Collier County is named after Barron Collier, who played a significant role in developing Southwest Florida, where the county is located. Collier County, created in 1923, covers a land mass of 2,305 square miles and has an estimated population of 380,000. Its county seat in Naples is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, including the Everglades National Park and the Ten Thousand Islands.

Courts in Collier County

The trial court system in Collier County comprises Circuit and County Courts. The Collier County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. The court presides over felonies, misdemeanors, and civil cases of more than $15,000. The Circuit Court presides over family law cases, including divorce, division of marital assets, and child custody cases. The court also handles Probate cases such as trusts and wills and juvenile matters, including child protection and juvenile delinquency cases.

The County Court in Collier County has limited jurisdiction and handles less severe cases that do not require broader jurisdiction. The court deals with misdemeanor criminal cases and small claims civil disputes involving amounts up to $8,000. The Traffic Division handles traffic and municipal ordinance violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Collier County

Public court records are the papers and documents concerning legal proceedings maintained by the courts and publicly available to anyone upon request. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the record custodian for court records and provides a Case Search tool to view and copy court records. Record seekers can also find Collier County public court records at the courthouse where the case was filed. The Court Clerk also permits mail requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Collier County

The following court records are publicly available for inspection, viewing, and copying to Collier County residents:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanor records such as larceny, arson, petty theft, and vandalism
• Civil Court Records: Landlord/tenant disputes, small  claims, foreclosures, and business litigations
• Family Court Records: Marriage annulment, legal separation, divorce, alimony, child custody, and child support records
• Probate Records: Wills, estate, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust
• Traffic Records: Speeding tickets, seatbelt violations, illegal violations, and driving under the influence

Confidential Court Records in Collier County

Confidential court records in Collier County are documents and information filed with the courts that are unavailable to the public. Confidential court records are sealed by the courts or federal or state laws to protect sensitive information and the privacy of the persons named on the court document. Confidential court records in Collier County include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Sexual assault victim information
• Trade secrets

Similarly, personal information on a court document is confidential information excluded from public access. Personal identifiers are information used to identify an individual. Personal identifying information is redacted from public court records to prevent identity theft and protect the individual from potential harassment or harm. Personal identifiers include:

• Social Security number
• Drivers license numbers
• Vehicle plate numbers
• Phone numbers
• Bank account and credit card numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Collier, FL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Collier County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Florida often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 663 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Collier County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 663 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Collier County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Collier County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Collier County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Naples
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1923
Total Square Miles:	2,305
2019 Population:	372,880
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	3299 Tamiami Trail East County Government Naples , FL 34112-4961 http://www.colliergov.net/

Collier County, FL Courts