Injunctions for the Protection of a Minor

A Final Judgment of Injunction for Protection, commonly referred to as a “restraining order”, is a court order issued to protect an individual from violence or threats of violence. This Final Judgment of Injunction for Protection is recorded in the county’s Official Records and indexed by the names of both parties, called the petitioner and the respondent.

When the person being protected is a minor, by law the minor’s name is held confidential from the Official Records index. Additionally, the recorded Final Judgment is specifically identified as an “Injunction for the Protection of a Minor”. This applies to all Final Judgments of Injunction for the Protection of a Minor issued against an adult respondent and recorded on or after July 1, 2021.

Locate a Recorded Injunction for Protection of a Minor

Follow the steps below to locate a recorded Final Judgment of Injunction for the Protection of a Minor in the Official Records.

  1. Access the Official Records online search.
  2. Search by the adult respondent’s first and last name.
  3. Review the index of recorded instruments (documents).
  4. Look for a document type of Final Judgment – Family.

Note: Any injunction protecting a minor will be identified by the words “Injunction for the Protection of a Minor” in the field titled Legal Description.

Request to Index an Injunction for Protection of Minor

Final Judgments of Injunction for Protection that protect a minor and were recorded prior to July 1, 2021, will not reflect the “Injunction for the Protection of a Minor” language. However, the law requires the Clerk to update the index for these recorded documents upon written request.

Pursuant to F.S. 28.2221(8)(d), any person may request that the Clerk add information to the Official Records index to identify a recorded instrument as an “Injunction for the Protection of a Minor”, unless the respondent is also a minor. The request must be in writing and specify the case number; there is no fee for this service.

To have the index of a recorded Final Judgment of Injunction for Protection updated to include the “Injunction for Protection of a Minor” language, please send your written request to this office.

  • By email
  • By fax to 941-861-7707
  • In person at the Clerk and Comptroller’s Sarasota or Venice office locations
  • By mail to
    Sarasota Clerk and Comptroller
    Attn: Public Access
    P.O. Box 3079
    Sarasota, FL 34230-3079
  • By overnight mail to
    Sarasota Clerk and Comptroller
    Attn: Public Access
    2000 Main Street
    Sarasota, FL 34237
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