Our Mission
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.
Welcome....
to the Polk County Clerk of Court's & County Comptroller 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.
eFiling Workshop News
Polk County Clerk of Courts Stacy Butterfield will host an eFiling workshop on May 29, 2013 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm.
The content is customized to meet the needs of Florida attorneys, registered paralegals and assistants who will be filing pleadings through the ePortal. Attendees will see a demonstration that includes helpful tips, local policies and procedures regarding eFiling as well as a Q & A session.
Seating is limited to the first 150 participants per session. Click here to register for the workshop: http://www.eventsbot.com/events/eb444709706
This session will take place in the Jury Assembly Room on the second floor of the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow.
A Special Note Regarding Bartow Road Construction
RoadWatch Update
SR 60/U.S. 98 Intersection Improvement Project
Work Week Starting May 19, 2013
SR 60 (Van Fleet Drive): From west of US 98/Broadway Avenue to west of US 17 (SR 555): Construction project: Work continues to rebuild and widen the existing SR 60/US 98 intersection in Bartow from asphalt to concrete and provide additional travel lanes. Work includes concrete pavement, asphalt milling and resurfacing, drainage improvements, sidewalk, lighting, signalization, signing and pavement marking and landscaping.
• Weather permitting, from 9 p.m. on Friday, May 17 to 5:30 a.m. on Monday, May 20, motorists should expect intermittent lane closures on SR 60 and US 98 in both directions for concrete repairs. The location of the lane closures will change as the work progresses.
• No lane closures are scheduled on State Road 60 (Van Fleet Drive) or US 98 from Monday, May 20 to Friday, May 24. Crews will work behind the barrier walls along eastbound SR 60 from west of US 98 to Wal-Mart Drive.
Fort Fraser Trail status: westbound SR 60 entrance open; eastbound SR 60 entrance closed. Access to businesses is being maintained and motorists should use caution and watch for workers. For more information, visit the <www.IdriveUS98.com> Web site. This project is anticipated for completion late this fall. The contractor is Cone & Graham, Inc.
Traffic Fine Payments Can Be Made at Amscot
Traffic fine payments can now be made at any of Amscot’s 174 branches, located in 15 counties. Amscot has 12 branches in Polk County, to include Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Auburndale, Lakeland and Haines City. Two 24-hour locations are available, at 111 Cypress Garden Boulevard in Winter Haven and at 614 E. Memorial Boulevard in Lakeland.
Customers need only to bring in their payments and a record of their traffic infraction. Amscot charges a $2.50 convenience fee for the service. Amscot collects and aggregates the funds and automatically transfers them into the Clerk of Court’s accounts.”
Traffic Announcement
If you were charged with failing to carry your driver's license, registration, or insurance, you must provide proper proof to the Clerk of Court within 30 days of the time of the stop along with the required dismissible fee.
If you were cited for failure to maintain proof of insurance and did not have valid insurance at the time of the stop, you may elect to enter a plea of nolo contendere and present proper proof of insurance to the Clerk of Court . Adjudication is withheld. This election and payment of costs must be made within the first 30 days of the stop to the Clerk of Court.
If you pay the fine within 30 days and do not provide proper proof of insurance, OR if you pay the fine after 30 days has elaspsed, a conviction is added to your driving record. The Department of Motor Vehicles has authority to suspend a person's license for failure to provide proof that the insurance was valid. A notice will be sent from the department and your license will be suspended within 5 days of that notice. You will need to contact DMV customer service for specific requirements to reinstate your license or if you have questions at 850-617-2000 or email them at CourtAssist@flhsmv.gov.
Volunteering at the Clerk's Office
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.
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.