Hendry County Court Records
What Is Hendry County Court Records
Court records in Hendry County encompass the official documentation generated by judicial proceedings within the county's court system. These records include case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, sentencing records, and any other materials filed with or produced by a court in connection with a legal matter. Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained in Hendry County, such as property records held by the Property Appraiser's Office or vital records (birth, death, and marriage certificates) maintained by the Florida Department of Health.
The courts that generate and maintain records in Hendry County include:
- Circuit Court — handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile matters
- County Court — handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims up to $50,000, small claims, and traffic matters
- Probate Court — a division of the Circuit Court handling estates, guardianships, and trusts
- Family Court — a division of the Circuit Court addressing dissolution of marriage, child custody, and support matters
- Small Claims Court — a division of the County Court for disputes involving $8,000 or less
Pursuant to § 28.13, Florida Statutes, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is designated as the official custodian of all court records within the county. Records span civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters filed across these judicial divisions. The Florida Courts system provides statewide governance and administrative oversight of all state court records.
Are Court Records Public In Hendry County
Court records in Hendry County are presumptively open to the public under Florida law. § 119.01, Florida Statutes, establishes the public policy of the State of Florida that all state, county, and municipal records shall be open for personal inspection and copying by any person. This foundational principle extends to court records maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
The following categories of records are generally available for public inspection:
- Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
- Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
- Final judgments and court orders
- Docket sheets reflecting all filings and proceedings in a case
- Scheduled hearing dates and courtroom assignments
- Probate inventories and estate filings not otherwise sealed
Members of the public should note that federal court records maintained by the Middle District of Florida are governed by federal rules of access rather than Florida's public records statutes. Access to federal records is provided through the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system, which operates independently of the state court system.
Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under Florida law, including records involving minors in dependency or delinquency proceedings, mental health commitments, adoption files, and records sealed or expunged by court order pursuant to § 943.0585, Florida Statutes. The Florida Supreme Court's administrative orders further define the scope of access and the procedures governing requests for confidential records.
How To Find Court Records in Hendry County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Hendry County may access them through several official channels. The primary custodian of state court records is the Hendry County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, located at the Hendry County Courthouse in LaBelle.
Steps to obtain court records in person:
- Visit the Clerk of Courts office at 25 E. Hickpochee Avenue, LaBelle, FL 33935, during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
- Provide the case number, party name, or other identifying information to the clerk's staff
- Request inspection of the record or submit a written public records request if documents are not immediately available
- Pay any applicable copying or certification fees as established by the Clerk's fee schedule
Steps to obtain records by mail:
- Prepare a written request identifying the case number, party names, and the specific documents sought
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for applicable fees
- Mail the request to the Hendry County Clerk of Courts, P.O. Box 1760, LaBelle, FL 33975
The Florida Division of Library and Information Services maintains a statewide directory of clerks of county courts that provides contact information for all county clerk offices, including Hendry County.
How To Look Up Court Records in Hendry County Online?
Several online portals currently provide access to Hendry County court records without requiring an in-person visit.
Hendry County Clerk of Courts Online Portal The Clerk of Courts maintains an online case search system accessible through the official Clerk's website. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name. The portal provides access to docket entries, case status, and, where available, scanned documents for civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters.
Florida Appellate Case Information System (ACIS) The Florida Appellate Case Information System provides access to public case dockets and electronic case filings in Florida's appellate courts. Members of the public may use this system to search for cases that have been appealed from Hendry County's Circuit or County Court to the Second District Court of Appeal.
Search steps for the state online portal:
- Navigate to the Clerk's official case search portal
- Select the appropriate case type (civil, criminal, traffic, probate, or family)
- Enter the party's last name, first name, or case number in the designated fields
- Review the list of matching cases and select the relevant matter
- Access available docket entries and document images
PACER — Federal Court Records For federal cases involving Hendry County parties, members of the public may access records through the PACER system linked to the Middle District of Florida. A PACER account registration is required, and per-page fees apply for document retrieval.
How To Search Hendry County Court Records for Free?
Florida law guarantees the right of any person to inspect public records at no charge. Under § 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, every custodian of public records shall permit the records to be inspected and examined by any person desiring to do so, at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions. Fees may only be charged for duplication of records, not for inspection.
The following options are currently available for free record searches:
- In-person inspection at the Hendry County Clerk of Courts office — no fee is charged to view records at the public counter
- Clerk's online case search portal — basic case information and docket entries are accessible at no cost
- Florida Appellate Case Information System — the ACIS portal provides free access to appellate court dockets and available case documents statewide
- Florida Courts website — the Florida Courts portal provides general court information, court locations, and links to clerk portals at no charge
Fees are assessed only when a requestor seeks certified copies, paper reproductions, or other value-added services beyond basic inspection.
What's Included in a Hendry County Court Record?
The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally include the following categories of documents:
Civil Case Records:
- Complaint or petition initiating the action
- Summons and proof of service
- Defendant's answer and affirmative defenses
- Motions, responses, and supporting memoranda
- Court orders and rulings
- Final judgment and any post-judgment filings
- Notices of appeal
Criminal Case Records:
- Arrest affidavit and charging document (information or indictment)
- Arraignment and plea records
- Pretrial motions and orders
- Trial transcripts (where prepared)
- Verdict and sentencing orders
- Probation or supervision conditions
Family Court Records:
- Petition for dissolution of marriage or paternity
- Financial affidavits and asset disclosures
- Parenting plans and custody orders
- Child support worksheets and orders
- Final judgment of dissolution
Probate Records:
- Petition for administration
- Inventory of estate assets
- Creditor claims and objections
- Orders of distribution
- Final discharge of personal representative
Traffic Records:
- Citation or uniform traffic complaint
- Hearing notices and dispositions
- Orders imposing fines or license suspensions
Small Claims Records:
- Statement of claim
- Defendant's response
- Mediation records
- Final judgment
How Long Does Hendry County Keep Court Records?
Hendry County court records are retained in accordance with the retention schedules established by the Florida Division of Library and Information Services and the Florida Supreme Court. The General Records Schedule GS1-SL for State and Local Government Agencies, along with court-specific schedules, governs the minimum retention periods applicable to judicial records.
Current retention periods for principal record types include:
- Felony criminal case files — retained permanently
- Misdemeanor criminal case files — retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
- Civil case files (Circuit Court) — retained for a minimum of 5 years following case closure; cases involving real property are retained permanently
- Probate case files — retained permanently
- Family court case files — retained for a minimum of 10 years following the youngest child reaching the age of majority, or permanently where real property is involved
- Small claims case files — retained for a minimum of 5 years following case closure
- Traffic infraction records — retained for a minimum of 5 years
- Court dockets and indexes — retained permanently
These schedules represent minimum retention periods; the Clerk of Courts may retain records for longer periods at the office's discretion. Records that have exceeded their retention period may be destroyed in accordance with approved disposition procedures.
Types of Courts In Hendry County
Hendry County's court system operates within Florida's unified state court structure, which is organized hierarchically from the county level through the state supreme court.
Hendry County Court (County Court) The County Court handles misdemeanor criminal matters, civil claims up to $50,000, small claims, and traffic infractions. It represents the entry level of Florida's court hierarchy. Information on county court services offered in Hendry County is available through the Hendry County court location page on the Florida Courts website.
Hendry County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller 25 E. Hickpochee Avenue, LaBelle, FL 33935 P.O. Box 1760, LaBelle, FL 33975 (863) 675-5217 Clerks of County Courts — Florida Division of Library and Information Services Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court (Circuit Court) Hendry County is served by the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, which also encompasses Charlotte, Collier, Glades, and Lee Counties. The Circuit Court exercises general trial jurisdiction over felony criminal matters, civil cases exceeding $50,000, family law, probate, and juvenile matters.
Twentieth Judicial Circuit — Hendry County Courthouse 25 E. Hickpochee Avenue, LaBelle, FL 33935 (863) 675-5217 Florida Courts Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Second District Court of Appeal Appeals from Hendry County Circuit and County Court decisions are heard by the Second District Court of Appeal, currently reorganized as part of Florida's Sixth District Court of Appeal under recent restructuring. Appellate case information is accessible through the Florida Appellate Case Information System.
Florida Supreme Court The Florida Supreme Court serves as the court of last resort for state court matters. The court's decisions, dockets, and administrative orders are published on the Florida Courts website.
United States District Court — Middle District of Florida Federal matters involving Hendry County parties are adjudicated by the Middle District of Florida, which serves Hendry County from its Fort Myers divisional office.
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida — Fort Myers Division 2110 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 461-2000 Middle District of Florida Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What Types of Cases Do Hendry County Courts Hear?
Each court within Hendry County's judicial structure exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of cases.
County Court:
- Misdemeanor criminal offenses (first and second degree)
- Civil disputes involving amounts up to $50,000
- Small claims matters involving $8,000 or less
- Traffic infractions and moving violations
- Ordinance violations
- Landlord-tenant disputes within the monetary threshold
Circuit Court (Twentieth Judicial Circuit):
- Felony criminal prosecutions
- Civil matters exceeding $50,000
- Dissolution of marriage and family law matters
- Paternity and child custody proceedings
- Juvenile dependency and delinquency matters
- Probate, guardianship, and trust administration
- Mental health commitment proceedings
- Appeals from County Court decisions
Federal Court (Middle District of Florida):
- Cases arising under federal law or the U.S. Constitution
- Civil rights claims under federal statutes
- Bankruptcy proceedings
- Immigration matters
- Federal criminal prosecutions
- Cases involving the United States as a party
- Diversity jurisdiction cases meeting the federal threshold
How To Find a Court Docket In Hendry County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and proceedings in a given case. Members of the public may access Hendry County court dockets through the following methods.
Online Docket Search:
- Access the Hendry County Clerk of Courts' online case search portal and enter the case number or party name to retrieve the docket for any non-confidential matter
- Use the Florida Appellate Case Information System to search appellate dockets for cases originating in Hendry County that have been appealed to a higher court
- Federal case dockets are accessible through the PACER system linked to the Middle District of Florida
In-Person Docket Access:
- Visit the Clerk of Courts public counter at 25 E. Hickpochee Avenue, LaBelle, FL 33935, during business hours
- Provide the case number or party name to staff, who will retrieve the docket for inspection at no charge
- Copies of docket sheets may be obtained for the applicable per-page fee
By Telephone:
- Members of the public may call the Clerk of Courts at (863) 675-5217 to inquire about case status and docket information for specific matters
Which Courts in Hendry County Are Not Courts of Record?
A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, and whose acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled in permanent records. Under Florida law, courts not of record do not maintain a verbatim transcript of proceedings as a matter of course, and appeals from such courts are typically conducted as trials de novo rather than on the record.
Pursuant to Article V, Section 1 of the Florida Constitution, Florida's unified court system designates the Supreme Court, District Courts of Appeal, Circuit Courts, and County Courts as courts of record. At present, all courts operating within Hendry County's state judicial system — including the County Court and the Circuit Court — are courts of record.
Certain quasi-judicial or administrative bodies that exercise adjudicatory functions within Hendry County are not courts of record. These include:
- Code enforcement hearing officers — conduct administrative hearings on local ordinance violations but do not constitute courts of record
- Administrative law proceedings before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) — these are administrative tribunals, not judicial courts of record
- County commission quasi-judicial hearings — land use and zoning appeals heard by the Board of County Commissioners are administrative in nature
Decisions issued by these bodies are subject to review by the Circuit Court through a petition for writ of certiorari, at which point the matter enters the court of record system. Florida's court structure, including the distinction between courts of record and administrative tribunals, is administered under the oversight of the Florida Courts system.