Search Free Lee County Public Records (Marital, Arrests, Court & More)

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Free Lee County Public Records Search

Access Lee County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

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Find free Lee County public records through official channels and retrieve information on anyone today.

Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Florida’s state public record laws, all sorts of information is readily accessible once you know where to look. This information includes but is not limited to arrests, warrants, probation information, criminal history, background check reports, property records, and vital records regarding marriage, divorce, birth, and death.

No matter what’s being searched for, this brief resource provides citizens with everything necessary to find information quickly and effectively in Lee County, Florida.

How To Track Down Lee County Arrests & Mugshots via Local Law Enforcement Agencies

The Florida Public Records Law allows for members of the public to access, view, and obtain copies of government records at the state, county, and municipal levels.¹

Public records are therefore transparent and available to citizens; these include both arrest logs and information contained in jail records.

Concerned parties hoping to find out if someone is in jail or simply wanting to gain information on a subject’s arrest details and charges in Lee County can do so by reviewing an arrest record. Individuals may obtain recent arrest reports through either the county sheriff’s department or through local police departments.

View Arrest Records via the Lee County Sheriff’s Booking Log

Searchers can browse the Lee County bookings by entering an inmate’s name, date of birth, booking number, or booking/release date and performing a search.²

Any inmate formerly or currently incarcerated in any Lee County jail facility (the Downtown Jail, Core Facility, and the Community Program Unit) are all operated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and will be listed in the search results under either “in custody” or “released.”³

By viewing these daily arrest reports, individuals can view someone’s mugshot and read through the details of their arrest and charge(s). This jail roster shows the following information on each past or present Lee County jail inmate:

• Address
• Bond Amount
• Booking Date
• Case Number
• Charge(s)
• Booking Number
• Date of Birth
• Facility
• Height
• Mugshot
• Name
• Release Date
• Sex
• Weight

Though this is the only method of accessing a free arrest history through the sheriff’s department, searchers could also request a public record electronically from the LCSO or submit a record request by phone or in person.

While making an online account is required and free to do, each of these request methods will require the requester to pay certain fees (depending on the number of copies desired and whether or not the documents are certified).

Lee County Sheriff’s Office
14750 6 Mile Cypress Pkwy
Ft. Myers, FL 33912

Central Records: 239.477.1350
General Inquiries: 239.477.1000

Main Jail
2115 Martin Luther King Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Phone: 239.477.1500

Requesters will need to provide the date and location of the arrest, names of the involved party/parties, and the case number if known.

Obtain Arrest Information From City Police Departments in Lee County Florida

Arrest details can also be found through city or municipal police departments if they were the arresting agency. Police records and information surrounding arrests can often be found through an online directory or requested in person or by phone for a small fee.

For example, anyone can submit an electronic request for a police report from the City of Fort Myers Police Department, call the Records Division, or stop by in person.

Fort Myers Police Department
2210 Widman Way
Fort Myers, Florida 33901

General Inquiries: 239.321.7700
Records Division: 239.321.7665
Hours: Weekdays 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Public records regarding arrests and other incidents can be obtained through municipal police agencies by typing “[city name] police department contact information” into a search engine and browsing the results for the relevant phone number, email, form or address.

How To Look Up Lee County Marriage & Divorce Records

Lee County public records include both marriage and divorce certificates, and anyone can order non-certified or certified copies of either record.

Retrieve Lee County Marriage Certificates

There are several ways to find out if someone is married and had their ceremony held in Lee County. Each of the methods of accessing Lee County marriage records is summarized below:

• Use the official records search offered by the Lee County Clerk of the Court Controller to review and print a non-certified marriage record free of charge.
• Order an e-certified copy online for a nominal fee.
• Request a marriage record from June 6, 1927 to present through the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics by mail or walk-in after completing the Application for Marriage Record Form and paying the associated fees.
• For certified marriage certificates through the county clerk, either:

a) stop by the office of the Lee County Clerk of Court & Comptroller on the 2nd Floor of the Lee County Administration Building and pay the appropriate costs.

b) request the record via mail by sending in a stamped and self-addressed envelope and detailed information on the record being requested (i.e. bride’s maiden name, groom’s name, ceremony date, requester’s license number and state of issuance).

Lee County Clerk of Court & Comptroller
Recording Department
2115 2nd St.
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Phone: 239.533.5000
Hours: Weekdays 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Mailing Address:
Lee County Clerk of Court & Comptroller
P.O. Box 2278
Fort Myers, Florida 33902

In-person payments can be made by check, money order, credit card or cash; mail-in requests may be paid by either a check or money order made out to “Lee County Clerk of Courts” for the proper amount.

Review Lee County Divorce Records & Dissolutions of Marriage

Lee County divorce records are not available through the County Clerk of Court and are instead held in the Justice Center. These documents come at a cost but can be requested by mail or in person at the addresses below:

Justice Center
2075 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Fort Myers, Florida 33901

Phone: 239.533.5000

Mailing Address:
PO Box 310
Fort Myers, FL 33902

Certified divorce records may also be purchased via the Florida Department of Health’s Vital Statistics Bureau (from June 6, 1927, up to now) by mail or in person; requesters must submit the Application for Dissolution of Marriage Certificate Form and pay the appropriate fees.⁴

The Florida Department of Health also partners with the independent vital records agency called VitalChek–the only contracted vendor the Bureau of Vital Statistics has endorsed–and both public divorce records and marriage records can be purchased through this site.

Further guidance can be obtained by reviewing the instructions for retrieving details of divorces finalized in Lee County, Florida.

Other third-party platforms can check if someone is married and can even provide vital records to Lee County residents; these services go above and beyond by checking aliases, maiden names, and a performing a nationwide search for marriage and divorce information.

This can be especially useful if the record is not publicly available and is often the more affordable option.

Lastly, for older records that are not hosted by the Bureau of Vital Records or other vital records custodians, individuals seeking marriage records may benefit from checking with local churches around the area where the marriage occurred.

Churches used to be the primary custodians of marriage records and might be able to provide information to searchers tracing their family tree or tracking down genealogy records.

If records of marriage or dissolution of marriage are required but were finalized outside of Lee County, searchers can consult a tutorial on accessing Florida public records. This resource provides valuable information on the most effective methods to swiftly obtain statewide information about individuals at no cost.

How To Retrieve Criminal Records in Lee County FL

Lee County criminal records are far more comprehensive than arrest records, as they include warrants, arrests, detainments, past and present court proceedings and case numbers rather than being limited to just a single incident.

Information in criminal records comes from various courts, police reports, jails, and any other relevant agencies that report criminal history information.

In Lee County, details regarding a subject’s criminal past–or present–can be found through the court system or via law enforcement agencies. Although these will not be certified or comprehensive records like those received at the state level, they can provide insight into local criminal proceedings and arrests.

Find Criminal History Information via the Lee County Sheriff’s Department

A great starting point is to conduct a free criminal record check by browsing the Lee County bookings database which shows both former and presently booked inmates in all Lee County jails.²

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) manages this portal, which can be searched by booking number or name along with helpful details such as date of birth, booking and release dates to quickly narrow down the search.³ Even prior inmates will be shown, but their inmate profile will list them as “released.”

Other options for finding criminal reports through the LCSO are by submitting an online LCSO public record request, calling the Central Records Division, or inquiring in person; the sheriff’s office charges a small fee per document page.

When submitting a request, individuals will be asked to provide details of the incident (i.e. location, date, and time), name(s) of parties involved, and the case number.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO)
14750 6 Mile Cypress Parkway
Fort Myers, Florida 33912

Central Records: 239.477.1350

Acquire Criminal History Information via the Court System

Information on criminal case proceedings can also be obtained through the courts as well, either by reviewing case information on the online portal or by contacting the Lee County Clerk of Court directly.

Searchers can utilize the electronic Court Records Inquiry, which allows users to search for case records by case type, case number, citation number, or party names within a specified date range.⁵ The more search criteria entered, the more specific the results will be.

Electronically certified case documents can be acquired through this feature for $8 per document. Requesters will receive the criminal case information by email.

Although records can be searched with or without creating a free account, those who have not registered will not be able to see any case information beyond first, middle and last names, filing date(s), and citation and case numbers.

Criminal case information can also be obtained by submitting an online public records request, calling, or stopping in person to inquire with the Lee County Clerk of Court, whose office is located within the County Justice Center.

Fees and costs vary based on record type, quantity, and whether or not it needs to be certified.

Lee County Clerk of Court – Justice Center

East Entrance
1700 Monroe St.
Fort Myers, Florida 33901

South Entrance
2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Fort Myers, Florida 33901

Obtain Florida Criminal Records via State Resources

In addition to the aforementioned ways to look up someone’s criminal record via county resources and custodians, citizens can also access statewide public criminal records in Florida.⁶

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is a branch of the state’s Division of Criminal Information Services (CJIS) and serves as the state’s public records repository for criminal history information, offering the Criminal History Record Checks to requesters for a fee.⁷

There are several types of criminal records available via the FDLE; each type is briefly outlined below with the associated cost:

• Instant Criminal History Search – Non-certified but immediate online searches and can be performed by anyone on any subject; individuals must complete the online form, pay a $25 fee ($24 per search plus a $1 credit card processing charge) by credit or debit, and then can opt to print or email themselves the results.
• Certified/Non-Certified Search – Can also be performed on anyone; after the requester inputs information pertaining to their request and indicates whether the results need to be certified or not, FDLE staff will conduct the search on behalf of the requester and mail the criminal record(s) within 7 business days. This type of record also costs $25 and is payable by credit or debit.
• Originating Agency Identification (ORI) Search – These are only available through an authorized or registered requesting agency and the criminal record fees vary between agencies; results will be delivered to the desired recipient by postal mail.

Aside from obtaining criminal records through the FDLE, the agencies and search tools listed below can return certain criminal history information as well:

• The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Search Tool is searchable by Bureau of Prisons (BOP) number or name and will display historical criminal information for federal offenders.
• The Corrections Offender Network maintained by the Florida Department of Corrections has several search resources to review criminal information of incarcerated inmates in state facilities or those who have been released from DOC custody to supervision (probation or parole); these databases can be searched at no cost and show prior and current charges, convictions, sentencing information and facilities.
• The Sexual Offenders & Predators Search is operated by the FDLE and is publicly available and free to search; to view sex offenders throughout Florida, users can search the database by name, location, offender status, or offender type.
• The National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) is the free nationwide sex registry that can also be searched by name or location within a specified radius (up to 3 miles).

How To Perform a Background Check in Lee County

There are a multitude of reasons for conducting background checks from hiring a one-time babysitter or a long-term employee to screening someone for adoption, security clearance, or even obtaining certain licenses.

Background checks can be performed for both personal and professional reasons, but the purpose for the check dictates whether or not certain conditions must be met. Some of the key differences are outlined below:

Personal Background Checks

• Provide insight into another person such as a colleague, potential date, or new acquaintance.
• Does not require the subject’s permission or even knowledge that the background check is being performed.
• The person conducting the background check does not need to state a purpose or reason.
• Information obtained from the check cannot be used to commit a hate crime, stalk, harass, or otherwise intimidate anyone.
• Can be conducted by collecting information from local agencies and record custodians such as online searches, sheriff’s offices, police departments, courts, and other public records.
• Are available for a nominal fee through third-party sites, which can check public records by performing efficient and comprehensive investigations on someone and will not be limited to a particular county or even state; instead, these services can conduct a background check on a national scale and retrieve information that members of the public may have trouble finding.

Professional Background Checks

• May be done for adoption, licensing, purchasing firearms, employment, or housing/residency.
• Provide an in depth review of the subject such as educational, housing, employment and criminal history, marital status, and court proceedings.
• Require the subject’s written consent before the background check can be performed.
• Allows provision for the subject of the check to dispute or report false information.
• Available as name-based (Level 1) or fingerprint-based checks submitted to the FBI (Level 2) as clarified by the Florida Legislature.
• Must abide by all state and federal laws pertaining to background checks:
  • The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) protects applicants, trainees, and employees from workplace discrimination; here’s how to file an employment discrimination charge with the EEOC if you feel you’ve been wrongfully fired, denied a promotion, or otherwise discriminated against in your place of employment.
  • The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ensures accuracy and transparency in consumer information reporting, so if an employer obtains a background check without your written consent or rejected your application without giving you the required notices, you are advised to report this to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
  •  Charges of discrimination can also be filed with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity or with the Florida office of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Florida Commission on Human Relations
325 John Knox Rd.
Building F, Ste. 240
Tallahassee, Florida 32303 – 4149

Phone: 904.488.7082
Fax: 904.488.5291
TDD: +1.800.342.8170

A “Level 1” name-based background check can be obtained through the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) by providing the subject’s name, date of birth, race and sex along with a payment of $5 by cash, business check or money order made payable to “Lee County Sheriff’s Office.”

A more comprehensive “Level 2” fingerprint-based background check can be performed when an authorized agency or employer receives written permission to do so from the subject of the check (often an applicant for a job, license, or residency).

The individual will then need to visit one of Florida’s authorized LiveScan Providers to have their fingerprints taken on an official card and sent to the FBI, which will then check for fingerprint matches in their national database and provide a report of all known information on the subject such as criminal charges, court cases, and convictions.

How To Check Lee County Public Records for Warrants: See Who’s Wanted Locally

Lee County public records include arrest, bench, search and other outstanding warrants throughout the county but these searches can also be conducted at the state level.

Interested parties can verify who has a warrant in Lee County by submitting inquiries to law enforcement agencies, checking with the clerk of court, or searching the statewide warrant database, as explained below.

Run a Warrant Search via County & City Law Enforcement Agencies

Individuals can conduct an Online Warrant Search through the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) by entering the subject’s first and last name. Results shown will include details such as:^{8, 3}

• Bond Amount
• Case Number
• Charge
• Date of Birth
• Extradition Limit
• First & Last Name
• Race
• Sex
• Warrant Number

The LCSO may also be contacted by phone or in person for questions about Lee County warrants:

Lee County Sheriff’s Office
14750 6 Mile Cypress Parkway
Fort Myers, Florida 33912

Phone: 239.477.1000

If the city or municipality where the warrant was issued is known, concerned parties could also opt to check with the local police departments as they will be able to give information on active warrants at the local level.

For example, even though the Sanibel Police Department does not have an online search tool for warrants, they allow members of the public to submit online public record requests and warrant inquiries can also be made by phone or by visiting the police station.

City of Sanibel Police Department
Sanibel City Hall
800 Dunlop Rd. 
Sanibel, FL 33957

Phone: 239.472.3111

Complete a Lee County Warrant Search via the Clerk of Court

The Lee County Clerk can provide information on warrants as well and can be reached by phone or by visiting their office at the Justice Center.⁹

Justice Center
2075 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Fort Myers, Florida 33901

Phone: 239.533.5000

Run a Statewide Warrant Search by Using The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Public Access System (PAS)

Lastly, an online check for warrants can be performed on a statewide scale in Florida through the Wanted Persons Search offered by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).¹⁰

Searchers can enter the subject’s last name and any other relevant search criteria such as first name, middle name, nicknames or aliases, race, sex, or age to drastically narrow down the search.

This database will display all warrant information that has been sent to the FDLE from other law enforcement agencies in Florida, as long as the information has not been sealed or otherwise legally withheld.

Once a search has been performed, individuals with Florida warrants will be shown and any wanted person’s profile can be viewed for further details including:

• Address
• Aliases
• Date of Birth
• Date of Warrant Issuance
• Eye Color
• Hair Type/Color
• Height
• Name
• Nicknames
• Occupation
• Offense
• Physical Identifiers (i.e. Scars, Tattoos, Birthmarks)
• Race
• Reporting Agency
• Sex
• Warrant Number
• Weight

How Do I See if Someone Is on Probation in Lee County Florida?

Probation details are publicly available in Lee County, and can be found through either the court system or the state department of corrections.

Individuals seeking probation information on a specific subject are advised to begin their search by inquiring with the 20th Circuit Court Probation Department, which is responsible for misdemeanor probation administration and services for all criminal courts in this jurisdiction.

The Probation Department office is in the Lee County Justice Center and can be contacted by phone or by coming in during their business hours.

Lee County Justice Center
Probation Department
Office 3234 – Third Floor
1700 Monroe St. 
Fort Myers, Florida 33901

Phone: 239.533.9199
Hours: Weekdays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

There are three probation offices throughout Lee County that can be very helpful in solving matters pertaining to probation. Each is listed below with their contact information:

2117 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Fort Myers, Florida 33901

Phone: 239.258.3450

2295 Victoria Ave.
Ste. 292
Fort Myers, Florida 33901

Phone: 239.338.2493

3104 Del Prado Boulevard
Ste. 200
Cape Coral, Florida 33904

Phone: 239.800.6435

Lastly, the Florida Department of Corrections Supervised Population Search allows users to view individuals released to state supervision including both probation and parole and includes both past and current offenders.

This search tool can be searched by name or DOC number and can help find someone’s mugshot and probation details such as the probationer’s name, demographics, DOC number, current facility, offender status, and supervision type.

How To Search Court Records in Lee County

Lee County judicial records are publicly available as long as they have not been sealed or made legally confidential, such as in the case of juvenile court records. These include court transcripts, documents, and case proceedings at all levels.

The Florida court system is organized as such:

• The Florida Supreme Court hears capital cases, constitutional questions, and cases bumped up from the lower courts
  • The Florida Supreme Court online docket is a public index that can be browsed by case number, party, attorney, date filed, or county
  • The State Archives of Florida allow public access to historical government records, photos, manuscripts and other documents
• The District Courts of Appeal hear county court cases that have been appealed, county court decisions involving over $15,000 and other cases not directly appealable at the Supreme or Circuit Courts
  • Lee County falls under jurisdiction of the 6th District Court of Appeals and members of the public can view records via the court of appeals online docket or by contacting the Clerk of the 6th District Court of Appeal

Sixth District Court of Appeal
811 E. Main St.
Lakeland, Florida 33801
Phone: 863.940.6041

• The Circuit Courts hear cases pertaining to felonies, mental health, probate, guardianship and civil cases involving over $30,000
  • Lee County court schedules for the 20th Judicial Circuit Court list court dates and the judges who will oversee them
• The County Courts try cases of misdemeanors, traffic infractions, small claims, and civil cases involving less than $30,000
  • The Lee County Courthouse (Justice Center) has several publicly available options for reviewing Lee County court records:
    • Conduct a court record inquiry online
    • Submit a public records request
    • Contact the Lee County Clerk of Court for assistance performing a Lee County case search⁹

Lee County Clerk of Court
Justice Center
2075 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Phone: 239.533.5000

Mailing Address:
PO Box 310
Fort Myers, FL 33902

Fees and costs apply to records, transcripts, and other documents or certifications obtained from the clerk.

Public court records can be searched for or requested online, by mail, or by visiting the clerk at the Justice Center. Delivery options include printing at home, retrieving documents in person, or submitting a self-addressed and stamped envelope to have the desired records sent to you by mail.

How To Obtain Birth, Death & Other Vital Records in Lee County FL

Similar to marriage and divorce documents, certificates of birth and death are also considered vital records and are available through several methods, but technically they aren’t a part of Lee County public records since they are only available to certain individuals.

However, third party sites may have more information on a birth or death as they check with local vital record offices and other online sources at once, including genealogy records and a broad internet search.

Find Lee County Birth Certificates

Certificates of birth spanning the past 100 years are legally withheld from the public in Florida. Only the following people may obtain them:

• Subject named on the certificate (must be age 18 or older)
• Parent(s)/Guardian(s) of the person listed on the certificate
• An attorney or legal representative of the parent, guardian, or person listed
• An individual who has court-ordered access to the record (must show proof)

A current government-issued photo I.D. must be shown to receive a birth record.

Lee County birth records can be ordered through the following custodians:

• Walk-in or mail-in requests for birth records from 1917 to present can be made at any Lee County Health Department locations (fees vary between locations)
• Order a birth record through the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in person or by mail
  • Application for Florida Birth Certificate (English)
  • Application for Florida Birth Certificate (Spanish)
• Purchase a birth record through VitalChek by credit card and have it mailed to you

Look Up Death Records in Lee County

Death records are confidential dating back 50 years. For deaths that occurred over 50 years ago, anyone over the age of 18 years old can request a certified record that excludes the cause of death, while only the following individuals may obtain a certificate of death that lists the cause of death:

• Spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased (if above age 18)
• Any person who can provide legal proof of interest in the record (i.e. insurance policy, will, etc.)
• Legal representative of an immediate family member
• An individual who has permission to obtain the record by court order

A valid government-issued photo identification must be shown before the record will be granted.

Copies of death records can be ordered through:

• Lee County Health Department locations for deaths that occurred from 2009 to present (fees vary between offices)
• Bureau of Vital Statistics by mail or in person by filling out the relevant application and paying the appropriate fees
  • Application for Florida Death Certificate (English)
  • Application for Florida Death Certificate (Spanish)
• VitalChek by credit card with the requested record delivered by mail

Certificates of birth and death can also be ordered through third-party services but these copies will not be official or certified versions.

How To Access Lee County Property Records via the Property Appraiser (FL)

Property records and information on land ownership such as easements and plats (plots of land) can be found through conducting a free public records search of Lee County official records.

The Lee County Property Appraiser can provide assistance and copies of property records in person for just $0.15 per single-sided copy or $0.20 per double-sided page.¹⁴

Lee County Property Appraiser
2480 Thompson Street, 4th Floor
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Phone: 239.533.6100
Fax: 239.533.6160

Mailing Address:
PO Box 1546
Fort Myers, FL 33902

GeoView maps of Lee County as well as unrecorded plats and maps are additional publicly accessible resources hosted by the county appraiser that are free to use.

Lee County public records cover a broad range of documents and can be accessed through many custodians–the County Sheriff’s Office and local police departments host county arrest records and warrant information, the Florida Department of Health maintains vital records, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) can verify if someone has a criminal record, and court records can be accessed via the clerk of court.^{3, 16, 7, 9}