Lakeland Court Records

Lakeland court records are managed by the Polk County Clerk of Courts, with the main courthouse located in Bartow, the Polk County seat. As the largest city in Polk County, Lakeland generates a significant share of the county's civil, criminal, and family case filings.

Polk County Clerk of Courts

The Polk County Clerk of Courts is the main office for all court records from Lakeland. The clerk runs both circuit and county court operations in the 10th Judicial Circuit. This circuit also covers Hardee and Highlands counties.

The main courthouse is at 255 N Broadway Ave, Bartow, FL 33830. That is about 15 miles east of Lakeland. You can call (863) 534-4000 for help. Lakeland does not have its own courthouse for filing, so cases get filed at the Bartow location or through the state e-filing system.

Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records in Polk County are public. Anyone can ask to see them. The clerk must provide access unless a judge has sealed the case or the law makes it confidential. This applies to all records from Lakeland.

The Polk County Clerk's homepage is where Lakeland residents start when looking for court records, public records, and other services.

The site gives you links to case searches, official records, jury duty, and other clerk services. Lakeland residents can handle many court tasks online without a trip to Bartow.

Search Lakeland Court Records Online

Polk County uses a system called PRO (Public Records Online) for court case searches. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or citation number. The tool covers civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases from Lakeland and all of Polk County.

Basic searches are free. No account is needed. The system shows docket entries, party names, case status, and filing dates. It runs around the clock.

The PRO search portal lets you find court records across all divisions in Polk County, including cases from Lakeland.

If you get too many results, try adding a middle name or use a date range to narrow things down. Under Florida Statute 119.0714, the clerk keeps personal data like social security numbers out of public view. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 controls when a court record can be sealed or made confidential in Lakeland.

The clerk also has a Public Records Searches page that explains all the search options. This page walks you through how to find court cases, official records, and other public documents in Polk County.

Lakeland residents can also file court documents through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Electronic filing is required in most case types. The portal works 24 hours a day. Court fees still apply. The public records searches page on the clerk's site also walks you through other search options beyond court cases.

Criminal and Civil Court Records

Criminal cases from Lakeland go through the 10th Judicial Circuit Court. Felonies are heard at the circuit level. Misdemeanors stay in county court. The clerk files and stores all case records for both.

Civil cases include contract disputes, foreclosures, personal injury claims, and small claims matters. Circuit court handles cases over $50,000. County court covers smaller amounts. Both show up in the PRO search tool.

Family court records cover divorce, child custody, paternity, and domestic violence. Some family records have limits on public access. Child abuse and dependency files are not in the standard search. The clerk follows Florida law on what stays public.

Under Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14, clerks can post court document images online for public viewing. Polk County does this for many records. Sealed or confidential cases stay out of public view in Lakeland.

More Resources for Lakeland

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers site links all 67 county clerks in the state. You can pay fines, search records, or check jury info. The Florida Courts Help center has free forms and self-help guides for people filing on their own in Lakeland or anywhere in Florida.

For payments, MyFloridaCounty.com lets you pay court fees online. Lakeland residents use this for traffic tickets and other fines without driving to the Bartow courthouse.

The Polk County court records page has more detail on the full range of clerk services. If your case was filed in a different county, check with that county's clerk. Polk County is one of the largest counties in Florida by land area, so make sure you know where your case was filed.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Lakeland in central Florida. Court records for each city are handled by their own county clerk's office.