This page helps with Court Records in Manatee County, Florida, including where to search, how access works, and when to request copies or contact the Clerk’s Office.
The main official channel is the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, which provides public court record searching, electronic access information, court copy request options, and related court services.
Search Court Records - Manatee County Clerk
Use the Clerk’s public court records search to look for many Manatee County court records, indexes, dockets, and non-confidential document images available online.
- Person’s name
- Business name
- Case number
- Citation number
- Case or filing type
The search page also provides entry points for new cases filed today, foreclosure sales, the Florida State Portal, e-filing, judge dockets, and today’s hearings.
- Open the official search court records tool.
- Choose the search type that matches the information you have.
- Review the matching case results, including case number, party name, party type, case type, case status, filing date, and available docket information.
- Use the case number when requesting copies or asking the Clerk’s Office about a specific record.
Online results are informational. The Clerk states that information on the site is provided as a public service and is not intended to serve as an authoritative public record or legal document.
Electronic access to court records
The Clerk provides public internet access to many court records as authorized by the Florida Supreme Court and Florida law. Access can vary based on the user’s identity and role.
Attorneys, parties, government agencies, law enforcement, and registered public subscribers may have different access levels through subscriber agreements or access request forms.
| User type | Access path |
|---|---|
| Public internet users | Public search access to many indexes, dockets, records, and non-confidential images. |
| Attorneys | Attorney Subscriber Access agreement for records in their cases that are not sealed. |
| Parties | Signed and notarized party access request form for eligible case types. |
| Registered public subscribers | Registered user agreement and completed profile information. |
| Government agencies and law enforcement | Agency or law enforcement agreements for expanded access to records that are not confidential or sealed. |
For access forms and registration details, use the Clerk’s electronic court records access page.
Court record copies and public records requests
For copies of court or official records, use the Court/Official Record Request Form. The Clerk states that copies are provided only after payment of the fee required by law.
The Clerk also provides a separate public record request form for documents or information that are not filed in a court case and not recorded in official records.
If you already submitted a public record request, the Clerk provides a request status option using the request number and security key.
Use the Clerk’s public records request information to choose the correct request route.
Case types and related court services
Manatee County court records and services are organized by court area. The Clerk’s site includes information for criminal, traffic, circuit civil, county civil, small claims, probate and guardianship, family law, juvenile, appeals, and violence protection matters.
Some case areas have special access rules. Juvenile case information cannot be given online or by phone. Parents, legal guardians, the juvenile, or the attorney must request case details in person with proper identification at the courthouse.
Family law, juvenile, probate, and certain other records may also involve confidential information rules or restrictions on online images.
Foreclosure sales and court dockets
The court records hub includes foreclosure sale information with sale dates, case numbers, judgment amounts when listed, sale status, and cancellation reasons when applicable.
Foreclosure entries may show whether a sale is pending, sold, cancelled, or online. The page also links users to the official auction site.
Review Manatee County foreclosure sale records when your court record search involves a foreclosure case or scheduled judicial sale.
Forms, fees, and filing-related help
The Clerk provides downloadable forms for several court-related areas, including circuit civil, criminal sealing or expunging, evictions, probate and guardianship, small claims, traffic, and violence protection.
The fee listing includes court-related charges such as record searches, copies, certification of copies, civil filing fees, small claims fees, probate fees, and sealing or expunging fees.
| Service | Listed fee |
|---|---|
| Records search, per year | $2.00 |
| Copies, per page | $1.00 |
| Certification of copies, per instrument | $2.00 |
| Seal or expunge case | $42.00 |
| Issue summons | $10.00 |
Check the Clerk’s department fee listing before requesting paid copies or filing court paperwork.
Confidential information and removal requests
Court filings must limit sensitive information under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.425. Filers should avoid including full Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, personal identification numbers, and other protected details.
Any person may request removal of certain online images or copies from the Clerk’s publicly available website, including military records, death certificates, and court files related to family law, juvenile, or probate matters. The request must be in writing and identify the document page number to be removed.
A person whose Social Security number or bank, debit, credit card, or charge account number appears in a court document may also request removal of that number.
Manatee County court records contact information
Use these Clerk’s Office contacts for court records, court copy requests, public record questions, and access help.
- Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Physical / overnight mail address: 1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205. Regular mailing address: P.O. Box 25400, Bradenton, FL 34206. Phone: (941) 749-1800. Business hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm.
- Custodian of Public Records — Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Attn: Custodian of Public Records, 1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, Florida 34205. Phone: (941) 749-1800.
- Service Desk — For general questions about the site or its content and electronic access registration help: servicedesk@manateeclerk.com.
- Traffic certificates — Submit traffic school certificates to: traffic@manateeclerk.com.
Common questions
Where do I search Manatee County court records online?
Use the Clerk’s official court records search to search by name, business name, case number, citation number, or case type.
Are online Manatee County court records the official legal record?
The Clerk states that online court record information is provided for public informational use and is not intended to serve as an authoritative public record or legal document.
How do I get copies of court records?
For copies of court or official records, use the Court/Official Record Request Form through the Clerk’s public records request page. Copies are provided after payment of the required fee.
Can everyone see the same Manatee County court records online?
No. Public users, attorneys, parties, government agencies, law enforcement, and registered subscribers may have different access levels based on law, role, and subscriber agreements.
Can juvenile case information be provided online or by phone?
No. Juvenile case information cannot be given online or by phone. Eligible parents, guardians, juveniles, or attorneys must request case details in person with proper identification at the courthouse.
How do I ask for removal of private information from a court document?
A written request may be submitted to the Clerk to remove qualifying private information, such as a Social Security number or bank, debit, credit card, or charge account number, from a court document.