Find Polk County Public Records

Polk County public records are held by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Bartow, and Florida law makes them open to any person who wants to inspect or copy them. This page explains how to search court filings, official records, and other government documents in Polk County, including online options, fees, and what to do when records are not easily found in the online system.

Public Records Law in Polk County

Florida's public records law, codified in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, treats government records as open by default. Any record made or received by a public agency in Polk County is presumed to be a public record unless a statutory exemption removes it from public view. The Florida Constitution backs this up in Article I, Section 24, which treats public access as a fundamental right. You can inspect records and get copies without having to state your reason or prove your identity.

Polk County is large. It covers a lot of ground between Tampa and Orlando and has a substantial court docket, a busy property records office, and dozens of municipal and county agencies all subject to Chapter 119. Records are spread across those entities, but the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Bartow is the main hub for court and official records. Other agencies, like the Sheriff's Office, the Property Appraiser, and county commission, also produce public records under the same law.

When a request is denied, the agency must identify the specific exemption under Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes that justifies keeping the record back. If you disagree with a denial, the Florida Attorney General operates a free mediation service at (850) 245-0140. Mediation is often faster than litigation and resolves most disputes without a court filing.

The law requires prompt response. Simple requests should be handled quickly. Larger or more complex requests may take longer, but an agency cannot simply ignore a request or delay without giving you at least a timeline or reason.

Polk County Clerk and Comptroller Records

Stacy M. Butterfield, CPA serves as Clerk and Comptroller for Polk County. Her office is the primary custodian for all court records filed in the 10th Judicial Circuit and for official records such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments for Polk County property. The office covers civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases across the county's courthouse locations.

The Clerk's office is open on weekdays during regular business hours. Polk County has courthouse locations in Bartow and in Lakeland. The Bartow location is the main seat for the 10th Judicial Circuit and handles the broadest range of filings. The Clerk's website is the best starting point for online access to both court records and official recorded documents.

The image below is a screenshot from the Polk County Clerk and Comptroller's official website.

The Clerk's site above provides access to online court record searches, official records, and other services available through the Polk County Clerk and Comptroller's office.

Searching Polk County Court and Official Records

The Polk County Clerk's website at polkcountyclerk.net offers online search tools for both court records and official recorded documents. Court record searches allow you to look up cases by party name or case number. You can view case status, upcoming hearings, and scanned court documents without going in person for most recent filings.

Official records, which include deeds, mortgages, satisfaction instruments, liens, and easements, are indexed and searchable through the Clerk's online system. Real estate researchers and title professionals rely heavily on these records when tracing property ownership or checking for encumbrances. Many Polk County official records going back decades are available in digital form through the online portal.

For records that are not yet in the digital system, particularly older court files or archived documents, a written request to the Clerk's office is the best approach. Include a case number or recording number if you have it, along with a description of the record and your contact details. The Clerk's staff will let you know if the record requires an in-person visit or can be mailed to you upon payment of applicable fees.

Polk County Records Copy Fees

Florida sets standard copy fees that apply statewide. In Polk County, the fee for standard document copies is $0.15 per one-sided page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification statement fee. Research time beyond the first 30 minutes is billed at a reasonable hourly rate.

Many documents in the online system can be downloaded directly as PDF files at no charge. If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, you will need to go through the official copy process either in person or by mail. Call the Clerk's office at (863) 534-4000 before visiting to confirm current fees and accepted payment methods.

Other Polk County Public Records Resources

The Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Property Appraiser, the Supervisor of Elections, and various municipal agencies in cities like Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Haines City all maintain their own public records under Chapter 119. Each office has its own contact information and request process. The Sheriff handles arrest records and incident reports. The Property Appraiser's data is often available online through the county website.

For a statewide criminal history check, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the central source. A check there covers all 67 Florida counties and is the most complete option when you need more than just Polk County records. The myfloridacounty.com portal provides a useful cross-county official records search. The Florida Clerks directory lists contact information for all county clerk offices in the state.

Residents who need legal help navigating records or related court matters can contact Central Florida Legal Services or Bay Area Legal Services, both of which serve parts of Polk County depending on location and income eligibility. The Florida First Amendment Foundation also helps residents when agencies improperly deny access to public records.

Cities in Polk County

Polk County contains several qualifying cities with dedicated public records pages on this site, including Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Haines City.

Nearby Counties

Polk County shares borders with seven other Florida counties. Each has its own records system and clerk's office.