Okeechobee County Background Checks

Okeechobee County background check records are held by the Clerk of Court in the city of Okeechobee and by FDLE at the state level. This is a rural county in south central Florida with about 42,000 residents. It sits on the north shore of Lake Okeechobee. The clerk office is small but handles all court filings for the county, including criminal and civil cases. Running a background check here means using local court data from the clerk along with statewide FDLE records. This page covers where to go, what to expect, and how to get the records you need.

Okeechobee County Clerk of Court

Jerald D. Bryant serves as the Okeechobee County Clerk of Court. The office is at 312 NW Third St, Suite 101 in Okeechobee. You can call (863) 763-2131 for questions about records or to check office hours. Staff handle criminal cases, civil filings, family law, probate, and traffic matters. All of these feed into the background check data that is available through the Okeechobee County court system.

The Okeechobee County Clerk website has a case search tool. You can look up records by name or case number. The search is free. It shows case type, filing date, and status. This is a solid starting point for an Okeechobee County background check. The site works from any computer. No account is required to use it.

Below is the Okeechobee County Clerk of Court website with access to their records search portal.

This portal lets you search court records and view public filings for Okeechobee County.

Note: Okeechobee County has one courthouse location, so all in-person record requests go through this office.

How to Run a Background Check in Okeechobee County

The easiest way to start is the clerk's online portal at okeechobeeclerk.com. Enter a name. See what cases come up. Criminal filings, civil suits, and traffic matters are all in the system. The tool is free and open to anyone. You do not need to live in Okeechobee County to use it.

For a statewide search, use FDLE's CCHInet portal. This runs a Level 1 name-based check across all 67 Florida counties. The fee is $24. Results come back within about 24 hours by email. If the person has records in Okeechobee County or anywhere else in Florida, they show up in the report.

You can also search official recorded documents through MyFloridaCounty. This covers liens, judgments, and other filed items for Okeechobee County. Under Florida Chapter 119, all of these records are open for public review. You do not need to give a reason for your search.

Okeechobee County Background Check Fees

FDLE charges $24 for a Level 1 state criminal history check. You pay online at the FDLE criminal history records page. This is the same cost in every Florida county. The Okeechobee County Clerk charges for copies when you pull documents from court files.

Plain copies run $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. The online case search is free. No charge to look up records on the clerk website. Fees only apply when you request physical copies. Level 2 fingerprint checks have their own fees that vary based on the vendor and the requesting agency.

• FDLE Level 1 check: $24.00
• Plain copy from clerk: $0.15 per page
• Certified copy: $1.00 per page
• Online case search: Free

Public Records Access in Okeechobee County

Florida's public records law gives everyone the right to inspect government records. Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes applies in Okeechobee County just like everywhere else in the state. You can ask the clerk for court records without explaining why. You do not have to live here. The default is open access.

Sealed and expunged records are off limits. Juvenile cases have separate rules. But most criminal and civil records in Okeechobee County can be viewed by anyone. If a government office turns down your request, the Attorney General's Open Government page has guidance on how to resolve the issue. They can help with disputes over public records access.

Note: Some records may take extra time to pull in a smaller office like Okeechobee County, so plan ahead if you need copies fast.

Types of Background Checks Available

Level 1 is the basic option. It is name-based. FDLE searches the statewide criminal history database. Results include arrests, charges, and case outcomes. Order at CCHInet for $24. Quick turnaround. This is the most common choice for an Okeechobee County background check.

Level 2 goes deeper. Fingerprints are required. The check runs through both FDLE and the FBI for national coverage. Chapter 435 of Florida Statutes lays out when a Level 2 check is needed. Okeechobee County has a limited number of LiveScan vendors. Check the LiveScan provider list from FDLE for approved sites near the city of Okeechobee.

The VECHS program through FDLE gives approved groups access to criminal history data under Chapter 943 of Florida Statutes. This is limited to registered organizations. Individuals cannot use VECHS on their own. The program supports groups that serve children, the elderly, or people with disabilities in Okeechobee County and across the state.

Getting Record Copies in Okeechobee County

Visit the Okeechobee County Clerk at 312 NW Third St in Okeechobee for copies of court records. Bring a valid ID and the name or case number you need. Staff will search and print copies. Pay at the counter. You can use the Find a Clerk directory to confirm office details before your trip.

Mail requests are accepted too. Send a letter with the person's full name, date of birth if you have it, and the type of record you need. Include a check for the copy fees. The clerk will mail the documents back to you. For FDLE records, order through CCHInet online and pay $24 with a credit card. Results come by email, which makes it easy if you cannot visit Okeechobee County in person.

FDLE also allows personal record reviews. You can see what is on file under your own name and fix any errors through their correction process.

Cities in Okeechobee County

Okeechobee County is mostly rural with the city of Okeechobee as the main population center. All court records for the county go through the Okeechobee County Clerk of Court. Background checks that use local court data pull from this one office.

The city of Okeechobee is the only incorporated municipality in the county. Unincorporated areas like Basinger and Taylor Creek also fall under the Okeechobee County clerk for court records purposes.

Nearby Counties

Okeechobee County borders several other counties around Lake Okeechobee. If the person you are checking lived in a nearby area, records may be in one of these counties.