Charlotte County Court Records

Per Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420, Florida court records can be defined as the contents of court files, including the progress docket, transcripts, documentary exhibits, electronic records, videotapes, and stenographic tapes of court proceedings. The Clerk of Court is the official custodian of court records in Charlotte County. The Clerk issues court records online or in person during office hours.

Charlotte County court records typically contain the following information:

• Case summary (judge’s name, case number, clerk file date, total fees due, agency report number, court type, uniform case number, status date, custody location, case type, status, and agency)
• Parties (type and party name)
• Charges (count, description, level, degree, plea, disposition, and disposition date)
• Events (date, event, judge, location, and result)
• Case dockets (DIN, image, date, and entry)

Charlotte County courts issue court records to the public to enhance judicial effectiveness and promote accountability in the court system. Court records are vital in understanding what transpired during a judicial proceeding. Attorneys refer to court records to obtain evidence for an ongoing court case.

Are Court Records Public in Charlotte County?

Yes. Court records are public pursuant to the Florida Public Records Law. This public accessibility to court records authorizes Charlotte County residents to inspect and copy them during a record custodian’s business hours. However, certain court records and information are confidential and exempt from public disclosure. The Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420(c) highlights the following court records as confidential:

• Adoption records
• Grand jury records
• Juvenile delinquency records
• Gestational surrogacy records
• Estate inventories and accountings
• Clinical records under the Baker Act
• Sexually transmissible disease records
• Complete presentence investigation reports
• Substance abuse service provider's records
• HIV test results and the test taker’s identity
• Birth records and portions of death and fetal death records
• Memoranda or advisory opinions relating to court administration
• Social Security, charge, bank account, debit, and credit card numbers
• Protected information regarding child abuse or sexual offense victims
• Any record that discloses the identity of persons undergoing tuberculosis proceedings
• Records obtained by courts and law enforcement on family services for children
• Complaints alleging judicial misconduct before probable cause is determined
• The victim’s address in a domestic violence case based on the petitioner’s request
• The identity of a minor petitioning for parental notice waiver when trying to terminate pregnancy.
• Criminal defendants’ criminal records when they are found incompetent to proceed or acquitted due to insanity.
• Orders appointing court monitors and guardianship reports and orders relating to findings of no probable cause.
• Records relating to dependency matters, child abuse, guardians ad litem, termination of parental rights, neglect, and abandonment.
• Copies of search and arrest warrants and supporting affidavits until the warrant is executed or it is determined that it cannot be executed.
• All writing materials like trial and appellate court memoranda, court conference records, notes, and drafts of opinions and orders prepared by judges or authorized court staff.

Charlotte County Court Records Search

Record seekers can conduct Charlotte County court records searches via the following means:

• The use of an official court search portal
• In person at the Clerk’s office
• The use of third-party platforms

Charlotte County Court Records Search by Name

The Charlotte County Clerk of Court permits court record search by name or in person at the courthouse. Online requests can be made through the Case Search portal. Users must select the name search criteria and enter a last or first name in the search field. A search by name returns information on every case party with the searched name. Click on the name or case number link to view information about a particular case. In-person requests can be made from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The request will be processed immediately after a name and a valid ID are presented.

Charlotte County Courts

The Charlotte County court system comprises the Circuit and County Courts. The county is part of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. Below are the addresses of all the courts in Charlotte County:

Charlotte County Justice Center
350 E. Marion Avenue
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Phone: (941) 637-2281
Fax: (941) 637-2283

Murdock Administration Center
18500 Murdock Circle
Port Charlotte, Fl 33948

Mac V. Horton West County Annex
6868 San Casa Blvd
Englewood, FL34224

Charlotte County Superior Court Case Search

There are no Superior Courts in Florida. Charlotte County belongs to the Twentieth Judicial Circuit and Sixth District Court of Appeal. All Charlotte County court records can be obtained online or in person at the Clerk of Court’s Office.

Charlotte County District Court Records

Charlotte County is part of the Sixth District Court of Appeal. The Clerk of the Court is the official keeper of all court records in this District Court. Members of the public can find District Court records online through the Florida Appellate Case Information System (ACIS). Users can use the portal to conduct a case, party, oral argument, or document search. Individuals who cannot find their desired court records online can visit the Sixth District Court of Appeal office to make their requests. The Office is located at:

Sixth District Court of Appeal
811 East Main Street
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: (863) 940-6041

Charlotte County Criminal Records

Per FL Stat § 943.053, individuals can retrieve Charlotte County criminal records from the Department of Law Enforcement. Most people prefer to start their criminal records requests by conducting a Charlotte County arrest records search. The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) provides this service through its Arrest Search portal. Requesters must select a search tab, which could be a name, case number, date confined, location, or advanced. Enter search criteria in the available field based on the selected tab. Alternatively, record seekers can visit any of the CCSO locations to request criminal records. Office hours are usually between Monday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Comprehensive Charlotte County criminal records can be obtained from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Division of Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS). Requests can be made online via the following portals:

• The ORI search: A valid ORI must be provided to conduct a search. Search fees vary depending on various factors, such as state statute, agency, or authorized entity.
• The instant search: Users can get uncertified copies of criminal history records from this portal. Each search costs $25 (including a $1 credit card processing fee). Search results can be printed or returned by email.
• The certified/non-certified search: Requesters must provide demographic information. Search results are notarized and returned to the requester by regular US Mail. Non-certified processing time is five (5) business days, whereas certified processing time is between 6 and 7 business days. Each search costs $24 and is payable by debit or credit card.

Charlotte County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The Criminal Division of the Charlotte County Clerk of the Circuit Court & County Comptroller’s Office handles Criminal traffic, misdemeanors, county and municipal ordinances, and felony cases. An individual can conduct a criminal case lookup online or in person at the courthouse. The Criminal Division attends to criminal court case requests from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Online requests can be made via the Case Search portal. The search criteria are name, case number, and citation number. Go to the “Court Types” area and select “county ordinance, felony, misdemeanor, municipal ordinance, or traffic “ to view only criminal cases. Contact the Criminal Division by phone at (941) 833-3048 or email at ClerkInfo@CharlotteClerk.com to inquire about other methods of requesting criminal case records in Charlotte County.

Get Charlotte County Civil Court Records

The Clerk of the Circuit Court & County Comptroller’s Office has two divisions that handle civil cases in Charlotte County:

• The County Civil Division: This Division handles disputes with monetary compensation between $8,001 and $50,000. Examples of cases handled in this Division are breach of contract, tenant evictions, foreign judgment, mortgage and lien foreclosures, declaratory judgments, negligence, replevin, and damages.
• The Circuit Civil Division: This Division handles non-criminal cases where individuals or businesses sue for damages that exceed $30,001. Examples of cases handled in this Division are medical malpractice, mortgage and lien foreclosure, eminent domain, personal injury, contract and indebtedness, and auto negligence.

Civil court records can be viewed online through the Case Search portal at no cost. A search can be conducted by name, case number, or citation number. To view only civil cases, go to the “Court Types” area and select “Circuit Civil or County Civil”. Alternatively, requesters can visit the courthouse from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to request civil records. A name or case number will be required to process the request.

Charlotte County Family Court Records

The Clerk of the Circuit Court & County Comptroller’s Circuit Civil Division maintains family court records in Charlotte County. This duty is precisely handled by the Circuit Civil Division’s Family Law Section. The section handles family cases like domestic violence, paternity, adoption, dissolution of marriage (divorce), annulment, child support, alimony, custody, and name change. Some family court records are confidential and are only open to the subject of records when they reach the age of majority and their parents.

Nonconfidential family court records are freely available online on the Case Record Search portal. The search parameters are by name and case number. Individuals can narrow their search by selecting “Domestic Relations” or “Domestic Violence” in the Court Types area. Alternatively, eligible requesters can visit the Family Law Section from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., to request family court records. Call the Circuit Civil Division at (941) 637-2113 to inquire about eligibility and any documentation required to process the search.

Charlotte Dissolution of Marriage Records

In Charlotte County, divorce and dissolution of marriage are used interchangeably. Dissolution of marriage records, which is part of Charlotte County vital records, can be retrieved online or in person at the Clerk and Comptroller's Office. Online requests can be made through the Case Search portal. The search parameters are by name or case number. Record seekers can narrow their searches by selecting “Domestic Relations” in the Court Types area and selecting “Dissolution with Children or Dissolution without Children” in the “Causes of Action / Case Types” area.

In-person requests can be made at the Charlotte County Clerk’s Office from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A name or case number must be provided to initiate the search. Copies of dissolution of marriage records come with a fee. Contact the Clerk’s Office by phone at (941) 637-2319.

Charlotte County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Charlotte County Clerk of Court’s Office maintains marriage and divorce records. Requesters can visit the office during business hours to obtain marriage and divorce records. However, the Clerk partners with a third-party vendor to issue certified copies of Charlotte County marriage records online. Visit the third-party portal and select “Charlotte County Clerk” from the dropdown. Afterward, fill in the appropriate information to search for a marriage record. An email with an attached PDF will be sent to the requester once the order is completed. This service costs $9. Copies of Charlotte County marriage certificates obtained in person at the Clerk’s Office cost $7.

Divorce records can also be obtained online through the Case Search portal. A search can be conducted by name or case number. Users can streamline their searches by selecting “Domestic Relations” in the Court Types area and selecting “Dissolution with Children or Dissolution without Children” in the “Causes of Action / Case Types” area.

Charlotte Birth and Death Records

The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County issues birth and death records to requesters upon request. Birth records of birth events over 100 years ago are public in Charlotte County. Confidential Charlotte County birth records are only issued to the subject of the record if of legal age (18), parent(s), legal guardian, legal representative, or other people by court order. Anyone 18 years and above can request death certification without the cause of death and Cause of Death for any record over 50 years old. However, death records less than 50 years old with the cause of death information are not public. They are only open to a selected few like:

• The decedent’s spouse or parent
• The decedent’s child, grandchild, or sibling (if of legal age)
• Anyone who provides documents like an insurance policy or will to demonstrate their interest in the decedent’s estate.
• Anyone who provides documentation showing that they are acting on behalf of any of the persons mentioned earlier.

Charlotte County birth and death records can be retrieved via various methods:

• Online: The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County partners with a third-party vendor to issue birth and death records to individuals.
• Mail: Requesters can request death or birth records by mailing an Application for Florida Birth or Death Record Form to the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County. Birth records can also be requested by mail at the Tax Collector's Office by submitting a Charlotte County Birth Certificate Application Form.
• In-person: Certified copies of Charlotte County birth certificates cost $12 for each certificate, while death certificates cost $10 per copy. Requesters must visit the Florida Department of Health Office in Charlotte County with a legal photo ID. All visitations must be during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.). Charlotte County birth certificates can also be obtained at the Charlotte Tax Collector’s Englewood Office from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County is located at:

Office of Vital Records, Charlotte
1100 Loveland Boulevard
Port Charlotte, FL 33980
Phone: (941) 624-7200
Fax: (941) 624-7202

Charlotte County Probate Court Records

The Charlotte County Clerk of the Circuit Court & County Comptroller’s Probate Office handles probate cases like wills, estates, guardianships for minors and incapacitated persons, and mental health cases. The easiest way to find probate court records is online:

• Visit the Clerk of Court's official website
• Scroll down and click the Court Search portal
• Go to the “Court Types” area and select Probate, Guardianship, and Will on Deposit
• Enter the search criteria (name or case number)
• Click the “I'm not a robot” box
• Click the Search button

Record seekers can also visit the Probate Office to request probate records. The record staff will require a name or case number to facilitate the search. All visitations should be done during office hours. Probate court records may be possible by phone at (941) 637-2210.

Charlotte County Property Records

The Clerk and Comptroller’s Office is the custodian of property records in Charlotte County. Property records are considered part of Charlotte County public records. Therefore, they are available to the members of the public. Examples of property records available in the Office are deeds, real property mortgages, satisfactions, assignments, and leases. The Clerk issues property records online and in person during business hours. Online requests can be made through the Official Records portal. The search criteria are by name, document type, book/page, case number, instrument number, record date, legal, and advanced legal.

The Charlotte County Property Appraiser’s office also attends to property record requests online and in person. The Office has a Real Property Record Search and a Tangible Personal Property Record Search portals where individuals can find property records for free. A search can be conducted by account number, business address, owner name, business name, parcel ID number, property address, building use code, property zip code, or land use code. Alternatively, record seekers can request property records from any of the Property Appraiser’s offices during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). The South County Annex has lunch breaks between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. The Offices are located at:

South County Annex
410 Taylor Street
Punta Gorda, FL 33950

Mac Horton West Charlotte Annex
6868 San Casa Drive
Englewood, FL 34224

The Charlotte County Tax Collector's Office issues property tax information to the general public. Individuals can find property taxes online by visiting the Current Real Estate Property Tax Roll link. Choose "Property Tax" from the menu, enter a search criteria (name, address, or account number), and hit the "Enter" key.

Charlotte County Court Records Online

Record seekers can find Charlotte County court records on various third-party websites like floridacourtrecords.us. Third-party platforms allow users to extend their searches across multiple jurisdictions, but their major limitation is that they are unreliable. Verifying any information obtained from government sources on such websites is advisable.

The search criteria for performing Charlotte County court records searches on third-party sites usually include last and first names, which makes searches easy. Most third-party platforms return basic court information without charges. However, extensive information attracts a small fee. These charges vary per vendor, but they usually cost $4.95 for 7 days of unlimited access or a monthly subscription charge of $19.95.