DeSoto County, Florida Court Records
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DeSoto County sits in south-central Florida with Arcadia as its county seat, and operates as part of Florida's 12th Judicial Circuit — a circuit that also serves Manatee and Sarasota counties. Court records produced in DeSoto County cover criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law proceedings, probate matters, and more. Under the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, these records include dockets, electronic documents, transcripts, video recordings, and documentary exhibits created or filed during legal proceedings.
Court records in Florida can be accessed through clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online portals maintained by county and state agencies. FloridaStateCourts.us can help you identify publicly available court case information and understand how Florida's judicial system is organized. For DeSoto County specifically, the Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains the official record and offers several tools for searching and requesting documents.
How to Look Up a Court Case in DeSoto County?
The DeSoto County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Nadia K. Daughtrey, is the primary keeper of court records for the county. The Clerk's office handles civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, and traffic cases, as well as official records including land documents and marriage licenses.
DeSoto County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Address: 115 East Oak Street, Room 101, Arcadia, Florida 34266
Phone: (863) 993-4876
Fax: (863) 993-4669
Email: CustomerService@DesotoClerk.com
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. for lunch)
DeSoto County Courthouse (12th Judicial Circuit)
Address: 115 East Oak Street, Arcadia, FL 34266
Court Administration Phone: (863) 993-4644
Fax: (863) 494-5809
Free parking is available on surrounding streets and in nearby lots with no time limit.
Online Search Options
The Clerk offers two online search tools:
- Clerk's Records Search Portal: Available through the DeSoto County Clerk records search page, this system covers civil case information from approximately 1980 to the present and traffic records from 1995 to the present.
- CivitekFlorida Online Court Records Search (OCRS): The DeSoto County OCRS portal allows anonymous public access to court records without creating an account. You can search by party name, case number, or other identifiers.
Public Records Requests
To request records by email, write to customerservice@desotoclerk.com. The Clerk's office also accepts in-person and written mail requests at 115 East Oak Street, Room 101, Arcadia, Florida 34266. The Clerk's website includes a public records request page with submission instructions. Keep in mind that the Clerk of the Circuit Court is separate from the Clerk to the DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners — BOCC records must be requested from a different office.
Electronic Filing
Attorneys and authorized filers can submit documents through Florida's e-filing system. Full instructions are available through the DeSoto County Clerk eFiling page.
Are Court Records Public in DeSoto County?
Florida has some of the broadest public records laws in the country. Under Florida Statutes Chapter 119 — commonly known as the Sunshine Law — all state, county, and municipal records are presumptively open for personal inspection unless a specific exemption applies. Court records also fall under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, which identifies specific categories that must be kept confidential or are exempt from public disclosure.
Records and information restricted from public access include:
- Adoption records — sealed to protect the parties, including the adopted child
- Sealed records — any case or document sealed by court order
- Grand jury proceedings — proceedings and investigative materials
- Mental health records — including Baker Act proceedings
- Juvenile delinquency proceedings — restricted to protect minors
- Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit card details — automatically redacted from public filings
- Unexecuted arrest and search warrant affidavits — withheld until after execution
- Court memoranda and judicial drafts — internal communications not part of the public record
Under Florida Statutes 119.07(4), agencies may charge fees for copying public records — generally $0.15 per page for standard single-sided copies, with additional charges for certified copies. Confidential or exempt information must be redacted from any document before it's provided to the public. If a record custodian believes a record is exempt, they are required to state the specific legal basis for that exemption.
DeSoto County Criminal Court Records
The criminal division of the 12th Judicial Circuit in DeSoto County handles felony cases filed by the State Attorney's Office. The 12th Judicial Circuit Criminal Division in DeSoto County operates across two circuit divisions. Misdemeanor cases, criminal traffic offenses, and lower-level criminal matters go to the county court level.
Searching Criminal Court Records
Criminal case records are searchable through the Clerk's online records portal and the CivitekFlorida OCRS. Both systems allow searches by party name or case number and cover cases from approximately 1980 to the present.
Sheriff's Office Records
Arrest records, incident reports, and law enforcement records are held separately by the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office — not the Clerk of Court. The Custodian of Public Records at the Sheriff's Office is Lieutenant Jenny Cross. Requests may be submitted:
- By mail: DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, Attn: Custodian of Public Records, 208 East Cypress Street, Arcadia, Florida 34266
- By email: PublicRecordsRequest@desotosheriff.org
- In person: During business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
DeSoto County Sheriff's Office
Address: 208 East Cypress Street, Arcadia, Florida 34266
Phone: (863) 993-4700
When submitting a request, providing the subject's full name, date of birth, and any known case numbers or aliases will help speed up the search. Copy fees are set by Florida Statutes 119.07(4) and generally start at $0.15 per page for standard copies, though charges can vary depending on the nature and volume of the records requested.
Copy and Certification Fees (Clerk's Office)
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copy per page | $1.00 |
| Certifying per document | $2.00 |
| Exemplified certification | $10.00 |
| Search per year/name | $2.00 |
| Subpoena | $7.00 |
DeSoto County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in DeSoto County are divided between the County Court and the Circuit Court based on the dollar value in dispute. The County Court handles civil claims and small claims cases, while the Circuit Court takes jurisdiction over larger civil actions, mortgage foreclosures, and complex civil litigation.
Small Claims Court
Small Claims Court handles monetary disputes of $8,000 or less, excluding costs, interest, and attorney fees. Attorneys are not required, though parties may consult one for more complex legal questions. The process is designed to be accessible to people representing themselves.
Filing fees for small claims cases (a summons fee of $10 per defendant is additional):
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $100 | $65.00 |
| $101 – $500 | $90.00 |
| $501 – $2,500 | $185.00 |
| $2,501 – $8,000 | $310.00 |
Small claims forms are available on the DeSoto County Clerk Forms page. Filers must be at least 18 years old; a parent or legal guardian must file on behalf of a minor.
Circuit Civil Filing Fees
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil Case Filing Fee | $400.00 |
| Civil Cross/Counter | $395.00 |
| Garnishment | $85.00 |
| Replevin | $85.00 |
| Mortgage Foreclosure ($50,000 or less) | $400.00 |
| Mortgage Foreclosure ($50,001 – $250,000) | $905.00 |
| Mortgage Foreclosure ($250,001 and greater) | $1,905.00 |
Civil Case Records Access
All civil case records can be searched through the Clerk's records search page, which covers civil cases from approximately 1980. Official land records — including deeds, mortgages, and judgments — are recorded by the Clerk's office and searchable through MyFloridaCounty.com. The recording fee for land documents is $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page of the same document.
DeSoto County Family Court Records
The Family Division of the 12th Judicial Circuit handles dissolution of marriage, name changes, and injunctions for domestic and repeat violence in DeSoto County. The Family Division also includes a Juvenile Court component covering dependency cases — involving abandoned, abused, or neglected children — and delinquency matters involving juveniles charged with crimes.
Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce)
Divorce proceedings are filed with the DeSoto County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The filing fee for a dissolution of marriage is $408.00; a counter petition carries a fee of $392.50. You can locate cases through the Clerk's online portal by filtering under Family/Domestic Relations and searching by party name or case number. Divorce records are generally public unless a court order seals them.
Injunctions for Protection
Injunctions for protection against domestic violence, repeat violence, and dating violence carry no filing fee. These are filed with the Circuit Court through the Clerk's office.
Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses are issued by the DeSoto County Clerk's office. Both applicants must appear in person, bring a valid state-issued driver's license, ID, or passport, and provide their Social Security numbers. Key requirements and fees:
- With pre-marital preparation course: $61.00 — no waiting period (certificate of completion required)
- Without pre-marital course: $86.00 — license effective three days from issuance
- Non-Florida residents: $86.00 — the three-day waiting period is waived
- The license is valid for 60 days from issuance and only within Florida
- The signed license must be returned to the Clerk's office within 10 days of the ceremony
- The Clerk's office performs marriage ceremonies by appointment only at a fee of $40.00
- Amendments to a marriage license cost $30.00
Birth, Death, and Vital Records
Birth and death records are maintained by the Florida Department of Health, not the Circuit Court. Certified birth certificates (for Florida births dating to 1930) and death certificates (for deaths from 2009 to present) can be requested through the Florida Department of Health in DeSoto County, located at 34 S. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, Florida 34266; Phone: (863) 993-4601 Orders may also be placed through VitalChek, the only vendor recommended by the Florida Department of Health.
Under Florida Statutes Chapter 382, birth certificates less than 125 years old and full death certificates (including cause of death) are confidential — access is restricted to the registrant, parents, legal guardians, or authorized representatives. Death certificates without cause of death are public records. For requests by mail or statewide records:
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
Phone: (904) 359-6900
Email: VitalStats@FLHealth.gov
DeSoto County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in DeSoto County fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court, under Florida Probate Statutes, Chapters 731–735. The Clerk's Probate and Guardianship department maintains all files on probate estates, deposited wills, trusts, and guardianships for both minors and incapacitated persons. The 12th Circuit Probate & Guardianship Division holds jurisdiction over estate settlement, decedent proceedings, and minor-related matters.
Types of Probate Proceedings
- Formal Administration — Required for larger estates where a personal representative must be appointed and supervised by the court
- Summary Administration — Used when the value of the estate does not exceed $75,000, or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years
- Disposition of Personal Property without Administration — Filed when the estate does not exceed the value of preferred funeral expenses plus the last 60 days of illness expenses; may be filed without an attorney
- Guardianship — A legal proceeding to protect the personal and/or financial rights of an incapacitated adult, or a minor who has inherited more than $15,000 or received a court settlement over $15,000
Pre-Need Guardian Declarations
A competent adult may designate a future guardian for themselves or their minor children by filing a Declaration of Pre-Need Guardian with the Clerk. This service carries no filing fee. The declaration must identify both the declarant and the pre-need guardian and be signed in the presence of at least two witnesses.
Depositing a Will
The Clerk's office accepts wills for deposit after a person's death. A Receipt of Last Will and Testament is prepared and a copy is provided to the depositor. There is no fee for this service.
Probate Filing Fees
| Proceeding Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Formal Administration | $400.00 |
| Summary Administration (estate ≤ $1,000) | $235.00 |
| Summary Administration (estate > $1,000) | $345.00 |
| Disposition without Administration | $231.00 |
| Petition to Administer Foreign Will | $231.00 |
| Open any Estate | $231.00 |
| Re-Open Estate | $50.00 |
| Guardianship of Person Only | $235.00 |
| Guardianship Ancillary | $400.00 |
| Veterans Guardianship | $235.00 |
| Determination of Incompetency | $231.00 |
| Inventory | $85.00 |
| Caveats & Trusts | $41.00 |
| Baker Act Proceedings | No charge |
Estate audit fees are based on the value of the estate: $20.00 for estates of $25,000 or less; $85.00 for $25,000–$100,000; $170.00 for $100,000–$500,000; and $250.00 for estates over $500,000. Probate case records can be searched through the CivitekFlorida OCRS portal or by contacting the Clerk's office directly at (863) 993-4876. All probate-related forms are available on the DeSoto County Clerk Forms page.