The mission of the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court is to function as a team dedicated to our customers by preparing and maintaining accurate records, furnishing assistance in an understanding and compassionate manner, and providing services with competence, professionalism, and courtesy in compliance with laws, rules, and regulations.
to the Polk County Clerk of Court's web site. Polk County's Clerk of Courts has three major responsibilities: Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts; County Recorder; and Clerk, Accountant and Auditor to the Board of County Commissioners. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the ex-officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, auditor, recorder and custodian of all County funds. The Clerk is the chief financial officer for the County and serves as the County comptroller and treasurer. As Clerk to the Board, the office maintains all records pertaining to official County activities. This includes minutes of the County Commission Board meetings, copies of ordinances and all other official County documents. As Accountant and Auditor to the Board, the Clerk is charged with keeping records and making required reports of all monies received and disbursed by the Board. The Clerk is also responsible for investing surplus county funds. We hope you take the time to learn more about us.
The Clerk's Office is looking for professional, high-spirited volunteers at least 16 years old to help staff with customer service, answering phones, filing, mail distribution, greeting, and other basic office duties.
Read more about it here, and apply online here.
Effective June 30th, 2009, the Lake Wales Branch Clerk of Courts Office will be closing permanently.
The Lakeland and Winter Haven locations will no longer have extended hours until 6:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. New operating hours will be Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
New Fee Schedule Effective June 1st
The Florida Legislature has increased filing fees. Please be advised that all of the fee increases are sent to the State as part of funding for the judiciary. Despite information to the contrary, the Clerk's Office receives none of the increases and none of the benefits from the fee hikes.
You can view the new schedule here or by clicking the link in the menu on the left.
State Institutes New Fees
Effective February 1st, 2009, new legislation goes into effect that:
- increases certain speeding violations (15-19 mph and 20-29 mph over the posted zones)
- creates an additional $10 assessment to be paid, in addition to other penalties, for noncriminal moving and nomoving traffic violations of Chapter 316
- eliminates the 18% school discount previously available for attending a basic driver improvement course.
Criminal Records Online Now Available
Richard M. Weiss, Clerk of the Circuit Court, is pleased to announce a new public service available via the Internet.
"For the first time in Polk County, criminal case information will be available to the public on the Clerk's website. Employers and the general public will be able to perform criminal records checks for Polk County cases", Weiss said. He added, "Attorneys will have access to case information, saving them a phone call or trip to the courthouse."
Felony, County and Municipal Ordinance violations, Criminal Traffic, Non-Criminal Infraction, Misdemeanor and Traffic Infraction cases will be available at www.polkcountyclerk.net 24 hours after it is entered into the system. Weiss states, "Comprehensive case information such as court proceedings, progress docket, disposition dates, case status and payment information is just a mouse click away. We expect that the number of phone calls to our office seeking case information will decline, which is an important additional benefit to our operation."
Access Criminal Records Online by clicking here or from the menu on the left.
The project was a joint effort between the Clerk's office and the Florida Association of County Clerks.
We're interested in what you think. Please give us feedback by emailing the Clerk's Help Desk.
NOTICE
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE POSTED NOTICES REGARDING ONLINE RECORDS AND TO REQUEST REMOVAL OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, DEATH CERTIFICATES, MILITARY RECORDS, AS WELL AS OTHER RECORDS AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 28.222, FLORIDA STATUTES.
NOTICE
Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing...