Court records of Volusia County, Florida, are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the Clerk's office. VolusiaCourt.us will help you find publicly available information about court records in this county. Additional sources include the Florida Courts portal, the official website of the Volusia County government, and the Clerk's office in DeLand.
Volusia Court System Overview
Volusia County is part of the 7th Judicial Circuit of Florida, which also includes Flagler, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. The Circuit Court handles serious criminal cases, large civil lawsuits, family law, probate cases, and juvenile matters. The County Court deals with less serious criminal cases, small claims, and traffic violations.
The main courthouse is located in DeLand. Appeals from the 7th Judicial Circuit are directed to the Fifth District Court of Appeal of Florida.
Courts Serving Volusia
Residents of the county are served by several courts of varying levels of jurisdiction.
Circuit Court — 7th Judicial Circuit
Volusia County Court
An additional court division operates in Daytona Beach:
U.S. District Court — Middle District of Florida
Federal cases involving Volusia County residents are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida with a branch in Orlando.
Municipal Courts
Florida does not have separate municipal courts. Violations of city ordinances are typically handled by the County Court or special code enforcement magistrates at the city level.
What Types of Cases Volusia Courts Hear
The county courts handle a wide range of cases:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations and DUI
- Civil lawsuits of any size and small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony
- Probate, guardianship
- Juvenile cases: delinquency and child protection
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
Each category is discussed in more detail below.
District Court Cases in Volusia
The Circuit Court of the 7th Judicial Circuit is a court of general jurisdiction. It handles felony cases after preliminary hearings in the County Court, civil lawsuits over $50,000, appeals from County Court decisions, and post-conviction motions. Cases are distributed among Circuit Court judges by category: criminal, civil, family, probate, and juvenile. The State Attorney of the 7th Circuit initiates criminal prosecutions, and a judge presides over all stages from arraignment to sentencing.
Magistrate Court Cases in Volusia
The County Court in Volusia handles misdemeanors, infractions, preliminary hearings in felony cases, and civil lawsuits up to $50,000 according to Florida law. Small claims are limited to $8,000. This is where most traffic violations, DUI-arraignments, and eviction cases are heard. Due to the high volume of cases, some County Court judges specialize in specific categories — for example, exclusively on traffic violations or small claims.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Volusia
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, alimony, paternity establishment, injunctions for protection, and termination of parental rights are handled by the family division of the Circuit Court. To obtain a divorce certificate, you can contact the Florida Department of Health or the local certificate office.
Probate and Guardianship
Probate, guardianship of incapacitated adults, and trust cases are handled by the Probate Circuit Court division in DeLand. The court appoints guardians, oversees asset distribution, and protects the interests of individuals who cannot make decisions on their own.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases are managed by the Juvenile Circuit Court division. Juvenile case records are confidential under Florida law and are not publicly accessible without a special court order.
How Cases Move Through the Volusia Court System
- Initiating a Case. A criminal case begins with an arrest or an information/indictment. A civil case starts with the filing of a complaint or petition with the court clerk.
- Assignment of a Judge. The clerk automatically assigns the case to a specific judge based on the category.
- First Hearing. In criminal cases — arraignment, where the defendant is read the charges and pleads guilty or not guilty. In civil cases — scheduling conference to set a timetable.
- Pre-Trial Stage. Filing motions, exchanging evidence (discovery), plea negotiations, or settlement discussions.
- Trial or Resolution. The case concludes with a jury verdict, judge's decision, settlement, or guilty plea.
- Post-Decision. In criminal cases — sentencing. In civil cases — judgment enforcement. Parties may appeal to the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Volusia
The administrative judge of the 7th Judicial Circuit coordinates the work of all Volusia County courts together with the Trial Court Administrator. Local rules of the 7th Judicial Circuit are published on the Florida Courts website.
According to the Florida Public Records Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes) and Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, most court records are public. Exceptions include juvenile cases, certain family cases, sealed or expunged criminal records, and confidential information (social security numbers, bank accounts, etc.).
Hearings can be attended in person at any courthouse. Some hearings are conducted remotely via Zoom or another platform — check with the clerk of the specific division.
For public records requests from the county government, use the official Volusia County website. For law enforcement records requests — use the sheriff's public records portal.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Volusia
- Case Search. Online case search for Circuit and County Court is available through the Volusia page on the Florida Courts portal, with links to the Clerk's website.
- Clerk of the Circuit Court. Mailing address of the Clerk: P.O. Box 6043, DeLand, FL 32721-6043. The Clerk processes public records requests, certified copies, and document registration.
- Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce Certificates. Issued by the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County. Birth certificates become public only after 100 years.
- Inmate Search. Information on individuals in state correctional facilities is provided by the Florida Department of Corrections. For local jail detainee search, use the sheriff's resources.
- Sheriff's Reports and Arrest Records. The Volusia Sheriff's Office reports section allows requesting police reports and contains information on sealing and expunging arrest records.
- Statewide Criminal History. The central repository of criminal records is maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
- Active Calls. A list of current calls responded to by the sheriff is available on the Active Calls page.
- Property Appraisal and Taxes. The Volusia County Property Appraiser provides property appraisal data. Property taxes can be paid through the Tax Collector portal.
- Forms and Self-Help Resources. Forms for self-filing are available on the Clerk's website and the Florida Courts portal.
For more information about Volusia County court records, visit VolusiaCourt.us.