Charlotte County is located in the southwestern region of the State of Florida and is home to over 180,000 individuals. The City of Punta Gorda is the county's only incorporated city and serves as the county seat. Port Charlotte is the most populous place in the county, with over 60,000 residents.

Courts in Charlotte County

The Circuit Court is Charlotte County's highest court and is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida. The Civil Division of the Circuit Court hears non-criminal cases in which the amount in dispute exceeds $30,001. Some of the cases that this division handles include breach of contract, personal injury, eminent domain, medical malpractice, and mortgage foreclosure. The family law section of the Circuit Court's Civil Division determines cases concerning divorce, marriage annulment, domestic violence, name change, adoption, child support, paternity, spousal support, and child custody.

The Criminal Division of the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor and felony criminal cases. The Probate Office Department handles court-supervised proceedings for the administration of decedents’ estates, wills, mental health commitments, and guardianships for incapacitated individuals or minors.

Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases in Charlotte County are filed at the Juvenile Division of the Court. Delinquency cases involve minors who commit criminal offenses, while dependency cases relate to minors facing abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The Juvenile Division also handles adoption cases in which the court has terminated parental rights.

Charlotte County also has a County Court with Civil and Criminal Divisions. The Civil Division handles non-criminal disputes with claims between $8,001 and $50,000. Civil lawsuits involving monetary damages lower than $8,000 are filed at the Small Claims Office. The County Court's Criminal Division hears cases concerning traffic violations, misdemeanors, and county or municipal ordinance violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Charlotte County

The Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller serves as the custodian of public records in Charlotte County. The Clerk also makes the case files of all non-confidential matters heard at the courts publicly available. Individuals can find public court records in Charlotte County by searching them online. The Clerk also processes requests for copies of Court records by mail or in person.

Types of Public Court Records in Charlotte County

The records of the following court cases in Charlotte County are publicly available to anyone:

• Civil case records
• Small claims case records
• Criminal case records
• Probate case records
• Traffic case records

Confidential Court Records in Charlotte County

Confidential court records in Charlotte County are not publicly available due to the kind of information they contain. Florida laws may restrict the disclosure of such records or be sealed by court orders to maintain privacy. The court may also seal records in whole or redact certain case information to prevent its disclosure. However, individuals may petition the court to view or obtain copies of confidential court records in Charlotte County. The parties involved in case proceedings also have access to confidential court records.

Generally, the following court records are confidential in the State of Florida:

• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Mental health records
• Medical records

Florida laws require the redaction of the following information in court documents or case filings:

• Social Security numbers
• Financial information, such as bank account numbers
• Health reports
• Identifying details of domestic violence victims
• Juvenile delinquency offenders’ information
• Identifying information of the victims of sexual crimes

Juvenile Delinquency in Charlotte, FL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Charlotte County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Florida often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 422 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Charlotte County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 422 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Charlotte County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Charlotte County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Charlotte County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Punta Gorda
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1921
Total Square Miles:	858
2019 Population:	182,033
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	18500 Murdock Cir County Administration Center Port Charlotte , FL 33948-1094 https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/

Charlotte County, FL Courts