Cape Coral Background Check Search
Background check records for Cape Coral are managed through the Lee County Clerk of Court. Cape Coral is the largest city in Lee County with about 233,000 residents, sitting across the Caloosahatchee River from Fort Myers. The county seat is Fort Myers, so the main clerk's office and courthouse are there. All criminal cases, civil filings, and other court records for Cape Coral go through the Lee County Clerk. You can search these records online or visit the Fort Myers courthouse to get copies in person.
Cape Coral Quick Facts
Which County Handles Cape Coral Records
Cape Coral is in Lee County. The county seat is Fort Myers. All court records for Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, and other Lee County cities are handled by the Lee County Clerk of Court. The main courthouse is in Fort Myers, just across the river from Cape Coral. If you need to visit in person, that is where you go.
The Lee County Clerk's office manages criminal cases, civil suits, family law, and other court filings. Their online system lets you search records from home. For the full county overview, visit the Lee County background check page. You can also find the clerk through the Florida Clerks directory.
| Clerk Office | Lee County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Phone | (850) 921-0808 |
| Website | leeclerk.org |
Note: The Lee County courthouse is in Fort Myers, not Cape Coral. Plan accordingly if you need to visit in person for background check records.
Cape Coral City Resources
Cape Coral has a large city government that handles municipal services. Code enforcement, building permits, and utility records are managed at the city level. Court records and criminal history are separate and handled by the Lee County Clerk.
Visit capecoral.gov for city-level services and records.
The Cape Coral Police Department handles law enforcement within the city. They maintain arrest records and incident reports for their jurisdiction. The Lee County Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated areas and runs the county jail. Both agencies send arrest data to FDLE, so a statewide search catches records from either one. For a complete background check on someone in Cape Coral, check the clerk's court records along with law enforcement data.
Searching Cape Coral Background Check Records
The Lee County Clerk has an online case search at leeclerk.org. Enter a name and the system shows all matching cases filed in Lee County. Each result lists the case type, filing date, charges, and status. Criminal cases show the disposition when the case is done. The search is free and covers all of Lee County, including Cape Coral.
For statewide results, use FDLE's CCHInet portal. A name-based criminal history check costs $24. You submit the name online and get results by email. Most arrive within one business day. This search covers all 67 Florida counties. It pulls in records from Cape Coral and everywhere else in the state.
Official recorded documents like liens and judgments are available through MyFloridaCounty. These add context that court case searches may not include. Property liens, civil judgments, and other recorded items can be part of a thorough Cape Coral background check.
- Lee County Clerk online search: free
- FDLE name-based check: $24
- MyFloridaCounty records: free to search
- Plain copies: $0.15 per page
- Certified copies: $1.00 per page
FDLE Checks for Cape Coral
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs the statewide criminal history system. Records from Cape Coral are part of this database. FDLE offers Level 1 name-based checks for $24 through CCHInet. Results come by email. Level 2 checks use fingerprints and search both state and FBI databases.
Cape Coral and the Fort Myers area have LiveScan providers for fingerprint checks. The Florida Health Source directory lists all providers in the state. Level 2 checks are needed for some professional licenses under Chapter 435 of Florida Statutes.
The FDLE database has arrests, charges, and case results from the Lee County courts and local law enforcement in Cape Coral. It also includes corrections and probation data. This gives you a broader view than the clerk's case search alone for a background check in Cape Coral.
Note: FDLE results cover only Florida state records. Federal cases in Cape Coral go through the Middle District of Florida and are searched through the federal PACER system separately.
Public Records Access in Cape Coral
Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, public records are open to anyone. You do not have to live in Cape Coral or Lee County. You do not need a reason for your request. The clerk must provide the records unless they fall under a legal exemption like sealing or expungement.
Juvenile records are restricted. Some active investigations may be held back. But court files, arrest records, and official documents are open to the public. The Attorney General's Open Government office can help if an agency denies your request for background check records in Cape Coral.
Getting Copies of Cape Coral Records
Visit the Lee County Clerk in Fort Myers. Ask for the record by name or case number. Staff will search and pull the file. Plain copies are $0.15 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page. You can also request records by mail. Send a written request with the name, case type, and payment to the clerk's office.
For FDLE records, use CCHInet online for $24. Results arrive by email. If you want to check your own record, FDLE has a personal review option. This lets you see what shows up under your name in the state criminal history system.
Lee County Background Check Records
Cape Coral is in Lee County, and all court records go through the Lee County Clerk of Court in Fort Myers. For the full county page with search tools, fee information, and additional resources, visit the Lee County background check page.