About the Lee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Kevin C. Karnes leads the Lee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. Governor Ron DeSantis named him to the post in March 2022, and voters in Lee County elected him later that year. His official biography says he is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Clerk and Comptroller. He holds a Master's degree in Legal Studies from American Public University and a bachelor's degree from Florida Gulf Coast University.
The office runs on a staff of about 350 employees and an annual budget close to $40 million. Those staff handle court files, recorded papers, payroll, audits, and the public window for filings. The Clerk's mission language calls the work a public trust. Staff protect the records, the public funds, and the day to day faith people put in the office. The Clerk's main lobby sits in downtown Fort Myers, with branch service in Cape Coral and a planned Lehigh Acres expansion.
The Lee County Clerk of Court is the official link between the trial bench and the public. The office is bound by Florida statute, by Florida Supreme Court rules, and by the Access Security Matrix. It must keep court files in order, take in new filings, hand out certified copies, and post what the law allows on the public portals.
Constitutional Roles of the Lee County Clerk
The Lee County Clerk of Court wears six hats at once. Florida law treats the Clerk as Clerk of Court, County Recorder, Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, county Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Auditor. Most other states split these roles among two or three elected officials. Lee County, like the rest of Florida, ties them to one constitutional office.
The numbers tied to those roles are large. The office manages and invests close to $2 billion in public funds each year. It audits and processes more than $1 billion in county expenditures. It also brings in about $50 million in tourist tax dollars each year from the local bed tax on short term stays. Those funds back beach upkeep, sports tourism, and other local projects. The Clerk's own budget transparency tools show how the office tracks both its own dollars and the county's.
- Clerk of Court keeps the case files for civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, traffic, and small claims matters.
- County Recorder records deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other instruments in the official records.
- Clerk to the Board takes minutes and keeps the file for the Board of County Commissioners.
- CFO, Treasurer, and Auditor handle payroll, investments, audits, and budget review.
- Public trust functions cover property fraud alerts, cybersecurity, and digital service rollout.
Court Records and the MATRIX Portal
The main court records portal is MATRIX, also called Court Records Inquiry. The Lee County Clerk of Court runs it at matrix.leeclerk.org. The system is free to use, open 24 hours a day, and works on phones and tablets. Users can search by case number, by party name, by citation number, or by date range. The Clerk's training PDF notes that the system covers civil, criminal, family, probate, guardianship, juvenile, mental health, traffic, small claims, and ordinance matters.
Access varies by user type. Anonymous public users see most non confidential records. Registered users see more, mostly in domestic relations, probate, and guardianship. Parties to a case may see even more after the Clerk vets their identity. Some files are marked Viewable on Request, which means the Clerk must check the file for confidential data before any image is released. For the full search walkthrough and case type list, see the Lee County court records page.
Note: Case searches in MATRIX return only the first 500 hits, and hearing searches return only the first 200, so a tight query gets the best results.
Official Records via Landmark
The Lee County Clerk of Court also runs the official records system. That system is named Landmark and lives at or.leeclerk.org/LandMarkWeb. It holds recorded papers rather than court dockets. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, certificates of title, marriage licenses, judgments, death certificates, and military discharges all flow through this index.
Landmark gives many search modes. Users can search by name, by document type, by case number, by book and page, by consideration, by record date, by clerk file number, or by legal description. A Quick Search box has the option "I want to see all documents with my name on them." That tool is handy for a property fraud check. The disclaimer warns that provisional records may show up before staff verify them. Look for the codes R or I on a provisional record and V on a verified record.
Search spelling variations on names. Try "Smith" and "Smyth" and any old or hyphenated form. The office cannot promise that every spelling is in the index, and a small typo can hide a real file.
How to Request a Certified Copy
Certified copies prove that a court file or recorded paper is real. Banks, courts in other states, and federal agencies often ask for a certified copy rather than a print from a website. The Lee County Clerk of Court issues paper certified copies and e certified court documents. Each kind has its own use.
- Find the case number or the book and page. For a court case, search the file on matrix.leeclerk.org. For a recorded paper, search on Landmark. Write the case or book reference down.
- Pick the copy type. A plain copy works for personal use. A certified copy carries the Clerk's seal and the per page and certification charge. An e certified court document has a digital seal, an encrypted code, and a verify link.
- Pay the right fee. For most court records, the rate is $1.00 per page plus $2.00 for the certification. An e certified court document is $8.00 total, which covers a $2.00 statutory fee and a $6.00 vendor fee. Marriage record certified copies have their own fee in the schedule.
- Submit the request. Use the online Records Request System for most files, or walk in to the Justice Center counter. Mail requests go to the right department box listed below.
- Track the request and verify the copy. Use Track My Records Requests to follow the order. For an e certified court document, use Verify e Certified Document to confirm the file is real.
Note: The Social Security Administration does not accept e certified marriage records for name change, so a paper certified copy by mail or in person is the right call there.
Lee County Clerk Office Locations
The Lee County Clerk of Court runs three main public counters plus a call center. Each one serves a different mix of court and recording work. The Justice Center holds court records and the felony, civil, probate, and juvenile counters. The Second Street office handles official records. The Cape Coral office serves the west side of the county with payments, marriage, and official records work.
Lee County Justice Center
2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239) 533-5000
Mailing: P.O. Box 2469, Fort Myers, FL 33902
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Call Center; lobby open until 5:00 p.m.
Official Records - Administration Building
2115 Second Street
Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239) 533-5007
Mailing: P.O. Box 2278, Fort Myers, FL 33902
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
Deeds, liens, marriage, plats, recorded papers
Cape Coral Government Complex
1039 SE 9th Place, 2nd Floor
Cape Coral, FL 33990
(239) 533-5000
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
Traffic, misdemeanor, official records, marriage
Lee County Clerk Department Directory
The Lee County Clerk of Court splits the work into dedicated departments. Each one has its own floor, its own P.O. Box, and its own phone option. Mailing a filing to the right box speeds up the file work, while picking the right phone option keeps the call short.
| Department | Floor | P.O. Box | Phone Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil | Justice Center 2nd Floor | P.O. Box 310 | (239) 533-5000 option 3 |
| Felony | Justice Center 1st Floor | P.O. Box 2507 | (239) 533-5000 option 2 |
| Misdemeanor / Ordinance | Justice Center 1st Floor & Cape Coral | P.O. Box 2507 | (239) 533-5000 option 2 |
| Probate / Guardianship / Mental Health | Justice Center 2nd Floor | P.O. Box 9346 | (239) 533-5000 option 5 |
| Juvenile | Justice Center 2nd Floor | P.O. Box 9347 | (239) 533-5000 option 6 |
| Jury Duty | Justice Center 2nd Floor | P.O. Box 9349 | (239) 533-2929 |
| Domestic Violence / Injunction | Justice Center 1st Floor / Cape Coral | (filed at counter) | (239) 533-5000 option 4 |
| Official Records | 2115 Second Street & Cape Coral | P.O. Box 2278 | (239) 533-5007 |
Lee County Clerk Fee Schedule
Lee County Clerk of Court fees come from Florida statute, mainly § 28.24. The Clerk publishes its local rate table on the office website. The table below pulls the most common items for court records, certified copies, and civil filings. Recording and marriage fees are listed on the marriage and divorce records page and the probate records page.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certified copy per page | $1.00 |
| Certification fee per document | $2.00 |
| E-Certified court document | $8.00 ($2 statutory + $6 vendor) |
| E-Certified official record | $8.00 ($2 statutory + $6 vendor) |
| Civil action filed in circuit court | $400.00 |
| Tenant eviction (county civil) | $185.00 |
| County civil action $15,000.01 to $30,000 | $400.00 |
| Small claims, $500.01 to $2,500 | $175.00 |
| Notice of appeal, county to circuit | $281.00 |
| Notice of appeal to District Court of Appeal | $100.00 |
Note: Attorneys must e file court papers and pay filing fees through the state portal under the July 1, 2013 mandate, while self represented filers may still file at the counter.
Lee County Clerk Public Records Request System
The Lee County Clerk of Court runs a web tool for public records work. The page sits at leeclerk.org Records Request. The system breaks the work into seven clear options, so users can start the right task without a guess. The same page reminds users that any request is itself a public record, and that the text of a request may be released on demand.
- Search Court Records routes to MATRIX for case files.
- Search Official Records routes to Landmark for deeds and recorded papers.
- Submit Records Request opens a form for items not on the public portals.
- Track My Records Requests follows an open request.
- Bulk Data Requests serves vendors and researchers who need large sets.
- Verify e-Certified Document checks the seal and code on a digital copy.
- Frequently Asked Questions answers the most common request issues.
For the full request walkthrough, fees, and form fields, see the Lee County public records page. The Clerk also keeps a self help center and online how to classes for users who want to learn the system without a lawyer.
Statutes Governing the Lee County Clerk's Office
The Lee County Clerk of Court draws its authority from a small set of Florida statutes plus the state constitution. Two key sections control the office's core duties. Florida Statutes § 28.222 makes the Clerk the county recorder for instruments that the law requires or allows to be recorded. Florida Statutes § 28.24 sets the service charges the Clerk may take for copies, certifications, recording, and court work.
The clearest source link for the recorder statute is the Florida Senate page for § 28.222, which spells out the Clerk's role as the county recorder of instruments.
That same chapter sets the rate sheet the Clerk uses for copies and recording, and the Florida Senate page for § 28.24 lists the charges that bind the office.
Other rules shape day to day work. Florida Rule 2.420 sets confidential record limits in court files. Florida Rule 2.430 covers retention, which is why some old civil traffic case images drop from the public site after the audit window. Florida Statutes Chapter 119 is the broad open records law for agencies. The Clerk has to honor both the agency side and the court side at once.
Recent Lee County Clerk Initiatives
The Lee County Clerk of Court has pushed several public facing changes in the last few years. A 2025 Clerk news release said the office found about $787,175 in proposed taxpayer savings through a new Chief of Government Efficiency role. John Bodner served as the first CoGE and ran a line item budget review that cut the office's fiscal year 2025 to 2026 budget by 4.7 percent. The Clerk used the savings to lower the office's draw on the county general fund.
A September 2025 announcement said the office would expand service in Lehigh Acres, the county's largest unincorporated community. The new location is meant to put a Clerk counter closer to the people who now drive into Fort Myers or Cape Coral. A separate July 2025 release said the office had earned statewide best practices awards five years in a row. Those awards rate clerks in Florida on training, audit results, and customer service.
The e certification rollout is the other big milestone. The office expanded electronic certification for court records in 2021. Users can now buy an e certified arrest report, final judgment, or disposition from home through matrix.leeclerk.org. Each e certified court document has a digital signature and a custom verify code, and the Verify e Certified Document tool on the Clerk site checks the file in seconds.
Education work has also grown. A January 2025 release announced a free online how to class on land and official records. The class covered liens, plats, certificates of title, mortgages, lis pendens, marriage licenses, deeds, judgments, death certificates, and military discharges. Earlier court records webinars taught users how to search divorce, traffic ticket, civil lawsuit, and criminal case files.
Common Questions About the Lee County Clerk
People ask the same set of questions when they first reach out to the Lee County Clerk of Court. The short answers below cover the most common ones. The full Lee County court records FAQ has more.
Who is the Lee County Clerk of Court? Kevin C. Karnes serves as Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. Governor Ron DeSantis appointed him in March 2022, and Lee County voters elected him later that year. He leads a staff of about 350 and runs the office, the records, and the public funds.
How much does a certified copy cost? The state rate is $1.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification charge on most court files. An e certified court document is $8.00 total, which covers a $2.00 statutory fee and a $6.00 vendor fee. Marriage and probate items have their own fees on the marriage records page.
Can I file court papers online? Yes. Attorneys must e file court filings through the state portal. Self represented filers may also use the portal or walk in to the counter at the Justice Center, the Second Street office, or the Cape Coral office. For more on the trial court itself, see the Lee County Circuit Court and Lee County County Court pages.