Fort Myers Background Check Records

Background check records for Fort Myers are managed by the Lee County Clerk of Court. Fort Myers is the county seat of Lee County and home to close to 100,000 people on the southwest Florida coast. The city sits within the 20th Judicial Circuit. All criminal and civil court cases from Fort Myers get filed and stored through the Lee County clerk system. For a broader search that covers the whole state, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs criminal history checks that pull records from every county. Using both sources gives you the most complete results for a Fort Myers background check.

Lee County Court Records for Fort Myers

Fort Myers is the county seat, so the Lee County Clerk of Court is right in the city. The courthouse is in downtown Fort Myers. All criminal cases, civil lawsuits, family court filings, and traffic matters from the city get processed here. Because Fort Myers is the county seat, you can walk to the clerk's office from many parts of downtown.

The Lee County Clerk website has an online case search. You can look up court records by name, case number, or date range at no cost. Criminal records show arrest details, charges, and disposition once the case is closed. Civil cases show the parties involved, filing date, and current status. The system covers all of Lee County, including Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, and other municipalities.

Lee County also has branch clerk offices in Cape Coral and Bonita Springs. But the main office in Fort Myers is the central location for all records. If you need certified copies or need to file paperwork in person, the downtown courthouse is your best option.

Note: The Lee County Clerk also records official documents like deeds, liens, and judgments. These are separate from court case records but can be part of a thorough background check.

Fort Myers City Government

The City of Fort Myers website has local government information and contact details for city departments.

Visit the City of Fort Myers site for city services and local information. The city does not keep court records or criminal history files. Those are at the county and state level. The Fort Myers Police Department handles law enforcement within city limits and can provide local arrest and incident reports. Arrests made by Fort Myers PD get filed with the Lee County Clerk and appear in the county court system.

FDLE Criminal History for Fort Myers

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement manages the state criminal history database. An FDLE search covers all 67 Florida counties. Records from Fort Myers show up alongside data from the rest of the state. This is the most complete statewide source for a background check.

FDLE has two types of checks. A name-based check costs $24. You submit it online at CCHInet with the person's name and date of birth. Results come by email, usually within one business day. A fingerprint-based check is more thorough. It searches FDLE and the FBI national database. You need to go to an approved LiveScan provider in the Fort Myers area. The total cost for a fingerprint check is usually $50 to $80 depending on the provider.

For more details, visit the FDLE criminal history records page. You can also review your own record through the personal review option.

How to Run a Background Check in Fort Myers

Start at the Lee County Clerk website. Use the free online case search to look up court records. Type in a name and the system pulls up all matching cases from across the county. This covers criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases. Results appear right away and include case details and status.

Next, check the MyFloridaCounty portal for official records. This site covers liens, judgments, deeds, and other recorded documents from Lee County. These records can show financial issues, property disputes, and other filings that court case searches may not reveal.

For statewide results, submit an FDLE name-based check for $24. This pulls from the entire state database. If you need national coverage, get a fingerprint-based Level 2 check at a LiveScan provider in the Fort Myers area.

• Lee County Clerk online search: free
• FDLE name-based check: $24
• Plain copies: $0.15 per page
• Certified copies: $1.00 per page
• LiveScan fingerprint check: varies by provider

Note: The Lee County Sheriff's Office also has arrest and inmate search tools on their website. This is separate from the clerk's court records.

Public Records Law

Florida's public records law is one of the broadest in the country. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes most government records open to anyone. You do not need to live in Fort Myers. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The law covers court filings, arrest records, official documents, and other government papers.

Some records are exempt. Sealed and expunged records are not available through standard searches. Chapter 943 of the Florida Statutes covers the seal and expunge process in Florida. FDLE handles all petitions. The Attorney General's Open Government page has information on public records rights and how to file a complaint if an agency refuses to release records.

Other Sources for Fort Myers Records

The Florida Clerks website has a directory of every clerk of court in the state. If you need to search beyond Lee County, this tool helps you find the right office. The 20th Judicial Circuit includes Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, and Hendry counties. Cases from any of those counties can be searched through the respective clerk.

Federal court records for Fort Myers fall under the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers Division. Federal cases are separate from state court records and need to be searched through the federal court system.

Lee County Background Check Records

Fort Myers is the county seat of Lee County. All court records for the city and the rest of the county go through the Lee County Clerk of Court in downtown Fort Myers. For the full county page with more details on search options and resources, visit the link below.

View Lee County Background Check Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Fort Myers in the southwest Florida area: