The court records of Martin County, Florida, are maintained and serviced by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. The site MartinCourt.us will help navigate publicly available information about court cases. Additionally, records can be searched through the online portal of the county clerk's record search, directly at the clerk's office, or through official Florida court portals. Below is a practical guide to the court structure, case types, and access to records.
Martin Court System Overview
Martin County is part of the 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida, which also includes Indian River, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties. The District Court in Stuart hears both Circuit Court and County Court cases. Appeals from Circuit Court cases are directed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal.
The Chief Judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit is appointed by the Florida Supreme Court and coordinates the work of all courts in the four counties. The courthouse is located at:
Operating hours are Monday through Friday, typically from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding public holidays.
Courts Serving Martin
The residents of Martin County are served by several courts of different jurisdictional levels.
Circuit Court (19th Judicial Circuit — Martin County)
County Court (Martin County)
U.S. District Court — Southern District of Florida (Fort Pierce Division)
Federal civil and criminal cases involving residents of Martin County are heard by the Southern District of Florida.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of Florida
Bankruptcy cases are filed with the Southern District of Florida.
There are no municipal courts in Florida — all local-level cases are heard by the County Court.
What Types of Cases Martin Courts Hear
The courts in Martin County hear a wide range of cases. The Circuit Court handles felonies, large civil claims, family law, probate matters, juvenile cases, and appeals from the County Court. The County Court, on the other hand, handles:
- Misdemeanors and infractions
- Civil cases with small claims
- Small claims lawsuits
- Traffic violations
- Driving under the influence (DUI) cases
Specific divisions of the Circuit Court are responsible for divorce, guardianship, adoption, probate, child protection, and guardianship.
District Court Cases in Martin
The Circuit Court in Florida is a court of general jurisdiction, performing a role similar to that of a district court in other states. In Martin County, it hears:
- All criminal cases involving felonies
- Civil cases with claims over $50,000
- Appeals from the County Court
- Injunction cases
- Post-conviction motions
Cases are assigned by the Chief Judge according to the judges' specialization. Criminal cases are initiated by the State Attorney's Office of the 19th Circuit following an arrest or grand jury indictment. Civil cases begin with the filing of a complaint with the clerk's office.
Magistrate Court Cases in Martin
In Florida, the equivalent of a magistrate court is the County Court. This is where most people first encounter the judicial system — through a speeding ticket or minor infraction. The County Court in Martin hears:
- Misdemeanors and municipal ordinance violations
- Civil cases with claims up to $50,000
- Small claims lawsuits — up to $8,000
- Traffic violations
- DUI cases at the arraignment and hearing stages
- Eviction cases
These jurisdictional limits are set by Florida statutes. If a case exceeds the County Court's limit, it is transferred to the Circuit Court. County Court judges may also conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Martin
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, alimony, paternity, and protective orders are all handled by the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court. Parties wishing to represent themselves in a divorce case can find information on the Domestic Relations page of the clerk. Divorce certificates are issued by the Florida Department of Health.
Probate and Guardianship
The Probate Division of the Circuit Court handles estate administration, guardianship appointments, and trust matters. Applications are submitted through the clerk's office.
Juvenile Matters
Cases under the Juvenile Delinquency Act and Child Protective Act are heard by the Circuit Court. Juvenile records are confidential under Florida law, and access to them is strictly limited.
How Cases Move Through the Martin Court System
- Case initiation. A criminal case begins with an arrest or indictment; a civil case begins with the filing of a complaint or petition with the clerk.
- Judge assignment. The clerk registers the case and assigns it to a judge according to its category.
- First hearing. In criminal cases — arraignment, where the charges are read to the defendant. In civil cases — scheduling conference or case management conference.
- Pre-trial phase. Exchange of evidence (discovery), filing of motions, plea negotiations in criminal cases, or mediation in civil cases.
- Trial or resolution. The case concludes with a trial, settlement, plea, or default judgment.
- Post-decision. Sentencing, appeal, or enforcement of judgment. Appeals from the Circuit Court go to the Fourth District Court of Appeal.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Martin
The administration of the courts of the 19th Judicial Circuit is carried out by the Chief Judge with the support of the Trial Court Administrator. Local rules of procedure for the 19th Circuit are published on the Florida Courts portal.
Public access to court records is governed by Section 119 of the Florida Statutes (Florida Public Records Act) and Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration. Most court records are public, but certain categories — including juvenile cases, sealed or expunged records, and certain personal information — are protected from disclosure.
Hearings are generally open to the public. Some sessions may be held remotely via video conferencing platforms — check with the clerk or court website before visiting.
To submit a public records request for Martin County, you can use the online public records request form.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Martin
- Search for court cases and registers. The Records Search Portal of the Martin County Clerk & Comptroller allows searching for both court cases and official records — deeds, mortgages, liens.
- Court Records. A written request for copies can be sent by mail or fax to the Court Records department of the clerk.
- Official Records. The Recording Department indexes and stores documents recorded in the county — from deeds to liens.
- State appellate cases. Decisions and case materials of the Fourth District Court of Appeal are available through the Florida Appellate Case Information System (ACIS).
- Florida Supreme Court Information. The Case Information page provides access to cases and civil case management resources.
- Arrest warrants. The Wanted Persons database of the FDLE contains information on warrants reported by Florida law enforcement agencies.
- Sheriff's Office. The Martin County Sheriff's Office publishes information on arrests and accepts public records requests.
- Property Register. The Martin County Property Appraiser allows searching for property records by address, owner, or parcel number.
- Department of Health. The Florida Department of Health in Martin County — contact information for inquiries regarding vital records and public records.
- Florida Sexual Offender Registry. Search is available on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE Sexual Offenders / Predators Search) website.
- Self-help and forms. Forms for self-representation in court are available on the Florida Courts website and through the county clerk's office.