Find Public Records in Martin County

Martin County public records are managed by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Stuart, and Florida law gives every person the right to inspect and copy them. This page explains how to access court filings, official records, and other government documents held by Martin County offices, along with how to submit a request and where to search online.

Florida Public Records Law in Martin County

Florida's public records law is grounded in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, which requires all state, county, and municipal records to be open to the public by default. Martin County operates under this law. You do not have to state a reason or give your name to request records. The agency must justify any denial by pointing to a specific exemption in the law.

The right to inspect and copy public records is also written into Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution. That means it is not just a statute you can change easily; it is a constitutional guarantee. Martin County government, the Clerk's office, the Sheriff's Office, and every other county body all fall under this requirement.

Agencies must respond promptly to records requests. They cannot stall without reason. If you believe a request was denied improperly, contact the Florida Attorney General's mediation program at (850) 245-0140. The AG's Open Government page explains your rights in plain language. The Florida First Amendment Foundation also provides help when agencies push back on legitimate requests.

Note: Section 119.071 lists specific categories of records that are exempt from disclosure. Common ones include records related to active criminal investigations, certain victim information, and some personnel files. If an exemption applies, the agency must tell you which one.

Martin County Clerk and Comptroller

Carolyn Timmann is the Clerk and Comptroller for Martin County. Her office is the primary custodian of court records for the 19th Judicial Circuit and of official records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens. It is the main source for most public documents in Martin County.

The office is open weekdays during normal business hours. It handles civil, criminal, family law, probate, and traffic court records. It also records deeds, mortgages, judgments, and other instruments for property transactions in Martin County. The 19th Judicial Circuit covers Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties, so some filings may involve records held in neighboring county clerks' offices as well.

Below is a screenshot from the Martin County Clerk and Comptroller's official website, the primary portal for public record access in the county.

The page shown above provides direct access to court records search, official records, and other services the Clerk's office offers to the public.

Searching Martin County Records Online

The Martin County Clerk's website at martinclerk.com gives online access to court records and official records. You can search by party name, case number, or document type. No account is needed for basic lookups. Civil, criminal, family law, probate, and traffic cases are searchable through the portal, along with recorded official documents.

Official records, meaning recorded land instruments, go back many years in the county's digital database. For some older records, especially those predating electronic filing, you may need to visit the office in person or submit a written request. The Clerk's staff can tell you how far back the online system goes for specific document categories.

The statewide portal at myfloridacounty.com also covers Martin County official records and is useful when you want to search across multiple Florida counties in one session. Property records are maintained separately by the Martin County Property Appraiser, and tax records are managed by the Martin County Tax Collector, each through their own online portals.

Fees for Public Records Copies

Florida law sets the standard fee structure for copies of public records. Administrative records cost $0.15 per single-sided page or $0.20 for double-sided. Certified copies of official records from the Clerk's office cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification statement fee. Court record certified copies run $1.00 per page as well.

Research fees apply when a request takes significant staff time to fulfill. The first 15 minutes are generally not charged. After that, the county bills at the applicable employee's hourly rate. Ask for a cost estimate upfront if your request covers many years or a large volume of records. That way you know what to expect before the work begins.

Many records in the Clerk's online system can be viewed and downloaded free of charge. If a document is already scanned and publicly available in the portal, there is no per-page fee to view it. Physical copies or certified documents carry the standard fees described above.

Martin County Sheriff's Records

The Martin County Sheriff's Office maintains its own records apart from the court system. These include arrest records, incident reports, jail booking logs, and offense reports. Under Chapter 119, these are public records unless an exemption such as an active investigation applies.

You can contact the Sheriff's Office directly to request records. Requests can be submitted in person or by mail. You do not have to give your name or state a reason. Fees follow the standard state structure: $0.15 per single-sided page, $0.20 per double-sided page, with no charge for the first 15 minutes of staff research time.

If a request involves ongoing criminal cases, some information may be withheld under the active investigation exemption in Section 119.071. The agency must tell you if an exemption applies and which one it is.

Types of Records Held in Martin County

Martin County maintains a wide range of public documents. Court records from the 19th Judicial Circuit include civil cases, criminal matters, family law, and probate. Official records encompass deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments. Property and tax records are held by the Appraiser and Tax Collector respectively.

Other record types available include county commission meeting minutes, zoning and land use records, building permits and inspections, code enforcement files, and various departmental records. Each office is the custodian for its own documents, so the right place to request something depends on which agency created or received it.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory can help locate the correct contact when records cross county lines. For property deed history or mortgage records, the Clerk's Official Records system is the right place to start. For arrest or incident information, start with the Sheriff's Office.

Making a Public Records Request

Requests can be made in any format. You can call, email, walk in, or send a letter. There is no required form. You do not need an attorney or any special knowledge to submit a request. The simpler and more specific you are about what you want, the faster the agency can find it.

It helps to give the date range, the names involved, and the type of record you are looking for. That narrows the search and reduces the chance the agency will ask follow-up questions. If your request is broad, expect more research time and potentially higher fees.

The state's AG mediation line at (850) 245-0140 is your first call if a request is denied or ignored. Mediation is free and can resolve most disputes without going to court. The Florida AG's Open Government page has more on what to do if you run into trouble.

Cities in Martin County

Martin County's communities are served by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Stuart. No city in the county meets the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site, but Stuart is the county seat and the center for most record access.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Martin and each maintains its own public records office and court system.