FORT MYERS PUBLIC RECORDS

What are Fort Myers City Public Records?

As per the Florida Sunshine Law, Fort Myers City public records include records delivered or acquired in compliance with the law or relating to a public agency carrying out public business. Fort Myers public records could be documents, archives, letters, books, or maps. They may likewise be programming for information handling, sound recordings, tapes, movies, or pictures. There are certain records exempted from public access. They include:

• Information that violates an individual’s privacy
• Details and information on agency management, investigation, personnel;
• Sensitive and confidential information;
• Trade secrets and proprietary information;
• Other types of personal information.

Furthermore, access to exempted records can be restricted in cases where the law excluding the release of the record or its information to the public.

Fort Myers City Crime Statistics

The Fort Myers City Police Department provides the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) with the city’s crime statistics annually. In 2019, the Police Department reported 2,438 crimes, including 486 violent crimes and 1,952 property crimes. The violent crimes comprised nine murders, 34 rapes, 94 robberies, and 349 aggravated assaults. The property crimes include 245 burglaries, 1,553 larcenies, and 154 motor vehicle thefts.

The crime statistics from 2019 show a significant crime reduction compared with the crime numbers from 2018. There was a reduction in all forms of crimes. For violent crimes, murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assaults declined by 18%, 36%, 36%, and 6%, respectively. At the same time, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle thefts declined 35%, 6%, and 40%, respectively.

Are Fort Myers City Criminal Records Public?

As per Florida Law, Fort Myers City criminal records are generally public records. Criminal records give information about an individual’s arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences of the case. If the criminal record is sealed or expunged, the record is not available for public access. Obtaining copies of sealed criminal records is exceptionally restricted. They are open to particular public organizations. Expunged criminal records are physically deleted and are barred from computerized or information-based data sets.

The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) of the FDLE maintains copies of criminal records and provides access to Fort Myers criminal records electronically. From July 1, 2020, the CJIS stopped receiving mail orders for criminal records. There are presently three choices accessible to persons interested in requesting criminal records. They include instant search, certified/non-certified search, and ORI search. Fort Myers criminal records are also available at the county level with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office provides copies of criminal records. It carries out background checks for Fort Myers City and Lee County residents. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is located at:

Lee County Sheriff’s Office
14750 Six Mile Cypress Parkway
Fort Myers, FL 33912
(239) 477-1350

How to Obtain Fort Myers City Police Reports and Arrest Records?

The Records Division of the City of Fort Myers Police Department keeps copies of Fort Myers City arrest records, police reports, and accident reports. Residents can request copies of these reports online, by telephone, and in person. To make online requests, visit the Public Records Center. Telephone requests can be made by calling (239) 321-7665. In-person requests can be made by visiting the Police Department at:

Fort Myers City Police Department
2210 Widman Way
Fort Myers, FL 33901

To obtain accident reports, visit the above address from Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Requesters should note that accident reports are available only to the persons involved in the accident, their legal representatives, and their insurance company for the first 60 days. Requesters should take their means of identification with them to make the request.

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Fort Myers City?

The FDLE gives the residents of the state routinely updated information about sex offenders through its online sex offender registry. Using the search tool on the site, Fort Myers City residents can look up information about sex offenders and predators. Residents can search for sex offender information by name. They can also search sex offenders living in different Lee County communities, just as those living close to schools and campus grounds. In addition, Fort Myers City can sign up to the Florida Offender Alert System to get email notices about sex offenders within a mile range from them.

How to Find Fort Myers City Inmate Records?

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office gives information about persons arrested and incarcerated by law enforcement and booking divisions in the county, including the Fort Myers City Police Department. The portal provides search options, for example, detainee name, assigned I.D., booking date, and release date. The portal contains information about the detainee’s charge and bail or bond terms, if appropriate. For other inmate-related inquiries, contact the Sheriff’s Office by utilizing the contact form.

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Fort Myers City Jail?

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office runs the activities of the three jail facilities in the county. These facilities include Lee County Jail, Lee County Core Facility, and Community Programs Unit (CPU) Facility. Below are their locations:

Lee County Jail
2115 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Lee County Core/CPU Facility
2501 Ortiz Avenue
Fort Myers, FL 33905

There are video monitors at these jail facilities for inmate visitation at these facilities. Every inmate is permitted two visits of one hour each consistently. Inmate visits at the Lee County jail facilities are done at the visitation facility situated on the Ortiz site:

2501 Ortiz Avenue
Fort Myers, FL 33905
(239) 258-3773

Court Records

Lee County courts address Fort Myers City cases. The Lee County court system consists of one Circuit Court and one County Court. They exercise jurisdiction over various cases, such as civil, criminal, traffic, probate, small claims, and family matters. The Lee County Clerk of Courts is in charge of maintaining copies of court records and providing access to these court records.

Location of Courts in Fort Myers City

Lee County Circuit Court
Lee County Circuit Court
Lee County Justice Center
1700 Monroe Street
P.O. Box 2469
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Phone: (239) 533-5000

County Court in Lee County
County Court of Lee County
Lee County Justice Center
1700 Monroe Street
P.O. Box 2469
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Phone: (239) 533-5000

Are Fort Myers City Court Records Public?

As per the Florida Court Rules on Public Access to Judicial Records, Fort Myers court records and administrative records are open to the general public. The Lee County Clerk maintains the court records. The records are also available to interested persons. However, there are some records and information that are confidential and thus excluded from this general rule. Two of such records are adoption and juvenile records. Residents can investigate the Florida Confidentiality List to discover the records classified as private or confidential and not accessible to the public.

Can you look up a Fort Myers City Court Case Online?

Fort Myers City court records and information about cases are available online through the Lee County Clerk of Courts’ Court Records Case Search portal. This portal is accessible to the general public, and it has cases like:

• Adult - Felony
• Appeals
• Civil (Circuit & County)
• County Ordinance
• Criminal Traffic
• Detention Hearing
• Domestic Relations
• Guardianship
• Juvenile (Delinquency & Dependency)
• Mental Health
• Misdemeanor
• Municipal Ordinance
• Non-Criminal Infraction
• Parking Ticket
• Probate
• Small Claims
• Traffic Infraction

The case search portal can be searched with the names of the parties, date of birth, business name, date from and to, case number, and citation number. Interested persons can search the portal to get information on the different types of Fort Myers court cases and records. The Lee County Clerk of Courts also allows the general public to search official records, including case records, online through the Official Records portal.

How to Obtain Fort Myers City Civil Court Case Records?

The Lee County Clerk of Courts keeps up all county and Fort Myers civil court case records. Civil court case records are available at the court branch to interested individuals utilizing the self-service terminals and workstations. People keen on getting duplicates of civil court records are needed to give information about the case of interest, including the case document number, the litigant’s or the offended party’s name, and the date the case was documented. The Clerk of Courts Office for civil court case records in Fort Myers is located at:

Civil (Circuit & County) - Lee County Clerk of Courts
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 310
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Phone: (239) 533-5000, option 3

Physical Address:
Justice Center
1st Floor
1700 Monroe Street or 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33901

On the other hand, requesters may get duplicates of civil court records by submitting mail requests. Requesters should make a written request and enclose the applicable fee in check or money order payable to the Clerk of Courts and a stamped self-addressed envelope. The requester should send the request by mail to the appropriate division’s mailing address.

Notwithstanding the case search portals, the Lee County Clerk of Courts additionally gives an online Records Request System. Users can request Fort Myers court records, archives, or information not accessible on any of the search portals. For more data about this service, call (239) 533-5000.

How to Obtain Fort Myers City Criminal Court Records?

The Lee County Clerk of Courts manages and processes requests for copies of all county and Fort Myers criminal court records. Fort Myers criminal court records are accessible at the court branch through self-service terminals and workstations. To get criminal court records, a requester will be required to provide information about the case. This information includes the case document number, the litigant’s name, and the date the case was documented. The Clerk of Courts Office for criminal court records (Felonies and Misdemeanors) in Fort Myers is located at:

Criminal - Lee County Clerk of Courts
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2507
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Phone: (239) 533-5000, option 2, then option 5
Phone: (239) 271-3252 (Pay-by-phone)

Physical Address:
Justice Center
1st Floor
2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Also, requesters can obtain copies of criminal court records through mail requests. To make a request, a requester has to prepare a written request. The request must include the appropriate fee paid in check or money order payable to the Clerk of Courts. A stamped-self-addressed envelope should also be included. The request should be sent by mail to the appropriate department’s mailing address.

Online requests for records can also be made by using the Clerk of Court’s Records Request System. It assists users with finding Fort Myers court records that are not found on any of the search portals.

What are Fort Myers City Vital Records?

Fort Myers City vital records are official records that report the event of essential occasions in the city. They consist of records documenting births, marriages, deaths, and divorces records in the city. The Lee County Clerk of Courts keeps copies of marriage and divorce records. The Florida Department of Health in Lee County manages birth and death records. The Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Florida Department of Health keeps up records of all state vital events. It provides copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce records, including for Fort Myers City. Interested persons can make requests to obtain copies of the records from the custodian of the records. However, the requester may need to pay the applicable fees. The requester would also need to provide information about the vital record, such as the name of the registrant, to enable the custodian to search for the record.

Where and How to Obtain Fort Myers City Divorce Records?

The Lee County Clerk of Courts processes requests for Fort Myers divorce records. Applicants may get copies of divorce records by using any of the self-service terminals and workstations accessible at the workplace. To obtain divorce records, requesters need to give sufficient information about the divorce and the parties from the divorce. This information includes their names, the date of divorce, and the place of divorce. The Lee County Clerk of Courts is located at:

Lee County Clerk of Courts
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 310
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Phone: (239) 533-5000, option 3

Physical Address:
Justice Center
1st Floor
1700 Monroe Street or 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Requesters can also make mail requests for Fort Myers divorce records to the Florida Vital Statistics Office via mail. The Vital Statistics Office maintains copies of divorce records from June 6, 1927, until this date. To obtain copies of Fort Myers City divorce records, fill out the Application for Dissolution of Marriage form. As an alternative, the requester can compose a written request providing all relevant information about the divorce and the requester’s contact information. Include a copy of a valid I.D. and check or money order payable to the filled-out form or written request. Submit them by mail or in-person to:

Mailing Address:
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Attn: Vital Record Section
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

Physical Address:
1217 North Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202

The first certified copy of a Fort Myers divorce record requested costs $5. The state department, however, charges $4 for every extra copy ordered at the same time. Expedited requests attract an additional $10 fee. To make an expedited request, simply write RUSH on the back of the request envelope and include the extra cost.

Where and How to Get Public Fort Myers City Marriage Records?

Fort Myers marriage records are kept by the Lee County Clerk of Courts. Copies of Fort Myers City marriage records can be requested in person or by mail. To make an in-person request, visit the Clerk of Courts’ Office at 2115 2nd Street, 2nd floor, Fort Myers, Florida 33901. To request a Fort Myers marriage certificate by mail, make a written request with the following information:

• Groom’s name
• Bride’s maiden name
• Date of the marriage

The written request should be accompanied by payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope and submitted by mail to:

Lee County Clerk of Courts
P.O. Box 2278
Fort Myers, FL 33902

Each certified copy costs $1 per page, plus an additional $2 per document for certification.

The Florida Vital Statistics Office also keeps copies of Fort Myers marriage records from June 6, 1927, to date. To acquire copies of Fort Myer City marriage certificates, fill out the Application for a Marriage Certificate form. The form requires the married couple’s complete name, the date of the marriage, the county where the marriage was licensed, and the requester’s contact details. Present the filled-out form with payment specified in the application and a copy of a valid I.D. via mail or in person to:

Mailing Address:
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Attn: Vital Record Section
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

Physical Address:
1217 North Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202

Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Fort Myers City?

All marriage records in Fort Myers City are considered public.

Where and How to Find Fort Myers City Birth Records?

Copies of Fort Myers City birth records are available at the Florida Vital Statistics Office and the Florida Department of Health in Lee County. Following Florida laws, birth records are viewed as openly available records until 100 years after birth. Only people that meet the qualification prerequisites can obtain copies of Fort Myers birth records. These qualified people include:

• The registrant
• Their parents
• Legal guardians
• Siblings
• Children
• Legal representatives
• People who are legitimately approved by a court order.

These qualified people can order copies of Fort Myers birth certificates by filling out the Birth Certificate Request Form and the Affidavit to Release a Birth Certificate. They should notarize the filled-out forms and include the necessary fees. Send the request via mail or in person to:

Mailing Address:
Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Attn: Vital Record Section
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

Physical Address:
Florida Department of Health Lee County
Office of Vital Statistics
83 Pondella Road
North Fort Myers, FL 33903
(239) 332-9572

Where and How to Find Fort Myers City Death Records?

Copies of Fort Myers death records are kept by the Florida Vital Statistics Office and the Florida Department of Health in Lee County. Fort Myers City death records are not viewed as openly available reports until 100 years after the occasion under Florida Law. To get a death record, requesters must meet the qualification. People qualified to acquire death certificates include:

• The deceased’s parents
• Legal guardians
• Siblings
• Offspring
• Legal representatives
• Persons who are legally authorized by a court order.

To obtain copies of Fort Myers death certificates, qualified persons should complete the Death Certificate Request Form and Affidavit to Release Death Certificate. The completed form should be notarized and submit with payment and a copy of a valid I.D. to:

Mailing Address:
Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Attn: Vital Record Section
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

Physical Address:
Florida Department of Health Lee County
Office of Vital Statistics
83 Pondella Road
North Fort Myers, FL 33903
(239) 332-9572