Knowing where to go and when to show up matters when you’re facing a traffic or criminal case. Missing a court date can result in a warrant and additional charges.
Use this directory to find court locations, addresses, and contact information across Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and surrounding Central Florida counties.
If you just received a traffic ticket or criminal charge in Central Florida, figuring out where to go and what to do next can feel overwhelming. Each county has its own courthouse, its own clerk of court, and its own set of rules for parking, security, and court appearances.
This directory covers every major courthouse in the Central Florida region. Use it to find the right courthouse for your case, understand what to expect when you arrive, and learn how to look up your court date online.
In most traffic and misdemeanor cases, your attorney can appear on your behalf so you never have to set foot in a courtroom. Call The Law Office of James P. Kelly to find out if your case qualifies.
Orange County handles more traffic and criminal cases than any other county in Central Florida. All Orange County courts operate under the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which also covers Osceola County.
Clerk of Court: myorangeclerk.com | Phone: (407) 836-2000 | Online case search and ticket payments: myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com
This courthouse opened in February 2025 at a new location. It has two courtrooms with built-in technology for virtual hearings and the potential to hold jury trials. It is a much smaller and more convenient option than the downtown Orlando courthouse for residents in east Orange County.
This branch courthouse serves residents in west Orange County, including Ocoee, Winter Garden, and Windermere. It offers small claims, driver’s license reinstatement, traffic ticket payments, and other clerk services in addition to court hearings.
This branch serves residents in north Orange County, including Apopka and surrounding communities. Clerk services such as traffic ticket payments and driver’s license reinstatement are available here.
Osceola County shares the Ninth Judicial Circuit with Orange County. All court operations are centralized at a single courthouse in Kissimmee.
Clerk of Court: osceolaclerk.com | Phone: (407) 742-3500
Unlike Orange County, Osceola County does not have branch courthouses. All traffic and criminal matters are heard at this single location in downtown Kissimmee.
Seminole County operates under the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, which also covers Brevard County. Court operations are split between two buildings in Sanford, so it is important to verify which building your hearing is scheduled in before you arrive.
Clerk of Court: seminoleclerk.org | Clerk phone: (407) 665-4300 | Court Administration phone: (407) 665-4200 | Case or jury duty questions: (407) 665-4500
This is the primary courthouse for Seminole County criminal cases and also serves as the main Clerk of Court customer service location.
All civil traffic hearings held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons with the Civil Traffic Hearing Officer have been moved to this location. Seminole County still holds civil traffic infraction hearings in person, with the option to appear via video conference through Microsoft Teams. Contact the judicial assistant for your assigned judge to set up a virtual hearing.
This building does not hold regular court hearings. It handles administrative functions for the clerk’s office.
Brevard County shares the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit with Seminole County. Court facilities are spread across the county’s 72-mile coastline, with the main courthouse in Viera and a branch in Melbourne.
Clerk of Court: brevardclerk.us | Clerk phone: (321) 637-5413 | Court Administration phone: (321) 633-2171
This is the primary courthouse for central Brevard County. Courtrooms are equipped with large wall-mounted displays for audio and video presentations. Court administration hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Clerk of Court office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
This branch serves residents in southern Brevard County, including Melbourne, Palm Bay, and surrounding areas.
This courthouse primarily supports clerk office functions and limited hearings for residents in northern Brevard County.
Lake County is part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, which also covers Citrus, Hernando, Marion, and Sumter counties. All court hearings take place at the main courthouse in Tavares. Branch offices in Clermont and Lady Lake handle clerk services only, not court hearings.
Clerk of Court: lakecountyclerkfl.gov (online case search: courtrecords.lakecountyclerk.org) | Phone: (352) 742-4100 | Traffic court direct line: (352) 742-4133
All Lake County court hearings are held at this location. This includes all traffic infraction hearings, misdemeanor arraignments, and felony proceedings.
Volusia County is part of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, which also covers Flagler, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. Court facilities are spread between DeLand (the county seat) and Daytona Beach, so check your citation or court notice carefully to confirm which location your hearing is assigned to.
Clerk of Court: clerk.org | Phone: (386) 736-5915 (DeLand) | (386) 257-6084 (Daytona Beach Traffic Division)
The courthouse opened in 2001 and is made of precast concrete with a brick facade. The building features a clock tower with a seal of Lady Justice. The Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center is adjacent and houses the State Attorney, Public Defender, Sheriff’s Judicial and Community Services, and Records Management.
This courthouse serves the greater Daytona Beach area and handles a significant share of the county’s traffic cases.
Built in 1970, this three-story building is located on the Halifax River and serves the eastern population of the county.
Polk County is part of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, with the main courthouse in Bartow and branch locations in Lakeland and Winter Haven.
Clerk of Court: polkclerkfl.gov | Phone: (863) 534-4000 | Traffic and court payments: (863) 733-8045
The courthouse is a ten-story building across the street from the historic Polk County Courthouse. It houses multiple divisions, including civil, criminal, family, traffic, and probate.
Each county clerk maintains an online case search tool. If you have your citation number or case number, you can look up your court date, courtroom assignment, and case status without calling the clerk’s office.
If you cannot find your court date online, call the clerk of court for the county where your ticket was issued. The phone numbers are listed in each county section above.
Florida uses a two-tier trial court system. Understanding which court handles your case helps you know what to expect.
County Court handles traffic infractions, misdemeanor criminal charges (punishable by up to one year in jail), small claims, and county ordinance violations. Most traffic tickets and first-time DUI charges are heard in county court.
Circuit Court handles felony criminal charges (punishable by more than one year in state prison), civil cases over $50,000, family law, juvenile matters, and probate. Serious charges like felony DUI (third or subsequent offense) and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury are heard in circuit court.
If you are unsure which court will handle your case, your citation or arrest paperwork will identify the case type and court division.
Every Central Florida courthouse enforces strict security screening. Here is a general guide for what to expect at any courthouse in the region.
Bring with you:
Leave in your car:
Arrive at least 15 to 20 minutes before your scheduled hearing time. Morning dockets tend to have the longest security lines.
For most traffic infractions and many misdemeanor cases in Central Florida, your attorney can appear on your behalf. That means you do not have to take time off work, figure out parking, or sit through hours of other cases before yours is called.
When you call The Law Office of James P. Kelly, you speak directly with attorney James P. Kelly. The firm handles traffic and criminal defense cases across Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County, and throughout Central Florida. English and Spanish-speaking clients are welcome — hablamos español.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Court hours, locations, and procedures are subject to change. Always verify details with the relevant clerk of court before visiting. Contacting The Law Office of James P. Kelly, P.A. does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
If you fail to appear for a scheduled court hearing, the judge may issue a warrant for your arrest (in criminal cases) or suspend your driver’s license (in traffic cases). If you realize you have missed a court date, contact an attorney immediately. In many cases, a motion to set aside the failure to appear can resolve the situation without additional criminal charges.
In most traffic infractions and misdemeanor cases in Florida, your attorney can appear on your behalf. This is called a “waiver of appearance.” You typically do not need to be present for traffic ticket hearings, arraignments, or pretrial conferences. Your attorney will let you know if any hearing requires your personal presence.
Your citation or court paperwork will list the county and court division where your case has been filed. If you are unsure, call the clerk of court for the county where you were ticketed or arrested. The phone numbers and online lookup tools are listed in each county section of this directory.
No. All Central Florida courthouses are open Monday through Friday only and are closed on state holidays. Some clerk’s offices have slightly different hours, so check the specific county listing above before visiting.
