Search Fort Myers Court Records

Court records for Fort Myers are held at the Lee County Clerk of Court office right in the city. Fort Myers is the county seat of Lee County and home to the main courthouse.

Lee County Clerk of Court in Fort Myers

The Lee County Clerk of Court has its main office in Fort Myers at the Lee County Justice Center. Since Fort Myers is the county seat, this is where most court business happens. All court records for Lee County are filed and stored here.

The clerk handles civil, criminal, family, traffic, and probate cases for Fort Myers and every other city in Lee County. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, these are public records. You can ask to see them unless a court order seals the file or the law makes it confidential.

The Florida Courts website helps Fort Myers residents find court information, self-help resources, and legal forms.

Fort Myers residents have the advantage of being close to the courthouse. You can walk in during business hours to view records, file documents, or talk to the clerk staff in person. That is not as easy for people in Cape Coral or Lehigh Acres who have to drive.

Search Court Records Online

The MATRIX Portal is the primary tool for searching Fort Myers court records. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or date range. MATRIX covers civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases across all of Lee County.

Searches are free. No account is needed for basic lookups. The system shows case status, party names, filing dates, and docket entries. Fort Myers cases are filed under Lee County since the city is the county seat and shares the same court system.

For copies of court documents, the clerk charges $1 per page for certified copies. You can also get e-certified records online. This is handy for Fort Myers residents who want to avoid waiting in line, even though the courthouse is right in town.

The official records search is separate from MATRIX. It covers deeds, liens, mortgages, and recorded judgments. Use this if you need property records or a recorded court judgment from Fort Myers.

Criminal Court Records in Fort Myers

Criminal cases in Fort Myers go through the 20th Judicial Circuit. Felonies are tried at the circuit court level. Misdemeanors are in county court. The clerk keeps records for both.

Fort Myers has its own police department. Arrest records start with the Fort Myers Police. The Lee County Sheriff also covers some areas. Once the State Attorney files charges, the case enters the court system and the clerk stores the records.

The Florida Clerks and Comptrollers portal connects you to all 67 county clerk offices in the state and is a useful resource for Fort Myers.

Under Florida Statute 119.0714, sensitive data is redacted from public records. Social security numbers and bank info are kept out of view. This applies to every case in Fort Myers. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 sets the broader rules for confidential court information. Sealed and expunged records will not show up in search results.

Juvenile cases are not available through the standard public search tools. Those records have different access rules under Florida law, and the clerk handles them separately.

Civil and Family Cases

Civil cases in Fort Myers include contract disputes, foreclosures, evictions, personal injury claims, and small claims. Circuit court handles the bigger cases. County court takes the smaller ones. Both show up in MATRIX.

Family court records cover divorce, custody, paternity, and domestic violence matters. Some family files are confidential by law. The clerk follows Florida law on what is public and what stays restricted.

Fort Myers residents can file court documents through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. E-filing is required for most case types. The system works around the clock. Filing fees vary by case type.

The Florida Courts Help center has free forms and self-help guides. Fort Myers residents who want to handle their own case can find divorce forms, small claims forms, and other templates there. It is also a good place to look for answers to common court procedure questions.

Court Services and Resources

Under Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14, the clerk can post public court document images online. Many Fort Myers case documents are viewable through MATRIX as a result. Not every document is scanned, though. Older files may only be available in person at the courthouse.

For payments, MyFloridaCounty.com lets you pay court fees, traffic tickets, and other charges online. You get a receipt right away. Even though Fort Myers residents live close to the courthouse, paying online is often faster than waiting in line.

The Lee County Justice Center at 1700 Monroe St. is the main courthouse for Fort Myers. Parking is available on site. The courthouse is open during regular business hours on weekdays. If you need help with a specific service, call 239-533-5000 first. Some departments may need an appointment.

As the county seat, Fort Myers is the hub for all Lee County court activity. Every case filed anywhere in the county, whether from Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, or Bonita Springs, runs through the clerk office here in Fort Myers.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Fort Myers in southwest Florida. Each city's court records go through their county clerk.