The Polk County Clerk of Courts is a constitutional officer chargeable for sustaining and managing the data of the Polk County courts. The Clerk additionally gives numerous providers to the general public, similar to issuing marriage licenses and passports, recording deeds and mortgages, and gathering courtroom charges and fines. The Clerk’s workplace is situated in Bartow, Florida, and has department places of work in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Haines Metropolis.
The Clerk of Courts is elected by the voters of Polk County for a four-year time period. The present Clerk of Courts is Stacy A. Butterfield, who was elected in 2020. Butterfield is a Republican and has served as Clerk since 2009. She is a member of the Florida Clerks of Court docket Affiliation and the Nationwide Affiliation for Court docket Administration.
Transition paragraph: Along with the duties and providers outlined above, the Polk County Clerk of Courts additionally gives quite a lot of on-line providers for the comfort of the general public. These providers embrace:
polk county florida clerk of courts
The Polk County Clerk of Courts is a constitutional officer chargeable for numerous authorized and administrative duties in Polk County, Florida.
- Maintains courtroom data
- Points marriage licenses
- Data deeds and mortgages
- Collects courtroom charges and fines
- Conducts public auctions
- Gives on-line providers
- Elected by voters
The Clerk’s workplace is situated in Bartow, Florida, with department places of work in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Haines Metropolis. The present Clerk of Courts is Stacy A. Butterfield.
Maintains courtroom data
One of many major duties of the Polk County Clerk of Courts is to keep up and handle the data of the Polk County courts. These data embrace:
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Case information:
This contains all paperwork filed in a courtroom case, similar to pleadings, motions, orders, and judgments.
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Court docket minutes:
This can be a document of the proceedings of a courtroom case, together with the date, time, and site of the listening to, the names of the choose and attorneys current, and a abstract of what occurred.
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Monetary data:
This contains data of courtroom charges and fines, in addition to restitution and little one assist funds.
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Very important data:
This contains data of births, deaths, and marriages.
The Clerk of Courts is chargeable for making certain that these data are correct, full, and safe. The Clerk additionally gives public entry to those data, both in particular person on the Clerk’s workplace or on-line.
Points marriage licenses
One other vital responsibility of the Polk County Clerk of Courts is to subject marriage licenses. In an effort to receive a wedding license in Polk County, each events should be at the very least 18 years previous (or 16 or 17 with parental consent) and should not be associated to one another inside sure levels of kinship. Each events should additionally present proof of identification and residency. As soon as the applying is authorized, the Clerk will subject a wedding license that’s legitimate for 60 days.
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Necessities:
To acquire a wedding license in Polk County, each events should meet the next necessities:
- Be at the very least 18 years previous (or 16 or 17 with parental consent)
- Not be associated to one another inside sure levels of kinship
- Present proof of identification and residency
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Utility course of:
The appliance for a wedding license will be obtained on-line or on the Clerk’s workplace. Each events should be current to finish the applying and supply the required documentation.
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Charges:
The charge for a wedding license in Polk County is $93. This charge contains the price of the license itself, in addition to the price of the wedding certificates.
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Validity:
A wedding license issued in Polk County is legitimate for 60 days from the date of issuance.
After the wedding ceremony, the officiant should file the wedding license with the Clerk’s workplace inside 10 days. The Clerk will then document the wedding and subject a wedding certificates to the couple.
Data deeds and mortgages
The Polk County Clerk of Courts can be chargeable for recording deeds and mortgages. A deed is a authorized doc that transfers possession of actual property from one particular person to a different. A mortgage is a mortgage secured by actual property. When a mortgage is recorded, it creates a lien on the property, which signifies that the lender can foreclose on the property if the borrower defaults on the mortgage.
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Paperwork required:
To document a deed or mortgage, the next paperwork should be submitted to the Clerk’s workplace:
- The unique deed or mortgage
- A switch tax kind
- A recording charge
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Charges:
The charge for recording a deed or mortgage in Polk County is $10 per web page. There’s additionally a switch tax of $7 per $1,000 of the acquisition worth.
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Recording course of:
As soon as the required paperwork and charges have been submitted, the Clerk’s workplace will document the deed or mortgage within the county’s public data. This course of usually takes just a few days.
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Public entry:
Recorded deeds and mortgages can be found for public inspection on the Clerk’s workplace. Copies of those paperwork will also be obtained for a charge.
Recording deeds and mortgages is a crucial a part of the true property transaction course of. It helps to guard the rights of consumers, sellers, and lenders by offering public discover of the possession and encumbrances on actual property.
Collects courtroom charges and fines
The Polk County Clerk of Courts can be chargeable for gathering courtroom charges and fines. Court docket charges are prices which might be assessed to cowl the prices of courtroom operations, such because the salaries of judges and courtroom employees, and the upkeep of courtroom services. Fines are penalties which might be imposed by the courtroom as punishment for sure offenses.
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Varieties of charges and fines:
The Polk County Clerk of Courts collects quite a lot of charges and fines, together with:
- Submitting charges
- Service charges
- Jury charges
- Site visitors fines
- Prison fines
- Restitution funds
- Youngster assist funds
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Fee strategies:
Court docket charges and fines will be paid in particular person on the Clerk’s workplace, by mail, or on-line. The Clerk’s workplace accepts money, checks, cash orders, and bank cards.
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Penalties of non-payment:
For those who fail to pay your courtroom charges or fines, you could be topic to further penalties, similar to a late cost charge, a warrant on your arrest, or a suspension of your driver’s license.
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Assist with paying courtroom charges and fines:
In case you are unable to pay your courtroom charges or fines, you might be able to apply for a cost plan or a waiver of charges. Contact the Clerk’s workplace for extra info.
The gathering of courtroom charges and fines is a crucial income for the Polk County courtroom system. These funds assist to make sure that the courts have the assets they should function successfully and effectively.
Conducts public auctions
The Polk County Clerk of Courts additionally conducts public auctions. These auctions are usually held to promote property that has been seized by the federal government on account of unpaid taxes or different money owed. The Clerk’s workplace additionally auctions off surplus authorities property and objects which were forfeited to the courtroom.
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Varieties of auctions:
The Polk County Clerk of Courts conducts the next forms of auctions:
- Tax deed auctions
- Surplus property auctions
- Forfeiture auctions
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Public sale schedule:
Auctions are usually held on an everyday schedule, similar to as soon as a month or as soon as 1 / 4. The Clerk’s workplace publishes a listing of upcoming auctions on its web site.
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Learn how to take part in an public sale:
To take part in an public sale, you should register with the Clerk’s workplace upfront. Additionally, you will must pay a deposit. On the day of the public sale, you may be given a bidding quantity. When the merchandise you have an interest in is up for public sale, you’ll be able to bid by elevating your bidding quantity.
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Fee and pickup:
For those who win an public sale, you may be required to pay for the merchandise in full inside a specified time period. Additionally, you will want to choose up the merchandise from the Clerk’s workplace.
Public auctions are a good way to search out bargains on quite a lot of objects. Nevertheless, you will need to do your analysis earlier than bidding on an merchandise. Be sure to perceive the phrases and situations of the public sale and that you’re conscious of any hidden charges or prices.
Gives on-line providers
The Polk County Clerk of Courts gives quite a lot of on-line providers for the comfort of the general public. These providers embrace:
Looking courtroom data: You may search the Clerk’s on-line database to search out details about courtroom instances, together with case numbers, submitting dates, and case summaries. You can too entry digital copies of courtroom paperwork.
Submitting courtroom paperwork: You may file sure courtroom paperwork electronically via the Clerk’s web site. This can be a handy possibility when you do not need the time or capacity to file your paperwork in particular person.
Paying courtroom charges and fines: You may pay your courtroom charges and fines on-line utilizing a bank card or digital test. This can be a secure and simple solution to make your funds with out having to go to the Clerk’s workplace.
Acquiring marriage licenses: You may apply for a wedding license on-line. As soon as your utility is authorized, you’ll be able to pay the charge and print your marriage license. You’ll then must take the wedding license to a wedding officiant to be married.
Recording deeds and mortgages: You may document deeds and mortgages on-line. This can be a handy possibility for actual property professionals and householders who need to keep away from having to go to the Clerk’s workplace.
Conducting public auctions: The Clerk’s workplace additionally conducts public auctions on-line. This can be a nice solution to discover bargains on quite a lot of objects, together with actual property, autos, and private property.
The Polk County Clerk of Courts is dedicated to offering handy and environment friendly on-line providers to the general public. These providers make it straightforward for individuals to entry courtroom data, file courtroom paperwork, pay courtroom charges and fines, and procure marriage licenses and document deeds and mortgages. The Clerk’s workplace additionally gives quite a lot of different on-line providers, similar to conducting public auctions and offering details about the courts.
Elected by voters
The Polk County Clerk of Courts is an elected official. Which means that the Clerk is chosen by the voters of Polk County to serve a four-year time period in workplace. The Clerk should run for re-election each 4 years so as to stay in workplace.
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{Qualifications}:
To be eligible to run for Clerk of Courts, a candidate should be a certified elector of Polk County and will need to have been a resident of the county for at the very least six months previous to the election.
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Election course of:
The Clerk of Courts is elected in a nonpartisan election, which signifies that candidates don’t run on a celebration ticket. The election is held on the identical day as the final election for state and federal places of work.
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Time period of workplace:
The Clerk of Courts serves a four-year time period, which begins on the primary Tuesday after the primary Monday in January following the election.
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Duties and duties:
The Clerk of Courts is chargeable for sustaining and managing the data of the Polk County courts, issuing marriage licenses and passports, recording deeds and mortgages, and gathering courtroom charges and fines. The Clerk additionally gives numerous on-line providers to the general public.
The Polk County Clerk of Courts is a crucial elected official who performs a significant function within the administration of justice within the county. The Clerk is chargeable for making certain that the courts have the assets they should function successfully and effectively, and that the general public has entry to the courtroom data and providers they want.
FAQ
Introduction Paragraph for FAQ:
The Polk County Clerk of Courts web site has a complete FAQ part that gives solutions to generally requested questions in regards to the Clerk’s workplace and the providers it gives. Listed here are a number of the most ceaselessly requested questions and their solutions:
Query 1: What are the hours of operation for the Clerk’s workplace?
Reply 1: The Clerk’s workplace is open from 8:00 AM to five:00 PM, Monday via Friday, aside from holidays.
Query 2: The place is the Clerk’s workplace situated?
Reply 2: The Clerk’s workplace is situated at 333 North Florida Avenue, Bartow, Florida 33830. There are additionally department places of work in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Haines Metropolis.
Query 3: What providers does the Clerk’s workplace present?
Reply 3: The Clerk’s workplace gives quite a lot of providers, together with sustaining and managing courtroom data, issuing marriage licenses and passports, recording deeds and mortgages, gathering courtroom charges and fines, and conducting public auctions.
Query 4: How can I search courtroom data on-line?
Reply 4: You may search courtroom data on-line via the Clerk’s web site. Merely click on on the “Court docket Data Search” hyperlink on the homepage and enter the related info.
Query 5: How do I file a doc with the Clerk’s workplace?
Reply 5: You may file a doc with the Clerk’s workplace in particular person, by mail, or electronically. For extra info, please go to the Clerk’s web site or contact the Clerk’s workplace straight.
Query 6: How can I pay my courtroom charges and fines on-line?
Reply 6: You may pay your courtroom charges and fines on-line utilizing a bank card or digital test via the Clerk’s web site. Merely click on on the “Pay Court docket Charges and Fines” hyperlink on the homepage and observe the directions.
Closing Paragraph for FAQ:
These are only a few of probably the most ceaselessly requested questions in regards to the Polk County Clerk of Courts. For extra info, please go to the Clerk’s web site or contact the Clerk’s workplace straight.
Transition paragraph:
Along with the FAQ part, the Polk County Clerk of Courts web site additionally has a useful ideas part that gives info on learn how to use the Clerk’s on-line providers and learn how to navigate the courtroom system.
Ideas
Introduction Paragraph for Ideas:
The Polk County Clerk of Courts web site has a useful ideas part that gives info on learn how to use the Clerk’s on-line providers and learn how to navigate the courtroom system. Listed here are just a few sensible ideas that can assist you get began:
Tip 1: Use the web providers.
The Clerk’s workplace gives quite a lot of on-line providers that may prevent time and problem. You may search courtroom data, file paperwork, pay courtroom charges and fines, and procure marriage licenses on-line. To entry these providers, merely go to the Clerk’s web site and click on on the “On-line Companies” hyperlink.
Tip 2: File your paperwork electronically.
If you should file a doc with the Clerk’s workplace, you are able to do so electronically. This can be a handy and environment friendly solution to file your paperwork with out having to go to the Clerk’s workplace in particular person. To file a doc electronically, merely go to the Clerk’s web site and click on on the “E-Submitting” hyperlink.
Tip 3: Pay your courtroom charges and fines on-line.
You may pay your courtroom charges and fines on-line utilizing a bank card or digital test. This can be a secure and simple solution to make your funds with out having to go to the Clerk’s workplace in particular person. To pay your courtroom charges and fines on-line, merely go to the Clerk’s web site and click on on the “Pay Court docket Charges and Fines” hyperlink.
Tip 4: Get assist from the Clerk’s workplace.
If in case you have any questions or need assistance utilizing the Clerk’s on-line providers, you’ll be able to contact the Clerk’s workplace straight. The Clerk’s workplace has a workforce of pleasant and educated employees who’re prepared to help you.
Closing Paragraph for Ideas:
By following the following tips, it can save you time and problem when utilizing the Polk County Clerk of Courts web site and providers.
Transition paragraph:
Along with the FAQ and ideas sections, the Polk County Clerk of Courts web site additionally has a complete conclusion part that gives info on the Clerk’s workplace and the providers it gives.
Conclusion
Abstract of Principal Factors:
The Polk County Clerk of Courts is a constitutional officer chargeable for sustaining and managing the data of the Polk County courts. The Clerk additionally gives numerous providers to the general public, similar to issuing marriage licenses and passports, recording deeds and mortgages, and gathering courtroom charges and fines. The Clerk’s workplace is situated in Bartow, Florida, and has department places of work in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Haines Metropolis.
The Clerk of Courts is elected by the voters of Polk County for a four-year time period. The Clerk’s workplace gives quite a lot of on-line providers for the comfort of the general public, together with looking out courtroom data, submitting paperwork, paying courtroom charges and fines, and acquiring marriage licenses. The Clerk’s workplace additionally has a useful FAQ and ideas part that can assist you use the Clerk’s on-line providers and navigate the courtroom system.
Closing Message:
The Polk County Clerk of Courts is dedicated to offering wonderful service to the general public. The Clerk’s workplace is staffed with a workforce of pleasant and educated professionals who’re prepared to help you with any questions or wants you will have. Whether or not you should search courtroom data, file a doc, pay courtroom charges and fines, or receive a wedding license, the Polk County Clerk of Courts is right here to assist.
