2020 Strategic Update

Dear Polk Residents:

As my second term comes to a close and I enter my third term as Clerk butterfield standing with arms crossed in a blue suit at the entrance to a hallwayyour elected Clerk and Comptroller, I want to thank you for your trust in my abilities to uphold the duties and responsibilities laid out in the constitution. The opportunity to serve as your Clerk and Comptroller is an honor that I value and deeply respect.

It is my duty to maintain public records and safeguard county funds. These services are critical to the stability of our county. From court cases to marriage licenses, buying a home or paying a traffic ticket, my office is involved in numerous facets of this community.

In our ever-changing world, my office continuously seeks new, more efficient ways to improve access to our services, engage with our customers, serve the community, and protect public trust. The strategic goals laid out at the start of my second term in 2017 have helped us enhance the services we provide and prepared us for the unexpected arrival of COVID-19. These guiding strategies allowed us to adapt to the sudden changes brought by the pandemic and continue to serve the judicial system and Polk County community safely.

This report details the goals my office set and highlights the actions taken to meet those goals in 2020. I look forward to serving you safely as I begin my third term as Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Polk County.


signature of Stacy M. Butterfield, Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

Stacy M. Butterfield, CPA
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Polk County, Florida


Clerk & Comptroller Strategic Goals

  1. Access
  2. Engage
  3. Serve
  4. Protect
  5. Adapting to Succeed During COVID-19

Increase access and continue development of a paperless courthouse through technological advancement


Since 2012, the Clerk’s office has worked to  become a more efficient, paperless courthouse by actively seeking and implementing new technology. In 2020, we  furthered our efforts with several new electronic services that make access to service easier.

Do-It-Yourself Court Filings

The Do-it-Yourself court filings service through TurboCourt helps users prepare forms to begin a new eviction case, Injunction for Protection (restraining order), or divorce case. Forms can be prepared 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Once forms are generated, users can file as a Pro Se user online in the Florida Courts E-Filing portal. Learn more on the DIY page.

Online Marriage Applications

This new online service enables customers to begin the process of applying for their marriage license, saving them time when visiting the Clerk’s office. Once the application is complete, couples will need to appear in person to complete the process within 90 days. View the app on our marriage page.

New and Improved Clerk Website

One of the major goals set by the Clerk's office in 2020 was a complete overhaul of our website. The new and improved website is designed to make taking care of Clerk business easier and more convenient. It includes a fresh new layout and a variety of useful features centered around our most-used services, making the service you need just a few clicks away. Learn more about the website's key features by watching our overview video.

By the Numbers: 2020 in Review

Graphic, 2,016,447 documents filed
Graphic, 74,648 Virtual hearings held in 2020
Graphic, 326,416 phone calls received
Graphic, 96.6 million dollars in collections remitted to the state
graphic, 10.44 million dollars collected in traffic fees
graphic, 126 million dollars distributed through the CARES Act