forms.
Traffic and Ordinance Cases
Traffic is one of the largest parts of the County Court load. A traffic infraction, such as speeding, is a civil traffic matter, while criminal traffic, such as driving while license suspended, is a criminal matter. County and municipal ordinance cases also land in County Court. These cover local rules set by the county or a city within it.
A court traffic record is not the same as a state driver record. The court file shows the case, the plea, and the disposition, while the state driver record tracks license status and points. The traffic court records page explains the difference and the citation search. A driver who pays a fine should know that payment can count as an election affecting the driving record, so checking the options first is worth the time.
Because the County Court handles such a high volume of traffic and small civil matters, online tools carry much of the load. A resident can search a case, pay a ticket, or check a balance without a courthouse trip in most routine matters.
County Court Records and Privacy
County Court records are public by default, like other Florida court files. Most dockets are open, and many documents are online from 2009 forward under the clerk's electronic access order. Some material is still redacted or blocked. Personal data such as Social Security numbers and protected addresses is hidden on the public view, and sealed cases drop from access under court order.
For the full access framework and the statutes behind it, see the court records and public records pages.
Orange County County Court Questions
What is the difference between County Court and Circuit Court?
The County Court handles misdemeanors, traffic, small claims, and eviction. The Circuit Court handles felonies, family law, probate, and larger civil cases. Both sit in the Ninth Judicial Circuit and share the Orange County Courthouse. The clerk's search reaches both levels.
Where do I pay a traffic ticket?
Traffic infractions are County Court matters. Pay through the clerk's online payment page for traffic and criminal cases, or search the citation in my eClerk first. The traffic court records page covers the citation search and payment options in more detail.