Lee County Clerk Linda Doggett is asking the public to avoid putting their confidential information in civil court records.

Starting July 1, the Florida Supreme Court will make filers responsible for ensuring their information is kept confidential in circuit civil, county civil and small claims court documents.

Attorneys and those representing themselves in court will need to file Notices of Confidential Information when filing documents with Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and other non-public information. This rule change will not affect family cases, such as divorces, child support, and domestic violence cases.

“To help everyone understand how to keep their confidential information private, we will be hosting a free webinar at 2 p.m. June 23,” Doggett said. “We will share what information can be redacted in civil court documents, proper forms and procedures to use, and common pitfalls to avoid.”

To register for the webinar, click HERE. The webinar is the first in the Clerk’s new monthly series titled “Your Gateway to the Courts.” The webinars will teach citizens about the resources available to help file cases and navigate the court system.

While the Clerk’s staff can answer procedural questions, the office is prohibited from offering legal advice. If customers who are not represented by an attorney have legal questions, they can visit www.leeclerk.org/appointment to schedule a free appointment with Legal Aid at the Justice Center in Fort Myers.

For more information about the Clerk’s office, visit www.leeclerk.org or call 239-533-5000.