Manatee County Court Records Search
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Manatee County is located on the Gulf Coast of Florida with its county seat in Bradenton. The Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida serves Manatee County alongside DeSoto and Sarasota Counties, operating a two-tier trial court system made up of the Circuit Court and the County Court. The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, currently Angelina “Angel” Colonneso, Esq., serves as the official custodian of court records, maintaining case filings, dockets, judgments, orders, legal pleadings, transcripts, and documentary exhibits. These records span criminal, civil, family law, probate, traffic, and small claims proceedings. The Circuit Court exercises general jurisdiction over felonies, civil matters exceeding statutory thresholds, family law, juvenile dependency and delinquency, and probate, while the County Court handles misdemeanors, traffic infractions, small claims, and civil cases under the circuit threshold.
Individuals seeking Manatee County court records can begin by using official resources maintained by the Clerk’s office and the Florida court system. The Clerk provides an online records search portal where the public may look up court case indexes, dockets, and non-confidential document images at no charge. Additional information about courts statewide, including case-search tools, can be found through FloridaStateCourts.us. In-person searches may be conducted at the Clerk’s office or through public-access terminals at the courthouse, and written requests can be submitted by mail, fax, or email.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Manatee County?
There are several methods available for locating a court case in Manatee County, depending on the type of information sought and the requester’s preference for online, in-person, or written access.
Online Search
The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains a Public Records Hub on its official website. This tool allows searches by party name, business name, case number, citation number, or case type. The search results display the case number, party name, case type, case status, filing date, and date of birth. No fee is charged to search the index. For access to non-confidential document images beyond what is publicly available, users may need to enter into a Subscriber Agreement as authorized under F.S. 28.2221(5)(a).
The Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court website also provides guidance for looking up cases online and includes links to division-specific forms and calendars.
In-Person Search
Requesters may visit the Clerk’s office or the Manatee County Judicial Center to search records in person. The relevant locations are:
Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Address: 1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: (941) 749-1800
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Manatee County Judicial Center
Address: 1051 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: (941) 749-3600
Fax: (941) 749-3692
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3000, Bradenton, FL 34206
By Email or Mail
Written inquiries about court cases may be directed to the Clerk’s copy center at clerkscopycenter@manateeclerk.com. Mail requests should be sent to the Clerk’s mailing address at P.O. Box 3000, Bradenton, FL 34206. Requests should identify the case by number, party name, or other identifying details, and include prepayment for any applicable copy fees.
Copy Fees Under Florida Statute 28.24
The following standard service charges apply to copies of court records:
- Photographic copies (up to 14" × 8½"): $1.00 per page
- Photographic copies (larger than 14" × 8½"): $5.00 per page
- Certification of a court record: $2.00 per certification
- Searching court records: $2.00 per year searched
- Exemplified certificates: $7.00
- Sealing a court file or expungement: $42.00
Are Court Records Public in Manatee County?
Court records in Manatee County are presumptively public. Florida’s Public Records Law, Chapter 119, establishes broad public access to government records, including court documents. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 further governs public access to judicial branch records and specifies categories of records that are confidential or exempt from disclosure.
Records that are not available for public inspection include:
- Memoranda or advisory opinions related to court administration
- Complaints alleging misconduct by judges, until formal proceedings are initiated
- Identities of persons seeking unpaid volunteer positions with the court
- Unexecuted arrest warrants, search warrants, and their supporting affidavits
- Records designated as confidential under federal law, Florida statutes, or the Florida and U.S. Constitutions
- Records sealed by court order
Minimization of Sensitive Information
Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.425 requires that anyone filing a court document must not include full Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or credit and debit card numbers. Identification numbers, telephone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, and PINs must be truncated. Minors must be identified only by their initials.
Any person may request the Clerk remove from its public website an image or copy of a military record, death certificate, or court file governed by the Florida Rules of Family Law, Juvenile Procedure, or Probate Rules. The request must be in writing, specify the document and page number, and may be submitted by mail, fax, electronic transmission, or in person. No fee is charged for removal under F.S. 28.2221(5)©. Those whose Social Security or financial account numbers appear in a court document may also request removal using the Clerk’s Request for Removal of Private Information form.
Manatee County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Manatee County are heard by the Circuit Court (felonies and juvenile delinquency) and the County Court (misdemeanors and criminal traffic offenses). The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains the official records of all criminal proceedings, including charging documents, motions, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgments.
Searching Criminal Court Records
- Visit the Public Records Hub and select the criminal case type to search by defendant name or case number.
- Go to the Clerk’s office at 1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205, during business hours to request records in person.
- Submit a written request by mail or email to clerkscopycenter@manateeclerk.com.
Arrest Records and Background Checks
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records separately from the Clerk’s court records. The Sheriff’s online Arrest Inquiry tool provides booking information for individuals currently incarcerated and those released within the preceding 90 days.
For local background checks and incident reports, contact the Sheriff’s Records Section:
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office – Records Section
Address: 600 301 Boulevard West, Suite 202, Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: (941) 747-3011, ext. 2295
Fax: (941) 723-5196
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (closed weekends and holidays)
Background check requests require the subject’s full legal name (correctly spelled), date of birth, race, and sex. Include any prior surnames. The fee is $2.00 per person for background checks; mail requests must include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted. Sheriff’s Office copy fees for reports include $0.15 per page for walk-in service and $1.00 for mailed reports of up to four pages.
Statewide and National Checks
For a broader search, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) offers statewide criminal history record checks through its online portal. National checks may be requested through the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division at 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306.
Accident Reports
Under Florida Statute 316.066, crash reports containing personal information are confidential for 60 days after filing. During that period, access is limited to parties involved, their legal representatives, insurers, law enforcement, qualified media, and victim services programs.
Manatee County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Manatee County are divided between the Circuit Court and the County Court based on the amount in controversy. The Circuit Court handles civil actions exceeding $50,000, mortgage foreclosures, and complex litigation. The County Court hears small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil cases below the circuit threshold. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains all civil filings, including complaints, answers, motions, discovery documents, trial orders, and final judgments.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case records can be accessed through the same Public Records Hub used for all court record types. Select the appropriate civil case category and search by party name, case number, or business name. The case type search option allows users to filter by category and date range.
Selected Circuit Civil Filing Fees
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Civil action (in excess of $50,000) | $400.00 |
| Mortgage foreclosure ($50,001–$250,000) | $905.00 |
| Mortgage foreclosure ($250,001 or more) | $1,905.00 |
| Cross-claim, counterclaim, or third-party complaint | $395.00 |
| Garnishment action (per garnishee) | $85.00 |
| Case reopening (F.S. 28.241) | $50.00 |
| Bond approval | $8.50 |
| Non-resident cost bond | $100.00 |
A complete list of current fees is available on the Clerk’s Circuit Civil Fees page.
Appeals
Appeals from County Court to Circuit Court carry a filing fee of $281.00. A cross-appeal costs $100.00. For appeals from Circuit or County Court to the Second District Court of Appeal, both a lower-court fee and an appellate court fee are required. Preparation and indexing of the appellate record costs $3.50 per instrument, and clerk certification is $7.00.
Mediation Fees
Court-ordered mediation in civil and family cases is assessed per session:
- Family income above $50,000 but below $100,000 per year: $120.00
- Family income below $50,000 per year: $60.00
Manatee County Family Court Records
The Family Division of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit adjudicates dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence injunctions, name changes, adoptions, and juvenile dependency matters in Manatee County. Multiple family divisions operate within Manatee County, with hearings conducted both in person and via Zoom. Scheduling is managed through the court’s JACS system.
Searching Family Court Records
Family court case information can be searched through the Clerk’s online records portal by selecting the family law case type. In-person inquiries may be directed to the family law department:
Family Law Department
Phone: (941) 749-1800
Location: 1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205
Requests may also be mailed to P.O. Box 3000, Bradenton, FL 34206, or submitted by email to clerkscopycenter@manateeclerk.com.
Confidentiality Restrictions
While most family court records are public, significant restrictions apply. Records involving juvenile dependency (Chapter 48, Florida Statutes), domestic violence injunctions with sealed safety information, child abuse reports, and adoption proceedings are confidential. Documents governed by the Florida Rules of Family Law may be removed from the Clerk’s public website upon written request under F.S. 28.2221(5)©.
Selected Family Law Filing Fees
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Petition for dissolution of marriage | $397.50 |
| Counter-petition for dissolution (no-fault) | $392.50 |
| Cross-claim, counterclaim, or counter-petition | $295.00 |
| Issuance of summons (each) | $10.00 |
| Final judgment of dissolution (Vital Statistics reporting, F.S. 382.023) | $10.50 |
| Family law case (Chs. 39, 61, 741, 742, 747, 752, 753) | $300.00 |
| Case reopening (F.S. 28.241) | $50.00 |
Detailed fees are published on the Clerk’s Family Law Filing Fees page.
Marriage Records
Marriage license applications may be initiated online through the Clerk’s marriage application portal. The marriage license fee is $93.50. Both parties must appear in person at the Clerk’s office with valid identification. Florida residents who have completed an approved premarital course may qualify for a reduced fee. Marriage records and dissolution records can be searched via the Clerk’s online case type search tool.
Statewide marriage and divorce records are also maintained by the Florida Department of Health, where certified copies may be ordered online, by mail, or in person at the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville.
Manatee County Probate Court Records
The Probate and Guardianship Division of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit handles the settlement of decedents’ estates, appointment and supervision of guardians, administration of minors’ estates, determination of incapacity, involuntary hospitalization proceedings, approval and probate of wills, and cases arising under the Jimmy Ryce Act (sexually violent predators). In Manatee County, Judge Diana L. Moreland presides over probate and guardianship matters in Courtroom 5D of the Judicial Center.
Accessing Probate Records
Probate case records may be searched through the Clerk’s case type search by selecting the probate category and entering a date range or party name. In-person requests may be directed to the Probate and Guardianship department:
Probate and Guardianship Department
Phone: (941) 741-4037
Location: 1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205
For probate coordinator assistance in Manatee County, contact the court at probatemanatee@jud12.flcourts.org.
Hearing Procedures
Non-evidentiary probate hearings and evidentiary hearings of 60 minutes or less are conducted via Zoom, in accordance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.530. Ex parte hearings are held Monday through Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 5D. Attorneys must email all relevant documents (petition, notice of hearing, and proposed orders) to the Probate Coordinator by noon on the business day before the hearing. Evidentiary exhibits must be submitted and marked at least five business days before the hearing.
Selected Probate Filing Fees
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Disposition of personal property (estate less than $1,000) | $235.00 |
| Summary administration ($1,000 or more) | $345.00 |
| Formal administration | $400.00 |
| Caveat / Notice of Trust | $41.00 |
| Guardianship | $235.00 |
| Filing verified inventory (Clerk’s fee) | $85.00 |
| Annual accounting (estate value $25,000 or less) | $20.00 |
Standard copy fees apply as set by F.S. 28.24: $1.00 per page for photographic copies and $2.00 per certification. A complete fee listing is available on the Clerk’s Department Fee Listing page.
Confidentiality of Probate Records
Most probate records are public. However, guardianship reports containing medical or financial information about wards, records in involuntary commitment proceedings, and certain documents relating to minors’ estates may be restricted. Documents governed by the Florida Probate Rules may also be removed from the Clerk’s public website upon written request, as described above.