Miami Gardens Court Records

Miami Gardens court records are handled by the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. All cases filed by or against Miami Gardens residents go through the 11th Judicial Circuit in downtown Miami.

Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court

Miami Gardens is the third largest city in Miami-Dade County. It sits in the northern part of the county, close to the Broward County line. Even though the city has over 116,000 residents, it does not have its own clerk of court. The Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller keeps all court records for Miami Gardens.

The clerk's main office is at 20 NW 1st Avenue in Miami. That is about 17 miles south of Miami Gardens. Most residents prefer to search records online rather than make the drive. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records are public. You can look up any case unless a judge has sealed it or the law makes it confidential.

The clerk's homepage is where Miami Gardens residents start when they need to search for a case or pay a court fee.

The site links to case search tools, fee payment, jury duty info, and court forms. It works on any device with an internet connection.

Search Court Records for Miami Gardens

The Online Case Search is the main tool for finding court records that involve Miami Gardens residents. Search by name, case number, or date. The system pulls up civil, family, and probate cases from across Miami-Dade County.

No account is needed for basic searches. You can check case status, see docket entries, and find court dates for free. The system runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Criminal cases use a different system called COIN. That stands for Criminal Online Information Network. Through COIN you can search for charges, bond info, and hearing dates. The clerk keeps both systems current, so data shows up shortly after a filing is made.

The records page on the Miami-Dade Clerk site gives direct links to every search tool available for court cases in the county, including those in Miami Gardens.

Under Florida Statute 119.0714, the clerk removes sensitive data from public view. Social security numbers and bank account info are redacted automatically. You don't have to file a request for that. It just happens.

Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases involving Miami Gardens residents go through the 11th Judicial Circuit Court. Felonies go to circuit court. Misdemeanors stay at county court level. The clerk stores all criminal records for both.

Miami Gardens has its own police department. Police reports come from that department, not the court clerk. Arrest records, booking photos, and jail info are handled by Miami-Dade Corrections. If you need a statewide criminal history check, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs that service through its website.

Under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, criminal court records stay open to the public unless sealed by a judge. Juvenile records are not included in the public search. Those have strict access rules under state law.

Miami Gardens sits near the Broward County line. If a case was filed in Broward rather than Miami-Dade, you need to check with the Broward Clerk of Courts. Cases follow the county where the event took place, not where the person lives.

Civil and Family Cases

Civil matters for Miami Gardens residents cover lawsuits, foreclosures, small claims, and evictions. Circuit court handles cases over $50,000. County court takes small claims up to $8,000. You can find both types through the Online Case Search tool.

Family court records include divorce, child support, paternity, and domestic violence filings. Some family records are confidential by state law. Child abuse and dependency cases have the strictest limits. The clerk follows these rules for every city in the county.

Miami Gardens residents can file new cases through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The portal works for all case types in the 11th Judicial Circuit. Filing is available around the clock. Court fees still apply, and credit card payments carry a processing charge.

Court Records Services

The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers connects all 67 county clerks across the state. You can use the site to pay traffic tickets or search records in other counties. This is handy for Miami Gardens residents who may have matters in Broward or Palm Beach County.

The Florida Courts Help center provides free forms and self-help guides. If you need to file on your own without a lawyer, the forms and instructions work for any county in Florida. Miami Gardens residents use the same forms as everyone else in Miami-Dade.

For online payments, the MyFloridaCounty.com portal lets you pay court fees from home. You get a receipt right away. This saves Miami Gardens residents from having to drive down to the Miami courthouse. Certified copies cost $7 each and can be ordered through the clerk's site or in person.

Under Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14, the clerk can post public court document images online. Sealed or confidential cases will not show up. Miami Gardens is part of Miami-Dade County, and the county page covers the full court system for all cities in the area.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Miami Gardens in South Florida. Court records for each go through their county clerk.