The Polk County Clerk of Courts is a constitutional officer chargeable for sustaining and managing the information of the Polk County courts. The Clerk additionally gives varied providers to the general public, comparable 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 workplaces 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 presents quite a lot of on-line providers for the comfort of the general public. These providers embody:
polk county florida clerk of courts
The Polk County Clerk of Courts is a constitutional officer chargeable for varied authorized and administrative duties in Polk County, Florida.
- Maintains courtroom information
- Points marriage licenses
- Information deeds and mortgages
- Collects courtroom charges and fines
- Conducts public auctions
- Offers on-line providers
- Elected by voters
The Clerk’s workplace is situated in Bartow, Florida, with department workplaces in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Haines Metropolis. The present Clerk of Courts is Stacy A. Butterfield.
Maintains courtroom information
One of many major duties of the Polk County Clerk of Courts is to take care of and handle the information of the Polk County courts. These information embody:
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Case recordsdata:
This consists of all paperwork filed in a courtroom case, comparable to pleadings, motions, orders, and judgments.
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Court docket minutes:
This can be a file of the proceedings of a courtroom case, together with the date, time, and site of the listening to, the names of the decide and attorneys current, and a abstract of what occurred.
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Monetary information:
This consists of information of courtroom charges and fines, in addition to restitution and little one help funds.
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Important information:
This consists of information of births, deaths, and marriages.
The Clerk of Courts is chargeable for guaranteeing that these information are correct, full, and safe. The Clerk additionally gives public entry to those information, both in individual on the Clerk’s workplace or on-line.
Points marriage licenses
One other essential responsibility of the Polk County Clerk of Courts is to difficulty marriage licenses. With a view to acquire a wedding license in Polk County, each events have to be at the 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 appliance is accredited, the Clerk will difficulty 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 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 could be obtained on-line or on the Clerk’s workplace. Each events have to be current to finish the appliance and supply the required documentation.
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Charges:
The price for a wedding license in Polk County is $93. This price consists of 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 file the wedding and difficulty a wedding certificates to the couple.
Information deeds and mortgages
The Polk County Clerk of Courts can also be chargeable for recording deeds and mortgages. A deed is a authorized doc that transfers possession of actual property from one individual 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 implies that the lender can foreclose on the property if the borrower defaults on the mortgage.
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Paperwork required:
To file a deed or mortgage, the next paperwork have to be submitted to the Clerk’s workplace:
- The unique deed or mortgage
- A switch tax type
- A recording price
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Charges:
The price for recording a deed or mortgage in Polk County is $10 per web page. There may be 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 costs have been submitted, the Clerk’s workplace will file the deed or mortgage within the county’s public information. This course of sometimes takes a couple of 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 can be obtained for a price.
Recording deeds and mortgages is a crucial a part of the true property transaction course of. It helps to guard the rights of patrons, 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 also be chargeable for gathering courtroom charges and fines. Court docket charges are costs which are assessed to cowl the prices of courtroom operations, such because the salaries of judges and courtroom workers, and the upkeep of courtroom amenities. Fines are penalties which are imposed by the courtroom as punishment for sure offenses.
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Sorts 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
- Visitors fines
- Felony fines
- Restitution funds
- Baby help funds
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Fee strategies:
Court docket charges and fines could be paid in individual 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:
In the event you fail to pay your courtroom charges or fines, it’s possible you’ll be topic to further penalties, comparable to a late fee price, a warrant to 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 could possibly apply for a fee plan or a waiver of charges. Contact the Clerk’s workplace for extra data.
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 sources they should function successfully and effectively.
Conducts public auctions
The Polk County Clerk of Courts additionally conducts public auctions. These auctions are sometimes held to promote property that has been seized by the federal government resulting from unpaid taxes or different money owed. The Clerk’s workplace additionally auctions off surplus authorities property and gadgets which were forfeited to the courtroom.
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Sorts 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 sometimes held on an everyday schedule, comparable 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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How you can 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 possibly can bid by elevating your bidding quantity.
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Fee and pickup:
In the event you win an public sale, you may be required to pay for the merchandise in full inside a specified time frame. Additionally, you will want to choose up the merchandise from the Clerk’s workplace.
Public auctions are an effective way to search out bargains on quite a lot of gadgets. 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.
Offers on-line providers
The Polk County Clerk of Courts presents quite a lot of on-line providers for the comfort of the general public. These providers embody:
Looking courtroom information: 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 may as well entry digital copies of courtroom paperwork.
Submitting courtroom paperwork: You may file sure courtroom paperwork electronically by means of the Clerk’s web site. This can be a handy choice if you happen to should not have the time or capability to file your paperwork in individual.
Paying courtroom charges and fines: You may pay your courtroom charges and fines on-line utilizing a bank card or digital examine. This can be a protected 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 software is accredited, you possibly can pay the price 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 file deeds and mortgages on-line. This can be a handy choice for actual property professionals and householders who wish 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 gadgets, 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 folks to entry courtroom information, file courtroom paperwork, pay courtroom charges and fines, and acquire marriage licenses and file deeds and mortgages. The Clerk’s workplace additionally presents quite a lot of different on-line providers, comparable to conducting public auctions and offering details about the courts.
Elected by voters
The Polk County Clerk of Courts is an elected official. Because of this 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 in an effort to stay in workplace.
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{Qualifications}:
To be eligible to run for Clerk of Courts, a candidate have to be a certified elector of Polk County and will need to have been a resident of the county for at the 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 implies that candidates don’t run on a celebration ticket. The election is held on the identical day as the overall election for state and federal workplaces.
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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 tasks:
The Clerk of Courts is chargeable for sustaining and managing the information of the Polk County courts, issuing marriage licenses and passports, recording deeds and mortgages, and gathering courtroom charges and fines. The Clerk additionally gives varied on-line providers to the general public.
The Polk County Clerk of Courts is a crucial elected official who performs a significant position within the administration of justice within the county. The Clerk is chargeable for guaranteeing that the courts have the sources they should function successfully and effectively, and that the general public has entry to the courtroom information 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 below are a number of the most steadily 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 by means of 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 workplaces 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 information, 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 information on-line?
Reply 4: You may search courtroom information on-line by means of the Clerk’s web site. Merely click on on the “Court docket Information Search” hyperlink on the homepage and enter the related data.
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 individual, by mail, or electronically. For extra data, please go to the Clerk’s web site or contact the Clerk’s workplace instantly.
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 examine by means of the Clerk’s web site. Merely click on on the “Pay Court docket Charges and Fines” hyperlink on the homepage and comply with the directions.
Closing Paragraph for FAQ:
These are just some of essentially the most steadily requested questions in regards to the Polk County Clerk of Courts. For extra data, please go to the Clerk’s web site or contact the Clerk’s workplace instantly.
Transition paragraph:
Along with the FAQ part, the Polk County Clerk of Courts web site additionally has a useful ideas part that gives data on how you can use the Clerk’s on-line providers and how you can navigate the courtroom system.
Ideas
Introduction Paragraph for Ideas:
The Polk County Clerk of Courts web site has a useful ideas part that gives data on how you can use the Clerk’s on-line providers and how you can navigate the courtroom system. Listed below are a couple of sensible ideas that will help you get began:
Tip 1: Use the net providers.
The Clerk’s workplace presents quite a lot of on-line providers that may prevent time and problem. You may search courtroom information, file paperwork, pay courtroom charges and fines, and acquire marriage licenses on-line. To entry these providers, merely go to the Clerk’s web site and click on on the “On-line Providers” hyperlink.
Tip 2: File your paperwork electronically.
If you’ll want to 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 individual. 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 examine. This can be a protected and simple solution to make your funds with out having to go to the Clerk’s workplace in individual. 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.
In case you have any questions or need assistance utilizing the Clerk’s on-line providers, you possibly can contact the Clerk’s workplace instantly. The Clerk’s workplace has a crew of pleasant and educated workers who’re prepared to help you.
Closing Paragraph for Ideas:
By following the following pointers, 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 data on the Clerk’s workplace and the providers it gives.
Conclusion
Abstract of Major Factors:
The Polk County Clerk of Courts is a constitutional officer chargeable for sustaining and managing the information of the Polk County courts. The Clerk additionally gives varied providers to the general public, comparable 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 workplaces 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 presents quite a lot of on-line providers for the comfort of the general public, together with looking courtroom information, submitting paperwork, paying courtroom charges and fines, and acquiring marriage licenses. The Clerk’s workplace additionally has a useful FAQ and ideas part that will help 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 glorious service to the general public. The Clerk’s workplace is staffed with a crew of pleasant and educated professionals who’re prepared to help you with any questions or wants you might have. Whether or not you’ll want to search courtroom information, file a doc, pay courtroom charges and fines, or acquire a wedding license, the Polk County Clerk of Courts is right here to assist.
