Search Broward County Court Records Without Missing the Correct Case or Document
Broward County uses one Clerk case-search portal for many Circuit and County Court records, but the search still requires the correct court type, name format or number. A result may show the docket while hiding confidential documents, and an online case page is not an official certified court record.
This guide shows how to search by party name, business, case number or traffic citation; choose the correct division; recover a missing or older record; purchase electronic certification; and avoid confusing court cases with deeds, police reports, criminal-history checks or federal records.
Choose the Record You Need
Start with the task that matches your situation. The correct search route depends on whether you need a case summary, filed document, traffic citation, archive search or another public record.
Search a party name or business inside the appropriate Civil, Criminal, Family, Felony, Probate, Traffic or Misdemeanor category.
Follow the name-search methodA complete case number avoids same-name confusion and opens the case detail more directly.
Use the correct numberUse the red certified-copy button when available or submit a records request for an unavailable, older or lengthy document.
Compare copy routes and feesThe record may be older, restricted, in a different court system or maintained outside the Clerk’s court database.
Troubleshoot the missing recordHow to Search Broward County Court Records by Name
The public portal supports Party Name, Business Name, Case Number and Citation Number searches. A party-name search requires both the last and first name.
- Open the official Public Case Search. Use the Clerk’s domain rather than a commercial background-search or people-finder site.
- Select Party Name. Enter the legal last and first name. Leave the middle name and filing dates blank during the first attempt.
- Choose the Court Type. Start with the most likely category, such as Civil, Family, Felony, Probate, Traffic or Misdemeanor.
- Repeat the name with fewer details. Search without the middle name, then try a middle initial, former surname or common spelling variation.
- Use filing dates only when reliable. A date-range search requires both a From and To date. An incorrect date can remove the correct case.
- Open the case number. Review the complete case detail rather than relying only on the search-result row.
- Refine broad results. Broward limits record searches to the first 200 results. Add the court type, date range or more precise name details when the result list is too large.
- Save the complete case number. Use it for future searches, copy purchases, Archive requests and Clerk calls.
A practical three-pass name search
Enter the last and first name without a middle name or date range.
Try a middle initial, former surname, alternate spelling and punctuation changes.
Repeat the search under another relevant case category when the first search is empty.
Select the Correct Broward Court Type
Broward County is part of Florida’s Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. The local court system includes Circuit and County Court divisions, plus specialized family, probate, juvenile, domestic-violence and treatment-court functions.
Use for felony prosecutions and Circuit Civil disputes, including cases where claimed damages exceed $50,000.
Use for misdemeanor, traffic, small-claims, landlord-tenant and other County Court matters.
Family searches can include dissolution of marriage, custody, support, name changes and related proceedings.
Use the Probate category for estate administration and qualifying guardianship or related matters.
| What you are searching for | Likely court category | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Felony criminal case | Felony | Review the charge, disposition, sentence and later docket activity. |
| Misdemeanor or traffic case | Traffic and Misdemeanor | Use citation search for traffic citations or party name for boating citations. |
| Divorce or family case | Family | Request the final judgment or specific order when official proof is needed. |
| Foreclosure, contract or negligence case | Civil | Confirm whether the case is Circuit Civil or County Civil. |
| Estate or guardianship case | Probate | Sensitive guardianship and mental-health information may be restricted. |
| Domestic-violence injunction | Family or injunction category | Some party details and documents may be confidential or redacted. |
| Marriage license | Separate Marriage Search | A marriage license is not the same record as a divorce case. |
Use the Correct Number: Case, Citation, Uniform Case or Instrument
Different records use different identifiers. Entering an instrument number in the court case portal—or a case number in the deed search—will not locate the intended record.
| Number type | Used for | Correct search route |
|---|---|---|
| Case number | A specific Broward Circuit or County Court case. | Use Case Number Search in the Clerk portal. |
| Uniform Case Number | Florida’s standardized statewide case identifier. | Use the Clerk’s supported number-search or advanced-search tools. |
| Citation number | Traffic citations entered into the Clerk’s case system. | Remove dashes and spaces before using Citation Number Search. |
| Boating citation | Boating-related citation records. | Search by Party Name rather than the traffic citation tool. |
| Instrument number | Deeds, mortgages, liens and recorded official documents. | Use Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury—not the court case portal. |
Confirm That the Broward Case Belongs to the Correct Person
A same-name result is not enough to identify someone. Compare multiple parts of the case before treating it as a match.
Confirm whether the case is Civil, Family, Felony, Probate, Traffic, Misdemeanor or another category.
Check whether the person is listed as plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent or another participant.
Compare the filing year with the incident, notice, marriage, arrest or dispute being researched.
Save the full number and use it to avoid repeating a broad name search.
Confirm the assigned division, especially when looking for hearing procedures or judicial instructions.
Read the later outcome. A charge, petition or complaint is not proof that it was granted or proved.
How to Read a Broward Court Docket
The case-detail page is a docket and document index. It may list filings and events even when the underlying PDF is unavailable online.
| Case field | What it tells you | How to use it safely |
|---|---|---|
| Case style | The displayed names or title of the case. | Do not assume the first listed name is the only relevant party. |
| Case status | Whether the case is open, pending, disposed or otherwise classified. | Read the docket and disposition; “closed” alone does not explain the result. |
| Docket events | Filings, notices, orders, hearings and other activity. | A docket title can be abbreviated and may not describe the entire document. |
| Charges | Original or amended criminal allegations. | Check the disposition before concluding that a conviction occurred. |
| Judgment or final order | The formal outcome in a civil, family, criminal or probate matter. | Request the filed judgment when official proof is required. |
| Document image | A viewable electronic copy of a public filing. | A viewable image is not automatically a certified copy. |
Use the site’s court records glossary when a term such as disposition, docket, judgment, mandate, sealed or expunged is unclear.
Which Broward Documents Can Be Viewed Online?
Florida electronic-access rules restrict some cases, documents and personal information. A case can be publicly searchable even when one or more documents cannot be opened anonymously.
| Record situation | Likely online access | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary public case and document | Often viewable | Open the case detail and select the available document link. |
| Docket entry without an image | Index only | Use Records Request or contact the division holding the case. |
| Document exceeding 100 pages | Not available for online purchase | Use the Records Request process. |
| Automatically confidential information | Restricted | Access depends on Florida law, court rules and your authorized role. |
| Sealed or expunged record | Not publicly viewable | Do not attempt to bypass the restriction; contact the Clerk if you have lawful authority. |
| Juvenile, adoption or sensitive family document | Limited or confidential | Follow the division-specific access procedure. |
What to Do When a Broward Case or Document Is Missing
A blank search can mean the wrong court type, a spelling difference, an unentered traffic citation, an older archived file or a record restricted from anonymous access.
Wrong court type
Repeat the party-name search under another relevant category, such as Felony, Misdemeanor, Family, Probate or Civil.
Name mismatch
Remove the middle name, try a former surname, simplify a business name and test common spelling differences.
More than 200 matches
Add a date range, court type or more precise name detail so the correct result is not cut off by the search limit.
Traffic citation not entered
The issuing agency may not yet have transmitted the citation into the Clerk’s case-management system.
Old record
Use the Archives Division when the case or document is not available electronically.
Restricted record
The document may be sealed, expunged, confidential, juvenile, adoption-related or restricted by court order.
Use this recovery sequence
- Confirm the spelling of the party or business name.
- Remove the middle name and filing dates.
- Select another relevant Court Type.
- Search by complete case number when available.
- For traffic, remove dashes and spaces from the citation number.
- Search boating citations by party name.
- Check whether the record is a marriage license or recorded official document rather than a court case.
- Open the Records Request page when the docket exists but the document image is missing.
- Contact Archives for older records.
- Use the correct appellate or federal system when the case is not a Broward trial-court record.
How to Get Broward Court Documents and Certified Copies
The public portal helps locate a case, while the Clerk’s Records Request and Electronic Certified Documents services provide actual copies.
Buy an eligible electronic certified document
- Perform a Case Search. Locate the correct case and select its case number.
- Open the case detail. Confirm the party names, case number and document title.
- Select the red Purchase Certified Copies Online button. The button appears only when the case and documents support the service.
- Select the documents. Avoid purchasing every filing when one judgment, order or decree will satisfy the receiving organization.
- Complete checkout. The Clerk lists American Express, MasterCard and Visa for this service.
- Download and preserve the certified electronic document. The Clerk states that one purchased electronic document can be reused and does not expire.
| Service | Published fee or limit | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic certified court document | $8 per eligible document | Delivered after the order and card payment are processed. |
| Document over 100 pages | Not available for online purchase | Submit a Records Request instead. |
| Photocopy of public court record | Generally $1 per page | Applies to paper-copy services listed by Clerk divisions. |
| Certification of filed document | Generally $2 | Added when the Clerk certifies the public or official document. |
| Record search | Generally $2 per year searched | May apply when Clerk staff must perform a manual search. |
Request the correct document
| Your goal | Document to request | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Prove a divorce | Final judgment of dissolution | Purchasing only the docket or marriage-license record. |
| Show a criminal outcome | Judgment, sentence, dismissal or disposition document | Relying only on the original charge. |
| Prove an eviction result | Final judgment, writ or relevant order | Requesting every landlord-tenant filing. |
| Prove authority in an estate | Letters, order or certified probate document | Requesting only the case summary. |
| Review the complete timeline | Docket or progress record plus selected filings | Assuming the docket contains the full text of each filing. |
Use the site’s court record types guide to compare a docket, judgment, order, certified copy and case file before purchasing.
How to Request Older Broward Court Records
Use the Archives Division when an older case or document cannot be located or viewed electronically.
Prepare the Archive search information
- Complete case number, when known
- Defendant’s name or all known party names
- Date of birth, when relevant
- Year of arrest, filing or death
- Type of case or arrest
- Exact list of requested documents
Broward Clerk general information: 954-831-6565
Broward Courthouse Locations and Visit Planning
The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit lists one Central Judicial Complex and three regional courthouses. Building hours and individual Clerk-counter hours are not always identical, so check the division page before travelling.
201 SE 6th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
1600 West Hillsboro Boulevard
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
100 North Pine Island Road
Plantation, FL 33324
3550 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, FL 33021
Before you go
- Save the full case number.
- Confirm the division holding the case.
- Write down the room number.
- Check the court-holiday schedule.
- Confirm payment methods.
- Bring photo identification when the requested service requires it.
- Call ahead for archived or lengthy files.
- Review courthouse security and electronic-device rules.
Useful Broward Tools Beyond a Basic Case Search
| Tool | What it does | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| eTrack | Tracks Civil, Family, Probate, Felony, Traffic and Misdemeanor cases. | Use after finding a case when you want updates rather than repeatedly searching manually. |
| Judicial directory | Lists judges, divisions, courtrooms, chambers and judicial-assistant information. | Use for division procedures and judicial contact information—not Clerk document requests. |
| Self Help and Law Library | Provides public legal information, forms and research assistance. | Useful for family, landlord-tenant, probate and other self-represented matters. |
| Marriage License Search | Searches Broward marriage-license applications by spouse name, date or license number. | Use for a marriage record—not a divorce judgment. |
Self Help Equal Access Center and Law Library
Broward County Courthouse, North Wing
Room 1800, First Floor
201 SE 6th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: 954-831-6226
The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit lists public Law Library access from 7:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and virtual forms assistance through 3:30 p.m., excluding court holidays. Check the current page before visiting.
Use a Different Agency for These Broward Records
| Record needed | Why the court search is not enough | Better route |
|---|---|---|
| Deed, mortgage or recorded lien | These are official recorded documents rather than court-case files. | Use Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury. |
| Property ownership information | Property-appraiser records are separate from court litigation. | Use the Broward County Property Appraiser. |
| Police report or arrest report | Law-enforcement records are maintained by the investigating agency. | Contact the responsible police department or Broward Sheriff’s Office. |
| Florida criminal-history check | A court-name search is not a statewide fingerprint or criminal-history report. | Use the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. |
| Birth or death certificate | These are vital records, not court records. | Use the Florida Department of Health or appropriate vital-record office. |
| Bankruptcy case | Bankruptcy is a federal court matter. | Use PACER and the appropriate federal bankruptcy court. |
Appeals and Federal Cases Use Different Systems
Florida appellate cases
Appeals from Broward County trial courts generally proceed through Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal. Use the appellate court’s docket and opinion tools when you need the appellate case, briefs, orders, opinion or mandate.
Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal
110 South Tamarind Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 561-242-2000
Federal cases
Broward County is within the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Federal civil and criminal cases are not part of the Broward Clerk’s state court database.
United States District Court — Fort Lauderdale
Federal Building and Courthouse
299 East Broward Boulevard, Room 108
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Case information: 954-769-5400
Avoid Court, Citation and Toll-Payment Scams
Scammers can imitate Clerk or government notices and pressure recipients to pay immediately through an unfamiliar link, QR code, gift card, cryptocurrency or wire transfer.
Verify a payment request safely
- Do not use the link inside the text message or email.
- Open the Broward Clerk website manually.
- Search the case or citation yourself.
- Confirm the amount through the official case detail.
- Call the Clerk at 954-831-6565 when the notice and case record do not match.
- Do not pay anyone claiming they can secretly remove, seal or erase a case without a lawful court process.
Use Broward Court Information Carefully
A case result may involve a different person with the same name. A criminal charge is not a conviction, and a civil complaint is not proof that the court accepted the allegations.
- Confirm identity using more than a name.
- Read the latest disposition and docket events.
- Check for dismissal, amendment, appeal, satisfaction or rehearing.
- Verify hearing dates with the Clerk or judicial division.
- Obtain an official copy when a decision depends on the record.
- Do not use this website as a consumer-reporting or background-screening service.
- Do not harass, threaten or publicly shame a person based on an unverified result.
Read the site’s FCRA and consumer-reporting notice before using public-record information in employment, housing, credit, insurance or another eligibility decision.
Frequently Asked Questions About Broward County Court Records
Can I search Broward County court records by name for free?
Yes. The Broward Clerk provides a free Public Case Search for party names, businesses, case numbers and eligible traffic citations. Charges may apply when purchasing copies, certification or staff-performed record searches.
Why does Broward Case Search require both a first and last name?
Both fields are required for Party Name Search. Begin without a middle name or date range, then add details only when the result list is too broad.
Why can I see a docket entry but not open the document?
The filing may not have an online image, may exceed the online-purchase limit, may be confidential or may require a Records Request. A missing image does not automatically mean the whole case is sealed.
How do I search a Broward traffic citation?
Use Citation Number Search and enter the number without dashes or spaces. The citation will not appear until it has been entered into the Clerk’s case-management system. Search boating citations by party name.
How much is an electronic certified Broward court document?
The Clerk currently lists a cost of $8 per eligible electronic certified court document. Documents exceeding 100 pages are not available for online purchase and require another request route.
Where do I search a Broward divorce record?
Use the Family court type in Public Case Search. When official proof is required, purchase or request the final judgment of dissolution rather than relying on the docket summary.
Are Broward marriage licenses included in the court case search?
Marriage licenses have a separate search. A marriage-license record proves that a license was issued or recorded; it is not the same as a divorce judgment or family-court case.
How do I find an older Broward felony record?
Search the Felony court type first. The Clerk states that felony court records filed on or after January 6, 2014 have electronic documents online, with some earlier cases also containing images. Use Archives when the older record or document is unavailable.
Does the Broward court search include federal cases?
No. Federal cases use PACER and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. State appeals generally use Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal.
Is information in Broward Public Case Search an official court record?
No. The Clerk states that website information should not be relied upon as the official court record or for legal action. Obtain an official copy from the Clerk division in which the case is filed.
How This Broward County Guide Was Verified
- Broward Clerk — Public Case Search
- Broward Clerk — Records Request
- Broward Clerk — Electronic Certified Documents
- Broward Clerk — Fees and Costs
- Broward Clerk — Archives
- Broward Clerk — Hours and Locations
- Seventeenth Judicial Circuit — Court Divisions
- Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal
- Southern District of Florida — Fort Lauderdale
Read the site’s source verification and manual checking policy for information about official-source selection, updates and corrections.
Search fields, court divisions, document restrictions, copy fees, archive procedures, courthouse locations, appellate routing, federal jurisdiction and scam warnings were reviewed against current official sources.
Court portals, fees, office hours and electronic-access rules can change. The current Broward Clerk or record-holding court source controls when its instructions differ from this guide.