Hendry County Public Records

Hendry County public records are maintained by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in LaBelle and are available to any person under Florida's open records law. This guide covers how to search court case files, property documents, and other official records in Hendry County, whether you use the online portal, submit a written request, or visit the courthouse on East Hickpochee Avenue.

Florida's Open Records Law in Hendry County

Florida's public records law is found in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. It applies to all state and local government agencies, including every office in Hendry County. The default position under Chapter 119 is that government records are public. Any person can request to inspect or copy them without giving a name or reason. Agencies must justify any refusal with a specific statutory exemption.

In Hendry County, the Clerk and Comptroller's office is the primary records custodian for court files and official recorded documents. Other county agencies, including the Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, and Sheriff's Office, each hold their own records and respond to requests independently. All of them operate under the same Chapter 119 framework. The law requires that agencies permit inspection at any reasonable time and respond promptly to requests.

If you have a dispute over a records request in Hendry County, the Florida Attorney General's Office provides a free mediation service at (850) 245-0140. You can also find guidance through the AG's Open Government page or by contacting the First Amendment Foundation, which assists Floridians with public records access issues at no cost.

Hendry County Clerk and Comptroller

Kimberley R. Barrineau, CFCC, serves as Clerk and Comptroller for Hendry County. Her office in LaBelle handles court records, official records such as deeds and liens, marriage licenses, and county financial documents. It is the main point of contact for most public records requests in Hendry County.

The office is open weekdays during normal business hours. Calling ahead before visiting is useful, especially if you are researching older records that may not be digitized. The clerk's staff can tell you which search tools are available online and which records require an in-person visit to LaBelle.

The screenshot below comes from the Hendry County Clerk and Comptroller's official website, which is the primary starting point for public records access in the county.

The clerk's site provides links to online search tools, division contact information, and instructions for submitting records requests by mail or in person.

Court Records in Hendry County

Hendry County is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Charlotte, Collier, Glades, and Lee counties. Circuit court cases filed in Hendry County include civil matters, felony criminal charges, family law proceedings such as divorce and child custody, juvenile cases, and probate. County court handles misdemeanor criminal cases and civil claims up to the statutory threshold.

Court records are generally open to the public under Chapter 119. Certain record types are exempt. Juvenile records are confidential. Records sealed or expunged by order of a judge are not available to the public. Domestic violence injunction records and some mental health proceeding records also carry specific protections under Florida law. If you are unsure whether a particular case file is accessible, the clerk's office can advise you before you make a formal request.

You can find current contact information for the Hendry County Clerk and links to other county clerks statewide through the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory.

Official and Property Records

The Hendry County Clerk records, indexes, and maintains all official documents related to real property in the county. This includes deeds, mortgages, satisfactions of mortgage, releases, lis pendens filings, and liens. These are public records. Most can be searched through the clerk's online portal by name or document type.

Whether you are buying property, doing title research, or checking for outstanding liens on a parcel in LaBelle or Clewiston, the Clerk's official records index is the authoritative source. You can inspect these records for free in person at the clerk's office. Copies cost up to $1.00 per page, and certified copies require an additional $5.00 certification fee.

Marriage records for licenses issued in Hendry County are also part of the Clerk's records. These are public. Divorce records are part of the circuit court file and are accessible through the clerk for cases filed in the county.

How to Request Hendry County Records

You can request Hendry County public records in several ways. Visit the clerk's office in person at 25 E Hickpochee Ave in LaBelle. Call (863) 675-5217 to ask about availability and get help from staff. Submit a written request by mail to the same address. No specific form is required under Florida law. A clear description of the records you want is enough.

The more detail you provide, the faster staff can respond. Include party names, approximate dates or date ranges, case numbers, and the type of document if you know it. Florida agencies must acknowledge requests and respond promptly. The first 30 minutes of staff research time is free. After that, a reasonable fee may apply. Standard copy fees for administrative records are up to $0.15 per page. Court record copy fees are set separately by statute.

If you need records from a county agency other than the Clerk, contact that agency directly. The Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, and Sheriff's Office each have their own records and their own contact information. Starting with the right office saves time and ensures you get the right response.

Other Sources of Hendry County Public Records

The Hendry County Property Appraiser maintains parcel data, ownership records, and property assessment information for all parcels in the county. This information is public and is typically available through the Property Appraiser's website. The Tax Collector holds records for property tax payments and vehicle registrations. Both operate under Chapter 119.

The Hendry County Board of County Commissioners keeps meeting minutes, adopted resolutions and ordinances, annual budgets, and other administrative records. These are also public records. If you need documents related to county government decisions or spending rather than court or property records, the county administration office is the right starting point.

Vital records such as birth and death certificates are managed at the state level in Florida by the Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. Those are not held at the county clerk level. The Hendry County Sheriff's Office holds law enforcement records including incident reports and arrest records that are subject to Chapter 119.

Cities in Hendry County

Hendry County has no incorporated cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. LaBelle is the county seat, and Clewiston is the largest city, but records for both are handled through the Hendry County Clerk and Comptroller.

Nearby Counties

Hendry County borders five other Florida counties, each with its own clerk's office and records access portal.