Collier County Circuit Court Records

Collier County Circuit Court Overview

Florida's Circuit Court is the general-jurisdiction trial court. It hears cases that go beyond the limited scope of County Court. In Collier County, Circuit Court jurisdiction covers felony criminal charges, dissolution of marriage and other family law matters, probate and estate proceedings, guardianship, juvenile delinquency and dependency, mental health, real property and title disputes, injunctions, and civil cases where the amount in controversy or the subject matter exceeds County Court limits. These cases are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller and assigned to Circuit Court divisions.

The Twentieth Judicial Circuit is the judicial circuit that includes Collier County. That circuit also covers Lee, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties. Circuit judges for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit are elected to six-year terms and may be assigned across the counties in the circuit depending on caseload and specialty. Court Administration for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit is located at the Collier County Government Complex in Naples, Suite 501. The circuit handles a broad range of civil and criminal docket types, and the volume of probate and real property cases reflects Collier's active real estate market and retirement population.

One point worth clarifying: Florida does not have a local trial-level "district court." In many states the phrase "district court" refers to the main trial court, but in Florida the District Courts of Appeal are intermediate appellate courts, not trial courts. Collier County cases are tried in Circuit Court or County Court. The Sixth District Court of Appeal, which receives appeals from the Twentieth Circuit, is not a trial court and does not hold original trials.

Florida Court Hierarchy for Collier County

Florida's court structure has four levels. Understanding where each court fits helps when searching records or pursuing an appeal. The Collier County Clerk's ShowCase case portal even lists case categories for multiple court levels, including a "6th DCA" category and "Appeal from the County Court," which reflects how the circuit feeds into the appellate system. Here is the full hierarchy as it applies to Collier County cases.

Case flow through the system:
Municipal Ordinance / County Ordinance › County Court › Circuit Court (Twentieth Judicial Circuit) › Sixth District Court of Appeal › Florida Supreme Court

Note: Florida's District Courts of Appeal are appellate courts, not local trial courts. Do not confuse them with the "district courts" found in states like Texas or Colorado.

Collier County Circuit Court Locations and Contacts

All Circuit Court functions in Collier County are centered at the Collier County Government Complex on Tamiami Trail East in Naples. Court Administration, clerk counters, courtrooms, jury assembly, and public terminals are all in this complex. The Clerk's public counter and Court Administration occupy different suites in the same building, so it helps to know which office you need before you arrive.

The Twentieth Judicial Circuit courthouse page provides directions, parking information, prohibited-item lists, ADA links, and photos of the government complex. Free parking is available in the garage on the south side of the courthouse. Do not bring liquids, tools, weapons, or other prohibited items listed on the court's security page; the list is unusually detailed and includes items like rolled coin, corkscrews, and aerosol cans.

The Twentieth Judicial Circuit also provides ADA accommodation requests and interpreter services through the circuit's official process. Make requests before your hearing date when possible, not on the day you arrive.

The Twentieth Judicial Circuit courthouse page provides a photo of the Collier County Government Complex, parking map, and prohibited-item guidance. The page shown below is the official court location resource for Collier Circuit Court visitors.

The courthouse complex contains the Clerk's public counter in Suite 102, Court Administration in Suite 501, courtrooms for both Circuit and County Court, and the jury assembly room on the fifth floor of Building L. Confirm which suite or building you need before your visit.

Collier County Circuit Court Jurisdiction

Circuit Court in Collier County covers a wide range of case types. The categories below reflect what is handled at the circuit level, as distinguished from the more limited County Court below it. Knowing which court has jurisdiction matters when you file, search records, or appeal a decision.

On the criminal side, Circuit Court handles felony charges, which are offenses punishable by more than one year in state prison. This includes cases such as aggravated assault, burglary, grand theft, drug trafficking, and homicide. The State Attorney for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Amira Fox, prosecutes felony and qualifying criminal cases at this level. The Public Defender, Kathleen Smith, represents indigent defendants. Juvenile delinquency cases, even when the offense would be a felony if committed by an adult, go through the Delinquency division of Circuit Court rather than the adult criminal track, and those records are generally restricted from public internet access.

Family law and domestic relations are a major part of the circuit docket in Collier. Dissolution of marriage, paternity, child support, child custody and time-sharing, domestic violence injunctions, name changes, and adoptions are all Circuit Court matters. The Clerk's ShowCase portal lists Domestic Relations/Family as a searchable court type. Family law case images may have limited public internet access under Florida's Security Matrix and Rule 2.420. Probate and guardianship, including estate administration, summary and formal administration, guardianship petitions, trust notices, and competency determinations, are also filed in the Probate Division of Circuit Court. Civil cases above the County Court monetary threshold, real property and title disputes, and injunctions round out the circuit's civil docket.

Circuit Court vs County Court in Collier County

Florida uses a two-level trial court system. Circuit Court and County Court sit at the same physical courthouse in Collier County but serve different functions. Understanding the split is important when searching court records, because a case filed in the wrong level or searched in the wrong court type category in ShowCase may not appear. The County Court page covers the lower court in more detail.

The Clerk's unified office handles filing and records for both Circuit and County Court. When searching online, use the Court Type dropdown in ShowCase to filter to the right level. A misdemeanor case searched under the Felony type will not appear in the results.

How Collier County Circuit Court Cases Move Through the System

The path a case takes depends on whether it is criminal or civil. Both tracks begin with filing or arrest and can end at trial, settlement, or plea. Cases that are not resolved at the circuit level may move up to the Sixth District Court of Appeal. The diagram below shows the general flow for each track. Individual cases may skip steps or follow different sequences depending on the facts, charges, and motions filed.

Criminal case flow (felony):
Arrest / Booking › First Appearance (bond set) › Information or Indictment › Arraignment › Pretrial Motions › Trial or Plea › Sentencing › Appeal to Sixth District Court of Appeal › Florida Supreme Court (discretionary)

Civil / family law flow:
Petition or Complaint Filed › Summons Served › Answer / Response › Discovery › Mediation (often required in family cases) › Hearing or Trial › Judgment or Order › Appeal to Sixth District Court of Appeal

Probate flow:
Petition Filed with Clerk › Fee Paid › Court Review / Orders / Letters Issued › Notice to Creditors › Inventory / Accounting › Distribution › Closing

Every step in a circuit court case generates a docket entry. Those entries are searchable through the Clerk's court dockets portal. The docket tab in ShowCase shows the event type, effective date, and count for each docket entry filed in the case.

Collier County Specialty Courts and Problem-Solving Programs

The Twentieth Judicial Circuit operates several problem-solving courts that serve defendants whose criminal cases involve underlying behavioral health or substance-use issues. These courts take a treatment-oriented approach rather than a purely punitive one. Participation is voluntary and requires meeting eligibility criteria, completing phases of treatment and supervision, and returning for regular court check-ins with the assigned judge. The circuit's problem-solving courts page covers current programs.

• Adult Drug Court: Collier County Adult Drug Court is for eligible defendants whose criminal behavior is linked to substance use. It involves judicial monitoring, substance-use treatment, regular drug testing, sanctions for non-compliance, incentives for progress, and phased participation. Justice partners include the State Attorney's Office and the Public Defender's Office. The program's policies are documented in the Collier County Adult Drug Court Treatment Policies Manual.
• Veterans Court: For eligible veterans whose service-related needs, mental health issues, substance use, or reintegration challenges intersect with criminal charges. The court connects participants with VA resources and community support alongside judicial oversight.
• Mental Health Court: A behavioral health diversion program for defendants whose criminal charges are linked to mental health conditions. The Sheriff's Office and the David Lawrence Center are key partners. The program draws on resources such as Crisis Intervention Training, Baker Act and Marchman Act referrals, Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, and forensic intensive reintegration services.

Specialty court participation may appear in the case docket in ShowCase. Treatment details and progress notes, however, may be confidential and not visible in the public view. If you are looking for a case and it has been diverted to a problem-solving court, the case index should still be searchable by case number or party name, but certain documents may be restricted. Contact the Clerk's office or the relevant specialty court program for guidance on access.

Note: Eligibility criteria, presiding judges, and referral procedures for specialty courts should be confirmed through the Twentieth Judicial Circuit's current program pages before relying on them for legal decisions.

Collier County Circuit Court: State Attorney and Public Defender

Criminal prosecution in Collier County Circuit Court is handled by the Office of the State Attorney for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. Florida uses the title "State Attorney" rather than "District Attorney." The elected State Attorney for the Twentieth Circuit is Amira Fox. The State Attorney's office prosecutes felony charges, misdemeanor charges, juvenile delinquency cases, and certain criminal traffic and ordinance matters in Collier County and across the four other counties in the Twentieth Circuit.

Defendants who cannot afford private counsel may be represented by the Public Defender for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. The elected Public Defender is Kathleen Smith. Appointment of the Public Defender begins in court, and defendants must apply through the Clerk's office, paying a public defender application fee of $50. If the Public Defender's office has a conflict of interest, the court may appoint conflict counsel or a registry attorney rather than the elected Public Defender. The Public Defender handles qualifying criminal, juvenile, and related proceedings.

People who do not qualify for the Public Defender but cannot afford private counsel have other options. The Florida Courts self-help system provides forms and guides for pro se filers, particularly in family law and small claims. Legal Aid Service of Collier County and Florida Rural Legal Services offer civil legal help to qualifying low-income residents. The Collier County Bar Association and The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service can help connect people with private attorneys for criminal or civil matters.

Collier County Courthouse Location and Map

The Collier County Government Complex sits at 3315 Tamiami Trail East in Naples, on U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail East near downtown Naples. Court Administration is in Suite 501. The Clerk's public counter is in Suite 102. Both offices are in the same complex, and the courthouse itself holds courtrooms for both Circuit and County Court cases. Jury assembly is on the fifth floor of Building L within the government center.

The courthouse location map below shows the government complex on Tamiami Trail East. From Interstate 75, common approaches use Exit 101 (County Road 951) or Exit 105 (Golden Gate Parkway) and then continue toward U.S. 41. Free parking is in the garage on the south side of the courthouse. Visitors should use the official government complex map for building-specific navigation because the complex contains multiple structures.

Security screening applies at courthouse entry. The prohibited-items list covers weapons, tools, liquids (including sealed water bottles and coffee), aerosol cans, and many other items. Leave those in your car. For security questions, call the Court Security Department at (239) 252-2222.

Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court Administration Contact

Court Administration for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit handles scheduling, court operations, and administrative matters for the circuit's judges and courtrooms. It is not the same as the Clerk's office, which handles case filing and records. If you need to file documents or search records, contact the Clerk. If you have questions about court operations, scheduling, ADA accommodations, or interpreter services, Court Administration is the right contact.

The Judicial Directory for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, including the judges and magistrates assigned to Collier County, is available through the circuit's judicial directory page. Judge assignments can change with case transfers and new appointments, so confirm the current judge assigned to a specific case through the Clerk's ShowCase portal rather than relying on static directory listings.

How to Access Collier County Circuit Court Records

Most Collier County Circuit Court case records are searchable online at no cost through the Clerk's ShowCase Web portal at cms.collierclerk.com/showcaseweb/. The portal covers civil, criminal, family, probate, guardianship, delinquency, dependency, mental health, and appellate case categories. Public users do not need to register to search. Florida's court Security Matrix, along with Rule 2.420, controls which documents are visible to internet users versus those available only to registered users or courthouse terminals.

To search Circuit Court cases specifically, use the Court Type dropdown and select the appropriate category such as Felony, Circuit Civil, Domestic Relations/Family, Probate/Guardianship, Guardianship, Delinquency, Dependency, or Mental Health. Searching without a court type filter will return results from all levels. For court dockets, click the case number and then the Dockets tab to see each event entry. For certified copies of documents, use the Clerk's eCertify option or contact the Clerk's office directly.

The full step-by-step search process and field-by-field breakdown of the ShowCase portal are covered on the main court records page. That page also includes the sample case record field inventory showing what appears in case headers, parties, charges, sentences, fees, and court events tabs.

Note: Some circuit court records, including juvenile, mental health, sealed, and certain family law documents, may not appear in the public internet search even when the case index exists. Courthouse public terminals may offer broader access for authorized users.

Related Collier County Court Resources

The Circuit Court does not operate in isolation. Several connected offices and resources work alongside it to process cases, provide legal representation, maintain records, and support the public. Below are the key connections relevant to Circuit Court matters in Collier County.

• Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller - Crystal K. Kinzel's office handles all case filing, record maintenance, certified copies, fee collection, and the public case portal for both Circuit and County Court.
• County Court - the limited-jurisdiction trial court below Circuit Court; handles misdemeanors, traffic, small claims, and county civil cases at the same Naples courthouse.
• Court Records - full portal walkthrough, search fields, and what appears in a Collier case record.
• Court Dockets - how to read docket entries, event types, and courtroom calendar codes in the ShowCase system.
• Probate Records - the Probate Division of Circuit Court, filing fees, and how to search probate and guardianship cases.