As an independently elected official with oversight of nearly 700 employees and a budget of approximately $69.5 million, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is both the Chief Financial Officer and Clerk to the Courts of Hillsborough County.

As the Chief Financial Officer for the County, the Clerk is responsible for safekeeping and investing over $1.8 billion in annual county collections. As Ex-Officio Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the Clerk is responsible for disbursing hundreds of millions of dollars annually in compliance with the law, ordinances, resolutions, contracts and agreements, and for preparing and maintaining minutes of the meetings of the BOCC.

The Clerk also is the independent auditor of county departments. As the Official Recorder, the Clerk is custodian of all official records, including deeds, mortgages and liens. The Clerk is also responsible for collecting and disbursing court-ordered child support, issuing marriage licenses, performing marriage ceremonies and issuing jury summons.

As the official record-keeper of the County Courts, the Clerk of the Circuit Court has the responsibility for providing the support services that keep Hillsborough County’s courts running smoothly. Duties include the following: processing all civil and criminal cases, including traffic; receiving appellate petitions; conducting mortgage foreclosure and tax lien sales; securing and disposing of all evidence entered by the court; assisting victims of abuse through the Domestic Violence Program; and providing a Self-Help Office to assist the public in filing for a simplified divorce, or a small claims action.