Hendry County dissolution of marriage records are official court files that prove a marriage legally ended in Hendry County, Florida. The Hendry County Clerk of Court holds these files as part of the 20th Judicial Circuit.
People use these records to check a final judgment, confirm a filing date, or get a certified copy for court, legal, or personal use. The clerk office runs the public search portal, stores the paper files, and sends a report of each final judgment to the Florida Department of Health for the state index.
What These Records Hold
Each dissolution of marriage file holds the full case record from start to finish. The clerk office stores these records in a way that lets the public search by name, by case number, or by filing date. Knowing what sits in the file helps you pick the right record type before you start your search.
Where The Records Sit
The Hendry County Clerk of Court stores the main file at the county courthouse in Labelle. The clerk also keeps an online index through the county’s official records portal. Paper files sit at the clerk office for older cases filed before the early 2000s. Newer cases are often scanned and posted online through the portal. The Florida Department of Health holds a separate statewide index that pulls final judgments from each county.
What Each File Contains
A typical file holds the petition, the response, the financial forms, and the final judgment. The final judgment is the part most people need. It shows the date the court ended the marriage, how the court split property, and any orders about support or children. Some files also hold motions, hearing notes, and court orders from other parts of the case. Sealed parts of the file may be hidden from public view by a court order.
Why People Request These Records
Many people need a copy to remarry, update a name, or settle a legal matter. Banks, insurance companies, and government agencies also ask for certified copies. Lawyers use the files to check past court orders. Researchers and family members search the index to confirm dates and facts. The clerk office serves all these groups through the same public records system.
How To Search The Records
The Hendry County Clerk of Court offers a few ways to search dissolution of marriage records. The online portal works for most cases filed in recent years. The mail and in-person options help when the case is older or when you need a certified copy. Pick the way that matches your case and your record type before you start.
Online Portal Lookup
The Hendry County Clerk runs a public search tool on the official website at hendryclerk.com. You can search by party name, case number, or date range. The tool pulls data from the county index, not the state system. Results show the case style, the filing date, the judge, and the case status. You can view a scanned image of the final judgment if the clerk has scanned the file into the digital system.
The screenshot below shows the main search screen on the Hendry County Clerk website. You can use the search box on the homepage to start a name search, a case number search, or a date range search. The same page also links to the official records search and the e-filing portal.
Searching By Name
A name search works well when you have the full legal name of either spouse. Use the name as it appears on the petition. Try both last names if the spouse changed names during the case. The search will return a list of matching cases. Click each case to see the case number, the filing year, and the case status. If the list is too long, add a year range to narrow the results.
Searching By Case Number
A case number search gives the fastest result. The case number follows a standard format in Florida. It starts with the year, then the court code, then a sequence number. The case number prints on every court order. If you have it, type it into the portal and the file will load right away. The case number also appears on any old paperwork you may have from the case.
Searching By Date Range
A date range search helps when you only know the year. Pick a year window from the drop-down menu on the portal. The tool will return all cases filed in that window. You can narrow the list by adding a name or a court division. This way works well when the name is common or hard to spell. You can scan the list of results to find the right case.
How To Get Certified Copies
A certified copy carries the clerk’s seal and acts as a legal document. You need one for most court, legal, or government use. The clerk office offers three ways to order a certified copy: in person, by mail, or online. Each way has its own steps and fees. The total cost depends on the number of pages and the type of request.
In-Person At The Clerk Office
You can visit the clerk office at 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., Labelle, FL 33975. Bring a photo ID and the case details. Tell the clerk you want a certified copy of the final judgment. The clerk will pull the file, copy the page, and apply the seal. You pay the fee at the counter and leave with the copy the same day. In-person visits work best when you need the copy right away for a court date or a legal filing.
Mail-In Request Steps
You can mail a written request to the clerk office. Include the full names of both spouses, the case number, and the year of filing. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for the fee. The clerk office will mail back a certified copy in about a week. Mail requests work for older cases that the clerk has on paper in storage. The mail method also helps people who live outside Hendry County.
Online Copy Request Steps
The clerk portal lets you order a certified copy through the website. You pay the fee by credit or debit card. The clerk office will mail the copy to the address on file. Online requests take a few days longer than in-person visits. This way works for cases that are already scanned into the system. You can track the order status through the portal once you place the request.
Fees And Payment
The clerk office charges a per-page copy fee plus a certification fee. The standard rate in Florida counties is $1 per page and $2 for the certification. Some counties charge an extra search fee if the clerk has to look up the file by hand. Payment methods include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card for online orders. The clerk office does not accept personal checks for mail requests over a set amount.
| Request Way | Typical Fee | Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|
| In-Person | $1 per page + $2 certification | Same day |
| $1 per page + $2 certification + postage | 5-7 business days | |
| Online | $1 per page + $2 certification + card fee | 3-5 business days |
Florida Laws That Apply
Florida state law sets the rules for filing, processing, and storing these records. Hendry County follows the same statutes as other Florida counties. The main laws sit in Chapter 61 of the Florida Statutes. Knowing the rules helps you set the right expectations for your search and your copy request.
Six-Month Residency Rule
Florida law requires one spouse to live in Florida for six months before filing for dissolution. The court checks residency at the first hearing. The clerk office records the residency claim in the case file. If neither spouse meets the rule, the court can dismiss the case. The six-month rule applies to all Florida counties, including Hendry County.
Twenty-Day Waiting Period
Florida law sets a 20-day minimum wait between filing the petition and entry of the final judgment. The court can shorten this period in special cases. The waiting period gives both sides time to respond. The clerk office tracks the dates in the case file. The waiting period starts on the day the respondent gets served with the petition.
Final Judgment Rules
The final judgment ends the marriage and states the court orders. The judge signs the final judgment and the clerk enters it into the record. A copy of the final judgment goes to both spouses. The clerk office also sends a report to the Florida Department of Health under state law. The final judgment is the part most people need when they request a copy.
State Reporting Rules
Florida law requires the county clerk to send a report of each final judgment to the Department of Health. The Department of Health then adds the case to the statewide index. The statewide index helps state agencies and other counties confirm a divorce. County records and state records can show different dates because the report takes time to process.
Hendry County Clerk Office Details
The Hendry County Clerk of Court runs the court system in Hendry County. The clerk office is the main contact for all dissolution of marriage record needs. The office sits in Labelle, the county seat. The clerk office also runs the public search portal and the e-filing system used by lawyers and self-represented filers.
Office Address And Location
The clerk office sits at 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., Labelle, FL 33975. The office sits in the Hendry County Courthouse complex. Visitors can park in the public lot near the building. The office handles all family court records for the county. The building also houses other county offices, so plan for security screening at the entrance.
Phone Number And Hours
You can call the clerk office at 863-675-5217. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The office closes on state and federal holidays. Phone lines are busiest right after lunch, so calling in the morning can save wait time. The clerk office also has a public records phone line for copy requests.
Official Websites And Forms
The clerk office runs the main website at hendryclerk.com. The Florida Courts site at flcourts.gov has all family law forms. The e-filing portal at myflcourtaccess.com handles online filing. The official records search at myfloridacounty.com pulls from all county recorders. Self-help pages sit at flcourts.gov under the Family Courts section.
Cities That File At County Level
Hendry County has two main cities: Labelle and Clewiston. Both cities fall under the county court system. People who live in either city file their dissolution of marriage case at the county courthouse. City halls do not handle court records. All filings go through the Hendry County Clerk of Court office.
Labelle Filing Steps
Labelle is the county seat. People in Labelle file their case at the Hendry County Courthouse. The clerk office in Labelle handles all filings for the city. The clerk office also keeps the court files for past cases from Labelle residents. The filing fee is set by Florida law and is the same across all state counties.
Clewiston Filing Steps
Clewiston sits on the south side of Lake Okeechobee. People in Clewiston also file at the Hendry County Courthouse in Labelle. The clerk office keeps Clewiston case files along with the Labelle files. Both cities use the same search portal and the same certified copy process. The drive from Clewiston to Labelle takes about 30 minutes by car.
How Hendry Compares To Other Counties
Florida has 67 counties, each with its own clerk office. The clerk offices all follow the same state laws, but the size of the office and the online tools can differ. Comparing Hendry to other counties helps you see what tools and wait times to expect. The differences mostly come down to case volume and staff size.
Large County Court Systems
Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Hillsborough counties have the largest court systems. These counties handle thousands of family cases each year. Their online portals often have more search options and faster scanning. Wait times for certified copies can be longer because of the higher case volume. These counties also charge the same fees under state law but may have longer lines at the counter.
Mid-Size County Court Systems
Orange, Duval, and Pinellas counties sit in the middle range. These counties also serve large cities. Their online systems are strong, and most records are scanned. Wait times fall between small and large counties. The search portals work in similar ways to Hendry’s portal. Each mid-size county runs its own clerk website with the same search fields.
Smaller County Court Systems
Hendry, Glades, and Hardee counties sit in the smaller range. These counties serve fewer residents. The clerk offices have smaller staff but often give more personal service. Older records may sit on paper, so in-person visits may be needed for older cases. Smaller counties also tend to have shorter wait times at the counter for in-person visits.
Common Search Problems
Most search issues fall into a few common patterns. The clerk office sees these problems every week. Knowing the common issues helps you avoid delays and get the right record the first time. The clerk staff can also help you work through most of these problems during a phone call.
Records Missing Online
If you cannot find a case online, the file may be too old or the name may be spelled differently. Try the mail request option. Include as many details as you can about the case. The clerk office can search older files by hand if needed. You can also visit the office in person and ask the clerk to search the paper index for you.
Name Spelling Issues
Name spelling can change between the petition and the final judgment. Try a few spelling variations in the search portal. Add a date range to narrow the list. If you still cannot find the case, call the clerk office for help. The clerk can also check old indexes by name to find the right file.
Older Paper Records
Cases filed before the early 2000s may not be online. These files sit on paper at the clerk office. You need to visit in person or send a mail request. The clerk office can pull the file and copy the pages you need. Paper records may take a few extra days to locate in storage.
Long Wait Times
Mail and online requests can take a week or more. If you need the copy fast, visit the office in person. Bring a photo ID and the case details. The clerk will copy the file while you wait. Long wait times happen most often during the first week of the month and around tax season.
Steps Before You Start
A short prep step saves time and reduces follow-up. Most search delays come from missing details. The clerk office staff can help you faster when you bring complete data. A simple checklist covers the key items you need before you start your search.
Collect Full Legal Names
Write down the full legal names of both spouses as they appeared on the petition. Include middle names if you know them. Try both last names if a spouse changed names. The search works best with the exact name from the court file. Nicknames and short forms will not match the court records.
Note The Filing Year
Write down the year you think the case was filed. Add the court name if you know it. The Hendry County Courthouse is the only family court in the county. A narrow year range speeds up the search. You can always widen the range if the first search returns no results.
Pick The Right Record Type
Decide if you need the full case file, the final judgment, or a certified copy. The clerk office charges different fees for each type. A simple copy works for personal use. A certified copy works for legal and government use. Pick the type that matches the purpose of your request.
Contact Info And Location Map
The Hendry County Clerk of Court office is the official source for all dissolution of marriage record requests in Hendry County. You can visit, call, or write to the office during business hours. The office is in the county courthouse in Labelle, which is the county seat of Hendry County, Florida. The map below shows the exact location of the courthouse for first-time visitors.
Hendry County Clerk of Court
Address: 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., P.O. Box 1760, Labelle, FL 33975
Phone: 863-675-5217
Official Website: hendryclerk.com
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
Frequently Asked Questions
This section answers the most common questions about searching, requesting, and using Hendry County dissolution of marriage records. Each answer gives direct facts based on Florida law and Hendry County clerk office practice. The answers focus on the most common search needs and the issues people hit during the process. If you have a question not covered here, call the clerk office at 863-675-5217 during business hours.
How Do I Search For A Case
You can search the case through the Hendry County Clerk of Court online portal at hendryclerk.com. Use the party name, case number, or date range search field on the homepage. The portal pulls data from the county index and shows case style, filing date, judge, and case status. For older cases that are not online, you can call the clerk office at 863-675-5217 or visit the office in Labelle at 25 E. Hickpochee Ave. The clerk staff can pull paper files from storage and check older indexes by hand if needed. The mail request option also works for older cases. Include the full names of both spouses, the case number if you have it, and the year of filing. The clerk will mail back a copy along with your payment.
Record Vs Certificate Difference
A dissolution of marriage record is the full court file at the county level. It holds the petition, motions, financial forms, and the final judgment. A divorce certificate is a state-level document from the Florida Department of Health. The county clerk sends a report of each final judgment to the state under Florida law. The state then issues a certificate that shows the divorce date and the file location. Most people need the county record for legal use in court filings, and the state certificate for personal use like a name change. The state certificate costs more and takes longer because it sits in a separate state system. For most legal matters, the county certified copy is the right choice.
Can I Order A Certified Copy Online
Yes, you can order a certified copy through the Hendry County Clerk online portal. You pay the fee by credit or debit card at checkout. The clerk office mails the certified copy to the address on file. Online orders take 3-5 business days in most cases. The standard fee is $1 per page plus a $2 certification fee, plus a small card processing fee. For same-day service, visit the clerk office in person with a photo ID. The office sits at 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., Labelle, FL 33975. The clerk will copy the file and apply the seal while you wait. In-person visits are best when you need the copy for an upcoming court date.
How Long Are Records Kept
Florida law requires the clerk office to keep dissolution records permanently. Older paper files sit in storage at the courthouse. Recent files from the past 20 years are often scanned into the digital system and available through the online portal. The clerk office can pull any file from storage, but it may take longer for very old cases filed in the 1980s or 1990s. The state Department of Health also keeps a permanent index of all final judgments. The state index goes back to 1927 for Florida divorces. For very old cases, you may need to contact the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics at the Department of Health for a state-level certificate.
Are These Records Public
Yes, Hendry County dissolution of marriage records are public under Florida law. Anyone can search the index, view the case file, and request a copy. Some parts of the file may be sealed by court order. Sealed files hold sensitive personal details, and only the people named in the case can view them. Financial forms, child custody details, and certain personal identifiers may be redacted in public copies. Adoption records and certain juvenile records are always sealed. The clerk office follows Florida public records law when releasing files. You do not need to give a reason when you request a public record.
What If I Don’t Know The Details
You can still search by name through the clerk portal even if you do not have the case number. Use the full legal name of either spouse. Try different spelling variations if the first search returns no results. Add a year range to narrow the list. If you still cannot find the case, call the clerk office at 863-675-5217. The clerk staff can search the index by name and date to help you locate the file. The clerk may also check the paper index for older cases. Bring as much information as you can to the call, including the spouse’s date of birth and the city of residence at the time of filing.
Can I Search Other Counties Here
No, the Hendry County Clerk portal only shows cases filed in Hendry County. For cases filed in other counties, you need to use that county’s clerk portal. Each of the 67 Florida counties runs its own search system on its own website. The Florida Department of Health has a statewide index at floridahealth.gov that can help you confirm a divorce that happened in any Florida county. The state index shows the county of filing and the date of the final judgment. You can then contact that county clerk for a certified copy of the full court file. State and county records can show slightly different dates.