Glades County Divorce Decree Records are official court documents that prove a marriage has ended through a final judgment issued by the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court. These records live at the Glades County Clerk of Circuit Court, located at 500 Avenue J, Moore Haven, FL 33471, and the office phone number is (863) 946-6001.
Anyone can request a copy of these records, since Florida law treats divorce case files as public records under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. The Glades County clerk serves as the official record holder for every dissolution of marriage filed inside the county, and the same office issues certified copies that carry a raised court seal. Certified copies cost $10.00 each, and a name search fee of $1.00 applies when no case number sits on file. The office accepts walk-in, mail, and email requests Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This page covers every step a person needs to search, request, and verify a Glades County divorce decree record in 2026.
How Glades County Divorce Decree Records Work
A divorce decree is the written order a judge signs at the end of a Florida divorce case. The document lists each spouse’s name, the case number, the date the judge entered the final judgment, and the exact terms the court approved. The clerk stamps the original, stores it in the official court file, and forwards a report to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Both the clerk file and the state file are public, but they serve slightly different purposes for someone who needs proof of divorce.
What a Divorce Decree Includes
The final judgment in a Glades County case contains several fixed sections that any copy request should match. A standard decree states the full legal names of both parties, the date of marriage, the date the court dissolved the marriage, child custody terms, child support orders, alimony awards, and the division of marital property. The clerk stamps each certified copy with a raised seal and the clerk’s signature, and each page carries a case caption that lists the judge, the case number, and the filing year. Anyone who plans to use the decree for a name change, remarriage, or financial update needs the full certified copy, not a summary page.
County Clerk Role in Record Keeping
The Glades County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller holds the original decree for every divorce case filed in the county. The clerk assigns the case number at the time of filing, stores every motion and order in the case file, and produces certified copies of the final judgment upon request. The same clerk office handles name change affidavits, qualified domestic relations orders, and any later amendments to the original decree. Records remain in the clerk’s office even after the case closes, which means a request for a copy can succeed decades after the final hearing.
Why These Records Are Public
Florida law makes most court records open to the public through Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Divorce files fall under that rule, so a member of the public can request a copy of a decree without proving a personal connection to the case. The clerk office must redact Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and minor children’s identifiers before releasing a copy to a non-party. Sealed records are the only exception, and a judge must sign a court order to close a case file. The public access rule helps journalists, genealogists, lawyers, and ordinary citizens confirm whether a divorce actually happened.
Official Contact for Glades County Clerk
The fastest way to start any record request is to contact the Glades County Clerk of Circuit Court directly. The clerk office handles in-person visits, mailed requests, and email requests, and each channel reaches the same records team. Phone calls during business hours help confirm a case number or check whether a record has moved to the state archive.
Clerk Office Address and Phone
The clerk office sits at 500 Avenue J, Moore Haven, FL 33471. The physical office opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. The clerk records desk can be reached by phone at (863) 946-6001 during posted business hours. Visitors should bring a photo ID and a payment method when picking up a certified copy in person.
Mailing and Email Channels
Mail requests go to P.O. Box 37, Moore Haven, FL 33471. Each mailed request should include a written statement, the full legal name of each party, the year of divorce, the case number when known, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the correct fee. Email requests go to clerk@gladesclerk.com and work best for simple document lookups or status checks. The clerk office accepts payment by check, money order, or credit card, with a small convenience fee attached to card payments.
Office Hours and Visit Times
The Glades County clerk office runs Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office closes on state holidays and during severe weather events. Visitors who need same-day certified copies should arrive before 4:00 p.m. so the records team has time to pull the file, certify the copy, and process the payment before the office closes.
Search Options for Divorce Decree Records
Three search paths lead to a Glades County divorce decree. The first path uses the clerk’s online portal, the second path uses a case number lookup, and the third path uses an in-person records search. Each path needs a different level of detail, and the right choice depends on how much the requester already knows about the case.
Online Portal Search by Name
The clerk’s online portal allows a name-based search across all public case types, including family law. A user enters the last name, the first name, and the year of filing to narrow the result list. The portal returns a case number, a filing date, and a list of docket entries. The portal does not display the full decree image for free, so anyone who needs the certified copy must still order it through the clerk office. Name searches can return multiple matches, and a $1.00 per-name search fee applies if the user asks the clerk to run a manual search beyond what the portal can show.
Case Number Lookup
A case number is the fastest search key in any clerk system. Each Glades County divorce case carries a unique number that follows the format of the year, a two-letter court code, and a four-digit sequence. The case number sits on every court order, every summons, and every filing receipt. A case number lookup skips the $1.00 name search fee and pulls the full case file instantly. The clerk office can help recover a case number if the requester knows the full names, the year of filing, and the city where the spouses last lived.
In-Person Records Search
An in-person search helps when a requester cannot find a record online or wants help from a clerk employee. The visitor fills out a records request form at the front desk and pays the search fee at the cashier window. A clerk pulls the case file from the records room and produces a copy of the decree while the visitor waits. The same visit can be used to ask questions about amending the decree, correcting a clerical error, or filing a later motion tied to the same case.
Request a Certified Copy of the Decree
A certified copy of a Glades County divorce decree carries the raised court seal and the clerk’s signature, and the copy serves as legal proof of the divorce. The clerk office produces certified copies for any case on file, and the same copy can be used for a name change, a remarriage license, a property transfer, or a benefit claim.
Fees and Payment Methods
Certified copies cost $10.00 each, and a $1.00 per-name search fee applies if the requester cannot supply a case number. Additional certified copies of the same decree cost the same $10.00 fee per copy. The clerk office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit card for in-person payments. Mailed requests must include a check or money order, and online requests can use a credit card with a small processing fee.
What You Need in a Mail Request
A mailed request should include a short written statement that names the requester, lists the full legal name of each spouse, includes the year of divorce, includes the case number when known, and asks for a certified copy of the final judgment. The requester must also include a self-addressed stamped envelope and the correct fee. The clerk office returns the certified copy by mail within a few business days, and the requester should keep a copy of the mailed packet for personal records.
Walk-In Request Process
A walk-in request starts at the records desk on the first floor of the clerk office. The requester fills out a short form, presents a photo ID, and pays the certified copy fee. The clerk pulls the file and produces the certified copy while the requester waits. The same visit can be used to ask for a second certified copy, request a corrected copy, or pick up a related document such as a qualified domestic relations order.
Florida State Records and Vital Statistics
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics keeps a separate record of every divorce reported by the county clerk. The state record confirms the basic facts of the divorce and serves as a backup source when a county file is missing or damaged. The state certificate costs $5.00 and can be ordered online, by mail, or in person at the state office in Jacksonville.
Bureau of Vital Statistics Role
The Bureau of Vital Statistics collects the dissolution report that the clerk office forwards after the judge signs the final decree. The state file stores the names of both spouses, the date of divorce, the county of filing, and the case number. The state file does not contain the full decree text, the property division, or the parenting plan, so a person who needs those terms must still request the certified copy from the Glades County clerk.
Difference Between Decree and Certificate
A divorce decree is the full court order with every term the judge approved. A divorce certificate is a short state document that lists the names of both spouses, the date of divorce, and the county of filing. A certified decree works for legal updates that need the full text, and a certificate works for routine proof of divorce. A name change, a property transfer, and a retirement claim all need the certified decree, while a simple proof-of-divorce letter often works with the state certificate.
Statewide Certificate Request Path
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics accepts certificate requests through its online portal, by mail, and through VitalChek, the state’s authorized online vendor. The requester enters the full legal name of each spouse, the date of divorce, the county of filing, and pays the $5.00 fee. The state office mails the certificate within a few business days, and rush processing is available for an extra fee.
Timeline and Processing for Records
Processing time for a Glades County divorce decree request depends on the request channel, the office workload, and the age of the case. Recent cases move faster because the file sits in the active records room, and older cases may need a manual search through the archive room. State certificates take longer because the clerk must forward the report to the state office first.
Local Clerk Processing Speed
The Glades County clerk office processes most certified copy requests within three to five business days. Walk-in requests can be filled the same day when the case file is in the active records room. Mailed requests travel through the postal system, and the round trip can add three to seven business days. The clerk office will hold a request if the file is missing or the case has not been closed.
State Filing Delay
Florida law gives the county clerk about 60 days to forward a dissolution report to the state office after the judge signs the final decree. A request for a state certificate during that window may return a “not on file” result, even when the local decree already exists. A requester who needs proof of a very recent divorce should contact the Glades County clerk first, then wait the 60-day window before ordering the state certificate.
Status Check and Follow-Up
A requester can call the clerk office at (863) 946-6001 to check the status of a mailed or email request. The clerk records team needs the requester’s name, the date of the original request, and the case number when known. A follow-up call helps when a request stalls in the queue or when a payment is missing from the mailed packet.
Common Issues When Requesting Records
Most record request issues fall into a few common buckets. Missing case details, sealed records, and payment problems cause the largest share of delays. Knowing how to handle each issue before sending a request saves time on the back end.
Missing Case Details
A request that lacks a case number, a year of filing, or a full legal name will trigger a manual search. The clerk office charges a $1.00 per-name search fee for any manual search, and the search can return more than one match when two people share the same name. A requester who knows only a partial name should contact the clerk office by phone before sending payment, so the records team can confirm the search path and the fee.
Sealed or Restricted Records
A small number of divorce cases are sealed by court order. A sealed case is not open to the public, and the clerk office cannot release a copy without a separate court order. A requester who needs a copy of a sealed decree must file a motion with the court, serve the other party, and ask the judge to lift the seal. The motion should explain the reason for the request and attach any supporting documents.
Payment and Identity Proof
A mailed request without a check, money order, or credit card authorization will be returned without processing. The clerk office also needs a photo ID from any in-person visitor who picks up a certified copy on behalf of another person. A notarized authorization letter can stand in for the photo ID when the requester sends a representative.
Legal Uses of Divorce Decree Copies
A certified copy of a Glades County divorce decree is required for several legal updates after a divorce. The same copy serves as proof of a name change, proof of a property transfer, and proof of a benefit claim. Each use case has its own rules about which sections of the decree must be on the certified copy.
Name Change After Divorce
A spouse who wants to return to a maiden name can ask the court to include the name change in the final decree. The clerk office stamps the name change on the certified copy, and the Social Security Administration and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles accept the certified copy as proof of the new name. A person who needs a name change after the decree was signed can file a separate motion with the court.
Property and Asset Updates
The property division section of the decree names each asset, each debt, and the spouse who will hold the asset or pay the debt. A certified copy of that section is needed to update a land record, retitle a car, refinance a mortgage, or split a retirement account. The clerk office can produce a certified copy of just the property section when the requester does not need the full decree.
Retirement and Benefit Claims
A qualified domestic relations order, or QDRO, is a court order that splits a retirement account between the spouses. The QDRO must reference the case number and the date of the final decree, and the plan administrator will not process the QDRO without a certified copy of the underlying decree. The clerk office keeps a copy of the QDRO in the same case file and can produce a certified copy of the QDRO on request.
Glades County Court Structure for Divorce
Glades County sits inside the Twentieth Judicial Circuit of Florida, which covers five counties in southwest Florida. The circuit court hears every divorce case filed in the county, and the family law division handles all family-related filings. The clerk office supports the family law division by managing case files, collecting filing fees, and issuing certified copies.
Twentieth Judicial Circuit Coverage
The Twentieth Judicial Circuit covers Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties. The chief judge assigns a circuit judge to each Glades County family law case, and the same judge handles every motion until the case closes. The circuit court sits in Moore Haven for Glades County cases, and the clerk office supports the court during every hearing.
Family Law Division Functions
The family law division hears dissolution of marriage, annulment, adoption, paternity, and domestic relations cases. The same division handles name change petitions, domestic violence injunctions, and child support enforcement. The clerk office assigns a case number, files every motion, and produces certified copies of every order signed by the family law judge.
Related Records and Cross-References
Glades County divorce decree records connect to other public records kept by the same clerk office. Marriage records, annulment records, and family court orders all sit in the same case file system and can be ordered through the same request process.
Marriage Records Link
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics keeps the original marriage record, and a copy can be ordered from the state office or through the county clerk that issued the marriage license. A certified copy of the marriage record helps when a requester needs to confirm the date of marriage, the place of marriage, or the full legal names on the marriage license. The same record can be paired with a certified copy of the divorce decree to prove the full timeline of a marriage.
Annulment Records in Glades County
An annulment is a separate family law action that ends a marriage as if it never happened. The Glades County clerk office keeps annulment records in the same case file system as divorce records, and a certified copy of an annulment judgment can be ordered through the same request process. The annulment judgment lists the grounds for the annulment, the date of the order, and the case number.
Glades County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller
Physical Address: 500 Avenue J, Moore Haven, FL 33471
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 37, Moore Haven, FL 33471
Phone: (863) 946-6001
Email: clerk@gladesclerk.com
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Official Website: www.gladesclerk.com
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the most common requests the Glades County clerk office receives each month. Each answer reflects the rules in effect as of 2026 and the fee schedule posted on the clerk’s official site. The answers also reflect the Florida public records law and the standard process for ordering certified copies of family court records.
How long does a Glades County divorce case take from filing to final decree?
A simple uncontested divorce in Glades County can reach a final decree in four to six months when both spouses file the right paperwork, complete the mandatory financial disclosure, and attend the short final hearing. A contested divorce that goes through discovery, mediation, and a trial can take a year or more to reach a final decree. The clerk office records the final decree on the date the judge signs the order, and the 60-day state filing window starts on that same date.
Can anyone request a copy of a Glades County divorce decree?
Yes. Florida law treats divorce case files as public records, so any member of the public can request a copy. The clerk office will redact Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and minor children’s identifiers before releasing a copy to a non-party. Sealed cases are the only exception, and a judge must lift the seal before the clerk office can release a copy of a sealed file.
What is the difference between a divorce decree and a divorce certificate?
A divorce decree is the full court order that lists every term the judge approved, including child custody, child support, alimony, and property division. A divorce certificate is a short state document that lists the names of both spouses, the date of divorce, and the county of filing. A certified decree works for legal updates that need the full text, and a certificate works for routine proof of divorce.
How much does a certified copy of a Glades County divorce decree cost?
Certified copies cost $10.00 each, and a $1.00 per-name search fee applies when the requester cannot supply a case number. The clerk office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit card for in-person payments, and mailed requests must include a check or money order. The state certificate costs $5.00 and can be ordered through the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics.
What details do I need before requesting a Glades County divorce decree?
The requester should know the full legal name of each spouse, the year of divorce, the county of filing, and the case number when possible. A case number speeds up the search and skips the $1.00 per-name search fee. The requester should also bring a photo ID for in-person visits and a self-addressed stamped envelope for mailed requests.
Can I search Glades County divorce records online for free?
The clerk’s online portal lets any user run a name-based search across all public case types, and the search itself costs nothing. The portal returns a case number, a filing date, and a list of docket entries. The portal does not display the full decree image for free, so anyone who needs the certified copy must still order it through the clerk office.
What if the divorce happened many years ago and the file is in the archive?
The clerk office keeps every divorce file, even when the case closed decades ago. A request for an archived file may take longer to process because a clerk must pull the file from the archive room. The fee schedule stays the same, and a certified copy of an old decree carries the same legal weight as a certified copy of a recent decree.