Court records in Hendry County, Florida, are maintained by the Hendry County Clerk of Courts & Comptroller and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. HendryCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Hendry County. Additional access points include the Florida Courts website, the Hendry Clerk of Courts, and other state and federal government resources described below.
Hendry Court System Overview
Hendry County is part of Florida's Sixth Judicial District as designated by the Florida Courts system for appellate purposes, though at the trial level Hendry County falls within the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. The Twentieth Judicial Circuit serves Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties. The circuit court and county court in Hendry County both operate from the Hendry County Courthouse in LaBelle. The circuit court handles felony cases, major civil disputes, family law, probate, and juvenile matters, while the county court handles misdemeanors, small claims, county civil cases, and traffic infractions. A branch courthouse also operates in Clewiston for certain proceedings.
Courts Serving Hendry
Hendry County residents may have cases in the following courts:
Hendry County Circuit Court (Twentieth Judicial Circuit)
Hendry County Court
Clewiston Branch Courthouse
U.S. District Court — Middle District of Florida (Fort Myers Division)
Federal cases involving Hendry County residents are heard in the Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers Division, which serves Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Middle District of Florida
Bankruptcy filings for Hendry County residents are handled through the Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers Division.
What Types of Cases Hendry Courts Hear
Courts in Hendry County handle a broad range of case types across the circuit and county court levels:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, violations of probation
- Traffic: Civil infractions, criminal traffic offenses, DUI
- Civil: Lawsuits above and below jurisdictional thresholds, small claims
- Family law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence injunctions
- Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, trusts
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings, dependency (child protective) cases, termination of parental rights
- Other: Adoptions, mental health proceedings, appeals from county court
District Court Cases in Hendry
In Florida's court structure, the circuit court functions as the trial court of general jurisdiction — comparable to a "district court" in many other states. In Hendry County, the circuit court hears:
- All felony criminal cases
- Civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000
- Appeals from county court decisions
- Post-conviction motions (such as Rule 3.850 motions)
- Eminent domain, tax disputes, and equity matters
Felony cases typically begin with an arrest or information filed by the State Attorney's Office for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. Cases are assigned to a circuit judge and proceed through arraignment, pretrial conferences, and trial. The Hendry Clerk of Courts criminal division maintains records of all circuit criminal proceedings.
Magistrate Court Cases in Hendry
Florida's county court serves the role filled by magistrate courts in other states. In Hendry County, the county court handles:
- Misdemeanor criminal cases (offenses punishable by up to one year in county jail)
- Criminal traffic offenses and civil traffic infractions
- DUI arraignments and hearings
- County civil cases where the amount in controversy is $50,000 or less
- Small claims cases (disputes of $8,000 or less under Florida law)
- Landlord-tenant disputes and evictions
County court judges preside over these matters. Because Hendry County has a relatively small caseload compared to urban counties, judges may hear a mix of case types rather than being assigned to a single division.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Hendry
Family Law
Divorce (dissolution of marriage), child custody, child support, paternity, and domestic violence injunctions are heard in the circuit court. Dissolution of marriage certificates recorded by the clerk from June 6, 1927 to present are also available through the Florida Department of Health. Hendry County residents who need legal assistance with family cases may contact Florida Rural Legal Services, which serves Hendry and surrounding counties.
Probate
The circuit court handles decedent estates, formal and summary administration, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, and trust litigation. Filings are made through the Hendry Clerk of Courts. Certain probate records may have restricted access under Florida Statutes, particularly guardianship examination reports.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency and dependency (child protective) cases are heard in the circuit court's juvenile division. Juvenile court records are confidential under Florida law and are not available through public access portals. Adoption proceedings are also handled by the circuit court, and those records are sealed.
How Cases Move Through the Hendry Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest or the filing of an information or indictment. Civil cases start with a complaint or petition filed with the clerk of courts.
- Case Assignment: The clerk assigns the case to a judge based on the court's case assignment procedures.
- Initial Hearing: In criminal cases, the defendant is arraigned and enters a plea. In civil cases, the court may set a case management conference.
- Pretrial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in mediation. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to a bench or jury trial, or are resolved through a plea agreement, settlement, default judgment, or dismissal.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases may involve sentencing, probation, or appeals. Civil cases may involve enforcement of judgments or post-trial motions. Appeals from county court go to the circuit court; appeals from circuit court go to the District Court of Appeal.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Hendry
The Twentieth Judicial Circuit's chief judge oversees court administration for Hendry County. A trial court administrator manages day-to-day operations across the circuit's five counties. Local administrative orders and rules for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit are published through the Florida Courts website.
Public Access to Records
Under Florida's broad public records law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes) and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, most court records are generally public. However, certain records are confidential or exempt, including:
- Juvenile case files
- Adoption records
- Certain family law financial documents
- Mental health and substance abuse records
- Sealed or expunged criminal records
Online access to non-confidential court dockets and documents is available through the Hendry Clerk of Courts website. Users should be aware that basic public access does not include records governed by the Florida Rules of Family Law or certain probate rules.
Attending Hearings
Most hearings in Hendry County are open to the public and held in person at the LaBelle courthouse or the Clewiston branch. Some proceedings may be conducted remotely by video or telephone — contact the clerk's office or the judge's judicial assistant to confirm the format for a specific hearing.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Hendry
- Court Docket and Case Search: The Hendry Clerk of Courts provides access to criminal case information. For appellate cases, use the Florida Appellate Case Information System (ACIS).
- Clerk of Courts — Public Records: Contact the Hendry County Clerk of Courts at 25 E. Hickpochee Avenue, LaBelle, FL 33975, to request certified copies or submit a public records request.
- Inmate Search: The Hendry County Sheriff's Office inmate search tool allows you to look up current inmates held in the Hendry County Jail.
- Police Records: The Clewiston Police Department records services office handles local law enforcement records requests.
- Statewide Criminal History: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) maintains a central repository of criminal justice information, including criminal history records available for background checks.
- Wanted Persons: FDLE's Public Access System lists active Florida warrants as reported by law enforcement agencies statewide.
- Divorce Certificates: The Florida Department of Health issues dissolution of marriage certificates for records from June 6, 1927 to present.
- Driver and Motor Vehicle Records: The Florida HSMV Hendry County page lists local service centers and clerk of court offices handling driver license and motor vehicle matters.
- Legal Aid: Florida Rural Legal Services provides free legal assistance to eligible Hendry County residents in family, housing, and other civil matters.
- Court Forms and Self-Help: Florida's statewide self-help resources and approved court forms are available through the Florida Courts website.