general
administration
courts
records
finance
subscriptions

Thank you for using pascoclerk.com

     Quick Links
Search Official Records
Search Court Records
Traffic-Pay Online
Jury Excusals
Jury Postponement
Career Opportunities
 
  CLERK'S DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Florida Constitution which has governed Florida citizens for over 150 years, established a Clerk of the Circuit Court as an elected public trustee in 1838 and established at the county level a system of checks and balances that has served the public well. The functions and duties of clerks vary from state to state. In most jurisdictions, the clerk is generally vested with a large number of administrative duties. The Florida Clerk is not only Clerk of the Circuit Court, but also the County Treasurer, Recorder, Auditor, Finance Officer and Ex-Officio Clerk of the County Commission.

The Office of the Clerk performs a wide range of record keeping, information management, and financial management in the judicial system and county government. Because the Clerk's duties effect the rights and property of county citizens, it is essential that the Clerk remain accountable for his or her actions. For this reason, the constitution and statutes require that the Clerk

  • Is governed by statutory authority in carrying out the duties and functions of the office.


  • As auditor and custodian of county funds, is subject to state Auditor General rules and regulations.


  • Is subject to annual audits by independent firms.


Public evaluation and scrutiny in the election process every four years also insures accountability of your locally elected Clerk.

The Joint Select Committee on Judicial Personnel of the Florida Legislature calculated that the Clerk's Office performs 926 different constitutional and statutory functions and duties (and this number does not include responsibilities required by court rule and administrative order!). The number of tasks continues to grow with changes in legislation, regulations, and reporting requirements.

"A public officer is a public trust. The people have the right to secure and sustain that trust." Article I, Section 8, Florida Constitution

"There shall be in each county a Clerk of the Circuit Court who shall be selected pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII, Section 1." Article V, Section 16, Florida Constitution

"The Clerk of the Circuit Court shall be Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, Auditor, Recorder and Custodian of all county funds." Article VIII, Section 1(d), Florida Constitution.

As Clerk of the Circuit and County Court

  • Attend each session of court


  • File indictments, information and verdicts


  • Process all civil and criminal cases


  • Prepare appellate records


  • Oversee jury management


  • Collect and disburse fines, court costs, forfeitures, fees, and service charges


  • Conduct mortgage foreclosure sales.


  • Maintain custody of all evidence and exhibits entered by the court


  • Assist in completing paperwork required to file a Small Claims action


  • Issue Process


  • Maintain court registry


  • Audit guardianship reports


  • Audit child support payments


As Recorder of Deeds

  • Record and index deeds, mortgages, and descriptions of all county property


  • Process tax deed applications and conduct sales


  • Record public defender liens and judgments entered by the court, record tax liens and claims against an estate, instruments of conveyance, agreements, contracts, maps and plats of subdivisions and surveys


  • Maintain a public records library


  • Collect and disburse intangible taxes


  • Collect and disburse documentary stamp monies


As Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners

  • Attend meetings of the Board of County Commissioners and committees of the board


  • Produce, record, index and distribute the official minutes of these meetings


  • Maintain legal custody of the Official County Seal


  • Maintain custody of all county resolutions, ordinances, and contracts


  • Process appeals for Value Adjustment Board


  • Attestation


As Accountant and Custodian of County Funds

  • Provide accounting services to all departments under the Board of County Commissioners


  • Provide an accounting system for all fiscal changes implemented by the Board


  • Handle investments of available county funds


  • Provide financial reporting to the Board and all federal and state agencies


  • Process accounts payable


  • Process the county payroll


As County Auditor

  • Pre-audit all County expenditures before payment


  • Review proposed contracts before adoption


  • Conduct internal post audits to determine if financial controls in place are sufficient


  • Prepare reports suggesting improvements to management

Other Duties of the Clerk

  • Process marriage license applications and perform marriages upon request


  • Compile and provide statistical data for state agencies and the judiciary


  • Maintain records storage facilities


  • Process passport applications


  • Issue home solicitation permits
Quality Service ... Nothing Less  
 
© 2004 Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court.