The Clerk’s Office will be closing at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31st and will be closed all day on Wednesday, January 1st.

Effective July 1, 2021, pursuant to SC20-1765, filers in circuit civil, county civil and small claims cases will be solely responsible for ensuring any confidential information contained in filings is redacted or identified for redaction. Read Rule 2.420 or watch a video explaining this change.

Nadia K. Daughtrey

DeSoto County, Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court

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Nadia K. Daughtrey

DeSoto County, Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court
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Injunctions

Injunctions, also known as restraining orders, can be filed here at the Clerk’s Office. They are free of charge and sent immediately to the judge’s office. Injunctions are always reviewed and answered by the judge the same day they are filed. Domestic violence is not the only type of injunction a person can receive. There are also injunctions for stalking, repeat violence (two acts or more of physical violence), and sexual violence. The Clerk’s Office can help you determine what type of packet you need.  After specifying what type of packet you need, you may complete it here at the Clerk’s Office or you may go to either the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office or the Arcadia Police Department, depending on whether you reside in the county or the city. Both agencies have victims’ advocates that can help you complete the packet. They will also attend any court hearings with you. Once you have filed your petition for an injunction it is sent immediately to the judge’s office for review. You may attach exhibits and police reports to your petition.

Safe Place

The Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) is the only state-certified center for domestic violence and sexual assault services for Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. All of SPARCC's services are free and confidential, such as assistance with filing for injunctions, a shelter operating 24 hours per day/365 days per year, court advocacy, children's services, and more. SPARCC also provides safety planning, crisis counseling and emergency shelter for victims, and their families.

The SPARCC VICTIM HOTLINE (941) 365-1976 or toll free  (877) 365-1976 (DeSoto) is answered 24 hours per day to provide immediate response to the needs of callers. Go to SPARCC on the web at www.SPARCC.net for more information about programs and services. SPARCC has a location in DeSoto to serve victims of domestic violence or sexual assault:

Arcadia Outreach Office
107 West Oak Street, Suite 202
Arcadia, FL 34266
Toll Free HOTLINE (877) 365-1976
Administrative Line (863) 494-4948

Types of Injunctions and Process of filing

Domestic Violence with children or without children

  • Parties must have been in a domestic relationship (spouse, former spouse, related by blood or marriage, living with you now or has previously lived with you or other parent of your child or children, or if you are or were living as a family)
  • Parties can have children together or not together but living in the same household
  • Parties do not have to be a resident of the State of Florida to file
  • No filing fee required
  • Injunction if granted is enforceable within the State of Florida or any other state in the USA

Repeat Violence

  • Two incidents of violence have been committed against you or a member of your immediate family by another person, one of which must be within 6 months of filing the Petition
  • Parties do not have to be a resident of the State of Florida to file
  • No filing fee required
  • Injunction if granted is enforceable within the State of Florida or any other state in the USA

Dating Violence

  • Violence between individuals who have or have had a continuing romantic/intimate relationship or dating relationship must exist within the past 6 months of filing the Petition
  • Parties do not have to be a resident of the State of Florida to file
  • No filing fee required
  • Injunction if granted is enforceable within the State of Florida or any other state in the USA

Stalking

  • Stalking means the repeated following, harassment or cyber stalking of a person by another. Cyber stalk means to engage in a course of conduct to communicate or to cause to be communicated words, images or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication directed at a specific person causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose to that person.
  • Parties do not have to be a resident of the State of Florida to file
  • No filing fee required
  • Injunction if granted is enforceable within the State of Florida or any other state in the USA

Sexual

  • Sexual battery as defined in Chapter 794, Florida Statutes
  • A Lewd or Lascivious Act as defined in Chapter 800, Florida Statutes, committed upon or in the presence younger than 16 years of age
  • Luring or enticing a child as described in Chapter 787, Florida Statutes
  • Sexual performance by a child as described in Chapter 827, Florida Statutes
  • Any other forcible Felony wherein a sexual act is committed or attempted

Forms can be located on the Forms page.

 The Clerk’s Office is open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. We accept petitions for an injunction anytime during these hours.

After Hours Filing

If you need to file an injunction for protection outside of normal business hours, on a holiday or weekend, contact the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office at (863) 993-4700 or go to the Sheriff's Office at 208 E Cypress Street in Arcadia for assistance.