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Clerk News

Events and News for the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

Couples Registration Now Open for Clerk’s 13th Annual Valentine’s Day Group Wedding at Florida Botanical Gardens

Registration for the Clerk’s 13th Annual Valentine’s Day Group Wedding is now open. Up to fifty couples are expected to be joined together for one group wedding ceremony on Valentine’s Day, Thursday, February 14, 2019 in the romantic and picturesque Wedding Garden of the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.
December 21, 2018 By Vanessa Castrogiovanni News Archive Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day Wedding, Clerk Valentine's Day Wedding 0 Comment Read More >>

Pinellas Clerk Permanently Closing Tyrone Branch Office On New Year’s Day 2019

Effective Tuesday, January 1, 2019, the Tyrone Branch Traffic Court and Tyrone Branch Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s office located at 1800 66th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL, will be permanently closed due to the Courts Consolidation Project. The Clerk’s Tyrone office closure does not impact other agencies located at the branch, such as the Property Appraiser and Tax Collector, which will remain open.
November 15, 2018 By Vanessa Castrogiovanni General Tyrone Branch, Tyrone Branch Closing 0 Comment Read More >>

Pinellas Clerk Receives Award Winning Recognition for Financial Reporting

The Pinellas County Clerk’s office was once again recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) with two national awards in government financial reporting. For the 37th consecutive year, the Clerk’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) received the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The Clerk’s Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), known as the Citizens’ Guide to County Finances, also received the association's award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for the 12th consecutive year.
November 9, 2018 By Vanessa Castrogiovanni News Archive GFOA, Financial Reporting, CAFR, PAFR, GFOA Award 0 Comment Read More >>

Property Deed Letter Scam

Scams have a way of resurfacing every so often and deed scams are currently in the spotlight in Pinellas County. “Unfortunately, it seems to rear its ugly head every few years,” stated Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Pinellas County residents have once again started receiving official-looking letters emphasizing the importance of keeping a certified copy of your property deeds.
October 22, 2018 By Vanessa Castrogiovanni News Archive Deed Letter Scam, Deed Letter, , Certified Deed Scam 0 Comment Read More >>

VAB Notice of Public Meeting set for Tuesday, October 2

The Pinellas County Value Adjustment Board (“Board”) hereby gives notice that on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 commencing at 10:30 a.m. in the Clerk’s large conference room, Fourth Floor, Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court Street, Clearwater, Florida 33756, a public hearing will be held regarding the First Certification of the 2018 tax rolls and to consider any and all other matters that may legally come before said Board.
September 19, 2018 By Vanessa Castrogiovanni News Archive VAB, VAB Meeting 0 Comment Read More >>

Bond Refund Scam

The company, www.bondrefund.com, is apparently sending unsolicited mailers or advertisements to customers who have posted cash bonds in criminal cases and scamming them out of their money. These mailers guarantee recipients that their claim will be processed by the Clerk's office if the customer pays for a special “request packet” and presents the packet to our office.
August 24, 2018 By Vanessa Castrogiovanni News Archive bondrefund, scamalert, bond 0 Comment Read More >>

Notice of Increase in Passport Execution/Acceptance Fee

Effective April 2, 2018, the U.S. Department of State is increasing the passport execution/acceptance fee from $25 to $35. The fee increase only applies to U.S. passport applicants using the DS-11 form, such as first-time applicants over 16 years of age, children under 16 years of age, and applicants who re-apply after reporting their previous passport lost or stolen.
August 1, 2018 By Vanessa Castrogiovanni News Archive Passport, Passport Fee 0 Comment Read More >>

Resource Guide

Please use the reference guide below for assistance with your media request.

The following information is provided in compliance with Fla. Stat. 119.12.

Custodian of Public Records Contact Information:

Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Attn: Public Records Liaison
315 Court Street, Room 400
Clearwater, FL 33756

Phone: (727) 464-3341
Email: clerkinfo@mypinellasclerk.org

High Profile Cases

For the latest information on court documents and case information, please view our Public Records search.

Public Records - Court Documents and Case Information (Criminal, Traffic, Civil, Family, Probate):

The Public Records search provides the public with access to select court case documents. If documents are not available online or if they require redaction, the media may email the Clerk's office for assistance.

Official Records:

The Official Records Search provides the public with access to select documents recorded in the Recording Services department. The documents include liens, plats, certificates of title, mortgages, lis pendens, marriage licenses, deeds, judgments, death certificates, military discharges, and more. For access to records not available online, the media may email the Clerk's office for assistance.

County Financial Information:

As the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Auditor, the Clerk is responsible for safeguarding all county tax dollars. Annual financial reports for each fiscal year, along with quarterly investment reports, are available to download on the Financial Reports page.

2019 Press Releases

December 6, 2019 - Passport Event Helps Citizens with Extended Office Hours on Saturday, January 11th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Many citizens apply for their passports at the Pinellas County Clerk’s office throughout the year. However, finding the time to make it into the office during regular business hours may be difficult.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

October 22, 2019 - Hundreds of Pinellas Drivers Legal Again after Operation Green Light
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Pinellas Clerk’s Operation Green Light initiative aimed to help individuals with Pinellas County cases in collections and it did just that. Over 1,000 customers attended the driver license reinstatement event which took place on October 16, 17 and 19.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

September 27, 2019 - Operation Green Light - Save on Collections Fees and Get Back on the Road October 16, 17 & 19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - During Operation Green Light, eligible Pinellas County customers with suspended driver licenses will be able to pay overdue court and traffic fines, while saving up to 25 percent on collections fees. This initiative aims to help thousands of individuals with Pinellas County cases looking to save on fees, inquire about a payment plan, and have their driver license reinstated.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

March 13, 2019 - Pinellas Clerk’s Division of Inspector General Receives 3rd Statewide Reaccreditation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - With continued diligence and commitment to maintaining the highest recognition among Florida’s Inspector General community, the Pinellas Clerk’s Division of Inspector General received its third accreditation by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

February 12, 2019 - The Big Day is Fast Approaching for the Pinellas Clerk’s Valentine’s Day Wedding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Nearly 55 couples signed up to get married or renew their vows on Thursday, February 14, 2019 during the Clerk's 13th Annual Valentine's Day Wedding Ceremony. The wedding, which is open to the public, is set to take place in the ever romantic and picturesque Wedding Garden of the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

January 25, 2019 - Last Call for Lovebirds to Say “I Do” at the Clerk’s Valentine’s Day Wedding Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Lovebirds will soon run out of time to make this Valentine’s Day extra memorable. Friday, February 1st is the last day couples can register for the Clerk’s 13th Annual Valentine’s Day Wedding Ceremony.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

2018 Press Releases

December 21, 2018 - Couples Registration Now Open for Clerk’s 13th Annual Valentine’s Day Group Wedding at Florida Botanical Gardens
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Registration for the Clerk’s 13th Annual Valentine’s Day Group Wedding is now open. Up to fifty couples are expected to be joined together for one group wedding ceremony on Valentine’s Day, Thursday, February 14, 2019 in the romantic and picturesque Wedding Garden of the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

December 7, 2018 - Pinellas Clerk Permanently Closing Tyrone Branch Office On New Year’s Day 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Effective Tuesday, January 1, 2019, the Tyrone Branch Traffic Court and Tyrone Branch Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s office located at 1800 66th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL, will be permanently closed due to the Courts Consolidation Project. The Clerk’s Tyrone office closure does not impact other agencies located at the branch, such as the Property Appraiser and Tax Collector, which will remain open.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

November 9, 2018 - Pinellas Clerk Receives Award Winning Recognition for Financial Reporting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Pinellas County Clerk’s office was once again recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) with two national awards in government financial reporting.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

October 19, 2018 - Pinellas County Division of Inspector General Working to Receive 3rd Statewide Reaccreditation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - In an effort to retain its state level accreditation, the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Division of Inspector General (Pinellas County IG), is undergoing its 3rd Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) assessment.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

August 22, 2018 - New Pinellas Clerk Website is Citizen Focused
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - “Responsive, in more ways than one,” that was the driving force behind the Pinellas Clerk’s newly redesigned website which launched on August 6th. “With the new platform, citizens can find the information they need, with less hassle,” stated Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

January 24, 2018 - Last Call for Lovebirds to Say "I Do" at the Clerk's Valentine's Day Group Wedding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Lovebirds will soon run out of time to make this Valentine's Day extra memorable. Friday, January 26th is the last day couples can register for the Clerk's 12th Annual Valentine's Day Group Wedding.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

January 3, 2018 - Couples Registration Now Open for Clerk's 12th Annual Valentine's Day Group Wedding at Florida Botanical Gardens
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, announced that registration is now open for the Clerk's 12th Annual Valentine's Day Group Wedding.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

2017 Press Releases

November 9, 2017 - Pinellas Clerk's Financial Reporting Received Award Winning Recognition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Pinellas County Clerk's office was once again recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) with two national awards in government financial reporting.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

August 25, 2017 - Implementation of New Docket Numbering for Certain Case Events
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Beginning August 27, 2017, the Pinellas County Clerk's office will be implementing a technical standard required by the Florida Supreme Court Standards for Electronic Access to the Courts. This standard requires sequential numbering of certain case events that are applied to a case docket.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

July 5, 2017 - Pinellas Property Deed Letters - Don't Fall for the Scam
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Scams have a way of resurfacing every so often and deed scams are currently in the spotlight in Pinellas County. "Unfortunately, it seems to rear its ugly head every few years," stated Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

May 19, 2017 - Pinellas Clerk Releases 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Popular Annual Financial Report
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller released the Citizens' Guide to County Finances (Citizens' Guide), also known as the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

March 3, 2017 - One Week Left to Save Big During the Pinellas Clerk's Start Smart Campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - An abundance of citizens have already taken advantage of the special event hosted by the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller's office. This community event is set to continue until Friday, March 10, 2017 (excluding the weekend) and it has already helped many citizens reset the past and save a lot of money.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

February 21, 2017 - End of February and Early March Spells Out Savings for Those with Collection Fees on Tickets and Fines
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Clerk's office will waive collection fees for a limited time only when citizens pay their outstanding fines and fees in full. Citizens can look forward to saving up to 40% during this special campaign as they have the option of paying on a single case or paying on as many cases as they can.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

February 21, 2017 - 32 Couples Tied the Knot During the Clerk's Valentine's Day Group Wedding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Wedding Garden at the Florida Botanical Gardens was the perfect setting for the Clerk's 11th Annual Valentine's Day Group Wedding event. The clear blue sky beautifully complimented the 32 couples who tied the knot along with the 5 couples who renewed their vows.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

January 26, 2017 - January 27th Last Day to Register for Clerk's Valentine;s Day Group Wedding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Time will soon run out for couples to sign up for the Clerk's 11th Annual Valentine's Day Group Wedding. At this point, there are only a handful of spots open since over 40 couples have already reserved their place to take part in the annual tradition.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

January 4, 2017 - Pinellas Clerk Waives Collection Fees During Start Smart in 2017 Campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller's office will dedicate two weeks at the end of February and early March to help citizens reset the past and start the New Year right. The Clerk's office will waive collection fees for a limited time only at the locations listed below when citizens pay their outstanding fines and fees in full. Citizens can look forward to saving up to 40% during this special campaign.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

2016 Press Releases

December 28, 2016 - Couples Registration Now Open for Clerk's 11th Annual Valentine's Day Group Wedding at Florida Botanical Gardens
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, announced that registration is now open for the Clerk's 11th Annual Valentine's Day Group Wedding.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

December 21, 2016 - Pinellas County's Constitutional Officers' Swearing-in Ceremony to take place on Tuesday, January 3, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Pinellas County's incoming constitutional officers will be sworn in during a ceremony, which will be open to the public, on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. The event will take place at the Historic Pinellas County Courthouse located at 324 South Fort Harrison Avenue in Clearwater.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

November 22, 2016 - New Guardianship Forms Demo Set for December 7th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Sixth Judicial Circuit Court recently approved new Guardianship Reporting forms under Administrative Order No. 2009-036. The updated court-approved forms will be more user friendly, perform extra calculations and are expected to reduce the amount of duplicate data entries. Guardians and Guardianship Attorneys are expected to start using the new forms starting January 1, 2017.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

November 1, 2016 - A Big Move: Clerk's Self Help Center Now Located Inside Clearwater Courthouse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Clerk's Self Help Center is now located inside the Clearwater Courthouse at 315 Court Street, Room 114. Previously housed in the Old Clearwater Courthouse, the Clerk's Self Help Center is now easily accessible to the public in the new Courthouse across from the information desk.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

October 25, 2016 - Clerk Burke Receives 2016 Presidential Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Pinellas County Osteopathic Medical Society (PCOMS) awarded Ken Burke the 2016 Presidential Award for his outstanding leadership as the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

September 13, 2016 - Another Day, Another Milestone for the Clerk's Office: AIG 2016 Peer Review
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The office of Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's Division of Inspector General (IG), is proud to announce another milestone in the division's continuous self-improvement program.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

August 18, 2016 - Pinellas Clerk Earns National Achievement Award for Juror Pay Initiative
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The National Association of Counties (NACo) awarded Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Ken Burke, the 2016 Achievement Award for the "Same Day Juror Pay Mobile Workstations" initiative in the category of Court Administration and Management.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

June 29, 2016 - Pinellas Clerk's Financial Transparency Site Receives Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Florida Government Finance Officers Association (FGFOA) awarded Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Ken Burke, the 2016 Advanced Commitment to Excellence (ACE) Award in the category of Innovative and Outstanding Work in Technology Utilizing Transparency.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

June 22, 2016 - Pinellas Clerk Releases 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Popular Annual Financial Report
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The office of Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, released the Citizens' Guide to County Finances (Citizens' Guide), also known as the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

March 16, 2016 - Pinellas County Clerk Sheds Light on Sunshine Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - National Sunshine Week is off to a sunny start and will shine through Saturday, March 19th. In recognition of this nationwide initiative, Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller would like to remind citizens of the importance of being actively involved in one's government.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

March 8, 2016 - Pinellas County Division of Inspector General Receives 2nd Statewide Reaccreditation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Division of Inspector General (Pinellas County IG), received its 2nd Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) on February 24, 2016 to retain its state level reaccreditation.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

February 9, 2016 - The Big Day is Fast Approaching: Clerk's Valentine's Day Group Wedding Ceremony
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Over 60 couples have signed up to partake in the Clerk's 10th Annual Valentine's Day Group Wedding. One group wedding ceremony on Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14, 2016 will unite all the couples in attendance in the romantic and picturesque Wedding Garden of the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

January 15, 2016 - January 29th - Last Day to Register for Clerk's Valentine's Day Group Wedding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Time will soon run out for couples to sign up for the Clerk's 10th annual Valentine's Day Group Wedding. Up to fifty couples are expected to be joined together for one group wedding ceremony on Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14, 2016 in the romantic and picturesque Wedding Garden of the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.
READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE HERE.

 

Scam Alerts

Every county is plagued with consumer scams, frauds and unethical practices. The Clerk’s office is often alerted to these suspicious practices from the public by telephone, email or in person. Although it is impossible to document all the different types of scams, this page will help inform you of the common scams victimizing the community. Below are some of the more frequent scams that have been reported to us directly in conjunction with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Alerts, FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, Florida Division of Consumer Services, and the Federal Trade Commission Scam Alerts.

Things to Keep in Mind

  • The Clerk's office will never contact you by phone or email to ask for payment or any other personal information.
  • Do not open any email attachment from an unfamiliar source.
  • Never provide personal information by phone or email.
  • If you receive a suspicious call requesting payment or personal information, write down as much information about the call as possible and contact the Clerk's office at (727) 464-3341 or clerkinfo@mypinellasclerk.org. You may also want to report the incident with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Fraud line at (727) 582-6200.

     

    Subpoena Scam

    Please be warned that fraudulent phone calls are being reported where the caller claims to be calling from the Clerk’s office and wants to set up a location to meet to serve a subpoena. These calls are from con artists, as the Clerk does not serve subpoenas and will never call to set up a location to meet anyone.

    If you receive a suspicious call requesting payment or personal information, write down as much information about the call as possible and contact the Clerk's office at (727) 464-3341 or clerkinfo@mypinellasclerk.org. You may also want to report the incident with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Fraud line at (727) 582-6200.

    Bond Refund Scam

    The company, www.bondrefund.com, is apparently sending unsolicited mailers or advertisements to customers who have posted cash bonds in criminal cases and scamming them out of their money. These mailers guarantee recipients that their claim will be processed by the Clerk's office if the customer pays for a special “request packet” and presents the packet to our office.

    Please keep in mind that these request packets are NOT required to receive refunds on cash bonds, nor are these packets published or endorsed by the Clerk’s office. Cash bonds are either applied to outstanding balances, or disbursed to the customer, without the use of these expensive and misleading forms. The Clerk’s office will never require payment to third parties for the disbursement of payments to individuals who have money held by our office.

    If you receive a misleading mailer, you can determine the status of the related bonds by searching the case records on the Clerk's website or by calling (727) 464-7000.

    Missed Jury Service Scam

    Our office has received several calls from citizens regarding a recent juror scam. The scam involves citizens being told they must pay the fines associated with missing jury service or face serious consequences. All potential jurors for Pinellas County are contacted by U.S. mail. We do not contact you by phone and do not ask for Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or other personal information. Should you receive a phone call saying that you have failed to report for jury service and they ask for personal information, this is a potential identity theft scam.

    Please DO NOT give out any personal information. To contact the Clerk's Jury Services Department, call (727) 464-6423 or send an email to jury@mypinellasclerk.org.

    Information from the FBI's website may be found here: http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2006/june/jury_scam060206

    Snopes.com has also researched the scam: www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp

    If you have been a victim of this crime or have any information on these phone scams, call the Office of Economic Crimes Unit at (727) 582-6200.

    IRS Calls Scam

    Please be aware that Pinellas County citizens are being contacted by someone posing as an IRS representative. The scammer claims the IRS is filing a lawsuit against the citizen and threatens the citizen with arrest or losing their driver's license for failure to pay the associated fines and fees.

    If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-1040.

    If you know you don't owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you've never received a bill or the caller made absurd threats), call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at (800) 366-4484.

    Avoid becoming a victim of this scam by reading and sharing the linked news article.

    Court Appearance Email Scam

    It has been reported that citizens are receiving fraudulent emails informing them that they must appear in court. These emails may appear to originate from well known law firms and government agencies. However, please note that they are indeed a scam intended to infect your computer through the use of attachments or links in the email.

    Notices to appear in court are not sent by email from the Clerk's office or from other agencies. If you receive such an email, you are advised to delete it at once and disregard any attachments or links contained therein as these may spread malicious software to your computer. Also, be careful when deciding to open emails that allegedly come from law firms which do not pertain to a relationship you already have with the firm, as those can also be malicious in nature.

    Property Deed Letter Scam

    Scams have a way of resurfacing every so often and deed scams are currently in the spotlight in Pinellas County. “Unfortunately, it seems to rear its ugly head every few years,” stated Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Pinellas County residents have once again started receiving official-looking letters emphasizing the importance of keeping a certified copy of your property deeds. However, this seemingly informative letter that primarily targets new home owners comes with the hefty price tag of $89.00. The catch is simple – it’s a solicitation scam.

    Most citizens with a one page deed can easily obtain the same document from the Clerk’s office for $3.00 according to Clerk Burke. It’s $1.00 for the copy and $2.00 for the certification fee. Residents can also print an unofficial copy of their deed for free by using the Clerk’s website in just a matter of minutes.

    The companies sending out these letters disclose in fine print that they are not affiliated with any state agency and that many records are available for nominal fees from government agencies. When asked why anyone would pay $89 for a copy of the deed, Clerk Burke simply says “It’s a rip off.”

    If you have any questions, please call (727) 464-7000 or visit the Certified Deeds page.

    To view the WFLA Channel 8 segment covering this scam, click here.

    To view the Press Release, click here.

    A copy of a letter received may be viewed here.

    Email Scam

    The Office of the State Courts Administrator has learned of an email scam, in which emails purporting to come from state courts are attempting to infect recipients with computer viruses. These emails are instructing recipients to report for a hearing on a specified date and time. The emails also instruct recipients to review an attached document for detailed case information. When the attachment or links in the email are opened, a malicious program is launched that infects the recipient's computer.

    Unless you are actively involved in a case in a Florida court, and have consented to receive court notifications electronically, you generally will not be served court documents electronically.

    Please click here for more information concerning other email and phone scams.

    Caller ID Scam

    Our office has been made aware of scammers using caller ID fraud (known as spoofing) to trick citizens into believing that a call is coming from the actual Clerk's Office (or other public agency).

    If you receive a call from someone who identified themselves as a deputy clerk, and you are unsure if its legitimate, you can always call the Clerk's office at (727) 464-3341 to verify that it was a valid call.

    Please remember that the Clerk's office will never ask for financial information over the phone or by email.