2023 Report to the Citizens of Orange County

From Your Clerk of Courts

As I reflect on this past year, 2022 was a time in which we continued to rebound from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. As we all were able to gather and get back to more in person experiences, my office continued to emphasize virtual ways to do business with us to make it easier for citizens to access our services.

Since the pandemic continued to expose flaws in how Florida Clerk services are funded, I was excited to see, for the second straight year, legislators pass our priority bill to continue to stabilize our budget model.

I was also installed as Vice President of the Florida Court Clerks and Comptroller’s (FCCC) Board of Directors. This was another step in my continued effort to have statewide influence which in turn helps my office serve our local community.

Even while our economy started experiencing high inflation and record turnover, my office remained resilient navigating through difficult times to care for our employees and citizens. I’m so proud of all the work my office was able to accomplish, and most importantly of my dedicated staff, who continued to provide the best possible customer service.

I encourage you to read through this report to see real examples where my office has worked to serve and help our community and customers. Examples of this include providing free legal forums & events to provide better access to justice, being recognized statewide for best practices, and holding community drives where we either raised money or collected donations.

We could never make an impact like this without the hard work and dedication of our employees. I am proud of everything my office does to make a difference and serve our community.

As we move forward, my office will continue to ensure doing business with us is as convenient as possible.

As always, I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve you and our community.

Thank you,

Tiffany Moore Russell Orange County Clerk of Courts

Meet the Clerk! Find out more about your Orange County Clerk of Courts.

In recognition of Black History Month, Clerk Russell was honored to be selected by WFTV-Channel 9 to share what inspired her passion to be an elected leader in our community.

Our Strategy to Serve

At the Clerk’s Office, we work hard to carry out our mission and vision which is all about serving our customers and the community.

Mission

To maintain court records and provide our global community and partners access to related services with transparency and integrity.

Vision

To be a leading organization that elevates the customer experience, leverages technology, and fosters community partnerships all through an engaged workforce.

Our Objectives

Beyond Digital Transformation

Transform the organization and its culture by evolving our digital framework, enhancing data security, and utilizing analytics for decision making.

Employee Focus

Intentionally seek, develop, engage, and maintain an agile, highly skilled workforce that evolves with the needs of the organization.

Access to Justice

Develop and expand access to clerk services for all in the community.

Fiscal Accountability

Maximize our financial resources to ensure successful implementation of organizational goals.

During the third year of work on our strategic plan, much progress was made. Some of our accomplishments included conducting two cyber security drills to practice how to respond to a potential cyber-attack, securing additional funding to support our cyber security standing, and re-establishing a Probate Mental Health Division to place more attention on these case types.

Access to Justice

The Slice – An Inside Look at the Clerk’s Office

We created our Slice video series to provide our community an inside look at the Clerk’s Office. The videos show viewers the duties, and services they may not be aware we provide. Vulnerable Adult Injunctions, Guardianship, and Domestic Violence are just a few of the topics. The videos are published in our monthly e-newsletter Center Court. They are also featured on our social media channels.

To watch The Slice, click here

DIY Florida

This past year a free new resource was launched to assist those representing themselves in court. It’s called DIY Florida. DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Florida is a free-touse interactive program built within the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal to complete official court forms. More than 20 forms are currently available on the DIY Florida platform in Landlord-Tenant, Small Claims, Domestic Violence, Simplified Dissolution, and Domestic Relations cases.

Click here to learn more

He Got Up

Two “He Got Up” events were held this past year to help customers take care of outstanding court debts and assist them with payment plans. Our Compliance and Information Technology (I.T.) Divisions worked alongside community partners to make a difference for people struggling to meet their court obligations.

Free Legal Forums

Each year, we hold free legal forums called “Legal Matters” to provide free legal information to our community. County and state officials, lawyers, and judges join us for these forums. This past year we held forums on the foreclosure process, and our Self-Help Center. The forums give insight to our services, tips from the bench, legal information from attorneys, and a Q & A session.

Click here to see these forums

Self Help Center FY22 Highlights

9,605 Customers Served

2,869 Attorney Consultations

Learn more about our Self Help Center.

Legislative Update

Clerk Priority Bill Passes in Effort to Stabilize Budget

Clerks statewide have been challenged with how our services are funded, but for the second straight year the state legislature heard our concerns and passed our priority bill. House Bill 397 Court Fiscal Administration by Rep. Clemons went into effect in July 2022. This bill was part of the Florida Court Clerks and Comptroller’s (FCCC) legislative priorities which provides additional policy changes to help Clerks continue to serve their constituents and support the court system.

Among other changes, the bill established a new reimbursement process in statute for certain mental health and substance abuse cases that have no filing fee. This bill also allows Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation (CCOC) to request additional funds for Clerk support when new judges are approved by the Legislature; authorizes Clerks to review vehicle and property records to confirm civil indigency application status; and finally, provides additional standardization to the setup of payment plans for court-ordered financial obligations.

We thank our Orange County Legislative Delegation for their support as we continue to bring forward legislative solutions to fix the system that funds our offices and supports the critical services we provide. Click here to learn more

Operation Green Light Helps Customers

Our clerks are always working to help customers resolve their court obligations and provide them better access to justice. As part of this goal, our office was delighted to help more than one thousand customers during Operation Green Light.

This annual initiative helps drivers with outstanding traffic tickets and criminal fines get on payment plans while saving the 25% collections agency surcharge.

Payment Plans

While Operation Green Light is helpful, the Clerk’s Office can assist customers any time of year to get on a payment plan and get back on the road. We offer flexible payment options for paying outstanding court debts on traffic or criminal cases.

If you or someone you know can benefit from this, you can contact us on our website to discuss options available to you right from the comfort of home. We can also assist you at the downtown Orlando courthouse in suite 410. Click here to learn more

Managing Our Money

The Clerk’s Office provides critical services that affect public safety, commerce, and access to justice. Per state Statute, we operate by the fines and fees we collect, not by traditional taxes.

Want to see our approved budget and audits?

Check out our “Clerk in the Sunshine” page.

One of the main responsibilities of the Clerk’s Office is to collect fines and fees and distribute them to appropriate entities. By statute, we disburse millions of dollars collected each year to the state, county, and local municipalities. In the end, we only keep a small portion of the money we collect each year.

What We Collect, What We Keep, and What We Disburse

Total Disbursed per Statute:

45% State Agencies

34% (30.3 million)

$89.7 Million Total Collected in FY22 Court Only

10% Local Municipalities/Agencies

11% Orange County

Returning Unclaimed Money to Customers

Each year, we return unclaimed money to the rightful owners! This includes money from vendor payments, refunds, restitution, and cash bonds that were sent out but for various reasons never cashed.

In 2022 we returned $22,722.30

Doing Business With Us

We process court case filings and maintain more than 67 million digital court documents. As the Information Hub of the Justice System, our website provides online access to court records. Plus, you can do other business with us 24/7 using our website MyOrangeClerk.com. Click on the icons below to explore our website.

Search Court Records Make Payments Payment Plans

Find Court Dates

File Cases

Schedule a Marriage Ceremony

Set Passport Appointments

and much more!

We usually experience a high number of calls, so before calling or visiting our offices, contact us online to see if your questions can be answered. Simply go to our Contact Us page to submit a question or request.

Online Highlights (FY22)

23,223,247

Court Records Searched on MyeClerk

2,642,379

Court Documents Processed via E-Filing Portal

43,527,299

Total Website Page Views (MyOrangeClerk.com)

Clerks Care

Our 2022 Service Project

700 nonperishable food & cleaning items

Each year the Clerk’s Office selects a service project to give back to the community, because clerks really do care! In 2022, our staff donated 700 nonperishable food and cleaning items to the Russell Home for Atypical Children. We hand delivered all the items to the Orlando home which provides around-the-clock care for disabled children.

United Way

$22,684 raised for United Way of Central Florida

As part of Orange County’s fundraising efforts, each year the Clerk’s Office raises money for United Way to make a difference for those in need in our community. Our campaign raised a total of $22,684 in 2022. This is another effort that relies on the volunteer work of our staff who coordinate fundraising events each year for United Way.

Valentine’s Group Wedding Holiday Senior Brunch

450 seniors served a delicious holiday meal

As part of Clerk Russell’s passion to give back to seniors, more than 50 Clerk employees and volunteers served 450 senior citizens a free holiday meal. Now in its 15th year, community partners helped make the “Holiday Senior Brunch” a special occasion. Sodexo Centerplate Catering donated the food, and other partners provided music, entertainment, and raffles.

12 couples said “I Do“ on Valentine’s Day

Each year our office holds a Valentine’s Day Group Ceremony. In 2022 Clerk Russell married 12 couples in front of the iconic downtown Orlando Courthouse. Couples enjoyed a beautiful ceremony as well as photos, delicious treats, and a special surprise commemorative plush! Click here to watch the ceremony on our Facebook page

Helping Our Community

Our Compliance and I.T. Divisions helped customers take care of outstanding court debts at the He Got Up event.

We raised $22,684 for the Heart of Florida United Way campaign to support those in need.

We

We were honored to collect and donate 700 nonperishable food and cleaning items to the Russell Home for

Members of our staff attended Harbor House’s Purple Door Luncheon in support of domestic violence victims and survivors.

Our deputy clerks participated in the 9th Annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” to raise funds and awareness about domestic violence.

50 volunteers from the Clerks’ Office and the community served more than 450 senior citizens a holiday meal donated by Sodexo, Centerplate Catering for Clerk Russell’s 15th Annual Senior Holiday Brunch.

partnered with United Way 211 and Elevate Orlando to provide a mental health presentation for students at Jones High School.

Atypical Children.

In the Community

In honor of Black History Month, our Clerk family represented the Clerk’s office at the Orange County Black History Committee “Lunch on

Clerk Russell and our outreach team proudly celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at various community parades.

Our

Clerk Russell gave the keynote speech for the Central Florida Black Nurses Association at their 40th Anniversary and Scholarship Celebration.

Clerk Russell attended the Greater Haitian American Chamber of Commerce official ribbon cutting of their new offices.

Slice and our outreach team joined Harbor House of Central Florida for their “Trunk or Treat” event serving domestic violence families.

Clerk Russell participated in the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives for their Women’s Symposium discussing redefining public safety, and standing up for our communities.

Clerk Russell attended the Patriot Day Remembrance Breakfast to honor our American Heroes who protect and serve us every day.

outreach team participated in various “National Night Out” events throughout our community.

Clerk Russell hosted the Universal Boy & Girls Club for a mock trial that was co-facilitated by Judge Eric DuBois.

the Lawn” event.

Culture of Excellence

We strive to create a culture of excellence at the Clerk’s Office to deliver the best possible customer experience. Each year, we celebrate our employees who go the extra mile.

Quarterly recognition to honor a member of the management team for demonstrating outstanding leadership.

Chris Murphy InformationSystems& TechnologyDivision

Latasha Davis Family Division

Traci Bowden FamilyDivision

Maribel Jaime Juvenile Division

Janeth OlimonFamilyDivision

Katrina Woods Civil Division

Kayla Ascolillo Winter Park Branch

Jessica Stagnolia Traffic Division

TremaynChristopher Criminal Division

Arcoyah MannixApopka/Ocoee Branches

Ashana Lawrence Juvenile Division

Liza Garcia Criminal Division

Mercedes Rosario Compliance Division

Monthly recognition to honor a deputy clerk who is nominated by a colleague for going above and beyond.

Frank Standley Talent Management & Organizational Development

June Roberti Financial Services Division

Clerk Services

We strive to always elevate our customer’s experience. Below are all the ways we make doing business with us easier, because you can access many of our services conveniently online. In our digital version, just click on the highlighted link. In the print version, go to MyOrangeClerk.com for access to all these services.

1. Payments & Payment Plans

We have many payment options and payment plans. These options include making payments for a traffic ticket, criminal fine, child support, and the Family Ties program.

2. Self Help Center

Our Self Help Center assists with low-cost virtual attorney consultations in family law, small claims, and residential evictions. You can make an appointment online for an attorney consultation.

3. Restraining Orders

You can file a petition for a restraining order on our website or at the Orange County Courthouse. There is no fee to file for a restraining order.

4. Marriage Licenses & Ceremonies

You can start your marriage license application right from our website and make an appointment to obtain your license and request a wedding ceremony.

5. Passports

You can apply for a passport at any of our four locations. To save time, read about passport requirements and make an appointment.

6. Search Court Records

You can search for court records by using various criteria such as names and case numbers.

7. Search Court Dates

You can search for court dates and hearing times by searching by name or case number or by date.

8. Traffic Ticket Options

You have several different options when receiving a traffic ticket. On our website, you can determine what traffic option applies to you.

9. My Balance

If you or someone you know has more than one case with our office, you can look up your total balance.

10. Foreclosure Sales

Foreclosure sales can be viewed and bids on foreclosed properties can be made right from our website.

11. Before You Visit

We have a “Before You Visit” checklist with what you need to know before you visit any of our four locations.

12. Request Copies

You can request copies of court records and other documents directly on our website.

13. Forms & Packets

Free forms and packets of forms are available for the filing of a new case or modifying a case in either the Family or Civil Courts.