Hardee County Court Records

Hardee County court records refer to official documents that contain the details of legal proceedings and outcomes of legal cases filed within Hardee County. The local court system creates and maintains these documentary materials during judicial proceedings, including written filings, photographs, printed documents, audio and video recordings, and any information stored electronically or received by the court during a case. (Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.420(b)(1)).

Hardee court records serve numerous functions, including understanding case outcomes, tracking legal actions, and ultimately fostering transparency and accountability within the Hardee judicial system.

Are Court Records Public in Hardee County?

Yes. Hardee County court records are presumed to be part of Hardee County public records, which are generally accessible to the public. Under the Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420, the public can access judicial branch records, including Hardee County court records. Additionally, online access to court records in Hardee County is governed by Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-107.

Nonetheless, according to Rule 2.420(c) of the Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420, certain records are exempted from public disclosure, particularly to protect sensitive information. Below are some records exempted from public access:

• Adoption records
• Juvenile records
• Grand jury records
• Mental health proceedings
• Family law records involving child custody

Hardee County Court Records Search

Hardee County court records can be accessed through the following avenues:

• The Clerk of the Court's Office
• The courthouse where the case was filed
• An online search tool provided by the county or state
• Third-party case search tool

Hardee County Courts

Hardee County operates under the 10th Judicial Circuit and consists of two types of courts: The Circuit Court and the County Court. These courts have jurisdiction over various legal cases, including civil disputes, criminal cases, family law matters, small claims, probate issues, and traffic violations. Below is a directory of courts in Hardee County:

Hardee County Circuit Court
Hardee County Courthouse
417 West Main Street
Wauchula, FL 33873
Phone: (863) 773-4174

County Court of Hardee County
Hardee County Courthouse
417 West Main Street
Wauchula, FL 33873
Phone: (863) 773-4174

Hardee County Criminal and Civil Records

Hardee County criminal and civil court records are managed and maintained by the Hardee County Clerk of Courts, the official custodian of court records for the 10th Judicial Circuit. These records contain details of numerous cases, from felony charges to civil lawsuits, and play an important role in legal research, background checks, and personal documentation.

• Accessing Hardee County Criminal Court Records

Hardee County Criminal court records typically refer to records relating to criminal court proceedings within the county. They generally include Hardee County arrest records, motions, court dockets, sentencing information, and outcomes. Interested individuals can access Hardee criminal court records by visiting the clerk's office at the Hardee County Courthouse (417 West Main Street, Wauchula, FL).

Alternatively, interested parties can mail a records search request to the County Clerk. To facilitate record recovery, mail-in requests must contain details of the record being sought. These details include the party name or case number, a valid photo ID (for certain records), and any required fee, particularly for record search, certification, or duplication.

The Hardee County Clerk of Courts also offers court records to interested parties through her remote record search tool. Through the case search tool, researchers can access records of their choice by simply inputting details pertinent to the records of choice. Search parameters include case number and party name.

Additionally, certain Hardee County criminal records are available at the Hardee County Sheriff's office. The sheriff maintains criminal records such as arrest reports, incident reports, background checks, and jail booking details. Interested parties can simply mail in a records request to the address below:

Hardee County Sheriff's Office
Attn: Custodian of Public Records
900 East Summit Street
Wauchula, FL 33873

Requesters are to note that background checks specific to Hardee County require a fee of $5.00 per request. These checks will include records of arrests and incidents handled by the agency.

• Accessing Civil Court Records in Hardee County

Hardee County civil court records simply refer to documents and filings generated concerning a non-criminal legal proceeding. Civil records typically include records related to small claims, contract disputes, evictions, probate cases, and family matters.

Like criminal records, interested individuals can access Hardee County civil records through the County Clerk of the Court in person or via mail. Additionally, the remote search tool provided by the clerk's office grants researchers access to Hardee County civil records by simply lodging the proper query.

Hardee County Marriage Records

Hardee County marriage records refer to official documents detailing the legal union of two individuals. They are maintained and issued by the Hardee County Clerk of the Circuit Court, and, following Florida's public records laws, marriage records are accessible to the public.

Under Florida Statutes §119.07, most marriage records are considered public and can be accessed by anyone unless sealed by a court order. Interested individuals can request copies of a marriage record by physically visiting the clerk's office at the earlier address.

Additionally, marriage records can be requested via mail. Requesters opting for mail requests must submit a written request containing details such as the full names of both parties and the date of the marriage, alongside a self-addressed stamped envelope and the appropriate fee.

The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics also offers certified marriage records through its remote search tool for marriages recorded by the circuit court clerk from June 6, 1927, to the present. Interested individuals are also at liberty to request marriage records by completing the Application for Marriage Certificate.

Please note that certified copies of marriage records cost $3 for the first page and an additional $1 for each extra page.

Hardee County Divorce Records

Hardee County divorce records are maintained by the Hardee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Following Florida's public records laws, Hardee County divorce certificates are accessible to the public except when sealed by a court order. Hardee divorce records typically contain details such as case number, names of the parties involved, and the date of the divorce. Interested parties can request records in person or via mail at the clerk's office at the earlier address. Requesters should provide as much information as possible to facilitate quick record retrieval.

Online Access:

The Florida Department of Health and Bureau of Vital Statistics also offers access to divorce certificates for divorces finalized from June 6, 1927, to the present. The department offers a remote search for individuals who prefer remote access to Hardee County Divorce records. Researchers can also use the Application for Dissolution of Marriage Certificate form.

The Department of Health summarizes the divorce, not the complete court record. Additionally, although divorce records are public, certain details may be withheld to protect the privacy of the parties; these details include Social Security numbers or financial account details.

Hardee County Birth Records

Hardee County birth records are official documents containing proof of birth and often details vital information such as the full name of the person, date and place of birth, and the parent(s). Hardee birth records play numerous roles, including legal identification, applying for government benefits, obtaining a passport, and other official purposes.

In Hardee County, according to Florida Statutes § 382.025, birth records are considered confidential and, as such, not part of public records until 125 years after the date of birth. Until then, only specific individuals can access a birth certificate, including:

• The individual named on the record (age 18 or older)
• Legal guardians
• Parents listed on the record
• Attorneys or other legal representatives

The Florida Department of Health maintains Hardee County birth certificates at the address provided earlier. Interested parties can access birth records at this address.

Alternatively, researchers can request Hardee County birth records from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Requesters are advised to note that each valid record request should contain the following details:

• Full name on the birth certificate
• Date and place of birth
• Name of parent (s)
• Valid photo ID of the requester
• Associated fees (typically between $9 and $15 per copy)

Hardee County Death Records

Hardee County death records are official documents that record the details of a person's death, including the name, date, place, and cause of death. Like birth records, Hardee death records are maintained by the Florida Department of Health.

According to Florida Statutes, death records are public records accessible to the public. This, however, comes with a restriction on the cause of death; social security numbers are also restricted for 50 years after the death and are only available to specific persons, including:

• A surviving family member, including a child, spouse, grandchild, or sibling
• Legal representative of an eligible individual
• Someone with a will, insurance policy, or court order.

After 50 years, all portions of the record become public and can be accessed through the Florida Department of Health in Hardee County, either in person or via mail at the earlier address.

Interested individuals can also access Hardee County death records through the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Each request should contain details of the death record being sought, including:

• Name of the deceased
• Date and place of death
• Relationship of the requester with the deceased
• Valid photo ID and the associated fees (typically $5–$15 per certified copy)

Hardee County Probate Court Records

Hardee County probate court records are official legal documents detailing legal proceedings related to the administration of estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships. These records are typically maintained by the Hardee County Clerk of Circuit Court, which has legal jurisdiction over probate matters in the county.

To access Hardee County probate records, individuals can submit a request in person, via mail, or remotely through the Clerk's official records portal. Written requests should contain case-related information such as the case number, the decedent's full name, and the filing year. Even though most Hardee County probate records are public, specific details, such as those involving minors, may be redacted or sealed by court order.

Hardee County Property Records

Hardee County property records refer to public documents maintained by the Hardee County Property Appraiser's Office and the Clerk of Circuit Court. Hardee property records contain detailed information about real estate within the county, including ownership history, assessed values, parcel boundaries, legal descriptions, sales data, and tax assessments. These details play different roles in the county, including property ownership verification, boundary disputes settlement, title history research, and property tax calculation.

Interested individuals can access Hardee County property records by visiting the Property Appraiser's Office and the Clerk of Court's office and submitting a written application via mail. In addition to visiting the Hardee Property Appraiser's Office at the address below, the Property Appraiser also offers access to property records through its remote search tool.

Hardee County Property Appraiser's Office
110 West Oak Street, Suite 103
Wauchula, FL 33873
Phone: (863) 773-2196

Please note that although most property-related documents are available without restrictions under Florida's Sunshine Law, specific sensitive details such as Social Security numbers or personal financial data may be redacted.

Hardee County Court Records Online

Interested persons may also access Hardee County court records through certain third-party websites. These platforms, like Floridacourtrecords.us, aggregate public records from numerous government agencies and make them available to researchers.

Aggregate sites offer comfort and convenience, as researchers may easily access records of choice from the comfort of their homes at no cost. However, while researchers may access basic court records at no cost, accessing a comprehensive report or record typically attracts a fee. Nonetheless, these platforms are not affiliated with a governmental body, so records obtained from them must be vetted for accuracy and authenticity.