Lehigh Acres city dissolution of marriage records are court files stored by the Lee County Clerk of Court, not by any city office. Anyone who needs a divorce decree, a case status check, or a certified copy must work through the county clerk system in Fort Myers, Florida.
This page explains how the record system works for Lehigh Acres residents, where to search online, how to order certified copies, and what laws govern these court files as of 2026.
Where Lehigh Acres Files Dissolution Records
Lehigh Acres sits inside Lee County, which belongs to Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit. The city has no court of its own and no separate records office for family law cases. All dissolution of marriage files for Lehigh Acres residents are filed with the Lee County Clerk of Court. The clerk records case events, stores judgments, and issues official copies. Lehigh Acres residents must use the county portal for any case lookup or official record request.
Lee County Clerk of Court Role
The Lee County Clerk of Court is the official record keeper for all dissolution of marriage cases filed by Lehigh Acres residents. The clerk maintains the file, indexes the case style, and issues certified copies. The current clerk is Kevin C. Karnes. His office address is 32075 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33901. The main phone number is 239-533-5000. Office hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Call the clerk before visiting to confirm payment options and appointment rules.
Lee County Court System and 20th Circuit
Lee County sits in the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida. The circuit covers Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties. Family law cases, including dissolution of marriage, go through the circuit court division. The main courthouse for Lehigh Acres residents is the Lee County Justice Center in Fort Myers. All family law filings, hearings, and final judgments for Lehigh Acres cases happen at this location or its satellite offices.
City vs County Authority Over Records
Lehigh Acres is an unincorporated community within Lee County. It does not have its own city government with court power. The Lee County government handles all record-keeping duties for the area. The city name only appears as a geographic reference on the case style, such as “In Re: The Marriage of [Name A] and [Name B].” The actual records are held by the county clerk, not by any city agency.
| Record Detail | Source |
|---|---|
| Population of Lehigh Acres | 127,391 |
| County | Lee |
| Circuit | 20th |
| Residency Requirement | 6 Months |
| Filing Court | Lee County Circuit Court |
How to Search Lehigh Acres Dissolution Records
Searching for a dissolution of marriage record in Lehigh Acres takes two basic steps. First, check the Lee County court records portal by party name and filing year. Second, verify the judgment details with the clerk when you need a certified copy. Using both steps cuts down on errors from common names or old records that are not yet indexed online.
Online Search by Name
The Lee County Clerk website at leeclerk.com hosts a public search tool. Users can type a last name, a first name, and a date range. The portal returns a list of matching cases with the case number, filing date, party names, and case status. Anyone can run this search at no cost. The portal covers cases from the 1970s to the present, but very old files may not be fully indexed.
Case Number Lookup
If a case number is already known, the clerk portal lets users pull up the full docket. The docket shows every motion filed, every hearing held, and the final judgment. This is the fastest way to confirm a case status for a Lehigh Acres resident. Case numbers follow the format of DR-YY-####, where DR stands for domestic relations, YY is the year, and #### is the sequence number.
Court Records Portal Access
The statewide Florida e-Portal at myflcourtaccess.com also works for Lehigh Acres cases. Users can run a search across all Florida counties or narrow the search to Lee County. The portal shows basic case info for free, but viewing full images of the file may cost a small fee per page. The Lee County portal and the statewide portal share much of the same data, so checking both is a smart way to confirm a result.
Requesting Certified Copies of Divorce Decrees
A certified copy of a Lehigh Acres divorce decree is a paper copy that carries the clerk’s seal and signature. Banks, insurance companies, and other agencies often ask for this type of copy. The Lee County Clerk offers three ways to get a certified copy: in person, by mail, or through an online vendor.
In-Person Request Process
Walk-in requests go to the Lee County Clerk’s office at 32075 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33901. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number if you have it. The clerk will pull the file, print a certified copy, and place the official seal on it. Same-day service is common if the file is on site. Payment is accepted in cash, check, money order, or card at most counters.
Mail Request Procedure
Mail requests need a signed letter, a copy of a valid photo ID, and a check or money order for the fee. The letter should list the full names of both parties, the case number if known, and the year the case was filed. Mail the packet to the Lee County Clerk of Court at the Fort Myers address. Turnaround time for mail requests is usually 5 to 10 business days, plus mail time in both directions.
Online Order Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the official online vendor for Florida vital records. The service at vitalchek.com lets users order certified copies of divorce decrees from any Florida county, including Lee. Users fill out an online form, pay by card, and receive the certified copy by mail. The service adds a small processing fee on top of the clerk’s base fee, but it is the most convenient option for people who live far from Fort Myers.
Florida Statewide Divorce Records Resources
Florida keeps two separate layers of divorce records. The county clerk holds the full court file, including the final judgment. The state keeps a shorter record, called a dissolution certificate, that confirms the divorce was finalized. Lehigh Acres residents can use both layers to verify and prove a divorce.
Florida Department of Health Certificates
The Florida Department of Health issues dissolution certificates through its Office of Vital Statistics. The website is floridahealth.gov. A state certificate works for most basic needs, such as updating a Social Security record or changing a name. It does not include the full text of the court judgment. Costs and turnaround times are listed on the site. Orders can be placed online, by mail, or in person at the state office in Jacksonville.
Bureau of Vital Statistics Functions
The Bureau of Vital Statistics is part of the Florida Department of Health. It collects dissolution reports from every county clerk and stores them in a statewide database. The bureau then issues certified copies of those reports to the public. For Lehigh Acres residents, the bureau is a backup source if the county file is missing or hard to reach. The bureau can also help verify whether a divorce was ever filed in Florida.
Statewide Court e-Access Portal
Florida’s statewide portal at myflcourtaccess.com lets users search court cases in any county. For Lehigh Acres searches, the user picks “Lee County” in the drop-down menu and enters the party name. The portal returns the case summary, filing date, and case status. Full document images cost a small fee per page. The portal covers all Florida counties, so it works well for people who need to check more than one county.
Florida Laws Governing Dissolution of Marriage
Florida law sets the rules for every dissolution of marriage case, including those filed by Lehigh Acres residents. The main law is Florida Statutes Chapter 61. The statutes cover residency, grounds, filing, timing, property division, and reporting to vital statistics. Anyone filing for divorce in Lehigh Acres must follow these rules.
Florida Statute 61.021 Residency
Florida Statute 61.021 states that at least one spouse must have lived in Florida for six months before filing for dissolution. The spouse must also live in the county where the case is filed at the time of filing. For Lehigh Acres residents, this means the filing must happen in Lee County, and the spouse must meet the six-month Florida rule. The court can dismiss a case if the residency rule is not met.
Florida Statute 61.052 Grounds
Florida Statute 61.052 lists the legal grounds for dissolution. Florida is a no-fault state, so the only ground needed is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Either spouse can file based on this ground. The court does not require proof of wrongdoing. This rule applies to every Lehigh Acres case, just like every other Florida case.
Florida Statute 61.075 Distribution
Florida Statute 61.075 covers the division of marital assets and liabilities. The law calls for an equitable distribution, which means a fair split, not always a 50/50 split. The court looks at factors like each spouse’s income, the length of the marriage, and the contributions of each spouse. For Lehigh Acres couples, this rule shapes how property, debts, and retirement accounts are split.
Fees and Required Documents
Requesting a Lehigh Acres dissolution of marriage record is simple, but it does cost money. The clerk charges a fee for searching, copying, and certifying the file. Some paperwork is also required to prove the requester has the right to the record. The fee amounts and document list are standard across most Florida counties.
Required Identification Documents
The Lee County Clerk asks for a valid government-issued photo ID from any record requester. Accepted forms include a driver’s license, a state ID card, a passport, or a military ID. If the requester is an attorney or a licensed private investigator, the clerk also asks for proof of professional license. Mail requests must include a photocopy of the ID, while in-person requests show the ID at the counter.
Fee Structure for Records
The Lee County Clerk charges a search fee, a per-page copy fee, and a certification fee. As of 2026, a standard certified copy of a final judgment costs around $10 to $15, depending on the size of the file. Each extra page adds a small fee. Online orders through VitalChek include an extra processing charge on top of the clerk’s fee. Exact fee amounts are listed on the clerk’s website and updated each year.
Processing and Wait Times
In-person requests at the Lee County Clerk’s office are often ready the same day if the file is on site. Mail requests take 5 to 10 business days to process, plus mail time in both directions. Online orders through VitalChek usually take 2 to 3 weeks for delivery. If a file is stored off site at the Lee County archives, the wait time can grow by a few days.
| Request Method | Typical Wait Time |
|---|---|
| In Person | Same Day |
| By Mail | 5 to 10 Business Days |
| VitalChek Online | 2 to 3 Weeks |
| State Health Office | 3 to 5 Business Days |
Common Search Challenges
Many people run into problems when searching for Lehigh Acres dissolution of marriage records. Old files, name changes, and similar names are the most common hurdles. Each problem has a clear fix if the searcher knows what to do.
Records Not Found Online
Some records are not visible on the online portal. This often happens with cases filed before the 1990s, when record scanning was rare. The fix is to call the Lee County Clerk and ask the records staff to run a manual search. The clerk can pull older files from the county archive. There may be an extra search fee for manual lookups, but it is the only way to get a true answer for older cases.
Name Changes and Variations
Name changes can throw off a record search. A spouse may have changed their last name before, during, or after the marriage. The search portal only matches exact name strings, so a small spelling difference returns zero results. The fix is to search for the first name and a wide date range, then scan the list for any matching person. The clerk can also run a manual search using a date of birth.
Old Records and Archive Access
Very old records may be stored at the Lee County Records Center instead of the main courthouse. These files need a manual request. The clerk charges a small fee to pull and copy the file. The wait time is longer than a normal request. Some files from the 1950s and 1960s may have been destroyed in storage or lost over time, in which case the clerk will confirm that no record exists.
Lee County Office Details for Record Requests
Lehigh Acres residents can contact the Lee County Clerk of Court for help with dissolution of marriage records. The office handles all official requests, certified copies, and case lookups for the area.
Office: Lee County Clerk of Court
Official Website: https://leeclerk.com/
Address: 32075 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: 239-533-5000
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Records Portal: https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions cover the most common concerns Lehigh Acres residents have about dissolution of marriage records. Each answer gives a clear, direct path to the right resource. The information is current as of August 2026.
How long does a Lehigh Acres divorce take?
A typical uncontested divorce in Lehigh Acres takes 4 to 6 months from filing to final judgment. A contested case can take 9 to 18 months, depending on the issues and the court’s schedule. Florida law does not set a fixed timeline, but a final judgment cannot happen sooner than 20 days after the date of service. Many couples reach a settlement through mediation, which speeds up the process. The clerk’s office can confirm a case status at any point during the case.
Can I view Lehigh Acres divorce files free?
Yes. The Lee County Clerk’s online portal lets anyone run a free search by name, case number, or date range. The portal shows the case style, filing date, and case status at no cost. Viewing full document images may cost a small per-page fee. For free walk-in access, the clerk’s public terminals at the Fort Myers office let visitors search the same database. The fee only applies when printing or certifying copies.
What is the difference between a decree and a certificate?
A divorce decree is the full final judgment issued by the court. It covers all parts of the case, including property, custody, and support. A divorce certificate is a short document issued by the Florida Department of Health that confirms a divorce was finalized. The decree comes from the Lee County Clerk. The certificate comes from the state. Banks and courts usually ask for a certified copy of the decree, while name-change requests often need the state certificate.
Who can request Lehigh Acres divorce records?
Florida law makes dissolution of marriage records public. Anyone can search the index and view the case summary. Certified copies, though, are limited to the parties named in the case, their attorneys, and people with a court order. Family members, researchers, and licensed private investigators can also request certified copies in many cases. The clerk checks ID before releasing a certified copy to make sure the requester qualifies.
Are Lehigh Acres divorce records online?
Most Lehigh Acres divorce cases filed after 1990 are searchable online through the Lee County Clerk portal and the statewide Florida e-Portal. Older cases may not be indexed online. Very old files need a manual request at the clerk’s office. Some records are sealed by court order, and those are not visible online at all, even with a name search. Sealed records can only be opened with a new court order.
How do I fix a name error on a divorce decree?
A name error on a Lehigh Acres divorce decree can be fixed by filing a motion to correct a clerical error with the Lee County Circuit Court. The motion asks the judge to issue a corrected final judgment. The clerk stamps the corrected judgment and re-files it in the case. This process usually takes 30 to 60 days. There is a small filing fee. A lawyer can help with the motion, but it is not required.
Can I seal a Lehigh Acres divorce record?
Yes, but only under special circumstances. A party can file a motion to seal the case under Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420. The court will only grant the motion if there is a strong reason, such as a threat to personal safety, financial privacy, or the protection of a minor. Most divorce records stay public. The court weighs the request against the public’s right to know before issuing a sealing order.