Cape Coral Court Records
Court records for Cape Coral are filed and stored by the Lee County Clerk of Court at the Lee County Justice Center in Fort Myers. Cape Coral is the largest city in Lee County with over 233,000 residents.
Cape Coral Quick Facts
Lee County Clerk of Court
Cape Coral does not have its own clerk office. All court records go through the Lee County Clerk of Court in Fort Myers. The clerk runs court operations for every city in Lee County, including Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and Lehigh Acres. You can reach them at 239-533-5000.
The Lee County Clerk handles civil cases, criminal matters, family law filings, traffic tickets, and probate records. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records are public. Anyone can ask to see them. Some records are sealed or made confidential by a judge, but most case files are open for viewing.
The Lee County Clerk website gives Cape Coral residents quick access to court records, official records, and filing services.
Cape Coral residents can use this site to find court dates, check case status, and pay fines. The clerk also handles marriage licenses and passport services at the Fort Myers office.
| Office | Lee County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 1700 Monroe St., Fort Myers, FL 33901 |
| Phone | (239) 533-5000 |
| Website | leeclerk.org |
| County Page | Lee County Court Records |
Search Cape Coral Court Records Online
The MATRIX Portal is the main search tool for Cape Coral court records. MATRIX lets you look up cases by name, case number, or date range. It covers civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases filed in Lee County.
Searches are free. You do not need to create an account. The system shows party names, case types, filing dates, and docket entries. Cape Coral cases will show "Lee County" as the filing location since there is no separate court system for the city.
If you need copies of filed documents, the clerk charges $1 per page for certified copies. That rate applies to any case in Cape Coral or anywhere else in Lee County. You can also get e-certified records through the clerk's website without visiting the courthouse.
The clerk's official records search is a separate tool. This covers deeds, liens, judgments, and other recorded documents. If you need a recorded judgment from a Cape Coral case, use the official records search rather than MATRIX.
Criminal Court Records in Cape Coral
Criminal cases in Cape Coral go through the 20th Judicial Circuit Court. Felony charges are heard at the circuit level. Misdemeanors stay in county court. The clerk stores all records for both levels.
You can look up arrest records, charges, and case outcomes through MATRIX. Cape Coral has its own police department, so arrest records start there. Once charges are filed, the case moves to the Lee County court system and the clerk takes over record keeping.
The Florida Courts system provides statewide access to court information for Cape Coral and all other Florida cities.
Under Florida Statute 119.0714, the clerk keeps personal data like social security numbers and bank account info out of public view. You do not need to file a motion for that protection. It happens by default in Cape Coral and across all of Lee County. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 also sets rules for what stays confidential in court files.
Juvenile cases are not part of the standard public search. Those records have separate access rules under Florida law. Sealed and expunged cases will not show up in MATRIX results for Cape Coral.
Civil and Family Cases
Civil cases in Cape Coral include lawsuits, contract disputes, foreclosures, and small claims. Circuit court handles cases over $50,000. County court covers smaller amounts. Both types are searchable through MATRIX.
Family court records cover divorce, child custody, paternity, adoption, and domestic violence cases. Some family records are confidential by law. Child abuse reports and dependency cases have strict limits on who can view them in Cape Coral.
Cape Coral residents can file court documents through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. E-filing is required for most case types now. The portal works around the clock. Filing is free, but court fees still apply. The Florida Courts Help center has free forms and self-help guides for Cape Coral residents who want to file on their own.
Court Services for Cape Coral
The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website connects all 67 county clerks in the state. You can pay traffic fines, search official records, or check jury duty info from one portal. Cape Coral residents use this for quick access to Lee County court services.
Under Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14, the clerk can post public court documents online. This is why you can view many Cape Coral case files through MATRIX without visiting the courthouse. Not every document is available online, though. Some older files may require an in-person visit to the Lee County Justice Center in Fort Myers.
For payments, MyFloridaCounty.com lets you pay court fees, traffic fines, and other charges online. You get a receipt right away. Many Cape Coral residents use this instead of driving to the courthouse in Fort Myers.
Cape Coral is about a 15 to 20 minute drive from the main courthouse in Fort Myers. If you need to go in person, the Lee County Justice Center has parking and is open on regular business days. Call ahead at 239-533-5000 to confirm hours before you make the trip from Cape Coral.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Cape Coral in southwest Florida. Court records for each city are handled by their county clerk's office.