Find Official Records in Manatee County

This page helps users handle an Official Records search in Manatee County, Florida, including name searches, instrument lookups, record coverage, and copy options.

The main public resource is the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Public Records Hub, which provides Official Records search tools and access details.

Search Official Records by party name

Use the Clerk’s party name search when you are looking for recorded Official Records tied to a person or business name. The default date range covers the last 10 years, but you can change the start and end dates for a broader or narrower search.

• Party name
• Instrument type
• Start date
• End date

For best results, avoid symbols in names, including ampersands, commas, exclamation points, asterisks, and periods. Try spelling variations, nicknames, abbreviations, and partial names when a full name does not return the record you need.

• Open the search by party name tool.
• Enter the name using last name first for people or the business name without commas.
• Adjust the date range if the record may be outside the default 10-year window.
• Review results from newest recorded document to oldest.

A broad last-name-only search can return a very large result set, so narrowing by date or adding more name detail can save time.

Other Official Records search options

The Public Records Hub also supports searches by condo name, subdivision name, instrument number, instrument type, book and page, case number, advanced name, consideration, and daily record.

Name, condo, subdivision, and instrument type searches require a date range. Instrument number, book and page, and case number searches cover the recorded index by default.

Instrument numbers and book/page records

For documents recorded on or after January 1, 2020, the Clerk assigns consecutive instrument numbers instead of book and page numbers. Use the instrument number when forms or searches ask for the official register number for newer recorded documents.

Documents recorded before January 1, 2020 remain searchable by book and page for historical purposes. Recorded plat maps continue to receive book and page numbers.

Official Records coverage and limits

The searchable Official Records index begins January 1, 1978 and continues to the present. Search results may not include records still being processed.

Document images are available online for records recorded since May 15, 1981, with listed exclusions for books 1010, 1012, 1026, 1029, and 1097. The online images are not the complete official record. The complete official record is available at the Clerk’s office during regular business hours.

Electronic certified copies

The Clerk offers e-certified Official Records documents. After locating an eligible Official Record instrument, the document details page may include an option to purchase an electronic certified copy through E-Certify.

Electronic certified copies are delivered by email from certifiedcopy@ManateeClerk.com as encrypted PDF certified documents. The Clerk notes that email delivery can take a few minutes and that users should check their spam folder.

To confirm an electronic certified document, use the Clerk’s verification service or the verification code printed on the document. Learn more about E-Certify and electronic certified documents.

Social Security office use: certified copies needed for a name change or benefits with the Social Security office must be obtained in the Clerk’s Official Records division at the Historic Courthouse location.

Official Records contact information

Use these contacts for Official Records questions, copies, certified documents, or website issues tied to the Clerk’s records system.

• Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, 1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205
  Phone: (941) 749-1800
• General website questions or issues
  Email: ServiceDesk@manateeclerk.com
• Official Records mailing address, P.O. Box 25400, Bradenton, FL 34206
  Phone: (941) 749-1800