Hillsborough County Divorce Records

Hillsborough County divorce records are court documents on marriage terminations within the Family Law Division or the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. These documents encompass:

• Case identifiers
• Party information
• Court filings & pleadings
• Court orders and judgments
• Custody and parenting information
• Support & financial details
• Settlement agreements
• Docket/case progression.

Under Florida laws, divorce records are generally public. However, there are exemptions to public access to these documents. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller (custody of the county's divorce records) will redact sensitive information whose public access infringes privacy rights.

How to find divorce records in Hillsborough County depends on the need. Hillsborough County divorce records may be crucial in remarriage, changing names, immigrating to a new country, or providing general information.

Hillsborough County Divorce Rate: The U.S. Census Bureau data show that as of 2023, 9.8% of males and 13.8% of Hillsborough County's residents were divorced. These figures are slightly lower than the state average of 10.3% and 14.1% for male and female divorcees for the same year.

Are Divorce Records Public in Hillsborough County?

Yes, Florida laws grant public access to Hillsborough County divorce records. The public's right to access Hillsborough County divorce records is enshrined in Article A1, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Public Records Law. However, public access to Hillsborough County divorce records is restricted to:

• Case information
• Divorce decree/final judgment of dissolution
• Court filings and orders
• Docket entries.

To ensure that privacy rights are not violated, Hillsborough County divorce records are confidential if they contain sensitive information, such as:

• Custody and parenting information
• Spousal support agreement
• Financial details
• Settlement agreements
• Mental health records
• Substance abuse assessment
• Business valuation details
• Custody or parenting time evaluations.

How to Find Divorce Records in Hillsborough County

Record seekers have several options to look up divorce records in Hillsborough County. Public members can perform a Hillsborough County court divorce search online through the Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records (HOVER) access Portal, or access these documents through the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller - Family Law Division or the Florida Department of Health (DOH) Bureau of Vital Statistics Office. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller Office and the Florida Department of Health provide access to different versions of the Hillsborough County divorce records.

Online Access to Hillsborough County Divorce Records

To search for Hillsborough County divorce records online, log in to the Hillsborough County HOVER portal. Users of this search tool can access Hillsborough County divorce records using names, case or citation numbers, date range, or court or case types

Mail-in Request

Another option for the Hillsborough County court divorce search is through a mail request. Information seekers can mail the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court's Office for certified copies of divorce records at:

A mail request for copies of Hillsborough County divorce records should contain:

• Names of the divorced parties
• Case number (if known)
• Year of divorce
• Type of document (for instance, final judgment or full case file)
• Payment (check or money order payable to the Clerk of Hillsborough County Circuit Court)

For Hillsborough County divorce certificates (proof of divorce), download, complete, and mail an Application for Dissolution of Marriage Form (DH260) along with a check or money order (to cover applicable fees) to:

In-Person Request

For walk-in requests for copies of Hillsborough County divorce records through the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court's Office or the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, visit their offices at the following addresses during official hours:

Requesters should note that access to Hillsborough County divorce records through the Florida Bureau of Statistics applies to divorce records from June 6, 1927, to the present.

Overview of the Hillsborough County Court System

The court system in Hillsborough County comprises the Hillsborough County Circuit Court and several County Courts. The Hillsborough County Circuit Court is part of Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Under Florida's court system, Circuit Courts handle all civil and criminal cases beyond the authority of the County Courts.

In Hillsborough County, the Family Law Division of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida handles divorce cases. Additionally, the Clerk's Office of the Hillsborough County Circuit Court is the custodian of Hillsborough County family court divorce filings and also provides access to these documents. Individuals can call, mail, visit, or email the Hillsborough County Circuit Court at:

Online Access to Hillsborough County Divorce Records

Individuals seeking free online divorce lookup for Hillsborough County divorce records should log in to the Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records. This search portal offers free viewing and paid access to copies of Hillsborough County divorce records. Users can search for specific divorce records by name, case or citation numbers, and refine search results by case status, categories, and types.

The Hillsborough County HOVER portal provides access to publicly accessible divorce information. However, users can download electronically certified copies of Hillsborough County divorce records through the eCertify service on the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller's website.

In addition to official access portals, record seekers can access Hillsborough County divorce records online through third-party websites with Hillsborough County Circuit Court records databases. These platforms gather documents from courts across Florida and make them publicly accessible in one place. However, notwithstanding their advantages, users should be cautious of errors in documents from these platforms because they are independent and do not give guarantees.

What's Typically Included in a Hillsborough County Divorce Record

The content of a Hillsborough County divorce record depends on the type of divorce document. Under Florida laws, divorce records are generally public, but with certain limitations. A typical Hillsborough County public divorce record may contain the following:

• Case index information, such as:
• Names of the divorced parties
• Case number
• Filing date
• Date of divorce
• Case status
• Court documents (unless sealed or restricted)
• Petition for dissolution of marriage
• Responses and counter-petitions
• Motions
• Court orders (custody, support, property division)
• Settlement agreements
• Final judgment of dissolution (divorce decree)
• Docket entries

By comparison, a certified copy of Hillsborough County divorce records encompasses all public divorce information and may also contain sensitive details, such as:

• Social Security numbers
• Financial account numbers (bank, credit card, investment)
• Medical and mental health records
• Adoption-related documents
• Domestic violence victim information (if applicable)
• Identifying information of minor children. For instance, custody evaluations and school/medical details.

Likewise, a Hillsborough County divorce certificate (proof of divorce) from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics contains basic information, such as:

• The full names of both spouses as they appear on the record
• The date of divorce
• Place of divorce (in this case, Hillsborough County)
• Certificate Number / State File Number
• Clerk or Official Certification.

How to Get Certified Copies of Hillsborough County Divorce Records

There are two options for obtaining certified copies of Hillsborough County divorce records: online through the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller's website eCertify service, and by mail or in-person requests to the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller's Office.

To obtain a certified copy of Hillsborough County divorce records through the eCertify Service:

• Visit the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller's Office eCertify Page
• Scroll down and click the online court record search link to access the Case Search Page
• Select a search criterion, provide the necklace information, and use the search tools to locate the divorce record
• Look for the "Final Judgment" document or similar entry that officially records the divorce decree
• On the document details page, click the "Certify" or "Purchase Certified Copies" to add the document to the eCertify shopping cart
• Click on the shopping cart icon to open a new window
• Review the purchase
• Enter credit card details to make payment (the costs include $1.00 per page of document, $2.00 certification fee, and a $6.00 per document eCertify vendor charges)
• The eCertify system will email a secure link for electronic download of the Hillsborough County divorce record
• Download the document and verify its authenticity by using the QR code on the cover page or by uploading the electronic file on the Clerk's website.

For mail-in or in-person requests for a certified copy of Hillsborough County divorce records, send a mail or in-person request to the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller's Office at:

Mail requests should include:

• Names of both parties
• Case number (if available)
• Year of divorce
• Type of document requested
• A check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court
• Self-addressed stamped envelope for return.

Furthermore, a requester for a certified copy of a Hillsborough County divorce record is required to provide a valid government-issued ID.

A certified copy of a Hillsborough County divorce record is a legal document and is acceptable for legal purposes, such as remarriage, name change, visa applications, and legal proceedings. In contrast, informational or verification copies of Hillsborough County divorce records are not legally binding documents. However, individuals can use them for family history or genealogical research, general information, or personal reference.

Why People Request Hillsborough County Divorce Records

The reasons to request divorce records depend on personal needs. People may request Hillsborough County divorce records for:

• To change their name
• To remarry
• For legal or financial matters
• For genealogy or family research

Additionally, in some cases, employers may run divorce history checks on applicants to determine their suitability for roles that require time away from family.

Hillsborough County Divorce Records Summary