Court records of Lee County, Florida, are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the Clerk's office. LeeCourt.us is a convenient resource for finding publicly available information about county court records. Additional data can be obtained through the 20th Judicial Circuit portal, the Florida Courts page for Lee County, and the Clerk's office in person.
Lee Court System Overview
Lee County is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida (Twentieth Judicial Circuit), which also covers Charlotte, Collier, Glades, and Hendry counties. The state court system here operates at two levels: Circuit Court (general jurisdiction) and County Court (limited jurisdiction). The Circuit Court handles felonies, large civil cases, family law, probate, and juvenile cases. The County Court deals with misdemeanors, small claims, traffic violations, and civil cases up to a statutory limit.
The main judicial complex is located at the Lee County Justice Center:
The administrative judge of the county is appointed by the Florida Supreme Court and coordinates the work of all judges in the five counties of the 20th Judicial Circuit.
Courts Serving Lee
Residents of Lee County may have cases in several courts — both at the state and federal levels.
State Courts
| Court | Address and Contacts |
|---|---|
| Lee County Circuit Court (20th Judicial Circuit) | 1700 Monroe Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901 |
| Lee County Court | 1700 Monroe Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901 |
Federal Courts
| Court | Address and Contacts |
|---|---|
| U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (Fort Myers Division) | 2110 First Street, Suite 2-194, Fort Myers, FL 33901 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida (Fort Myers Division) | 2110 First Street, Suite 1-100, Fort Myers, FL 33901 |
Federal cases can be tracked through the PACER system. There are no municipal courts in Florida — all criminal and civil cases are handled at the county or Circuit Court level.
What Types of Cases Lee Courts Hear
The courts of Lee County hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies (serious crimes)
- Misdemeanors (less serious crimes)
- Infractions, including traffic fines
- Civil claims — both large and small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony
- Probate, guardianship
- Juvenile cases and child protection
- Adoption
- DUI and other traffic offenses
More details on each category are in the following sections.
District Court Cases in Lee
In Florida, the role of "district court" is performed by the Circuit Court — a court of general jurisdiction. In Lee County, it handles:
- Felony criminal cases after transfer from County Court
- Civil claims over $50,000
- Appeals from County Court decisions
- Post-conviction proceedings (motions for sentence review)
- Injunction cases
A case typically reaches the Circuit Court after the State Attorney files information or a grand jury issues an indictment. A judge is assigned according to the internal case distribution. Preliminary hearings, motions, and trials are held at the Lee County Justice Center.
Magistrate Court Cases in Lee
The County Court in Lee County — equivalent to a magistrate court — has jurisdiction over:
- Misdemeanors and infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases (first appearance)
- Civil cases up to $50,000
- Small claims up to $8,000
- Traffic violations and DUI cases
Most residents encounter the County Court — it handles speeding tickets, minor neighbor disputes, and simple contract conflicts. Due to the high volume of cases, judges often specialize in specific categories: one handles exclusively traffic cases, another — criminal misdemeanors.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Lee
Family Law
Divorce, custody determination, child support, paternity establishment, and protective orders are all handled by the Circuit Court. To obtain a divorce certificate, contact the Lee County Health Department or state level.
Probate and Guardianship
The Probate division of the Circuit Court handles estate administration, appointment of guardians and conservators, and trust disputes. Guardianship cases for incapacitated adults also belong to this division.
Juvenile Matters
The Juvenile division of the Circuit Court handles juvenile offenses and child protection cases (dependency cases). Juvenile case records are confidential under Florida law. Access is limited and granted only to authorized individuals.
How Cases Move Through the Lee Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with an arrest or the filing of an indictment by the prosecutor. A civil case starts with the filing of a complaint or petition with the Clerk's office.
- Judge Assignment. The Clerk registers the case and assigns a judge according to internal rules.
- First Hearing. In criminal cases — arraignment (announcement of charges and defendant's plea). In civil cases — scheduling conference to set the process timeline.
- Pre-trial Stage. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Trial. The trial is conducted before a judge or jury, or the case is resolved through a plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-judgment. Sentencing in criminal cases. In civil cases — execution of judgment or appeal to the District Court of Appeal.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Lee
The administrative judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit coordinates the work of courts in five counties, including Lee. The Trial Court Administrator manages daily operations — from scheduling hearings to staffing issues.
Local rules of procedure for the 20th Judicial Circuit are published on the official Twentieth Judicial Circuit website. Court calendars, forms, and self-help resources are also available there.
Public Access to Records
According to the Florida Public Records Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes), most court documents are open to the public. Exceptions include juvenile cases, certain family cases, sealed or expunged records.
Attendance at Hearings
Most hearings are open to the public. Some hearings are conducted remotely via Zoom or another platform — check the format with the court office or on the 20th Judicial Circuit website.
Contact the Court Administrator
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Lee
Below are key resources for finding court records and related information in Lee County.
- Court Case Search: The 20th Judicial Circuit portal allows you to view court calendars and find case information. For statewide search, use the Florida Courts portal.
- Law Library: The Lee County Law Library at the Justice Center provides free access to legal materials for all visitors.
- Sheriff's Records and Arrests: The arrest search on the Lee County Sheriff's website shows current booking and release data. To obtain reports, use the report request form.
- Statewide Inmate Search: The Florida Department of Corrections maintains a database of inmates across Florida.
- Criminal History Check: The FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) provides criminal background check services and a sex offender registry.
- Wanted Persons: The current list is posted on the wanted fugitives page of the Lee County Sheriff.
- Cape Coral City Records: The Cape Coral public records portal contains links to police reports and Clerk of Court records.
- Federal Cases: To search cases in federal courts, use PACER.
- General County Information: The official Lee County website consolidates links to all departments and services.
If you need assistance finding a specific court record, start with LeeCourt.us or contact the Clerk's office directly at the Justice Center.