Search Broward County court records online in 2026 using the official Broward Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts public case search. This guide explains criminal, civil, family, divorce, probate, guardianship, traffic, misdemeanor, felony, official records, certified copies, electronic certified documents, appellate ACIS records and federal PACER access.
Need Broward County Court Records Right Now?
Start with the official Broward County Clerk of Courts Case Search. The public search page supports party name, business name, case number and citation search across court types such as civil, family, felony, probate, traffic and misdemeanor. For certified copies, use the Clerk’s records request or electronic certified documents service.
Broward County Court Records Overview
Broward County court records are official case records created in the Circuit and County Courts of Broward County, Florida. These records may include case numbers, party names, filing dates, charges, complaints, petitions, motions, orders, judgments, hearing dates, traffic citations, probate filings, family case events and public docket information.
The main official source is the Broward County Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts. The Clerk’s website provides public case search, records request options, e-certified documents, traffic and misdemeanor information, family case information, probate guidance and courthouse service details. For appellate cases, use Florida ACIS. For federal cases, use PACER.
Broward County public court records: what is usually searchable?
| Record Type | Best Official Starting Point | What You May Find |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal and felony records | Broward Clerk Case Search / Felony Division | Case number, charges, hearing dates, docket events and public documents where available |
| Traffic and misdemeanor records | Traffic and Misdemeanor Division | Citations, fine options, misdemeanor case details and payment guidance |
| Civil court records | Broward Clerk Case Search | Lawsuits, evictions, small claims, judgments, docket events and filings |
| Family and divorce records | Family Division / Official Records | Dissolution cases, family docket entries and final judgment copy guidance |
| Probate and guardianship records | Probate and Guardianship Division | Estate cases, guardianship cases, filings, orders and court instructions |
| Official recorded documents | Broward County Official Records | Recorded instruments, deeds, liens and official-record documents |
| Appeals | Florida ACIS | Florida appellate dockets and available appellate documents |
| Federal cases | PACER | Federal district, bankruptcy and appellate court records |
Where to Search Broward County Court Records by Case Type
Broward County case search is easier when you know the case type. A felony case, misdemeanor case, civil lawsuit, divorce, probate matter, traffic ticket and federal case do not always use the same workflow.
Broward County court records search by user intent
| If You Search For | Use This Source | Micro Step |
|---|---|---|
| Broward County criminal case search | Broward Clerk Case Search | Search by defendant name or case number and choose the correct criminal court type. |
| Broward County felony records | Felony Division / Case Search | Use case number or defendant name and verify documents through the Clerk. |
| Broward County misdemeanor records | Traffic and Misdemeanor Division | Search by party, case number or citation where available. |
| Broward County civil court records | Broward Clerk Case Search | Search by party name, business name, case number or filing date range. |
| Broward County divorce records | Family Division / Official Records | Search family case records and follow official-record instructions for final judgment copies. |
| Broward County probate records | Probate and Guardianship Division | Search by case number, decedent name, estate name or party name. |
| Broward County traffic ticket lookup | Traffic Division / PayFLClerk | Use citation number and county listed on the ticket. |
| Broward County federal case search | PACER / Southern District of Florida | Use PACER for federal civil, criminal and bankruptcy records. |
Official Broward Clerk Case Search
The Broward Clerk public case search is the main starting point for many Broward County court records. It supports party name search, business name search, case number search and citation search. The search page also warns that broad searches can be limited, so you should refine by court type and filing date when possible.
How to use Broward County public case search
- Open the official public case search Go to Broward Clerk Case Search.
- Choose the correct search type Use case number, party name, business name or citation number depending on what you have.
- Select a court type if possible Choose civil, family, felony, probate, traffic and misdemeanor, or another available court type to reduce wrong matches.
- Use filing date range for broad searches If the system asks for Date From and Date To, enter the correct format and narrow the date range.
- Review the docket carefully Check case status, parties, court division, filing date, hearings, docket entries and document availability.
Broward County Case Number Lookup
A case number search is the cleanest way to find Broward County court records. Case numbers appear on citations, summons, complaints, petitions, orders, judgments, notices, e-filing confirmations, payment notices and clerk paperwork.
How to search Broward County court records by case number
- Copy the full case number exactly Include all letters, digits, dashes and leading zeros. A missing character can return no result.
- Open Broward Clerk public case search Use the official search page, not a private lookup page.
- Select case number search Enter the case number in the correct format and choose court type if the system asks.
- Check the docket and case summary Review case events, filings, hearing dates, judgments, disposition and public document links.
- Save details for copies Write down the exact document title, filing date and case number before ordering certified copies.
Broward County Court Records by Name Search
Name search is helpful when you do not know the case number. Broward’s public case search supports party name and business name search, but you must verify the result before relying on it. A name-only match can be wrong, especially for common names.
Broward County court case search by name: micro steps
- Search legal last name and first name Start with the full legal name, then try middle initial if too many results appear.
- Try spelling variations Use maiden name, former name, hyphenated name, nickname, initials, business name and punctuation variations.
- Choose a court type Narrow to criminal, civil, family, probate, traffic or misdemeanor if you know the case type.
- Use filing date range A date range helps reduce irrelevant results and avoids broad-search limits.
- Verify identity carefully Check party role, court type, filing date, attorney name, case events and date of birth if shown.
Broward County Criminal, Felony and Misdemeanor Records
Broward County criminal court records may include felony cases, misdemeanor cases, criminal traffic matters, charges, docket entries, hearing dates, plea entries, dispositions, sentencing entries, bond-related events and public court documents where available. Felony records and misdemeanor records may appear under different court types in the Clerk system.
Broward County felony records search
The Broward Clerk felony division states that criminal felony case information can be obtained online, by phone or in person. Criminal court records filed on or after January 6, 2014 may have electronic documents available for online viewing, and some older cases may also have images available.
- Open the official case search Use the Broward Clerk public case search.
- Select felony or criminal court type Choose the court type that matches the case.
- Search by defendant name or case number Case number is best. Use name search carefully and verify identity.
- Review the criminal docket Look for charges, hearings, disposition, plea, sentence, probation, warrant-related events and public documents.
- Request certified disposition if needed For immigration, licensing, school, employment or legal use, request a certified disposition or certified copy from the Clerk.
Broward County misdemeanor records and older traffic/misdemeanor cases
Traffic and misdemeanor records may require extra care. The Clerk records request page notes that traffic and misdemeanor cases filed prior to 2011 were routinely purged from the main system and can only be obtained by submitting a court records request or by in-person request.
Broward County Civil Court Records and Lawsuits
Broward County civil court records include lawsuits, small claims, county civil matters, circuit civil matters, eviction actions, debt cases, contract disputes, business disputes, personal injury cases, foreclosure matters, judgments and related public docket entries.
Broward County civil case lookup by search intent
| Search Query | Likely Record Type | Where to Search |
|---|---|---|
| Broward County civil court records | Circuit civil or county civil | Broward Clerk Case Search |
| Broward County lawsuit search | Civil case involving person or company | Party name or business name search |
| Broward County eviction records | Landlord-tenant / county civil | Civil case search by party, address details if available, or case number |
| Broward County small claims records | Small claims / county civil | Civil court type search |
| Broward County foreclosure records | Circuit civil / foreclosure | Civil case search plus official records when recorded documents matter |
| Broward County judgment search | Civil judgment / recorded judgment | Court case search and official records search |
- Search by case number if available Civil cases can have many parties and business names, so case number is best.
- Use business name variations Try legal company name, DBA, abbreviation, punctuation changes and registered agent name.
- Check docket and document images Look for complaint, answer, service, motion, hearing, order, judgment and satisfaction entries.
- Use official records for recorded documents If the matter involves property, liens or recorded judgments, also check Broward County Official Records.
Broward County Family Court and Divorce Records
Broward County family court records may include divorce, child support, time-sharing, paternity, name change, domestic violence-related matters and other family filings. Some docket information may be public, but sensitive documents and information can be restricted.
How to find Broward County divorce records
- Start with Broward Clerk case search Choose family court type and search by case number or party name.
- Use both spouse names if needed Try petitioner name, respondent name, maiden name, former name and spelling variations.
- Look for final judgment details The docket may show final judgment activity, but the actual document may require an official copy request.
- Check Official Records for book and page details The Family Division notes that copies of final judgments of dissolution of marriage filed in Broward County are available from the Records Division, and the Official Records book and page number may be found through online official records search.
- Request certified copies if needed For name change, immigration, Social Security, remarriage, banking, school or legal proof, request a certified copy from the Clerk.
Broward County Probate and Guardianship Records
Broward County probate and guardianship records may include estate administration, wills, guardianship, determinations of incapacity, letters of administration, petitions, inventories, orders and related court filings. Probate and guardianship information is handled through the Broward Clerk’s Probate and Guardianship Division.
How to search Broward County probate records
- Open Broward Clerk case search Choose probate court type if available.
- Search by decedent, estate or case number Try full legal name, middle initial, death year, estate name and case number.
- Review docket and parties Check petitioner, personal representative, guardian, attorney, orders and hearing dates.
- Follow Probate Division instructions The Probate and Guardianship Division provides instructions for formal administration, caveats, wills and related filings.
- Request certified probate copies when needed Banks, title companies, out-of-state courts and real estate transactions often require certified probate copies.
Broward County Traffic Ticket and Citation Search
Broward County traffic citations may be searched through the Clerk’s traffic and misdemeanor resources, PayItBrowardClerk or PayFLClerk routing. The best search key is usually the citation number printed on the ticket.
How to search or pay a Broward County traffic ticket
- Read the citation first Check citation number, county, issuing agency, court deadline and payment instructions.
- Use the official Clerk traffic page Go to Broward Clerk Traffic and Misdemeanor.
- Use PayItBrowardClerk or PayFLClerk if paying online Use PayItBrowardClerk or PayFLClerk as appropriate.
- Review options before paying Check whether you want to contest, elect driver improvement school, request a hearing, pay, or seek another option.
- Save confirmation details Keep receipts, confirmation numbers and court emails.
Broward Official Records vs Broward Court Records
Broward County court records and Broward County Official Records are related but not the same thing. Court records show case activity in court. Official Records show recorded documents such as deeds, liens, judgments, mortgages, releases and other recorded instruments.
When to use Broward Official Records Search
| Need | Use Official Records? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded deed or mortgage | Yes | These are recorded land/official-record documents. |
| Recorded lien or release | Yes | Liens and releases may appear in Official Records. |
| Divorce final judgment book/page reference | Often useful | The Family Division points users to Official Records for book and page details. |
| Case docket and hearings | No, use court case search | Docket events belong in Clerk court case search. |
| Certified court document | Use Clerk record request | The official copy process depends on document type and division. |
Use Broward County Official Records Search for recorded documents, and use Broward Clerk Case Search for court case records.
Certified Copies and E-Certified Court Documents
Online docket information is useful for research, but official use usually requires a plain copy, certified copy or electronic certified document. Broward Clerk records request instructions list copy, certification and search fees, and the Clerk also offers electronic certified court documents through its website.
Broward County court record copy fees and options
| Copy Type | Common Use | Official Fee Note |
|---|---|---|
| Plain court document copy | Personal review or informal reference | Copy fee listed as $1.00 per court document page |
| Certified court document | Official proof for agencies, court filing or legal use | Certification fee listed as $2.00 per court document |
| Search by Clerk staff | When case details are incomplete | Search fee listed as $2.00 to search case per year |
| Electronic certified document | Digital certified record with tamper-proof features | Available through Broward Clerk electronic certified documents service |
| Older or archived record | Old criminal, traffic, misdemeanor or archived cases | May require records request and processing time |
How to request Broward County certified court records
- Find the case details first Use the public case search to find case number, party names, court type, filing date and document title.
- Choose regular copy or e-certified document Use Records Request for court documents or Electronic Certified Documents if the document is available electronically.
- Ask clearly for certified copies Use the word “certified” if an agency needs official proof.
- List exact document names Examples include final judgment, disposition, order, sentence, petition, complaint, docket sheet or probate order.
- Verify payment and delivery method Payment methods and in-person ID rules can depend on the request type.
Sealed, Confidential and Restricted Broward County Records
Not every Broward County court record is fully public online. Florida court access rules, statutes, court orders and privacy protections may restrict juvenile, adoption, dependency, sealed, expunged, victim-related, medical, mental health, financial, protected-address and child-related records.
Broward County records that may be limited online
- Juvenile delinquency records with restricted access
- Juvenile dependency and adoption records with attorney or registered-user access limits
- Sealed or expunged criminal records
- Domestic violence and protected address information
- Social Security, financial account and identity data
- Medical, mental health or substance-treatment information
- Confidential family and child-related documents
- Documents sealed by court order
Florida E-Filing and Broward Court Filing
The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is used to file documents electronically into Florida court cases. It is not the same as a simple public search page. For searching Broward County court records, use the Broward Clerk case search. For filing court documents, use the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal when the rules require electronic filing.
Use the correct system
| System | Use It For | Do Not Confuse It With |
|---|---|---|
| Broward Clerk Case Search | Public case lookup by name, case number, business name or citation | The statewide filing portal |
| Florida Courts E-Filing Portal | Submitting pleadings, motions and court documents electronically | A county public case-search page |
| Florida ACIS | Appellate docket search for Florida Supreme Court and DCAs | Broward County trial court search |
| PACER | Federal court dockets and documents | State or county court records |
Appeals and Federal Records for Broward County Cases
Broward County is in Florida’s Seventeenth Judicial Circuit for trial court matters. Appeals from Broward trial courts may be searched through Florida appellate systems when a case reaches the appellate court. Federal cases are separate and must be searched through PACER.
Where to search appeals and federal cases
| Record Type | Official Source | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Florida appellate case | Florida ACIS | Florida Supreme Court and District Court of Appeal dockets |
| 17th Judicial Circuit information | 17th Judicial Circuit | Judges, court divisions, locations and circuit information |
| Federal district case | Southern District of Florida records | Federal court records and clerk guidance |
| Federal docket/document access | PACER | Federal filings, docket reports, judgments and bankruptcy documents |
- Check whether the case is state or federal State trial cases use Broward Clerk resources. Federal cases use PACER.
- Use the trial court case number first Appeals often reference the lower tribunal case number.
- Search ACIS for appellate records Use party name, appellate case number or lower tribunal details.
- Use PACER for federal records Federal civil, criminal, bankruptcy and appellate records are not Broward Clerk trial-court records.
Broward County Court Location and Map
The main Broward County courthouse complex is in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Different divisions may be in different buildings or rooms, so verify the correct division before visiting.
Broward County Courthouse
201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Official Clerk site: BrowardClerk.org
Case search: Public Case Search
Hours and locations: Broward Clerk Hours and Locations
Broward County useful official links
| Need | Official Page |
|---|---|
| Search Broward court cases | Broward Clerk Case Search |
| Request court records | Records Request |
| Buy electronic certified documents | Electronic Certified Documents |
| Traffic and misdemeanor help | Traffic and Misdemeanor |
| Family court information | Family Division |
| Probate and guardianship | Probate and Guardianship |
| Official recorded documents | Broward Official Records |
| Florida appellate records | Florida ACIS |
Practical Search Tips for Broward County Court Records
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Broward County court records online for free?
Use the official Broward Clerk public case search at BrowardClerk.org. You can search by case number, party name, business name or citation number. Case number search is usually the most accurate.
What is the official Broward County court records website?
The official website is BrowardClerk.org, operated by the Broward County Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts. The public case search page is the main starting point for court records.
Can I search Broward County court records by name?
Yes. The Broward Clerk public case search supports party name and business name search. Use court type and filing date filters where possible, and verify identity carefully before relying on a result.
How do I search Broward County criminal court records?
Use the Broward Clerk case search and choose the correct criminal court type such as felony, traffic or misdemeanor. Search by case number or defendant name, then verify the docket and disposition.
How do I find Broward County felony records?
Use the Broward Clerk Felony Division information and public case search. Criminal felony case information may be obtained online, by phone or in person, depending on record availability and case age.
How do I search Broward County civil court records?
Open Broward Clerk case search, choose civil court type, and search by case number, party name, business name or filing date range. Review docket entries, orders, judgments and document availability.
How do I find Broward County divorce records?
Search family court records through Broward Clerk case search. For final judgment copies, follow the Clerk’s Family Division and Records Division instructions, because some images are not available online.
Are Broward County divorce records available online?
Some case information may be searchable online, but the Family Division notes that images of certain dissolution documents filed after 2002 are not available online. You may need a records request for copies.
How do I search Broward County probate records?
Use Broward Clerk case search and select probate if available. You can also use the Probate and Guardianship Division page for instructions about estates, guardianships, wills and related filings.
How do I pay or search a Broward County traffic ticket?
Use the Broward Clerk Traffic and Misdemeanor page, PayItBrowardClerk or PayFLClerk. Search by citation number and review options before paying because payment can affect rights and traffic-school choices.
How do I get certified copies of Broward County court records?
Use Broward Clerk Records Request or Electronic Certified Documents. Copy fee, certification fee and search fee may apply depending on document type, number of pages and request method.
What are Broward County court record copy fees?
The Broward Clerk records request page lists $1.00 per court document page, $2.00 certification fee per court document, and $2.00 search fee to search a case per year. Always verify current fees before ordering.
What is a Broward electronic certified document?
It is a digital certified court document purchased through the Clerk’s website. The Clerk explains that electronic certified documents include encrypted tamper-proof features and a unique digital signature.
Why can’t I find a Broward County court record online?
The case may be sealed, confidential, restricted, too old for online display, filed under another name, filed in another county, available only by records request, or handled by federal court.
Are Broward County juvenile records public?
Juvenile delinquency, juvenile dependency and adoption records are generally restricted. Access may require attorney of record or registered-user access depending on case type and court rules.
What is the difference between Broward Official Records and court records?
Court records show case activity such as filings, orders and hearings. Official Records show recorded documents such as deeds, liens, mortgages, releases and other recorded instruments.
How do I search Broward County appellate records?
Use Florida ACIS for Florida Supreme Court and District Court of Appeal case records. Trial court records remain with Broward Clerk case search.
How do I search Broward County federal court records?
Use PACER for federal court records. Federal cases are not searched through Broward Clerk trial-court case search. Broward federal matters commonly route through the Southern District of Florida.
Final Summary
For broward county court records, start with the official Broward Clerk public case search. Use case number search first when possible, then try party name, business name or citation search. Narrow by court type and filing date range to avoid broad search limits and wrong matches.
The safest search order is simple: use BrowardClerk.org, identify the court type, verify the docket, check privacy limits, use Official Records only when recorded documents matter, and request certified or electronic certified copies when you need official proof. For appeals use ACIS, and for federal cases use PACER.