Incorporated in 1886, Lee County is a county located in the Southwest of Florida. As of the 2020 census, its population estimate, as recorded by the United States Census Bureau, stood at 760,822. The county is spread over 781.0 square miles of land area and is the 26th largest in Florida by total area.

Courts in Lee County

In Lee County, the trial court system consists of Circuit Courts and County Courts. The Circuit Courts handle both criminal and civil cases. The criminal jurisdiction of the court covers felonies. The civil jurisdiction of the court covers general claims for more than $15,000. Civil cases handled by the court include personal injury, breach of contract, and landlord-tenant disputes. The court also handles family law and probate cases like divorce, child custody, adoption, wills, trusts, estates, and guardianships.

Lee County also has County Courts. These courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases. The criminal cases heard by the court include misdemeanors and violations of municipal and county ordinances. The court also hears civil cases where the claim involved is less than $15,000. 

Where to Find Public Court Records in Lee County

The Lee County Clerk of the Court Office is responsible for keeping court records in the county. The county maintains an online portal for records search that makes access to public court records convenient. However, not all records are available on this portal. To access records unavailable on the portal, interested members of the public can send a mail request to the Clerk’s Office.

Types of Public Court Records in Lee County

Public court records are records accessible to all members of the public seeking access to them. Examples of these records include:

• Civil Court Records: including records relating to breach of contract, debt recovery, and personal injury
• Criminal Court Records: including court proceedings for misdemeanors and felonies
• Family Court Records: including divorce, adoption, and custody cases
• Probate Court Records relating to trusts, wills, and documentation of estates

Confidential Court Records in Lee County

In Lee County, confidential records are records that are not accessible to the general public. Such records may be sealed per the provisions of a law or by court order. These records differ from public records because while public records are made accessible to all members of the public, records designated as confidential may only be accessed by parties to the suit or by the court’s authorization. Examples of confidential court records include the following:

• Juvenile Court Records
• Adoption proceedings
• Pre Trial Bail
• Mental Health Records
• Medical Records 

Juvenile Delinquency in Lee, FL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Lee 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 1762 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Lee County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1762 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Lee County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Fort Myers
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1887
Total Square Miles:	1,212
2019 Population:	739,224
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Lee County, FL Courts