Lee County Court Records Search
Lee County court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Fort Myers. The clerk's office provides online access to court case filings through its MATRIX system, which covers civil, criminal, family law, and probate records across the 20th Judicial Circuit. Whether you need to look up a case number, check a court date, or pull a document, Lee County offers several ways to search court records from home. The clerk also handles official records, including deeds, liens, and recorded documents, which are stored at the same office. Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and Lehigh Acres residents all file through this clerk's office for any court matter in Lee County.
Lee County Quick Facts
Lee County Clerk of Court Records
Linda Doggett serves as the Lee County Clerk of Court. Her office is the place to go for all court records in Lee County. The clerk files, stores, and manages case records for every type of court matter in the county. That covers circuit civil, county civil, family law, probate, and criminal cases. The clerk also keeps the official records for Lee County, which include deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents. The office is based in Fort Myers and serves the full county.
The Lee County Clerk of Court website gives you online access to most services. You can search court records, look up case status, and order certified copies without leaving home. The site also has info on filing fees, court forms, and how to request records by mail. If you want to search official records like property deeds or marriage licenses in Lee County, the clerk has a separate search tool for that category of records.
The Florida Courts website at flcourts.gov shows the statewide structure for all county court records in the state.
For questions about court filings or records, you can reach the Lee County Clerk's office at 239-533-5000. The mailing address is P.O. Box 2469, Ft. Myers, FL 33902. Walk-in visits are also an option at the courthouse. Staff can help with filing questions, fee payments, and requests for court records in Lee County.
| Office | Lee County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Linda Doggett |
| Phone | 239-533-5000 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 2469, Ft. Myers, FL 33902 |
| Website | leeclerk.org |
Note: For tech issues with the Lee County court records system, contact the help desk at DoITServiceDesk@LeeClerk.org.
Search Lee County Court Records with MATRIX
The main tool for searching Lee County court records is called MATRIX. This is an online system the clerk built for public viewing of court records. MATRIX follows the rules set by the Florida Supreme Court under Administrative Order AOSC24-65. It uses an Access Security Matrix with 14 levels to control what the public can see. Some court documents are open to everyone. Others need a Viewable on Request (VOR) submission before the clerk will release them. This system helps Lee County stay in line with both public access laws and privacy rules for court records.
To use MATRIX, visit the Lee County MATRIX court records search page. You can search by name, case number, or other details. Results show case information, docket entries, and filing dates. Keep in mind that cases opened before 2004 may not show up in MATRIX. For those older Lee County court records, you may need to use the Records Request System on the clerk's site instead. The clerk has been adding older records over time, but the full archive is not yet in the online database.
The Lee County court case records page explains how the system works. It walks you through the different levels of access and what you might need to do to view certain documents. The clerk's office designed MATRIX to give the public as much access as the law allows while still protecting sensitive court records in Lee County.
You can also search for court hearings through the clerk's site. This lets you find dates, times, and courtroom locations for upcoming court events in Lee County. That can be helpful if you are a party in a case or just want to attend a public hearing.
Court Record Fees in Lee County
Most basic searches of Lee County court records through MATRIX are free. You can look up case info and read docket entries at no charge. But if you need an official copy, there is a fee. The clerk charges $8 per e-certified document. Once you pay, the document is sent to your email. You have 30 days to download it. This fee is not refundable, so make sure you have the right case number before you order. The Lee County e-certified records page has the full process.
For in-person copies at the courthouse in Fort Myers, the clerk charges per page. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you need a lot of court records from Lee County, it can add up. Some records may also have search fees on top of the copy charges. The clerk's website lists the current fee schedule so you can plan ahead.
Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, you have the right to inspect court records in Lee County. The law says the clerk can charge a fee for copies, but the right to look at the records is free. You can go to the courthouse during business hours and ask to see any public court record. The clerk must let you view it. You only pay if you want a copy to take home.
Note: The $8 per e-certified document is a flat rate for Lee County court records, and the fee applies whether the document is one page or fifty.
Lee County Official Records Search
Beyond court case records, the Lee County Clerk also maintains official records. These are separate from court filings. Official records in Lee County cover deeds, mortgages, liens, contracts, judgments, and other documents that get recorded by the clerk. If someone sells a house in Cape Coral or files a lien in Fort Myers, it goes into the official records for Lee County.
The Lee County official records search tool lets you look up these documents online. You can search by name, document type, or recording date. The system has records going back several decades for Lee County. Images of recorded documents are also available in many cases. This is useful if you need to check property ownership, see if a lien has been filed, or get a copy of a recorded judgment from a court case in Lee County.
The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers network ties all 67 county clerks together. If you are searching for records across counties, that site helps you find the right clerk's office for each one.
The statewide system at MyFloridaCounty.com also handles court fee payments for Lee County cases.
Confidential Court Records in Lee County
Not every court record in Lee County is open to the public. Florida law makes some types of records confidential. Juvenile cases and adoption records are sealed by default under Florida Supreme Court rules. Mental health cases also have limits on public access. If a judge orders a case sealed in Lee County, the record will not appear in MATRIX or any other public search tool.
Under Florida Statute 119.0714, the clerk must remove social security numbers, bank account numbers, and other sensitive data from public court records in Lee County. This happens automatically. You do not need to ask for it. The clerk also follows Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, which lays out the full list of what counts as confidential in court records. If you believe something should be sealed in your Lee County court case, you can file a motion with the court asking a judge to restrict access.
The Viewable on Request process in Lee County is tied to this. Some court records exist in MATRIX but are not visible until you submit a VOR form. The clerk reviews the request and then decides if the document can be released. This extra step keeps sensitive information in Lee County court records from being seen by people who should not have access to it.
Legal Help for Lee County Court Cases
The Florida Courts Help website has free forms and guides for people who want to file in Lee County without a lawyer. All Florida Supreme Court approved forms are available at no cost. The 20th Judicial Circuit also has self-help resources for people in Lee County who need to handle their own court filings. Staff at the courthouse can help you find the right form and explain what steps to follow. They just cannot tell you what to put on the form or give legal advice.
Legal Aid Service of Broward County and Florida Rural Legal Services serve parts of Southwest Florida, including Lee County. These groups offer free legal help to people who meet income requirements. They handle family law, housing disputes, and consumer issues. If you have a court case in Lee County and cannot afford a lawyer, reaching out to one of these groups is a good first step.
Cities in Lee County
All cities and communities in Lee County file court cases through the county clerk's office in Fort Myers. The same court records system covers every part of the county. Pick a city below to find local details about court records access in that area of Lee County.
Nearby Counties
These counties share borders with Lee County. Court jurisdiction depends on where the case was filed, so check that you are looking in the right county for your records. Each one has its own clerk and search tools.