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Legal Record Services
Linda Culbertson, Chief Deputy Clerk
(561) 355-2996
E-Mail Us
Mission Statement
The mission of the Legal Records Division is to safeguard the public records and maintain the public trust, while adhering to the rules and statutes of the State of Florida. We are committed to providing accurate and timely services to our customers with a helpful and friendly attitude. We fulfill this mission by providing employees with a happy and satisfying workplace where all are encouraged to develop to their fullest potential.
Most residents of Palm Beach County do not realize how often they may rely on the work performed by one or more of the nine, very diverse departments of the Legal Record Services. As Official Recorder for Palm Beach County, the Clerk's office is responsible for recording and safeguarding all Official Records and documents for the residents of the county. Additionally, public access is an important provision to allow searching the records to find these essential documents.
All records have a retention period ranging from as little as 60 days for traffic infractions to 75 years or permanent retention for first degree murder cases. All retention requirements and fees are set by state statute.
- Whenever a house or property is bought, sold, or when a deed is issued, Florida law requires the transaction to be recorded.
- When a mortgage is obtained, refinanced, or a title search is performed, the Recording Department is once again involved.
- When marriage licences are recorded or legal papers are filed, when a certified copy of a mortgage satisfaction is needed.
- When someone purchases a tax deed, the services performed by the Legal Records Division are required.
The Recording Department of the Palm Beach County Clerk's office is a nationally-recognized leader in computerized digital imaging of documents. There are 5.6 million digital image records available here from 1968 to the present.
In calendar year 1998, more than 515,000 documents consisting of more than 1.2 million pages were imaged and recorded while microfilm copies of the records were simultaneously produced for permanent retention.
The Recording, Index, and Abstract Departments, also referred to as Official Records, are responsible for recording deeds, mortgages, marriage licenses, legal papers, etc. and offers the public access to search the records in the public viewing area.
The Photocopy Department provides certified copies of recorded documents.
The Records Management Department actively manages more than 1.75 million records, storing them in accordance with varying retention and destruction requirements.
The Micrographics Department converts all permanent records to microfilm for storage and safekeeping.
The Mailroom receives, processes and delivers more than 2.5 million pieces of mail each year to the Clerk's departments.
The Recording Department processes large volumes of public records, such as deeds, mortgages, and liens, etc.
The Tax Deed Department is responsible for conducting all tax deed sales in strict accordance with Chapter 197 of the Florida Statutes.
Departments within Legal Record Services:
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