Search Broward County Court Records
Broward County court records are held by the Broward Clerk of Courts at 540 SE 3rd Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. With a population close to 1.9 million, Broward is one of the busiest court systems in Florida. The clerk files and stores civil, criminal, family, and traffic case records for the entire county. Most of these court records can be searched for free through the clerk's online case search tool. You can also visit the clerk's office in person to get copies of court records or make a formal records request by mail or email. The Broward Clerk of Courts handles tens of thousands of new case filings each year.
Broward County Quick Facts
Broward Clerk of Courts
The Broward Clerk of Courts runs the court records system for the 17th Judicial Circuit. The main office sits at 540 SE 3rd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. You can reach the clerk by phone at (954) 831-7283. The clerk's office is in charge of all case filings, court records storage, and the release of public documents. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court records in Broward County are open to the public unless a judge has sealed the file or a law makes it confidential. That means most case filings, docket sheets, and court orders are fair game for anyone who wants to look them up.
The clerk handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases. All filings for Broward County go through this one office. The clerk also provides certified copies of court records, processes records requests, and runs the county's online case search system. If you need a document from a Broward County court case, the clerk's office is where you start.
The Broward Clerk of Courts website is the main hub for all court records searches in the county.
The clerk's site also has info on jury service, filing forms, and how to pay fines in Broward County. If you are not sure which division handles your case, the clerk's staff can point you in the right direction.
| Office | Broward Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 540 SE 3rd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 |
| Phone | (954) 831-7283 |
| Website | browardclerk.org |
Broward County Court Records Online Search
The Broward Clerk Web2 case search portal is the main tool for looking up court records in Broward County. You can search by party name, case number, or citation number. A party name search needs at least a last name and first name. If the last name has fewer than three characters, the system will only pull exact matches. This is a free tool and you do not need to make an account to use it. The system shows case details, party names, charges, and hearing dates for most Broward County court records.
The search tool pulls court records from civil, criminal, family, and traffic divisions in Broward County. Keep in mind that each search only shows the first 200 results. If you get too many hits, try adding more details to narrow things down. For citation number searches, do not use dashes or spaces. Just type the numbers straight through. The system works best when you have at least a partial case number or a full name to search with.
The Broward Clerk's Web2 search portal gives you direct access to court records and case information.
Most electronic court documents in Broward County can be viewed or bought right from the search results. Some documents are free to view and others have a small charge. Documents over 100 pages are not available for online purchase, though. For those, you would need to go to the clerk's office in person or make a mail request.
Note: Broward County court record searches are capped at 200 results per query, so use specific search terms when possible.
Requesting Broward Court Records
If you need official copies of Broward County court records, you have a few options. You can visit the clerk's office in Fort Lauderdale to get copies on the spot. You can also submit a request online or by mail. The Broward Clerk records request page walks you through the steps. For in-person visits, the clerk accepts cash, check, or money order. Online and phone payments take American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.
Here is what Broward County charges for court records services:
- Copy fee: $1.00 per page for court records
- Certification fee: $2.00 per document
- Electronic certified documents: $8.00 each
- Search fee: $2.00 per year, per name
The Broward Clerk's records request page explains the full process for getting copies of court records by mail or online.
Court records requests sent by mail can take up to two weeks in Broward County. If you need something fast, go in person or use the online system. The clerk can also send you electronic certified copies for $8 each, which is quicker than waiting for mail delivery. Under Florida Statute 119.0714, the clerk must keep certain personal details out of the public record. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and other sensitive data get redacted from court records before they are released in Broward County. Anyone filing a document is also responsible for removing confidential info before they submit it.
Broward County Family Court Records
The Broward Clerk Family Division handles divorce, custody, paternity, domestic violence, and other family law cases. Family court records in Broward County follow the same public access rules as other case types, with some extra protections. Cases involving minors, for instance, often have restricted access. Mental health and guardianship files may also be limited in what the public can see.
Family case records in Broward County can be searched through the same Web2 portal used for all other case types. You search by party name or case number, and the results will show the case type so you know which division it falls under. Some family court documents may not show up in the online results if a judge has restricted access. In those situations, you would need to contact the clerk's office to find out what is available for that specific Broward County court record.
Note: Family court records involving minors in Broward County may have restricted public access under Florida law.
Filing Court Records in Broward County
All new court filings in Broward County go through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The state requires electronic filing for most case types. The portal is open around the clock, so you can file court documents in Broward County at any time. Once filed, the clerk processes the document and adds it to the case record. You can track your filing status through the portal as well.
Per Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC 16-14, many public court documents can now be posted online for viewing in Broward County. This includes images of certain filings, orders, and other case documents. Sealed and confidential records stay hidden from public view. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 spells out exactly which court records are open and which are restricted. The rule gives the public a right of access to all judicial branch records unless a specific exemption applies.
The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers association connects all 67 county clerks in the state. You can use their site to find links to any county's court records system. The MyFloridaCounty portal handles online payments for court fees across the state, including Broward County. For statewide appellate court records, ACIS provides free access to case info from all Florida District Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Broward County Official Records
Court records are not the only public documents on file in Broward County. The Broward County Official Records search gives you access to recorded documents like deeds, liens, and other public filings. This is a separate system from the clerk's court records search. If you are looking for a property record or a lien, start with the official records portal. For case filings from a civil or criminal matter, use the clerk's Web2 tool instead.
If you need help with court forms or self-representation in Broward County, the Florida Courts Help center has free guides and approved forms. The Florida Courts main site also has resources on how the court system works, from trial courts all the way up to the Supreme Court. These tools can help you understand court records and the legal process in Broward County without needing to hire a lawyer right away.
Cities in Broward County
All cities in Broward County file court cases through the Broward Clerk of Courts in Fort Lauderdale. Pick a city below to learn more about how to access court records in that area.
Nearby Counties
Broward County shares borders with Miami-Dade County to the south and Palm Beach County to the north. Make sure your case was filed in the right county before you search. Court records from one county will not show up in another county's system.