The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
The Clerk's about page says the office is elected for a four-year term. The Clerk serves as the constitutional clerk to both Circuit and County courts, the county recorder, the comptroller, and the public-records custodian for records held by the Clerk. Angelina "Angel" Colonneso, Esq., is the current Clerk. The office runs out of the Historic Courthouse next door to the Manatee County Judicial Center.
Manatee County uses a unified clerk structure. There is no separate County Clerk. The same office handles the felony case file in Circuit Court and the misdemeanor case file in County Court. Marriage licenses, recorded deeds, judgments, and liens go through Official Records on the same site.
The Clerk's About Us page lists the office's duties and the elected term.
The page also names Clerk Angelina Colonneso and explains the four-year elected position.
What the Manatee County Clerk Does
The Clerk's responsibilities cover most of the paper that moves through the county legal system. The official pages name several core duties. Each one feeds a different public-records use case.
- Court records for small claims, traffic infractions, criminal, civil, family, probate, guardianship, mental health, and appeals.
- Official records: deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, marriage licenses, military discharges, and lis pendens.
- Public Access and Research: walk-in help on the main floor of the Historic Courthouse.
- Marriage licenses and Clerk-officiated ceremonies during business hours.
- Criminal court documents and judgments.
- Traffic citation processing, fine collection, and traffic-school certificates.
- Appeals Department for circuit and county appeals.
- Jury Duty operations and the eJuror portal.
- Comptroller and audit functions for the county.
The Manatee County Clerk Public Records Hub
The Public Records Hub is the front door for Clerk-held records online. From the hub, users can launch Official Records, Court Records, Board Records, Plat Records, Animal Cases, and Property Alerts. The hub is the result of an active consolidation effort that pulls multiple Clerk databases under one roof.
The Clerk's online searches page says the Florida Supreme Court authorizes electronic access to indexes, dockets, and non-confidential document images. A subscription or login is no longer required for general public access. Attorneys, parties, government agencies, and law enforcement can apply for a Registered User account with broader access under specific rules.
Manatee County Clerk Contact Information
The Clerk operates from the Historic Courthouse at 1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton. The main floor houses Public Access and Research. Mailing addresses differ depending on whether you send overnight or regular mail. Phone lines split by department.
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Historic Courthouse
1115 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 749-1800 main
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Public Access and Research
Main floor, Historic Courthouse
1115 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 741-4040
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Mailing Addresses
Regular: P.O. Box 25400
Bradenton, FL 34206
Overnight: 1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205
Email: servicedesk@manateeclerk.com
Manatee County Clerk Fee Schedule
The Clerk publishes a fee schedule covering every Clerk product. The basic per-page rates are set by Florida statute and apply across departments. Special items have their own pricing. Check the current page before paying.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plain copy, 8.5 x 11 | $1.00 per page |
| Certification | $2.00 per certification |
| Record search when no case number is given | $2.00 per year searched |
| Certificate of Clerk | $7.00 |
| Large copy, 18 x 24 | $5.00 per page |
| Driver license transcript | $23.25 with valid ID |
| Marriage license, recording, ceremonies | See Clerk fee page for current amounts. |
The full Clerk department fee listing covers every fee charged by the office.
Civil, criminal, traffic, marriage, probate, recording, and small-claims fees all appear on the same listing.
How to Request a Certified Copy from the Manatee County Clerk
Certified copies are the official version of a court or recorded record. Many uses require a certified copy: court evidence, immigration filings, recording in another county, or estate work. The Clerk's process is straightforward, with mail, in-person, and some online options.
- Identify the record: court file, marriage license, deed, judgment, or other recorded document.
- Locate the record through the Public Records Hub or by calling the Clerk.
- Choose your delivery method: pickup at the Historic Courthouse, mail, or e-certified where available.
- Pay the per-page copy fee and certification fee.
- For court records, use the Court/Official Records Copy Request form.
- For non-case records, use the General Public Records Request.
- Confirm pickup time or mailing address; the Clerk emails or mails the certified copy when ready.
Records Request Form Fields
The Clerk's request forms capture the information needed to find a record and bill the right fee. The fields below cover both the Court/Official Records request and the General Public Records request.
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Requester Name | Public-records law makes the request itself a public record in most cases. |
| Contact Information | Phone, email, and mailing address; email addresses are public records. |
| Record Description | Case number, document type, recording date, or other identifiers. |
| Number of Copies | Plain or certified, with page count if known. |
| Delivery Method | Pickup, mail, email, or e-certified. |
| Payment | Calculated based on the Clerk fee schedule. |
Registered User Access at the Manatee County Clerk
Some records open further for users with a verified identity. The Public Access page explains that account registration may itself become a public record. Registration involves the Public Records Hub Register button, email confirmation, profile completion, and acceptance of the Registered User Agreement. Probate and domestic-relations document viewing may require registration.
Attorneys, parties, governmental agencies, and law enforcement can apply for expanded electronic access. The Clerk authorizes those accounts under Fla. Stat. § 28.2221(5)(a) and Florida Supreme Court access standards.
Note: Florida law treats your registration data as a public record subject to disclosure, so review the Registered User Agreement before signing up.
Jury Duty and Comptroller Duties
Jurors confirm reporting at (941) 748-7407, the Clerk's Jury Duty Reporting page, or the eJuror portal. The Clerk's public-records page tells jurors to confirm the night before, including on Sundays and holidays. Reporting takes place at the Manatee County Judicial Center.
As Comptroller, the Clerk audits county spending, processes payments, and prepares financial reports. The Comptroller duties are separate from the court-records role, but the same elected office covers both.
Note: The Clerk's pages warn about jury scam calls; no court or Clerk will ask for money or personal information over the phone or by email for jury duty.
Historical Records at the Manatee County Clerk
The Clerk's FAQ says Manatee County records date back to the 1850s. Documents before 1978 live in the Historical Records Library. Plat maps go back to 1887, and many are searchable through the Public Records Hub. The Official Records online index covers January 3, 1978 to the present, with online images beginning around May 15, 1981, excluding certain books. Starting January 1, 2020, the Clerk no longer assigns Book/Page numbers to new official records and uses consecutive Instrument Numbers instead. Pre-2020 records remain searchable by Book/Page.
The Clerk records military discharges, including DD-214 forms. The Clerk's FAQ says original DD-214s may be mailed or brought to Recording, and recording fees are charged to Manatee County Veterans Services so the customer is exempt from the recording fee. Certified copies of a DD-214 from 1978 onward require the named person to appear in person with valid photo ID.