Search Charlotte County Public Records

Charlotte County public records are maintained by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Punta Gorda and are open to any person under Florida's open records law. This guide covers how to search and access court filings, official recorded documents, and county administrative records held in the 20th Judicial Circuit.

Charlotte County Clerk and Comptroller

Roger D. Eaton serves as Charlotte County Clerk and Comptroller. The office is in Punta Gorda and handles court records, official recorded instruments, and county financial records for the 20th Judicial Circuit. Charlotte County shares this judicial circuit with Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties. Circuit administrative matters involving appeals or circuit-wide policies are handled through the circuit headquarters.

The Charlotte County Clerk's website provides online access to court records and official instruments. The site includes a case search tool and an official records index. Many documents from the past several years are available as PDFs through the online portal. For older records, contact the office to determine availability and request format.

The image below is from the Charlotte County Clerk and Comptroller's website, which is the main public access portal for court records and official documents in the county.

The site shown above provides navigation to case search tools, official records, and the public records request process for Charlotte County.

Note: The Clerk's office in Punta Gorda is the only filing location in Charlotte County. All requests and in-person visits go through this address.

Charlotte County Public Records Law

Florida's Chapter 119 public records law applies to all records held by Charlotte County offices. The law creates a presumption of openness: records are public unless a specific exemption under Section 119.071 applies. This covers court records, official documents, Sheriff records, county administrative files, and records held by other county-level agencies.

You don't have to state your name or reason to request records. Agencies must respond promptly and allow inspection at any reasonable time. When a record contains both public and exempt information, the agency must provide the public portions after redacting only what is protected. Blanket refusals are not allowed under the law.

If Charlotte County denies a request without citing a proper exemption, you can seek help through the Florida AG's mediation program at (850) 245-0140. The AG's Open Government resources describe the process in full. For additional support, the First Amendment Foundation in Florida monitors public records compliance and can provide guidance.

Searching Charlotte County Court Records

Charlotte County court records cover civil, criminal, family law, probate, and traffic cases filed in the 20th Judicial Circuit. The Clerk's website provides a searchable case database. You can look up cases by party name, attorney, or case number. Results typically show filing date, case type, case status, and upcoming hearing dates. Document images may be available online for recent cases.

When searching by name, enter the last name first. For businesses, use the entity name as filed. If you have a case number, that is always the fastest search method. Florida case numbers include the year and case type code, making it easier to identify the type of matter and the approximate time it was filed.

Court records from before the Clerk's online system was implemented are stored in physical or microfilm format. For those records, a written request or an in-person visit to the Punta Gorda courthouse is required. Staff can tell you which years are available digitally when you call.

The myfloridacounty.com platform provides access to official records for many Florida counties including Charlotte. Use it for initial research before submitting a formal request.

Charlotte County Official Records

Official records recorded with the Charlotte County Clerk include deeds, mortgages, liens, assignments, and other real property instruments. These documents form the county's permanent land title record. The official records index is searchable online through the Clerk's website. Search by name, document type, or recording date to find relevant instruments.

Charlotte County has a large real estate market, particularly for residential properties in unincorporated areas and along the Gulf Coast. This means the official records index is substantial and frequently updated. For title research, start with the online index and then request certified copies of specific instruments as needed. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee.

Plain copies of administrative records cost up to $0.15 per single-sided page under Florida law. Electronic copies of digitized records may be available at a lower rate or no additional charge when accessed through the online portal.

Note: Instruments recorded with the Clerk are separate from property appraisal records. The Charlotte County Property Appraiser holds ownership and assessment data, while the Clerk holds the recorded instruments that establish legal title.

Charlotte County Sheriff and Other Records

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and jail booking information. These records are public under Chapter 119 with certain exemptions for active investigations. To request Sheriff records, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. Many Florida sheriff offices now offer online records request portals, so check the Charlotte County Sheriff's website for the current submission process.

The Charlotte County Property Appraiser maintains appraisal and assessment data for all taxable parcels. This data is public and often searchable online. The Tax Collector handles tax payment records and certificate sales. County commission minutes, resolutions, and budget documents are held by the Board of County Commissioners and are also subject to Chapter 119 access rights.

When records involve municipalities within Charlotte County, contact the city clerk for those specific files. City records are held by the city, not the county.

How to Submit a Records Request in Charlotte County

Submitting a public records request in Charlotte County is straightforward. You can call, email, or write to the relevant office. Most requests for court records and official documents go through the Clerk's office at the Punta Gorda address. For administrative records from other county departments, contact that specific department's records contact.

Be as specific as possible in your request. Include the document type, the names of any parties involved, and a date range. If you know the case number or recording book and page number, include that too. Specificity reduces research time and can lower any research fees that might apply.

Research fees apply when a request requires significant staff time beyond the first 30 minutes. After that threshold, the county bills at the rate of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the work. For large requests, ask for a cost estimate before approving the work.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory lists all 67 county clerks with current contact information, which is helpful when your search involves records from multiple counties.

Cities in Charlotte County

Charlotte County has no cities with pages on this site. All residents file requests through the county clerk.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Charlotte County and are served by courts in the 20th Judicial Circuit or adjacent circuits.