Manatee County Court Records

Manatee County court records comprise a variety of written and electronic records, such as court dockets, case filings, court orders, judgments, and legal pleadings. They also include documents that aid in tracking a case's progress, transcripts, and documentary exhibits filed with the local court clerk. According to Florida Public Access to Judicial Branch Records Rule 2.420, electronic records, including audio/video cassettes and stenographic recordings of court sessions, are also included in the county's court records.

As with every jurisdiction, court documents are crucial to legal proceedings, historical record-keeping, and public openness in Manatee County. They offer a thorough description of civil and criminal court proceedings, and members of the public consult them for information about previous court cases, rulings, and legal precedents in the county.

Are Court Records Public in Manatee County?

Yes, in Manatee County, court documents are regarded as public records. As such, anyone can obtain these records by contacting the clerk responsible for their maintenance and dissemination. All judicial branch records are available for public view per Florida statutes, except those that fall under certain exemptions outlined in chapter 119 of the florida public records law, Florida Public Access to Judicial Branch Records Rule 2.420, or per judicial order. In the following instances, the official documents are deemed private and not allowed to be made public:

• Memos or advisory opinions dealing with court administration
• Complaints claiming wrongdoing against judges are kept private.
• The identities and qualifications of anyone seeking to serve or providing unpaid volunteer assistance to the court upon the court's request and order
• Arrest warrants, search warrants, and the accompanying affidavits that haven't been executed
• All records designated confidential under federal, state, and federal law, as well as the Florida and U.S. Constitutions.

Manatee County Court Records Search

Interested members of the public may perform a Manatee County Court Records Search using the following options:

• Circuit court clerk's office
• Courthouse public terminals and online databases
• Public reference collections
• Online services provided by third-party sites

Manatee County Court Records Search by Name

If the requester has the record holder's first and last name, searching court records in Manatee County using the subject's name is relatively simple. The Manatee Circuit Court Clerk's Office provides public access to court records. Interested parties can visit the office to perform a name-based search; however, additional requirements may need to be met for the search to be successful, including:

• The applicant might have to go to the clerk's office in person to fill out a request form with their first and last name and then submit it. Keep in mind that more information could help with the search process.
• Additionally, the applicant pays any appropriate fees; the actual amount will vary depending on how many copies are made.

On its official website, the circuit clerk's office also offers an online search engine called "public records hub, " allowing interested parties to perform a name-based search. A case type option is also included in the search parameters, which may help to streamline the results. The search results show the case number, party name, case type, case status, file date, and date of birth (DOB). The search is conducted without cost.

Manatee County Courts

The Manatee County judiciary comprises circuit courts, county courts, and district courts that have a few locations around the county. The court offices are listed as follows:

Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court (Local government office)
1115 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205, United States.
Phone: (941) 749-1800

Manatee County Judicial Center (County government office)
1051 Manatee Ave W,
Bradenton, FL 34205, United States.
Phone: (941) 749-3600

Manatee County Courthouse (County court)
1101 6th Ave W,
Bradenton, FL 34205, United States.

Manatee County Juvenile Court
1115 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: (941) 741-4026

Circuit Court-Misdemeanors
1115 Manatee Ave W,
Bradenton, FL 34205, United States.
Phone: (941) 741-4019

Manatee County Drug Court
1051 Manatee Ave W,
Bradenton, FL 34205, United States.
Phone: (941) 749-3670

Circuit Court-Teen Court (Magistrates' court)
1115 Manatee Ave W,
Bradenton, FL 34205, United States
Phone: (941) 741-4027

Each county court in Manatee has a dedicated judicial authority. County courts handle traffic, misdemeanors, small claims, and civil cases, while circuit courts handle crimes, juvenile dependency, juvenile delinquency, and family law concerns.

Manatee County Superior Court Case Search

Trial courts and superior courts are practically the same in Manatee County, Florida. Unlike several other states, Florida has a reorganized judicial system, and "circuit court" is more often used than "superior court".

In Florida, the trial court with comprehensive jurisdiction over criminal, family law, and civil cases is the Circuit Court. The duty of recording and distributing court case information is the responsibility of the comptroller's office and circuit court clerk. According to the Florida Open Records law, the public has access to certain court records via mail, in-person, or online.

Online: The clerk's office of the Manatee County Circuit Court offers an online search tool on its official website, Public Records Hub. Interested parties can use this portal to search by entering a person's name, business name, case number, citation number, or case type as the search category. The results can be viewed by only entering the necessary information, including the subject's name or case number, depending on the search category, and pressing submit or search. However, this tool is only available for indexes and dockets that have not been restricted public disclosure.

Online searches for Manatee Superior Court case records are also possible through third-party websites that act as public repositories for these documents; however, interested parties should be aware that these searches are fee-based and that the records may not be accurate or even up-to-date.

On-site: Interested parties can quickly obtain court records by going to the circuit court clerk's office, located at 1115 Manatee Avenue W. Bradenton, FL 34205. Depending on how many records need to be generated, the requester might need to submit a record request form and pay a processing charge.

Email: By emailing clerkscopycenter@manateeclerk.com, interested parties can seek information about court cases directly from the circuit court clerk's office.

Manatee County District Court Records

Unlike several other states, Florida's judicial system does not have what is commonly referred to as a "district court". Instead, the Supreme Court sits at the top of Florida's judicial hierarchy, followed by circuit courts, which serve as trial courts, and district courts of appeal.

The Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida has jurisdiction over Manatee County. It has oversight over civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile affairs and functions as Manatee County's trial court.

The Second District Court of Appeal, one of Florida's five district courts of appeal, hears appeals of cases that are heard in the Circuit Court. These district courts of appeal have appellate jurisdiction for cases from the circuit courts within their respective districts. Therefore, even if there isn't a single "district court" in the conventional sense, the district courts of appeal are involved in the appellate process.

Manatee County Criminal Records

Chapter 119 of the Florida Public Records Act permits public access to criminal records kept by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement organizations. These records are considered public record and are disclosed to members of the public in keeping with Florida's Public Records Laws.

The method for obtaining criminal record information typically varies with the type of information being sought. The "Arrest Inquiry" area of the County Sheriff's Office website provides Manatee County arrest records and related information to any member of the public. Individuals may obtain their criminal history record by contacting the Manatee County Sheriff's Office via mail or in person.

To request the information in person, interested persons may visit the Records Section located at:

Manatee County Sheriff's Office
Records Section
600 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202
Bradenton, Florida 34205
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (closed Weekends and holidays)

Along with their application, requesters must include a $2.00 per person payment and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for mailing the requested record. Credit cards or personal checks are not accepted as forms of payment.

Adult background checks require the correct spelling of the person's first and last name, date of birth, race, and sex. List any last names that were used, whether they were married or maiden.

Only a restricted jurisdiction—in this case, the entire county—is covered by these background checks. On the other hand, people can use the online portal of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct a statewide criminal record check or contact the FBI to conduct a nationwide check.

Manatee County Criminal Court Case Lookup

To conduct a Manatee County criminal court case lookup, visit the records department of the circuit court clerk and request the necessary information, or use the Public Records Hub online portal on the clerk's official website to view court case information. Users will be required to provide the party name, case number, case type, case status, file date, and date of birth of the record subject. The public can also access court documents through third-party websites, and those interested can search for criminal court case information there.

How to Get Manatee County Civil Court Records

The Manatee County Circuit Court Clerk's office serves as the chief custodian of civil court records. Civil cases include civil lawsuits, land records, small claims, and probate records. Interested persons can access these records by contacting the clerk's office online or in person. The procedure for acquiring civil records is the same as all other court records maintained by the circuit court.

Manatee County Family Court Records

The Family Division of the Circuit Court, Twelfth Judicial Circuit is tasked with hearing family law proceedings in Manatee County. The Circuit Court manages all family law-related actions, such as divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, injunctions against domestic abuse, and other related concerns, even though Manatee County lacks a distinct dedicated family court. The Family Division also considers cases involving minors who have been mistreated, abandoned, or neglected; who have been turned over for adoption; or who have been escapees, habitually absent, or unruly.

In Florida, court records are usually regarded as public records unless otherwise specified by statute. As a result, the public may access most of Manatee County's family court records. However, access to some sensitive data, such as sealed or private documents pertaining to domestic abuse or child abuse, may be restricted.

To request access to these records, interested parties can search the circuit court clerk's office online using their official website, in person at the Manatee County Judicial Centre office location, 1051 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205, over the phone at (941) 749-3600, or by mail at P.O. Box 3000 Bradenton, FL 34206.

Manatee County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Records pertaining to divorce are part of the family court files in Manatee County. Consequently, persons interested in finding Manatee County Dissolution of Marriage Records may contact the circuit court's family division.

Manatee County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage and divorce records in Manatee County are typically managed by the family division of the circuit court clerk and comptroller's office. However, copies of these records are also sent to the Florida Department of Health for permanent storage after they are filed and recorded there.

Persons looking for a Manatee County marriage license or divorce records may get in touch with the family division of the circuit court clerk's office. The public records search hub, an online service run by the clerk's office, allows users to look up marriage licenses or records of divorce under the "case type" section. A search can be performed by entering the "start date" and "end date" under any of these case kinds.

Alternatively, anyone may search for marriage or divorce records through the Florida Department of Health's online search engine, provided by the agency's sole contractual vendor. The requester will be required to pay processing fees, ranging from $48 to $50.

In-person requests for these records may be made to the Department of Health at:

1217 N Pearl Street,
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Lobby hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Mail-queries may be made to:

Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics,
P.O. Box 210,
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

To save time, interested parties may download and complete the application forms before visiting the office. Processing costs, which can range from $17 to $50, also apply.

Manatee County Birth and Death Records

The Department of Health in Manatee County maintains vital records, including birth and death certificates. Since these records are deemed public records, public access is granted them, with the exception of some sections that have been redacted to prevent publication, like social security numbers. The Manatee Department of Health provides public access to these records via mail, in-person, or online via the Bureau of Vital Statistics or local county health departments.

Interested parties may also use the walk-in or mail-in service options to obtain birth records from 1917 to the present and death data from 2009 to the present. Contact information is available via the Department of Health website's location finder.

Those interested in obtaining birth or death certificates from the Bureau of Vital Statistics have three options: online, walk-in, or mail-in. The official Department of Health website lists all the requirements, addresses, and fees.

Manatee County Probate Court Records

The Probate Division of the Circuit Court oversees cases in Manatee County that deal with guardianship, involuntary hospitalization, determining competency, settling the estates of deceased people and minors, and approving wills. All jury trials and hearings pertaining to the Jimmy Ryce Act (sexual predator) are heard by the Probate Division, which also has authority over these processes. As a result, they are the primary keepers of probate records.

Interested parties can contact them in person at the county judicial center, over the phone, by mail, or online using the public records hub search tool. The tool can be found on the county circuit court clerk's office website under the "case type" search option.

Manatee County Property Records

The Property Appraiser's Office is the primary custodian of property records in Manatee County. The records they maintain include property attributes, sales history, tax information, and related documents. Interested members of the public may query the public records custodian of the Appraiser’s Office via phone, email, fax, or in person at the office. Alternatively, inquirers can use the online property search tool on the agency's official website to look for Manatee County property records. Some property records are also kept by the County Circuit Court Clerk's office; anyone interested can visit the official website and use the online search tool to obtain more information.

Manatee County Court Records Online

Third-party aggregate sites like Floridacourtrecords.us also offer inquirers a means to obtain Manatee County court records. These systems allow users to look up specific cases, papers, or legal information without going to the courts.

However, third-party platforms do not always offer complete or up-to-date records. Depending on the provider, the records available may be limited because the sites operate independently of official services or government agencies. Notwithstanding, third-party services continue to be quite helpful for obtaining Manatee County court documents. They provide users with a convenient means of remotely accessing the records.