Hendry County, Florida Court Records
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Hendry County operates a two-level trial court system: the Circuit Court, which is the county's highest trial court, and the County Court, which handles lower-level civil and criminal matters. Both courts produce records that are maintained and indexed by the Hendry County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. The Clerk's office runs two locations — the main courthouse in LaBelle and a sub-office in Clewiston — to serve residents across the county.
Several tools are available for searching Hendry County court records. 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. FloridaStateCourts.us can also help you locate county-level case information, clerk contacts, and public access tools available statewide. In-person access is available at both clerk locations 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?
Start with the Hendry County Online Court Records Search (OCRS), operated through CiviTek Florida. This portal gives anyone free, anonymous access to case dockets, party names, filing dates, case types, and case status across circuit and county court proceedings — criminal, civil, family, and probate. Keep in mind that the OCRS is an informational tool and doesn't constitute an official legal document.
For official recorded documents — deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, marriage licenses, plats, and tax deeds — the Hendry County Clerk's Official Records Search at myfloridacounty.com covers documents recorded from October 1980 to the present. Unofficial copies can be viewed or printed online at no charge; 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 a 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
Filings submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal are routed directly 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 law is among the broadest in the country. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives any person the right to inspect and copy records made or received in the course of official government business, including court records. For judicial branch records specifically, Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420 further defines what's open and what's protected.
Despite the general presumption of openness, certain 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 a person's criminal history expunged; sealed records are similarly removed from public access.
- Juvenile records — Dependency and delinquency records involving minors are confidential under Florida law.
- Adoption records — Sealed by statute and accessible only 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 off-limits to public inspection regardless of the case type.
The Hendry County Clerk's Office may redact exempt portions of documents before releasing them. The OCRS portal and official records index only display publicly accessible information.
Hendry County Criminal Court Records
Criminal jurisdiction in Hendry County is split between the Circuit Court and the County Court based on offense severity. The Circuit Court handles all felony prosecutions — crimes punishable by imprisonment in a state penitentiary or by death under Florida law. It also handles 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 presides over all misdemeanor criminal cases and 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. Charge information, court dates, and case dispositions are 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 is at 101 S. Bridge Street, LaBelle, FL 33935, and the main administrative office is 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 handled separately from court records. The Sheriff's Office Public Records contact is Angelica Crumb at (863) 674-5615 or records@hendrysheriff.org.
To seal or expunge a criminal history record in Hendry County, you 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 full 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 that exceed 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 levels. Both courts' 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. The process is designed to be accessible for self-represented parties and follows a streamlined path:
- 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, several enforcement options are available: you can record the judgment as a lien against the defendant's real property, obtain a writ of execution through the Clerk's Office (available 10 days after final judgment), or file for a writ of garnishment against wages or bank accounts.
For circuit-level civil filings, service by a private process server is also an option. You can find registered process servers 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.
Recorded documents — deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and plats — are searchable through the Official Records Search at myfloridacounty.com. Historical records predating October 1980 are available in paper form at the LaBelle courthouse. Property valuation and parcel data are maintained separately by the Hendry County Property Appraiser, whose records are searchable online; the office can also be reached at (863) 675-5270, by email at lhernandez@hendrypa.com, or by fax at (863) 675-5254.
Hendry County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Hendry County fall under Circuit Court jurisdiction and are handled through the Hendry County Clerk's Family Law Services division. Cases 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 generally 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; general case information is also viewable through the OCRS portal.
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 come 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 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 oversees 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 that call for a personal representative. The court appoints the representative and issues Letters of Administration, authorizing that person 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 a personal representative in the same way 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.