Polk County, Florida public records

In Polk County, deeds are recorded by the Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller; property values come from the Polk County Property Appraiser; court files are kept by the Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller.

Last checked against official sources on November 4, 2026.

On this page

1. Where to get each record
2. Deeds and land records
3. Property values, owners and tax bills
4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
5. Marriage records
6. Divorce records
7. Birth certificates
8. Death certificates
9. Probate records and wills
10. Business names (DBA)
11. Voter records
12. Historical records
13. Good to know about Polk County records
14. Office addresses, phones and hours
15. Records that are not online: public records requests
16. Questions people ask
17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
18. Sources

Where to get each record

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Polk County are recorded by the Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (County Recorder / Official Records).²

Online search

apps.polkcountyclerk.net/browserviewor²Free search

Cost

Free³

Years online

Official Records 1957 to present; historical deeds 1861 to 1956 (Kofile)²

Historical deeds

kofilequicklinks.com/PolkFL³

Copy fee

$1.00 per page (up to 14 x 8.5 inches); $5.00 per page larger; uncertified copies free online⁴

Certified copy fee

$2.00 for certifying copies, plus copy fee⁴

Search fee

$2.00 per year searched⁴

Recording fee

$10.00 first page, $8.50 each additional page; $1.00 per additional name over four⁴

How to order

Uncertified copies free online; certified copies by online request (mailed after payment) at pro.polkcountyclerk.net/PRR, or instant e-certification for Official Records via clerkecertify.com; or mail/email the Records Custodian¹⁶

Alerts

Property Fraud Alert: notice whenever an official record is filed using your information¹⁷

How deeds work in Florida

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Polk County Property Appraiser sets property values⁵; the Tax Collector for Polk County bills and collects the tax⁵.

Property search

polkflpa.gov/CamaSearch.aspx⁶

Tax bill search

polktaxes.com/… (free search; no convenience fee for online e-check payments)⁷

Parcel map (GIS)

polkflpa.gov/MapSearch.aspx⁶

Appealing a value

Polk County Value Adjustment Board (administered by the Clerk): petition within 25 days after TRIM notices are mailed in mid-August; $50 non-refundable filing fee per parcel petition (+$5 each contiguous parcel); online petitions at apps.polkcountyclerk.net/AxiaWeb2026¹⁸

How property tax works in Florida

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

Fees

Copies $1.00 per page; certification $2.00; search $2.00 per year searched (Clerk general fees)⁴

Criminal records and background checks

Overview

Criminal court records (felony, misdemeanor, traffic, ordinance) via the Clerk's Showcase portal, searchable anonymously⁸

State repository

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (statewide criminal history)¹⁹

How Florida courts keep their files

Marriage records

Clerk of the Circuit Court: view marriage licenses free in Official Records; certified copies through the records request portal²⁰

Marriage license fee

$86.00 without premarital course; $61.00 with proof of premarital course; ceremony $30.00²⁰

Florida marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Divorce judgments and case files: Polk County Clerk (Family Law); search civil cases at pro.polkcountyclerk.net/PRO⁸

State

Florida DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics issues dissolution of marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to present²¹

Filing fee

$408.00 dissolution of marriage (including simplified)⁴

Florida divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Florida DOH in Polk County (Lake Alfred Office of Vital Statistics or Lakeland location), by mail, in person, or online via VitalChek; births 1930 to present; pre-1930 from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville¹¹

Fee

$15 birth certificate; $5 each additional; $3 protective sheath¹¹

Ordering a Florida birth certificate

Death certificates

Florida DOH in Polk County issues death certificates for deaths 2009 to present; earlier deaths from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or VitalChek¹³

Fee

$10 death certificate¹³

Ordering a Florida death certificate

Probate records and wills

Probate, wills and estates are filed with the Clerk; wills must be deposited with the Clerk within 10 days of learning of the death; probate case files searchable in the civil portal¹⁴

Fees

Opening an estate $231.00; summary administration $235.00 (under $1,000) or $345.00 ($1,000 or more); formal administration $400.00⁴

Business names (DBA)

Fictitious names are registered statewide with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), not with the county¹⁵

Voter records

Polk County Supervisor of Elections (voter lookup, registration); statewide voter extract from the Florida Division of Elections²²

Historical records

Historic deeds 1861-1956 and historic cattle brand books (about 1862-1945) online via the Clerk's Kofile site²³

Good to know about Polk County records

• The Clerk's online Official Records start in 1957; deeds from 1861 to 1956 are on a separate historical site.²
• The Clerk publishes historic cattle brand records from about 1862 to 1945.²³
• Official Records can be e-certified online for instant download; this is not offered for court records.¹⁶
• Under Florida law, a public records request need not be in writing, and the requester need not give a name or reason.¹²
• Tax deeds from January 2025 onward are on polk.realtdm.com; older tax deeds (Dec. 2024 and before) are on the Clerk's browserviewtd site.³
• Original wills are accepted only at the Bartow courthouse, not at the Lakeland or Lake Alfred offices.¹⁴

Office addresses, phones and hours

Records that are not online: public records requests

Request page

polkfl.gov/about/public-records-request¹²

Where to send it

Records Management Liaison Officer (RMLO), (863) 534-7670, [email protected], 330 W. Church St., P.O. Box 9005, Drawer AS04, Bartow, FL 33831-9005¹²

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

Other counties in Florida with a full guide: Alachua County, Bay County, Brevard County, Broward County, Charlotte County, Citrus County, Clay County, Collier County, Duval County, Escambia County, Flagler County, Hernando County, Highlands County, Hillsborough County, Indian River County, Lake County, Lee County, Leon County, Manatee County, Marion County, Martin County, Miami-Dade County, Nassau County, Okaloosa County, Orange County, Osceola County, Palm Beach County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Santa Rosa County, Sarasota County, St. Johns County, St. Lucie County, Sumter County, Volusia County. Every county in the state: Florida county list. Looking for another Polk County? Polk County, Iowa; Polk County, Oregon; Polk County, Texas.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 30 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
2. Official RecordsPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
3. Public Records SearchesPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
4. FeesPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
5. Local Officials (property appraisers, tax collectors, VAB)Florida Department of Revenue
6. Polk County Property Appraiser - Home PagePolk County Property Appraiser
7. Search & Pay Property TaxesPolk County Tax Collector
8. Court RecordsPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
9. Criminal & Traffic RecordsPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
10. DivorcePolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
11. Birth CertificatesFlorida Department of Health in Polk County
12. Public Records RequestPolk County Board of County Commissioners
13. Death CertificatesFlorida Department of Health in Polk County
14. Wills & EstatesPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
15. S. 865.09 F.S. Fictitious Name ActThe Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
16. Records RequestsPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
17. Property Fraud AlertPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
18. Value Adjustment BoardPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
19. State of Florida Criminal History Record CheckFlorida Department of Law Enforcement
20. Marriage ServicesPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
21. Divorce or Annulment CertificatesFlorida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
22. Voter Extract Request - Division of ElectionsFlorida Department of State, Division of Elections
23. Historic Cattle BrandsPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
24. Contact UsPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
25. Hours and HolidaysPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
26. Phone Number & DirectionsPolk County Property Appraiser
27. LocationsTax Collector for Polk County
28. Site MapPolk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
29. Lake Alfred Vital StatisticsFlorida Department of Health in Polk County
30. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau