Fort Lauderdale Court Records

Fort Lauderdale court records are filed and stored at the Broward County Clerk of Courts, located at 540 SE 3rd Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale. As the county seat of Broward County, this is where the main courthouse and clerk's office sit.

Broward County Clerk of Courts

All court records in Fort Lauderdale go through the Broward County Clerk of Courts. The clerk runs both circuit and county court operations from the main courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. This is the same office that serves every city in Broward County.

The main office is at 540 SE 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Call (954) 831-7283 for help. The clerk handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic court records. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records are public. Anyone can ask to see them. If a judge has sealed a case or the law makes it confidential, the clerk will not release those files.

The Broward County Clerk's homepage gives you direct links to court records, case search tools, and filing info for Fort Lauderdale residents.

You can find links to jury duty, the family division, traffic citations, and document recording from the main site. Fort Lauderdale residents can handle most court business online. There is no need for a trip to the courthouse for basic tasks like checking a case or paying a fee.

Search Court Records in Fort Lauderdale

The Broward County Case Search is the main way to look up court records in Fort Lauderdale. You can search by name, case number, or date range. The tool covers civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases filed in Broward County.

Basic searches are free. You do not need an account to check a case status or look up a court date. The portal shows docket entries, party names, hearing dates, and filing info for most Fort Lauderdale cases.

The Web2 case search portal for Broward County lets you find records across all court divisions.

Under Florida Statute 119.0714, the clerk strips out social security numbers and bank account data from public view. You do not need to ask for this. It happens by default. Some documents in sealed cases will not show up at all. The system runs 24 hours a day, so you can search Fort Lauderdale court records from any device.

If your search returns too many hits, add a middle name or narrow the date range. The system caps results per query. For detailed document images, you may need to register for an account or visit the clerk's office in person.

Fort Lauderdale Records Requests

The clerk has a dedicated records request page for people who need copies of court documents. You can submit a request online through the site. Certified copies cost $1 per page in Fort Lauderdale. Plain copies may be less.

Walk-in requests are also accepted at the main courthouse. Bring as much case info as you can. A case number speeds things up. The staff can search by name if that is all you have, but it takes more time. Most requests are filled the same day for Fort Lauderdale cases.

For official records like deeds, liens, and recorded judgments, the Broward County Official Records Search is a separate system. It covers property transfers, mortgage filings, and other recorded documents for Fort Lauderdale and all of Broward County.

Family Court Records in Fort Lauderdale

The Broward Clerk Family Division handles divorce, child custody, paternity, and domestic violence cases. Fort Lauderdale family court cases are heard at the main courthouse on SE 3rd Avenue. Some family records have privacy protections by law.

Divorce filings, custody orders, and support modifications are all part of the public record unless a judge seals them. Under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, court records are open to the public unless sealed by court order. Confidential information in family cases is still shielded from public view.

Fort Lauderdale residents can file family court documents through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Filing is required to go through this system for most case types. The portal works around the clock. Court filing fees still apply. Credit card fees run about 3.95%.

Criminal and Civil Cases

Criminal cases in Fort Lauderdale go through the 17th Judicial Circuit Court. Felonies are heard at the circuit level. Misdemeanors stay in county court. The Broward County Clerk stores all criminal records for both levels.

You can look up arrest records, charges, and case status through the Web2 portal. Booking photos and jail records come from the Broward Sheriff's Office, not the clerk. Fort Lauderdale is the hub for criminal court proceedings in Broward County since the main courthouse is here.

Civil cases cover contract disputes, personal injury claims, foreclosures, and small claims. Circuit court handles cases over $50,000. County court takes small claims up to $8,000. Both types show up in the same case search tool for Fort Lauderdale.

Under Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14, the clerk may post court document images online. Not all documents are posted. Some require an in-person visit to view. Fort Lauderdale residents can contact the clerk's office to ask about a specific document before making the trip.

More Resources for Fort Lauderdale

The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers site connects all 67 county clerks. You can pay fines, search records, or check jury info from one place. The Florida Courts Help center has free forms and guides for people filing on their own in Fort Lauderdale.

For payments, MyFloridaCounty.com lets you pay court fees online. You get a receipt right away. Many Fort Lauderdale residents use this to skip the line at the courthouse. The Broward County page on the county directory has more details about county-wide court services.

Fort Lauderdale is the largest city in Broward County and the county seat. This means the main clerk's office, the circuit court, and the county court all sit in Fort Lauderdale proper. If you have a case in any Broward County city, the records will be at this same courthouse.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Fort Lauderdale in Broward County. Court records for each city go through the same Broward County Clerk of Courts.