Hendry County Court Records Search
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Hendry County, Florida, maintains a court system built around two trial court levels: the Circuit Court, which serves as the county’s highest trial court, and the County Court, which handles lower-level civil and criminal matters. Both courts generate records that are maintained and indexed by the Hendry County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, who is the official custodian of judicial records within the county. The Clerk’s office operates two locations — the main courthouse in LaBelle and a sub-office in Clewiston — providing service across the county’s geographic footprint.
Court records in Hendry County are generally available to the public, and several pathways exist for searching them. Florida court case information is searchable through the Hendry County Online Court Records Search portal and through the Hendry County Clerk’s official records search. Florida residents can also use FloridaStateCourts.us as a starting point for locating county-level case information, clerk contacts, and public access tools available across the state. In-person access is available at both clerk offices during regular business hours.
Hendry County Court Locations:
| Court / Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts — LaBelle (Main) | 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle, FL 33935 | (863) 675-5217 |
| Clerk of Courts — Clewiston Sub-Office | 1100 S. Olympia St., Suite 502, Clewiston, FL 33440 | (863) 983-1464 |
| Hendry County Health Dept. — LaBelle | 1140 Pratt Blvd., LaBelle, FL 33935 | (863) 674-4041 |
| Hendry County Health Dept. — Clewiston | 1100 S. Olympia Ave., Clewiston, FL 33440 | (863) 983-1408 |
| Sheriff’s Office (Admin) | 483 E. Cowboy Way, LaBelle, FL 33935 | (863) 674-5600 |
| Sheriff’s Jail Building | 101 S. Bridge St., LaBelle, FL 33935 | (863) 674-5674 |
Courthouse hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Hendry County?
The principal online resource for searching Hendry County court cases is the Hendry County Online Court Records Search (OCRS), operated through CiviTek Florida. This portal allows anonymous public access to case dockets, party names, filing dates, case types, and case status. It covers circuit and county court proceedings including criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Users should note that the OCRS is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute an official record or legal document.
For official records — including deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, marriage licenses, plats, and tax deeds — the Hendry County Clerk’s Official Records Search at myfloridacounty.com allows electronic searches of documents recorded from October 1980 to present. Unofficial copies can be viewed or printed online at no cost; certified copies require a request through the Clerk’s office.
Ways to search or request Hendry County court records:
- Online (case dockets):Hendry County OCRS portal — anonymous, free public access
- Online (official records/deeds/liens):myfloridacounty.com Official Records Search — covers recorded documents from 1980 forward
- In person: Visit either clerk location during business hours to view paper records or use public access terminals. Bring case number, party name, or approximate filing date.
- By phone: LaBelle: (863) 675-5217 | Clewiston: (863) 983-1464
- By mail: Hendry County Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 1760, LaBelle, FL 33975
Orders submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal are routed to Hendry County judges and can be tracked electronically by parties and attorneys in active cases.
Are Court Records Public in Hendry County?
Florida’s public records framework is among the broadest in the country. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes establishes the right of any person to inspect and copy records made or received in the course of official government business, including court records. This right is reinforced for judicial branch records specifically by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420, which governs public access to and protection of judicial branch records.
Despite the general presumption of openness, several categories of Hendry County court records are restricted from public view by statute or court rule:
- Sealed and expunged criminal records — Under Florida Statute § 943.0585, a court may order the expunction of a person’s criminal history record; sealed records are similarly removed from public access.
- Juvenile records — Dependency and delinquency records involving minors are maintained confidentially under Florida law.
- Adoption records — These are sealed and accessible only to parties with a court order.
- Confidential personal information — Rule 2.420 identifies 23 categories of automatically confidential information within court records, including Social Security numbers, financial account data, and certain victim information.
- Records sealed by court order — Any document sealed by a judge upon motion is removed from public inspection regardless of case type.
The Hendry County Clerk’s Office may redact exempt portions of documents before releasing them. The online OCRS portal and official records index reflect only publicly accessible information.
Hendry County Criminal Court Records
Criminal jurisdiction in Hendry County is divided between the Circuit Court and the County Court based on the severity of the offense. The Circuit Court handles all felony prosecutions — crimes punishable by imprisonment in a state penitentiary or by death under Florida law. The Circuit Court also has jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency matters, covering situations where a minor is alleged to have committed a felony, misdemeanor, contempt of court, or ordinance violation. The County Court handles all misdemeanor criminal cases, which involve offenses punishable by imprisonment in a county correctional facility, and also presides over criminal traffic violations that carry potential incarceration.
Information on the Hendry County Criminal Court Division and current dockets can be accessed through the Clerk’s website. Case-level information — including charges, court dates, and dispositions — is searchable through the OCRS portal.
For arrest and custody information, the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search provides a public-facing roster of current jail inmates, searchable by name. The jail facility is located at 101 S. Bridge Street, LaBelle, FL 33935, with a main administrative office at 483 E. Cowboy Way, LaBelle, FL 33935 ((863) 674-5600). The Sheriff’s Records Division maintains incident reports and arrest documentation; public records requests for law enforcement records are processed separately from court records. The Sheriff’s Office Public Records contact is Angelica Crumb at (863) 674-5615 or records@hendrysheriff.org.
Individuals seeking to seal or expunge their criminal history in Hendry County must first apply to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for a Certificate of Eligibility, then file a petition in the Circuit Court where the arrest or conviction occurred. Eligibility criteria and the application process are outlined under Florida Statute § 943.0585 for expungements and § 943.059 for sealings. Once granted, expunged records are removed from public court databases.
Hendry County Civil Court Records
The Hendry County Circuit Court handles civil cases involving claims exceeding the county court’s jurisdictional threshold, including major personal injury actions, contract disputes, real property matters, foreclosures, and other significant civil litigation. The County Court handles civil claims at lower monetary thresholds. Both levels of civil records are maintained by the Hendry County Clerk of Court and are searchable through the OCRS portal and the official records search system.
Small Claims Court in Hendry County is available for monetary disputes up to and including $8,000.00. Small claims proceedings are designed to be accessible to self-represented parties and follow a streamlined process:
- Obtain and complete the claim form from the Clerk’s Office (bring all supporting documentation — contracts, invoices, receipts, photographs, estimates).
- File the claim at the Clerk’s Office and provide copies for the court file and each named defendant.
- Arrange for service of process on the defendant — either through the Sheriff’s Office ($40.00 per defendant for Florida residents, payable by money order or cashier’s check to the county sheriff) or by certified mail for in-state defendants.
- Appear at the scheduled pretrial conference, where mediation will be offered if all parties are present.
- If no settlement is reached, proceed to trial before a judge.
After a judgment is entered in your favor, enforcement options include recording the judgment as a lien against the defendant’s real property, obtaining a writ of execution through the Clerk’s Office (available 10 days after final judgment), or filing for a writ of garnishment against wages or bank accounts.
For circuit-level civil filings, summons service by a private process server is also available. Parties can locate a registered process server through the Florida Association of Professional Process Servers at fapps.org. Sheriff’s service fees for circuit civil cases are also $40.00 per defendant for Florida residents.
Official recorded documents — including deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and plats — are searchable through the Official Records Search at myfloridacounty.com. Historical records from before October 1980 are available in paper form at the LaBelle courthouse. Property valuation and parcel information are maintained separately by the Hendry County Property Appraiser, whose records are searchable online and available by contacting the office at (863) 675-5270 or by email at lhernandez@hendrypa.com. Fax requests are accepted at (863) 675-5254.
Hendry County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Hendry County fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court and are administered through the Hendry County Clerk’s Family Law Services division. Cases handled in family court include dissolution of marriage (divorce), paternity actions, child custody and parenting plan disputes, child support, adoptions, domestic violence injunctions, and dependency proceedings involving children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected.
Divorce and dissolution records are filed with and maintained by the Circuit Clerk. Most divorce case files are public, though confidential information such as Social Security numbers and financial account details is automatically protected under Rule 2.420 and redacted from publicly accessible documents. Certified copies of final judgments of dissolution are available from the Clerk’s Office at the LaBelle courthouse or through the OCRS portal for general case information.
For dissolution of marriage certificates (as distinct from full case files), the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics issues certified certificates for divorces occurring in Florida after June 6, 1927. Pre-1927 records must be requested from the Clerk of Court in the county where the divorce was granted. The Bureau can be reached at (904) 359-6900, ext. 9000, and accepts walk-in requests at 1217 N. Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM).
Marriage licenses are issued by the Hendry County Clerk of Court. Both parties must appear in person, present valid identification, and provide Social Security documentation. Key requirements and fees include:
| Applicant Status | Fee | Waiting Period |
|---|---|---|
| Both parties Florida residents (no premarital course) | Contact Clerk for current fee | 3-day waiting period |
| Both parties Florida residents (completed premarital course) | $61.00 | No wait |
| Both parties non-Florida residents | $86.00 | No wait |
| One party Florida resident, one non-resident | Contact Clerk | 3-day wait unless course completed |
The license is valid for 60 days from the effective date. The first certified copy of the marriage certificate is provided at no charge; additional certified copies cost $3.00 each. Persons must be at least 18 to marry without parental consent; limited provisions exist for 17-year-olds with notarized parental consent.
Birth and death records in Hendry County are vital records maintained by the Florida Department of Health, not the court system. Birth records less than 125 years old are restricted to the subject (if 18 or older), immediate family members, and authorized representatives. Death records under 50 years old are similarly restricted under Florida law. To obtain these records, contact the Hendry County Health Department directly at its LaBelle office (1140 Pratt Blvd., (863) 674-4041) or Clewiston office (1100 S. Olympia Ave., (863) 983-1408). Certificates can also be ordered through the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics — for births, deaths, marriages, and divorces — online via VitalChek or by mail to P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042.
Marriage certificate fees from the Bureau are $5.00 for a search covering one calendar year plus one certified copy, with $4.00 per additional copy. Death certificate fees are $9.00 for the first year searched plus one copy.
Dependency cases involving children are handled in the Circuit Court and are subject to strict confidentiality protections under Florida law. These records are not publicly accessible.
Hendry County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Hendry County rests with the Circuit Court, which handles the administration of decedent estates, probate of wills, guardianship proceedings, and related matters. The Hendry County Probate Division of the Clerk’s Office maintains all probate case files, which are searchable through the OCRS portal or by contacting the Clerk directly.
Three types of estate administration proceedings are available in Hendry County, depending on the size and circumstances of the estate:
- Formal Administration — Required when the estate has considerable assets or complex circumstances requiring a personal representative. The court appoints the representative and issues Letters of Administration, authorizing the representative to act on behalf of the estate until all debts are resolved and assets distributed to beneficiaries.
- Summary Administration — Available when the total value of the estate does not exceed $75,000. This is a streamlined process that does not require the appointment of a personal representative in the same manner as formal administration.
- Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration — Filed as a petition to release specific assets to the person who paid the decedent’s final expenses (such as funeral or medical bills incurred in the last 60 days). Required documentation includes the will (if any), itemized paid funeral bills, paid medical receipts, a death certificate, identification of the petitioner, and a description of the asset to be released. The form for this filing is available from the Clerk’s Probate Division.
Key procedural requirements for probate filings:
- The custodian of a will must deposit it with the Clerk of Circuit Court within 10 days of learning of the testator’s death.
- An attorney is not required to file a will, but consulting one before initiating probate proceedings is advisable.
- If no will exists, Florida’s intestate succession laws govern distribution of the estate.
- Filing fees for probate proceedings are set by Florida Statutes; the current Schedule of Service Charges is available from the Clerk’s Office.
To search existing probate records, use the Hendry County OCRS portal and search by case type, party name, or case number. For certified copies of probate orders, petitions, or letters of administration, contact the Clerk of Court at the LaBelle courthouse (25 E. Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle, FL 33935; (863) 675-5217) during courthouse hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:45 PM). Mail requests may be sent to P.O. Box 1760, LaBelle, FL 33975. The Clewiston sub-office ((863) 983-1464) can assist with basic inquiries and document requests as well.