Find Public Records in St. Lucie County
St. Lucie County public records are maintained by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Fort Pierce, and Florida law gives any person the right to inspect or copy them on request without stating a reason. This page covers how to find court filings, official recorded instruments, and government documents held by St. Lucie County offices, along with what to expect for fees, response times, and how to use the Clerk's online system.
St. Lucie County Quick Facts
Open Records Law in St. Lucie County
Florida's public records law is set out in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, which says that records made or received by a public body are public by default. Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution makes this a guaranteed right. St. Lucie County agencies, including the Clerk's office, the Sheriff, the Property Appraiser, and county commission offices, all operate under Chapter 119. You do not need to provide your name or explain your purpose when making a request.
Agencies are required to respond promptly. Requests for documents that are readily available should be handled quickly. Larger or more involved requests may take additional time, but the agency must acknowledge your request and give you a reasonable estimate of when it can be filled. If records are withheld, the agency must tell you which specific exemption under Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes it is relying on. The Florida Attorney General's Office mediates disputes at no cost to the requester; call (850) 245-0140 to start that process.
St. Lucie County is in the 19th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee counties. Court records from cases filed in St. Lucie County are held by the St. Lucie County Clerk and are separate from those of the other counties in the circuit.
St. Lucie County Clerk and Comptroller
Michelle R. Miller serves as the Clerk and Comptroller for St. Lucie County. Her office at 201 S Indian River Drive in Fort Pierce is the main custodian for court records filed in the 19th Judicial Circuit's St. Lucie County division and for official recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments affecting St. Lucie County property. It is the largest public records source in the county.
| Clerk | Michelle R. Miller |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 S Indian River Dr, Ft. Pierce, FL 34950 |
| Phone | (772) 462-6900 |
| Website | stlucieclerk.com |
The Clerk's office is open on weekdays during regular business hours. The Fort Pierce location handles the full range of court divisions, including civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic. A branch courthouse serves the Port St. Lucie area, which is the largest city in the county by population. Staff can guide you to the right division or online tool when you call the main number.
The screenshot below is taken from the St. Lucie County Clerk and Comptroller's official website.
Visit the St. Lucie County Clerk and Comptroller website to search court and official records
The page shown above is the main portal for online access to St. Lucie County court records, official recorded documents, and other Clerk's services.
Searching St. Lucie County Records Online
The St. Lucie County Clerk's website at stlucieclerk.com offers online access to court records and official recorded documents. Court searches can be run by party name or case number. You can view case status, hearing schedules, and scanned documents for a wide range of court matters filed in St. Lucie County. Official records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens are also searchable and available to view or download in many cases.
St. Lucie County has two main courthouse locations, one in Fort Pierce and one serving Port St. Lucie. Cases may be assigned to either location depending on the type and where they were filed. The online system covers cases from both locations, so a single search should return results regardless of which courthouse handled the matter.
Records that have not been digitized, particularly older filings and archived documents, may require an in-person visit to the Fort Pierce courthouse or a written request to the Clerk's office. Call (772) 462-6900 before visiting to confirm whether the specific record you need is in the online system or requires a different approach. The Clerk's staff can usually tell you quickly what is available electronically and what is not.
St. Lucie County Records Fees
The standard Florida copy fee schedule applies in St. Lucie County. Paper copies of public records cost $0.15 per one-sided page for standard document sizes. Certified copies are $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification statement fee. Research time is free for the first 30 minutes. Additional staff time beyond that may be billed at a reasonable hourly rate set by the office.
Many records in the online system can be downloaded as PDF files at no cost. This is the fastest way to get a copy of a court filing or recorded instrument if you do not need a certified version. Certified copies for legal or financial use still require a formal request to the Clerk's office, either in person at one of the courthouse locations or by mail with prepayment. Check the Clerk's website or call ahead to confirm the current fee schedule and accepted payment methods.
Other Records Sources in St. Lucie County
Beyond the Clerk's court and official records, other agencies in St. Lucie County produce public records that can be requested under Chapter 119. The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and incident reports for unincorporated areas. The Port St. Lucie Police Department and Fort Pierce Police Department handle their own incident reports for areas within city limits. The Property Appraiser's office maintains assessment and ownership data for all parcels in the county.
For statewide criminal history searches, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the central source covering all 67 counties. Their background check system is particularly useful when a search needs to go beyond St. Lucie County. The myfloridacounty.com portal allows multi-county official records searches. The Florida Clerks directory lists every county clerk in Florida.
Residents who need legal assistance navigating public records or related court matters can contact Treasure Coast Legal Services or similar organizations serving the Treasure Coast region. The Florida Free and Accessible Futures foundation also connects residents with legal aid referrals.
Cities in St. Lucie County
Two cities in St. Lucie County have dedicated public records pages based on population.
Nearby Counties
St. Lucie County borders four Florida counties. Each has its own clerk's office and separate records systems.