Wellington Public Records
Public records in Wellington, Florida are open to any person under state law and are held by Palm Beach County offices and Wellington village departments. Court cases, property documents, police reports, permits, and other government records are all covered by Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Wellington is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit, and court filings go through the Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller.
Wellington Quick Facts
Palm Beach County Clerk Records
All circuit and county court records for Wellington are maintained by the Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller. The main office is at 301 N Olive Ave, Ninth Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. The main number is (561) 355-2996. You can also reach the public records team by email at publicrecords@mypalmbeachclerk.com. Palm Beach County Clerk Mike Caruso, CPA, serves as clerk and comptroller for the 15th Judicial Circuit, which covers all Palm Beach County cases including those tied to Wellington.
The Palm Beach Clerk maintains court records, official records, and county government meeting records. Court records cover civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. The online search at mypalmbeachclerk.com lets you search by case number or party name without creating an account. Civil cases include small claims, circuit civil actions, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil injunctions. Criminal records cover misdemeanor county court cases and felony circuit court cases. Family court holds divorce records, parenting plan orders, and domestic injunctions. Probate covers estate filings, will contests, and guardianship cases.
Official records maintained by the Palm Beach Clerk include deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, tax deeds, and marriage licenses. These are recorded instruments that go on file each time a property transaction or legal instrument is executed in Palm Beach County. Genealogy researchers, title companies, and real estate professionals use this system regularly. Electronic certified copies are available, which is convenient for legal proceedings that require authentication.
Note: Users accessing Palm Beach County's online records from outside North America may need a VPN. ProtonVPN is recommended by the clerk's office for international access.
Village of Wellington Records
Wellington is an incorporated village with its own local government. The Wellington Village Hall handles municipal records including permits, zoning decisions, village council meeting minutes, code enforcement actions, and village contracts. These are all public records under Florida law and can be requested by anyone.
Building permits are one of the most commonly requested types of records from the village. Every construction project in Wellington, from a pool addition to a full home renovation, generates a permit file. This file shows what was permitted, who did the work, and whether the final inspections were passed. Real estate buyers and lenders often request permit histories before closing on a property.
Village council agendas, meeting minutes, and budget documents are typically posted on the village website. For records not available online, you can request them by contacting the Village Clerk's office by phone, email, in-person visit, or mail. No specific form is required under Florida law. Just describe what you need, and staff must respond promptly.
The Wellington Police Department handles incident records within the village. Incident reports and public arrest logs are available to any person who requests them. Active investigation files may be temporarily withheld under the law enforcement exemption in Chapter 119. Contact the police records unit for current procedures on how to submit a request.
Florida Open Government Rights
Florida's public records law in Chapter 119 gives every person the right to inspect and copy government records. This applies to Wellington village records, Palm Beach County records, and state records tied to the village. The law says that providing access to public records is a duty of each agency, not a favor.
You don't need to give your name. You don't have to explain why you want the records. Agencies cannot ask for your ID or require a written reason before they respond. The law requires agencies to act promptly. Records that are immediately available must go out without delay. For bigger requests, the agency must provide a time estimate.
If a request is denied, the agency must cite the specific Florida statute that creates the exemption. Common exemptions include active law enforcement investigation files, some personal health records, sealed court documents, and certain financial account information. Outside those categories, the record is public. The Florida Attorney General's Open Government Mediation Program at myfloridalegal.com handles disputes at no cost to you. Call (850) 245-0140 to start a complaint.
Florida Sunshine Manual and Open Government
The screenshot below links to the Florida First Amendment Foundation, which publishes the annual Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual covering Florida's public records and open meeting laws. This resource is widely used by residents, journalists, and officials in Palm Beach County including Wellington.
The manual is updated every year and covers recent court decisions and Attorney General opinions that affect how public records law is applied. It's one of the most practical guides available for anyone trying to access records from a Palm Beach County agency like the Wellington village government.
Property Records in Palm Beach County
Property records for Wellington are maintained by the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. Search free online by address, owner name, or parcel number. Results show assessed values, ownership history, exemptions, lot details, and improvement information. These searches are free and no account is needed.
Recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other official instruments for Wellington properties are filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller. The official records search covers documents going back many decades. Every time a Wellington property changes hands, a deed is recorded and becomes part of the public record. Title searches for Palm Beach County properties start with this system.
Tax records, current tax bills, and payment histories are handled by the Palm Beach County Tax Collector. All are searchable online without a fee. For most property record needs, the entire search can be done from home without visiting any county office.
How to Submit a Records Request
Wellington village department requests can go by phone, email, in-person visit to Village Hall, or by mail. Describe the record clearly. Include the type of document, relevant date range, and any names or addresses involved. The more detail you provide upfront, the faster staff can locate and produce the record.
For Palm Beach County Clerk records, use the online portal at mypalmbeachclerk.com as your first step. Most court and official records searches are free to view online. Printed copies are $0.15 per page. Certified copies carry a higher per-page fee. Electronic certified copies are available from the Palm Beach Clerk, which can be useful for filings in other jurisdictions.
The first 30 minutes of staff time for an extensive request is not charged under state law. After that, agencies may charge based on the pay rate of the lowest-paid employee who can fulfill the request. If a request is denied without a valid statutory exemption, contact the Attorney General's office for free mediation or consult an attorney about your rights under Florida law.
Nearby Cities
These Palm Beach County cities near Wellington share the same county clerk system and have their own public records offices.
Palm Beach County Records
Court records and official records for Wellington are maintained by the Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller, the primary custodian for all public records filed in Palm Beach County.