Collier County Court Jurisdiction and Case Types
Florida operates a two-tier trial court system. Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, family law, probate, guardianship, juvenile, mental health, and civil actions above the county court threshold. County Court sits below it as a limited-jurisdiction court. In Collier County, both courts share the same courthouse and the same Clerk, but the cases they hear are different. County Court takes the matters that do not cross into circuit-court territory: misdemeanors, traffic violations, smaller civil claims, and ordinance violations.
The county court civil jurisdiction runs up to $50,000 per the Clerk's civil fee schedule. That includes county civil claims, small claims, eviction and tenant-removal actions, garnishments, and similar matters. Criminal jurisdiction covers all first-degree and second-degree misdemeanors as well as ordinance violations carrying criminal penalties. Non-criminal infractions, traffic infractions, and criminal traffic charges round out the docket. When a person receives a traffic citation in Naples or elsewhere in Collier County, the resulting court record almost always begins as a county court matter rather than a circuit court matter, unless the charge rises to felony level such as a DUI causing serious injury.
Municipal ordinance cases involving city-level code violations may also appear in the county court portal under their own case category. Collier does not operate a separate municipal court; local-code and ordinance matters flow through county court or the county ordinance category in ShowCase.
Collier County Court vs. Circuit Court
The distinction between county court and circuit court matters when you search for a case. A felony arrest, a divorce filing, or a probate estate goes to circuit court. A misdemeanor charge, a traffic ticket, or a small claims dispute stays in county court. The table below sets out the main differences for Collier County.
| Circuit Court | County Court | |
|---|---|---|
| Civil claim limit | No upper limit for general civil; real property/title; foreclosure | Up to $50,000 (county civil, small claims) |
| Criminal jurisdiction | Felonies; grand jury indictments | Misdemeanors; criminal traffic; ordinance |
| Family law | Yes (divorce, paternity, adoption, injunctions) | No |
| Probate and guardianship | Yes (probate division of circuit court) | No |
| Traffic infractions | Only if elevated to felony | Yes (civil infraction, criminal traffic, non-criminal) |
| Small claims | No | Yes |
| Appeals from this court go to | Florida District Court of Appeal (Sixth DCA) | Circuit Court (then DCA if further review sought) |
| Example case types | Grand theft, armed robbery, dissolution of marriage, estate administration | DUI (first/second offense), petit theft, speeding, small claims debt, eviction |
Note: Appeals from County Court in most matters route through circuit court as the first appellate step, with further discretionary review available through Florida's District Court of Appeal framework. The Clerk ShowCase portal includes a category labeled "Appeal from the County Court" to track such appellate filings.
How to Search Collier County Court Records by Case Type
County court records in Collier County are searched through ShowCase Web, the Clerk's free public case portal. No registration is required to view non-confidential case information. The key to finding a county court case is selecting the correct court type in the dropdown filter. Without that filter, results may include circuit civil, felony, family law, and probate cases alongside the county court matter you want.
- Open ShowCase Web at cms.collierclerk.com/showcaseweb/. Click "Case Search" from the top navigation.
- In the "Court Type / Case Category" dropdown, select the category that fits your case: Misdemeanor, County Civil, Small Claims, County Ordinance, Traffic Infractions, Criminal Traffic, Non Criminal Infraction, or Municipal Ordinance.
- Enter a case number, party name (last name plus optional first/middle), citation number, or date range. You do not need all fields. A case number like
26MM000744resolves to the full format11-2026-MM-000744-AXXX-01in results. - Check "One Row Per Case" if you want to reduce duplicate rows when multiple parties appear on one case.
- Click Search. Results show Case #, Citation #, Party Name, Party Type, DOB, Sex, Race, File Date, Court Type, Case Type, and Status.
- Click the case number to open the case detail. Use the tabs: Parties, Dockets, Charges, Sentences, Fees, and Court Events.
- For traffic citation lookups, use the citation-number field or the separate citation-search modal. Citation number searches work for non-criminal infractions and criminal traffic cases alike.
- Use Print on the case detail for a printout. To request certified copies or official documents, use the Clerk's document request options or contact the Clerk directly.
Public access is free and covers most non-confidential information. Some documents are restricted by Florida's court security matrix and Rule 2.420. Registered users with court or attorney credentials may see additional content. Courthouse public terminals in Suite 102 may provide access to materials not visible on the public internet.
Collier County Court Case Categories
The table below shows the main county court case categories available in ShowCase, along with the filing fees and what each category covers. Filing fees are set by the Clerk and apply at the time a case is opened. Fees for certified copies, document requests, and payment processing are separate.
| Case Category | What It Covers | Filing Fee / Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor (MM) | First- and second-degree misdemeanor criminal charges; includes DUI (first/second offense without injury), petit theft, battery, disorderly conduct, driving while license suspended | $220 standard misdemeanor assessment |
| County Civil | Civil money disputes and actions up to $50,000; evictions; garnishments; replevin; distress for rent | Claim under $100: $55; $100-$500: $80; $500-$2,500: $175; $2,500-$15,000: $300; $15,000-$50,000: $400 |
| Small Claims | Simplified civil procedure for smaller monetary disputes; self-represented litigants commonly use this track | Claim under $100: $55; $100-$500: $80; $500-$2,500: $175; $2,500-$15,000: $300 |
| Traffic Infractions | Non-criminal moving and non-moving violations; speeding, seat belt, child restraint, red light, school bus, and related civil citations | Varies by violation; standard traffic fees apply per Clerk schedule |
| Criminal Traffic | Traffic charges with criminal penalties; driving while license suspended (criminal), leaving scene of crash, reckless driving, open container with criminal component | $220 standard misdemeanor assessment if misdemeanor level |
| Non Criminal Infraction | Violations not carrying criminal sanctions; civil traffic infractions not resulting in criminal charges | Per Clerk traffic fee schedule |
| County Ordinance | Collier County code and ordinance violations with court action required | Varies by ordinance |
| Municipal Ordinance | City-level code violations processed through the county court system | Varies by city ordinance |
Each case also carries a summons fee of $10 when a summons is issued. Public defender application fee is $50, assessed at the time an indigent defendant applies for court-appointed counsel. The $220 misdemeanor assessment is not the only cost in a criminal case; court costs, fines, and conditions may add to the total balance shown on the Fees tab in ShowCase.
Collier County Court Case Flow
County court cases follow a shorter path than circuit court felony cases, but the basic criminal flow still involves arrest, first appearance, arraignment, and resolution. Civil and traffic matters follow their own tracks. The diagram below shows the county court flow for criminal and civil/traffic matters.
Criminal misdemeanor flow:
Citation or Arrest › Booking (Sheriff) › First Appearance / Bond Hearing › Arraignment › Pretrial Motions › Plea or Trial › Disposition / Sentencing › Appeal to Circuit Court (then Sixth DCA if further review)
Civil / traffic infraction flow:
Citation Issued › Case Filed with Clerk › Pay Fine / Elect School / Request Hearing › Hearing (if contested) › Disposition › Fees Recorded in ShowCase › Appeal to Circuit Court (if applicable)
Small claims / county civil flow:
Complaint Filed › Summons Issued › Defendant Answer › Mediation or Hearing › Judgment › Enforcement (garnishment, lien) › Appeal to Circuit Court
One key point: release from jail after a misdemeanor arrest does not mean the case is over. The Clerk case portal is where you verify current status, next hearing date, charges, and fees. The ShowCase Dockets tab shows arraignment settings, first appearance hearings, compliance notices, and other court events as docket entries. The Fees tab shows the running balance, payment plan information, and collections status.
Collier County County Court Location and Contact
County court and circuit court both operate from the Collier County Government Complex in Naples. There is no separate county court building. Court Administration, Clerk counters, courtrooms, and public terminals are all concentrated at the same complex. The Clerk's public office is in Suite 102; Court Administration is in Suite 501.
The Twentieth Judicial Circuit courthouse page provides directions, parking information, a government complex map, prohibited-items guidance, ADA contact details, and court hours. Free parking is available in the garage on the south side of the courthouse. Do not bring weapons, liquids, tools, scissors, knives, aerosol cans, or other prohibited items listed by the court. Security questions go to (239) 252-2222.
Collier County Government Complex
Court Administration (County & Circuit Court)
3315 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 501
Naples, FL 34112
Phone: (239) 252-8800
Fax: (239) 252-8272
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (public counter)
3315 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 102
Naples, FL 34112
Phone: (239) 252-2646
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Collier County Court ShowCase Web Search Fields
The search portal at ShowCase Web supports several field combinations. The table below lists each available search field and how it works. You do not need to fill every field. The most direct routes are case number, citation number, or last name plus court type.
| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Case Number | Text | Enter full or short case number. Short format example: 26MM000744; system resolves to full format 11-2026-MM-000744-AXXX-01. |
| Last Name Or Business Name | Text | Party or business name. Combine with First Name for individuals. |
| First Name | Text | Optional; narrows name results. |
| Middle Name | Text | Optional; useful for common names. |
| Citation Number | Text | Use for traffic and infraction citations. A separate citation-search modal also accepts "Citation #" input. |
| From Date / To Date | Date range | Narrows results by filing or event date range. |
| Court Type / Case Category | Dropdown | County court options: Misdemeanor, County Civil, Small Claims, County Ordinance, Traffic Infractions, Criminal Traffic, Non Criminal Infraction, Municipal Ordinance. |
| One Row Per Case | Checkbox | Reduces duplicate rows when multiple parties match a single case. |
The Clerk's online case search page also explains what the public view covers and notes that registered users with court-role credentials may see additional documents depending on the Florida courts security matrix. Viewing cases online is free. Copy, certification, and document-request fees are separate and listed on the Clerk of Court page.
Collier County Misdemeanor and Criminal Traffic Records
Misdemeanor cases are the most common criminal matter in county court. Florida first-degree misdemeanors carry up to one year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine; second-degree misdemeanors carry up to 60 days and a $500 fine. In Collier County, first-degree misdemeanors include first-offense DUI, simple battery, petit theft over $100, driving while license suspended with knowledge, and disorderly conduct in certain circumstances. Second-degree misdemeanors include simple assault, possession of marijuana under 20 grams in some contexts, and various traffic-related minor offenses.
Criminal traffic cases fall under the same county court umbrella. Leaving the scene of a crash, reckless driving, driving while license suspended or revoked as a criminal charge, and open container violations may all appear as criminal traffic misdemeanors rather than simple civil infractions. The Sheriff's Today's Arrests report from May 18, 2026 showed charges such as DUI, refusal to submit to DUI testing, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, hit and run, and driving while license suspended among county-court-level arrests.
A criminal misdemeanor case record in ShowCase includes docket entries from arrest through disposition. Typical early dockets on a Collier misdemeanor include a Booking Sheet, the principal criminal charge with statute number, a Set on Arraignment entry, a Set on First Appearance Hearing entry, a Jail Arrest Card, and a Certificate of Compliance under the Jessica Lunsford Act. The Charges tab shows the statute number, count, offense level, offense date, and any plea or court action recorded so far. The Sentences tab shows sentencing data if the case has been resolved.
Small Claims and County Civil Cases in Collier County
Small claims and county civil cases let individuals and businesses resolve money disputes in county court without the complexity of a full circuit court civil action. Small claims is the simpler track, used for smaller amounts and designed for people who represent themselves. County civil handles the same range of claim amounts but with more formal procedural rules and may involve attorneys more often.
Both tracks appear in ShowCase under County Civil or Small Claims court type. Filing is done through the Clerk's Courts Department. The Clerk offers small claims packets, form-completion guides, and an e-filing option through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at MyFLCourtAccess.com. Eviction and tenant-removal cases are county civil matters. Garnishments, replevin, and distress for rent also fall into county civil. If a money judgment is entered, the winning party can then pursue enforcement through garnishment or lien processes, which also show in the Clerk's Official Records system.
The fee tier for county civil claims reflects the amount in dispute. A $200 claim costs $80 to file. A $5,000 claim costs $175. A $30,000 claim costs $300. A $45,000 claim costs $400. Each summons served adds $10 to the cost. These fees are paid at filing and do not include any amounts awarded by the court or later enforcement costs.
Public Access to Collier County Court Records
Florida starts from openness. Chapter 119, Florida Statutes declares that state, county, and municipal records are open for inspection and copying unless an exemption applies. Court records are also governed by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420, which controls public access to judicial branch records and sets out the confidentiality framework the clerk uses to decide what to publish online.
The result is that most county court case indexes are public, but not every document or image in every case is visible online. Florida's courts security matrix sets tiers of access: internet public, registered user, law enforcement, judicial staff. Ordinary users on the public internet get the index and most non-confidential docket entries; they may not see images of documents that contain victim information, financial account numbers, social security numbers, or records restricted by specific statutes. Misdemeanor cases that were sealed or expunged under F.S. 943.059 or expunged under F.S. 943.0585 are removed from ordinary public access after the court order is served on the Clerk and relevant agencies.
For full court records access beyond what is visible online, a person can visit the Clerk's public counter in Suite 102, use the courthouse public terminals, or submit a document request through the Clerk's official process. The Clerk identifies the public records coordinator as Renata Robbins. If you need a certified copy of a county court judgment, charge document, or docket entry, contact the Clerk at (239) 252-2646 or use the eCertify system at cms.collierclerk.com/eCertify/.
Traffic Cases and County Court Records
Most Collier County traffic citations begin as county court matters. Non-criminal infractions, moving violations, and seat belt or child-restraint citations are civil infractions resolved by paying a fine, electing a driver improvement school, or contesting at a hearing. Criminal traffic charges such as reckless driving or driving with a suspended license are misdemeanor-level and follow the criminal case flow through county court. DUI cases at first and second offense without serious injury are typically county court misdemeanor matters.
For a full breakdown of traffic fees, the court traffic vs. driver record distinction, how to pay or contest a citation, and the CDL and DUI-specific rules that affect county court traffic records, see the traffic court records page. The Clerk's Traffic Violations page also links to payment and contest options. The Clerk's ePay portal at epay.collierclerk.com handles online citation payments, subject to a $5 online processing fee.
Note: A traffic court record in ShowCase is not the same as a state driver record from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Employers and insurers typically request the state driver record; defendants and their attorneys need the court case record for hearings, plea negotiations, and dispositions.
Key Terms in Collier County Court Records
County court records use legal terms that may not be familiar. The definitions below cover the most common terms you will see in ShowCase case details for misdemeanor, traffic, and civil matters.
- Disposition
- The final or current outcome of a charge or case. Examples include guilty plea, not guilty verdict, nolle prosequi (dropped by the state), adjudication withheld, dismissed, or transferred.
- Adjudication withheld
- A finding where the court does not formally enter a conviction even though the defendant pleaded guilty or no contest. This may preserve sealing/expunction eligibility under Florida law.
- Nolle prosequi
- A formal notice by the State Attorney that prosecution is dropped on a charge. The charge still appears in the docket but with a nolle prosequi disposition.
- Capias / bench warrant
- A court order for arrest issued when a defendant fails to appear for a scheduled county court hearing. Bench warrants are searchable through the Sheriff's warrant portal.
- Small claims packet
- The set of forms and instructions the Clerk provides to help self-represented parties file a small claims case in county court without an attorney.
- School election / driver improvement
- An option on some traffic citations that lets a driver pay a different fee and complete a state-approved driving course to avoid points on the license. Eligibility depends on the violation type and frequency of prior elections.