Hendry County Court Records

Hendry County Courts, FL *

Hendry County is situated inland in Southwest Florida, bordered by the Caloosahatchee River in the north and the Everglades in the south. The Hendry county seat is LaBelle, while the largest city in the county is Clewiston. Hendry County is inhabited by 40,000 people, consisting of field hands, farmers, and businesspersons. Even though the county may not be considered one of the most populated counties in the US, its courts produce numerous public records daily.

Hendry County courts have jurisdiction over all types of civil and criminal cases as well as family, housing, probate, and traffic-related cases. As there are two main population hubs in the county that lie on either side of the county's boundaries, the courthouse has been built in two locations. The main courthouse is located in LaBelle. This arrangement allows equal access to the law for both halves of the county.

Hendry County Court System Overview

The courts of Hendry County function within the Florida State Courts System, which the Florida Supreme Court and the Office of the State Courts Administrator oversee. In terms of the organization of trial courts, Florida classifies them into two tiers, Circuit Courts and County Courts, each of which is governed uniformly by the same administrative procedures.

Hendry County is included in the 20th Judicial Circuit, one of the largest judicial circuits in Florida geographically, that covers the territory of five counties: Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties. The administrative center of the circuit is located in Fort Myers; however, Hendry County keeps its courthouse in LaBelle, where most of the court sessions occur. The Hendry County Clerk of Courts acts as the central office of Hendry County Courts in regard to the management of court records and filings.

Types of Courts in Hendry County, Florida

The first thing to do when researching court records in Hendry County is to determine the right court. Florida uses a two-tier system for their trial courts, which assigns different cases based on the nature of the matter and the dollar amount involved. In Hendry County, all courts meet at the Hendry County Courthouse.

Circuit Court

Florida's 20th Judicial Circuit Court is the general jurisdiction court and the highest trial court that sits within Hendry County. The circuit court hears the most serious criminal and civil cases, as well as produces the most court records searched for by legal professionals and members of the public alike.

The Circuit Court's jurisdiction within Hendry County includes:

Criminal offenses classified as felonies
Civil actions with an amount exceeding $50,000
Procedures for dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, and adoptions
Probates and guardianships
Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases
Appeals from the County Court

The court records in the Circuit Court are some of the most substantive documents in the county court system. They include criminal cases that involve felonies, decisions on civil lawsuits, divorce papers, child custody cases, and inventories of probate estates. The Hendry County Clerk of Courts manages the Circuit Court records in Hendry County, and one can get them at the LaBelle courthouse or via the Clerk's online portal.

County Court

Hendry County's County Court deals with civil and criminal cases of low magnitude. It functions within the same 20th Judicial Circuit administrative structure. This is the court that the majority of Hendry County residents will experience, and it is a source of many court records for traffic, small claims, and misdemeanor cases.

Cases falling under the jurisdiction of the County Court of Hendry County include:

Misdemeanor criminal cases
Civil disputes up to $50,000
Small claims dispute up to $8,000
Traffic infractions
Landlord-tenant and eviction disputes

Court records from the County Court are often sought after by property owners investigating potential tenants, companies investigating employee candidates, and people checking on their own case progress. Since most of the cases heard by the County Court, especially those related to small claims and traffic disputes, are resolved without lawyers, people who represent themselves can easily access them using the Clerk's website.

Probate and Guardianship Division

Probates in Hendry County are handled through a special division of the 20th Judicial Circuit, operating under the Circuit Court system. This division deals with various legal issues that arise when people pass away, become incapacitated, or need their estates settled.

The responsibilities of this division include:

Estate settlement of deceased individuals
Contesting and validating wills
Guardianship of children and incapacitated adults
Disputes over trust administration
Committal hearings for mental health cases

Hendry County's probate court records are frequently requested by people resolving an estate, title agencies investigating property ownership, and genealogists searching for their family history. While the majority of the proceedings go without dispute, making them easily searchable filings, disputed cases might produce extensive records over many months or even years. The Hendry County Clerk of Courts holds all probate court records and can help with searches using case number or decedent name.

How to Access Hendry County Court Records

In Florida, most court records are open and available to the public under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. However, juvenile records, family court records involving minor children, and records of any case sealed from public view are not accessible. All other records can be obtained in various ways.

Online Access

Access to online record searches for civil, criminal, traffic, and probate court cases is available through the Hendry County Clerk of Courts online records portal. The search can be performed using the party's name, case number, and case type. When a search must be conducted across multiple counties in Florida, then the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is the main source of information. It should be noted that the best search results will be achieved if the searcher has all the identifying information prior to searching.

Alternative Online Options

Sometimes the state-sanctioned methods might be too much for people who don't know legal terminology. Commercial websites such as CourtCaseFinder have consolidated records from all the sources that have information regarding court cases, divorces, arrests, and any other kind of record that is available publicly. This gives an edge when one is uncertain which particular office holds the documents that they are looking for, particularly if the person involved has legal records in adjacent counties such as Lee or Collier.

In-Person Requests

Records that are not available online can be requested from Hendry County Clerk of Courts in LaBelle, for example, certified records, older records, and those requiring physical inspection. Clerk personnel will help researchers find court records by name or case number and will fill requests for certified copies. Please submit as much of the necessary identification as possible, including both parties' names, case type, and approximate year filed. Staff of the Clerk's Office may help with procedures, but are not allowed to give legal advice.

Archived Records

Records of previous decades may not be kept in electronic format and may be kept in physical records, which are separate from the ongoing files. Anyone wishing to research historical court records should check directly with the Clerk of Courts to determine the location of these records and if an appointment is required. The best results are obtained with an online search and a direct request to the Clerk's office.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

All filings must be made on the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal by attorneys practicing in Hendry County. Attorneys practicing in Hendry County must be well-versed with the 20th Circuit Administrative Orders, which have a wide range of applications from discovery deadlines to attire in the courtroom and use of technology during trial.

Constant communication with the Judicial Assistants is important to schedule hearings and submit proposed orders, as Hendry is a smaller jurisdiction. Counsel must verify the actual date of the hearing in order to avoid any delays.

How to File a Case in Hendry County

It is important to know which court a case will fall under, how to fill out the correct paperwork, and the right way to complete the proper procedures from beginning to end. Mistakes such as going to the wrong court, providing incorrect information on forms, or being late can delay or dismiss the case.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

The dollar amount and type of case determine which court will hear the case. The County Court is a court for small claims ($8,000 or less), misdemeanors, and traffic. Civil cases over $50,000, felony cases, divorces, and probate cases go to the Circuit Court.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

The Florida Courts Self-Help Center and the Hendry County Clerk's website offer free, fillable court forms in Florida. Carefully choosing the form that fits the type of case and reading all instructions prior to filing the form will minimize the chance of it being rejected or delayed when filed.

Step 3: File the Case

Submit completed forms to the Hendry County Clerk of Courts at the LaBelle courthouse. In addition, many civil cases can be filed electronically via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is a great resource for self-represented parties and attorneys for filing without having to come into the courthouse.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

Each court and court action has a filing fee. Small claims filings can start at about $100, and the Circuit Court civil filings can cost more than $400. Fees must be paid upon filing. If one cannot afford the payment required, they can ask for an order to waive the payment by completing the Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status, which individuals can obtain from the Hendry County Clerk of Courts.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Before the case can proceed, the opposing party has to be notified via service of process. Service may be accomplished by a licensed process server or by the Hendry County Sheriff's Office. A copy of the completed service must be filed with the Clerk of the Courts. Note that the court cannot hear the case, enter a default, or take further action until proof of service is on file.

Step 6: Monitor the Case

After a case is active, the case status, pending hearings, and orders filed in the case may be tracked using the case number assigned on the Hendry County Clerk of Courts online portal. It is crucial to stay up to date with the docket entries and notices of court, so that deadlines will not be missed or rulings will go unchallenged.

Hendry County Courthouse Directory

Hendry County Courthouse - LaBelle

The main courthouse in LaBelle serves as the hub for all Circuit Court and County Court activities in Hendry County. It houses the Clerk of Courts office, which handles court records, filings, and certified requests for court records in civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases.

LaBelle

Address: 25 E. Hickpochee Ave, LaBelle, FL 33935

Phone: (863) 675-5217

Website: 20th Judicial Circuit Court — Hendry County

Hendry County Sub-Courthouse - Clewiston

Primarily handles civil services, traffic ticket payments, and general court information.

Clewiston

1100 S. Olympia Street, Suite 502, Clewiston, FL 33440

(863) 983-1586

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

There are a number of state-based and nonprofit organizations available to guide the court process, filing forms, and provide legal assistance to the residents of Hendry County who are involved in the court system.

Free Legal Assistance

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida offers free civil legal services to income-eligible people in Hendry County in areas such as housing, family law, consumer protection, and public benefits. Applicants can apply online via their website. Those who do not qualify for income assistance can take advantage of the Florida Bar's Lawyer Referral Service to schedule a first appointment with a licensed attorney in Florida at a discounted rate. The staff of Hendry County Clerk of Courts can help find the right forms and explain the procedures, but cannot give legal advice or case strategy advice.

Disability Rights Florida is an organization that acts as a guardian for people with disabilities and ensures that their civil rights are protected through its services, which are free and confidential. The organization's attorneys and advocates offer help in cases of abuse and neglect, civil rights violations, housing and education, and other issues involving adults and children with different types of disabilities. Veterans residing in Hendry County have access to statewide legal services through the Florida Veterans Legal Helpline, which is operated by Bay Area Legal Services and supported by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.

Local Legal Support

The 20th Judicial Circuit's Self-Help Center offers information and assistance to self-represented litigants throughout the circuit, which includes Hendry County. In most cases where self-representation is an option, it is not because it is easy to file cases, but because they are simple cases, like uncontested small claims or a simple name change. In addition, the Florida Courts Help website serves as the state's self-help portal. It includes free legal forms, detailed instructions, and guidance on handling common legal issues.

At the Ave Maria School of Law, based in Naples, there is an effective pro-bono relationship with the Florida Rural Legal Services, where law students are regularly involved in civil cases affecting communities in Southwest Florida, including Hendry County. In cases where custody, criminal, or other significant financial matters are in dispute, it is advisable to consult a licensed attorney.

FAQs

How does one search for court records in Hendry County?

Individuals can obtain civil, criminal, traffic, and probate court records from the Hendry County Clerk of Courts online portal. Searches may be conducted by using party names, case numbers, or case types. The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal provides more statewide access for records from multiple Florida counties. Search results will be improved if a person has a complete legal name and an approximate year of filing available prior to the search.

Are the court records public in Hendry County?

Under the Florida public records statute (Chapter 119), the majority of court records in Hendry County are public records. This does not include juvenile records, sealed criminal records, or certain family court records of minor children. When a record is not found online, it may be restricted, physically archived only, or listed under some variation of a name. It could also just not be updated in the system yet. If any records are not available online, the Hendry County Clerk of Courts will be able to clarify the record status and advise accordingly.

Where can eviction records be found in Hendry County?

An eviction case is filed in the County Court and recorded by the Hendry County Clerk of Courts. These court records can be accessed via the Clerk's online portal by keying in the name of either party or the address of the property. CourtCaseFinder is also available to use to find eviction records across the state. Evictions are public and are routinely checked by landlords, prospective tenants, and housing researchers when viewing rental history.

What is the small claims limit of Hendry County?

The amount of the small claims limit in Florida is $8,000. Cases of that value or less are filed in County Court, and the process is designed to work for the self-represented party. The Florida Courts Self-Help Center offers free small claims forms and instructions for filing such cases, which are one of the less complex court processes for people who are representing themselves in minor disputes.

How long does it take to receive court records in Hendry County?

The Court records found in the Clerk's online portal are immediately available. Normally, in-person requests for certified copies are made the same day at the LaBelle courthouse. The mail order process will usually take 1-2 weeks, depending on the volume. For older or archived records, which are only available in physical format, researchers should check with the Clerk's office in advance before making a request for availability, storage, and turnaround.

Hendry County Court Records Lookup

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