| Clerk of Court | Polk County Clerk of Court — Polk Records Online |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Check the county website |
| Phone | 863-534-4000 |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $1.00 per page (Fla. Stat. § 28.24(6)(a)) |
| Certified copy fee | $2.00 certification fee per instrument, plus the $1.00-per-page copy fee (Fla. Stat. § 28.24(4)(a) and (6)(a)) |
The Polk County Clerk of Court keeps circuit- and county-court records across the county, from
felonies and larger civil suits to misdemeanors, small claims, evictions, and traffic infractions.
Florida's single-clerk structure means there is no separate county clerk office; county_clerk is null
in this record.
Polk Records Online is the Clerk's consolidated search application for criminal, civil, and traffic case records, including felony, misdemeanor, county-ordinance, small-claims, eviction, foreclosure, probate, and family-law cases. Uncertified copies of documents can be printed for free directly from the site.
The county seat is Bartow, but Polk County's courts and clerk services also serve Lakeland, Winter Haven, and other large cities in the county, all through the same countywide search and clerk's office.
Polk is one of Florida's fastest-growing counties, spanning a large geographic area between Tampa and Orlando, and the Clerk's office fields separate phone lines for general questions and for traffic and court-payment matters specifically. Polk Records Online was rebuilt on a newer domain (polkclerkfl.gov) in recent years, replacing the older polkcountyclerk.net branding on the main site, though the case-search application itself still runs at its established polkcountyclerk.net address.
Search Polk County court records online
Clerk of Court
Polk County Clerk of Court — Polk Records Online
- Cost
- Free to search and print uncertified copies
- Coverage
- Felony, misdemeanor, traffic, municipal- and county-ordinance, small-claims, eviction, foreclosure, probate, and family case records for Polk County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
One elected clerk serves both circuit and county courts in Polk County, so county_clerk is set to null. Uncertified document images can be printed for free from Polk Records Online; certified copies require a separate request.
What is available online
Polk Records Online covers criminal (felony, misdemeanor, traffic, municipal and county ordinance) and civil (small claims, evictions, foreclosures, probate, wills, estates, custody, domestic relations) case types, with dockets, activity, and many filed documents viewable and printable for free. Confidential case types are excluded from public results.
Which clerk has your record
In Florida, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Florida page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Courts (20 judicial circuits) | Felony criminal cases; Family law (divorce, custody, paternity); Probate and guardianship | Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of the county |
| County Courts | Misdemeanor criminal cases; Traffic infractions and criminal traffic; Civil cases up to $50,000 (small claims up to $8,000) | Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of the county |
Request records in person or by mail
Online. Search Polk Records Online at https://pro.polkcountyclerk.net/PRO free of charge; print uncertified copies of available documents directly from the site at no cost.
Certified copies or records not online. Contact the Polk County Clerk of Court at 863-534-4000, or for traffic and court payments at 863-733-8045, or visit the Clerk's office.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Florida |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $1.00 per page (Fla. Stat. § 28.24(6)(a)) |
| Certified copy | $2.00 certification fee per instrument, plus the $1.00-per-page copy fee (Fla. Stat. § 28.24(4)(a) and (6)(a)) |
These are the statewide statutory fees clerks charge for photocopies and certification under Florida Statutes Chapter 28. Individual clerks may charge additional amounts for electronic certified copies ordered online (commonly an added convenience or processing fee) — confirm the total with the specific county clerk before paying.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Florida court records are presumed open under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, which lists roughly 19 specific categories of information the clerk must keep confidential even within an otherwise public case file (for example Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and certain victim and minor-witness identifying information). Confidentiality of court records in Florida is governed by this court rule, not by the state's public-records law (Chapter 119), which does not apply to the judicial branch.
The Florida guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print court documents for free in Polk County?
Yes. Polk Records Online lets you view and print uncertified copies of available documents at no charge. Certified copies require a separate request and fee.
What case types does Polk Records Online cover?
Criminal cases (felony, misdemeanor, traffic, ordinance violations) and civil cases (small claims, evictions, foreclosures, probate, family law), all searchable in one consolidated system.
Is there a separate county clerk in Polk County?
No. The Polk County Clerk of Court keeps both circuit and county court records, so this guide lists that office as district_clerk and leaves county_clerk null.
What phone number handles Polk County traffic tickets?
Call 863-733-8045 for traffic and court payment questions, or the Clerk's general line at 863-534-4000 for other case questions.
Did Polk County's Clerk website change addresses recently?
Yes. The main site moved to polkclerkfl.gov, though the Polk Records Online case-search application itself still runs at its established polkcountyclerk.net address, linked from the main site.
Sources
- Polk County Clerk of Court — https://www.polkclerkfl.gov/
- Polk Records Online case search — https://pro.polkcountyclerk.net/PRO
- Florida Courts — Structure of the State Courts System — https://www.flcourts.gov/Courts-System/court-structure/district-courts-of-appeal
- Florida Appellate Case Information System (ACIS) — https://acis.flcourts.gov/
- FDLE — Obtaining a Florida Criminal History Record Check — https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/criminal-history-records/florida-checks
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (Authority) — https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/authority/
- Florida Statutes § 943.0585 — Court-Ordered Expunction of Criminal History Records — https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/943.0585
- Florida Statutes § 943.059 — Court-Ordered Sealing of Criminal History Records — https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/943.059
- Florida Statutes § 28.24 — Service Charges by Clerks of the Circuit Court — https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/28.24
- Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 — Public Access to Judicial Branch Records — https://www.flcourts.gov/core/fileparse.php/255/urlt/RULE-2-420-Jan2014.pdf
- Southern District of Florida — Federal Judicial Districts of Florida — https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/federal-judicial-districts-florida
- Middle District of Florida — U.S. District Court — https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Florida counties.