Polk County Court Records
Polk County court records are managed by Clerk Stacy M. Butterfield at the courthouse in Bartow. The clerk's office in the 10th Judicial Circuit handles all court filings for the county, from civil lawsuits and criminal cases to traffic tickets and family law matters. Online access to Polk County court records is available through the PRO system, a free search tool that runs day and night. You can view dockets, check court dates, look up fines, and print uncertified copies of court documents at no cost. Residents of Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven, and the rest of Polk County all use this same clerk's office for court records.
Polk County Quick Facts
Polk County Clerk of Court
Stacy M. Butterfield is the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller for Polk County. Her office handles all court records in the county. This means every civil filing, every criminal case, every traffic ticket, and every family law matter runs through the Polk County Clerk. The office also takes care of official records like deeds, mortgages, marriage licenses, and liens. If a document gets filed with the court or recorded in Polk County, the clerk's office has it.
The Polk County Clerk of Court website is the starting point for most people looking for court records. From there you can search cases, check dockets, and find court dates. The clerk also handles jury service, child support payments, and court fine collections for Polk County. Everything runs through the Bartow office, though there are satellite locations in other parts of the county.
The Polk County Clerk homepage gives you a clear view of the services available for searching court records online.
The mailing address for public records requests in Polk County is P.O. Box 9000, Drawer CC-18, Bartow, FL 33831-9000. You can also email the records team at clerkrecords@polk-county.net if you have questions about getting court records from Polk County.
| Office | Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Stacy M. Butterfield |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 9000, Drawer CC-18, Bartow, FL 33831-9000 |
| clerkrecords@polk-county.net | |
| Website | polkclerkfl.gov |
Search Polk County Court Records Online
The Polk County public records search page is where you begin. This page lays out all the search options the clerk offers. You can search court records, official records, and other public documents from this single landing page. The clerk designed it so you can pick the type of record you need and jump straight to the right tool. It is free to search and you do not need an account for basic lookups of Polk County court records.
The Polk County public records search page walks you through each type of search available for court records and official records.
From the search page, you can look up civil cases, criminal cases, and traffic tickets. The system shows docket entries and the activity on each court case in Polk County. You can view documents filed in court and print uncertified copies from home for free. You can also find court dates and see how much you owe in court fines. These features make it easy to stay on top of any active case in Polk County without having to call the clerk's office or drive to Bartow.
Note: Uncertified copies printed from the Polk County system are free, but they do not carry the clerk's seal and may not be accepted by other courts or agencies.
Polk Records Online (PRO) System
The main search tool for Polk County court records is called PRO. This stands for Polk Records Online. It is a consolidated case records search application that brings all of the clerk's data into one place. PRO covers court cases and official records alike. County records dating back to 1957 can be viewed in the online database, which gives Polk County one of the deeper archives of any Florida clerk's office. The Polk Records Online (PRO) tool is free and open to the public around the clock.
The PRO system is the consolidated search application for all Polk County court records and official records going back decades.
When you run a search in PRO, you can look up Polk County court records by name, case number, or document type. Results show filing dates, party names, case status, and docket entries. For official records, you can search by grantor, grantee, or recording date. The system pulls from the same database the clerk uses, so what you see in PRO matches what the office has on file. If a record is public under Florida law, it should be in PRO for Polk County.
PRO also lets you check court fines and balances. If you owe money on a case in Polk County, the system tells you the amount. You can use MyFloridaCounty.com to pay court fees online for Polk County cases. The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com handles electronic filing if you need to submit documents to the court.
Polk County Court Records by Case Type
Polk County court records span many case types. Civil cases in Polk County cover lawsuits, contract disputes, foreclosures, and small claims. Criminal cases include felonies heard in circuit court and misdemeanors in county court. Traffic records are a big category in Polk County too. If you got a ticket anywhere in the county, the clerk has that record. Family law cases cover divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence injunctions. Probate and guardianship cases round out the main types of court records in Polk County.
Under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, all court records in Polk County are public unless a statute or court order says otherwise. This rule is the backbone of public access to court records across the state. It means you can look up any case in Polk County that has not been sealed or made confidential. The clerk follows this rule along with AOSC 16-14, which governs electronic access to court records and sets the standards for what can be posted online for public view in Polk County.
Criminal records in Polk County can be sealed or expunged if you meet the requirements under Florida law. The process starts with a form from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Once the court grants the order, the clerk removes the record from public access in Polk County. Sealed records still exist, but only a handful of people and agencies can view them after the court issues the order.
- Civil cases: lawsuits, foreclosures, small claims, appeals
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, warrants, bond matters
- Traffic records: citations, tickets, DUI cases
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support, name changes
- Probate: estates, wills, guardianship, trusts
Public Access Laws for Polk County Records
Florida Statute Chapter 119 is the public records law. It says that all court records in Polk County are open for inspection by any person. You do not need to be part of the case. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The clerk must let you see the records during normal business hours. If you want copies, the clerk can charge a fee, but viewing is free. This law applies to every court record the Polk County Clerk maintains.
Section 119.0714 adds rules about what must be kept private. The clerk has to remove social security numbers, bank account numbers, and certain other personal details from public court records in Polk County. This happens without anyone filing a request. It is automatic under the law. The clerk also follows Rule 2.420, which lists dozens of categories of confidential court records. Juvenile records, certain mental health records, and sealed cases are among the types you cannot see in public search tools for Polk County.
The Florida Courts website has more detail on public access rules that apply to Polk County court records. The Florida Courts Help site provides free forms and guides if you want to file something in Polk County court on your own.
Note: If the clerk denies your request for Polk County court records, you can challenge the denial under Chapter 119 by filing a lawsuit in circuit court.
Legal Resources in Polk County
The 10th Judicial Circuit has a self-help center for people who need to handle court matters in Polk County without an attorney. Staff can help you find the right forms and explain the process. They cannot give legal advice, but they can point you in the right direction. All court forms approved by the Florida Supreme Court are free to download from the state website.
The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers network connects all 67 county clerks in one place. If you need records from other counties besides Polk, that site helps you find the right office. The Appellate Court Information System at acis.flcourts.gov covers appeals from Polk County cases that go to the Second District Court of Appeal. Legal aid organizations in the region serve Polk County residents who qualify for free help with family law, housing, and other court matters.
Cities in Polk County
Every city and town in Polk County files court cases through the clerk's office in Bartow. Whether the case starts in Lakeland, Winter Haven, or Haines City, it goes through the same system. Select a city below to find local details about how to access court records for that part of Polk County.
Nearby Counties
Polk County sits in the center of the state and borders more counties than most. Make sure you are searching the right county for your court records. Each county listed below has its own clerk's office and search tools.