Search Court Records by Name
Enter first name, last name, and state to prepare a court records search.
Search Florida Court Records Without Choosing the Wrong System
Florida court records are usually searched by county, not through one statewide trial-court database. Start with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in the county where the case was filed. Use ACIS for Florida appellate cases, PayFLClerk or the county clerk for traffic tickets, FDLE for statewide Florida criminal history, and PACER for federal records.
This refreshed guide explains how to search by name, case number, county, circuit court, traffic citation, appellate docket, public-record type, and official-copy need so you can avoid fake lookup pages, wrong counties, and incomplete results.
Quick answer: For most Florida court records, first identify the county. Then use that county clerk’s official case-search portal. If the case is a Florida Supreme Court or District Court of Appeal case, use ACIS. If it is a federal case, bankruptcy case, or federal appeal, use PACER. If the user intent is “Florida criminal history,” use FDLE instead of a court docket search. A county court record can show case activity, but it is not the same as a statewide background check.
Who Should Use This Florida Court Records Search Guide?
This page is designed for real search tasks. Use it when you need the correct government route, not a broad private public-records result.
👤 Name-search users
Use this if you know a person or business name but not the case number or county.
⚖️ Case parties
Use this if you need docket entries, orders, hearing dates, dispositions, judgments, or copies.
🚗 Ticket users
Use this if you need a Florida traffic citation, payment route, county ticket page, or traffic-school reminder.
🏠 Property users
Use this if you need deeds, mortgages, liens, recorded judgments, plats, or official-record searches.
👪 Family/probate users
Use this if divorce, probate, guardianship, adoption, juvenile, or mental-health records appear limited online.
🧓 Senior-friendly help
Use this before calling, visiting, paying, ordering certified copies, or trying a broad name search.
Where to Search Florida Court Records by Case Type
The best Florida court case search starts with the record type. A trial-court case, appellate docket, traffic ticket, official record, statewide criminal history, and federal case are different searches.
Most trial-court records: civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims, county civil, traffic.
Florida Supreme Court and District Court of Appeal dockets and available documents.
Statewide traffic-ticket payment route after selecting the ticketing county.
Federal district, bankruptcy, and appellate case records.
| If you need | Start here | Search by | Important caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida trial court records | County clerk where the case was filed | Case number, party name, business name, attorney, citation, filing date, or case type. | Florida does not provide one complete free statewide search for every county trial-court case. |
| FL circuit court case search | County clerk case-search portal | Felony, circuit civil, family, probate, guardianship, juvenile, or appellate-from-county case number. | A judicial circuit is not always the search portal. The clerk usually maintains the records. |
| Florida county court case search | County clerk | County civil, small claims, misdemeanor, traffic, citation, or landlord-tenant details. | County court is not the same as county government public records. |
| Florida appellate docket search | ACIS | Court, appellate case number, case title, category, filed date, or originating case number. | ACIS is for Florida appellate courts, not every county trial-court docket. |
| Florida traffic citation payment | PayFLClerk or county clerk traffic page | County, citation number, driver details, or ticket information. | Review hearing, school, compliance, or contest options before paying. |
| Florida criminal history record | FDLE criminal history search | Name-based criminal history details required by FDLE. | A court docket is not a statewide criminal-history background check. |
| Florida federal court records | PACER | Federal case number, party, court, attorney, or date. | County clerk portals do not show federal district, bankruptcy, or federal appellate records. |
Florida Court Records Search by Name: Safer Step-by-Step Method
A Florida court records search by name is helpful when you do not know the case number. It is also the easiest way to get a false match. Search county-first, then verify identity through the case details.
Use the county where the arrest occurred, lawsuit was filed, divorce was opened, ticket was issued, probate estate was started, or business dispute was filed.
Look for “Court Records,” “Case Search,” “Online Services,” “Public Access,” “Clerk Case Search,” or “Records Search.”
Try full legal name, last name only, middle initial, maiden name, former name, hyphenated name, nickname, and business suffix variations.
Add case type, court type, filing year, date range, attorney, citation number, or party role if the portal supports those fields.
Compare county, filing date, case type, party role, attorney, docket events, disposition, and date of birth if visible.
Florida Court Case Search by Case Number
A case number search is usually more reliable than a name search. If you have a court notice, citation, complaint, summons, eFiling notice, judgment, final order, or attorney email, copy the case number exactly and search in the correct county.
Where case numbers appear
- traffic citation or ticket
- criminal notice or court date notice
- civil complaint or summons
- family law filing or final judgment
- probate notice or estate paperwork
- eFiling confirmation
- attorney or clerk email
After you find the case
- check the county and court division
- match the case style and parties
- review filing date and case status
- read docket entries and hearing dates
- check whether document images are available
- write down document titles before ordering copies
FL Circuit Court Case Search: What Circuit Court Means in Florida
Florida’s state court system includes the Supreme Court, six District Courts of Appeal, 20 circuit courts, and 67 county courts. Circuit courts handle many felony, high-value civil, family, probate, guardianship, juvenile, and county-court appeal matters. County courts handle many misdemeanor, small claims, county civil, traffic, and landlord-tenant matters.
| Court level | Common case types | Best search route |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | Felony, circuit civil, family, probate, guardianship, juvenile, appeals from county court. | County clerk portal in the county where the case was filed. |
| County Court | Misdemeanor, traffic, small claims, landlord-tenant, county civil. | County clerk portal or county traffic/civil search. |
| District Court of Appeal | Appeals from trial courts and certain other appellate matters. | ACIS appellate case search. |
| Florida Supreme Court | Supreme Court dockets, high-court matters, and available appellate filings. | ACIS and Florida Supreme Court resources. |
Florida County Court Case Search Examples: Miami-Dade, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Leon and Gadsden
Suggested searches like “miami-dade county fl court records search,” “fl pinellas case search,” “hillsborough county court records,” “leon county court case search,” and “gadsden county court records search” all mean the same practical thing: use the correct local clerk or local circuit resource, not a random statewide lookup page.
| Search intent | Official starting point | Micro-help before you search |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County FL court records search | Miami-Dade Clerk Records | Miami-Dade separates civil/family/probate, criminal, official records, parking, traffic, certified copies, and advanced-access options. |
| FL Pinellas case search | Pinellas Clerk Case Records | Use case number first when possible. Use separate Pinellas Official Records for deeds, liens, mortgages, marriage records, and recorded instruments. |
| Hillsborough County court records | Hillsborough HOVER | Hillsborough’s HOVER route supports court-record viewing and links from the Clerk’s official records/report resources. |
| Leon County court case search | Leon County Clerk | Leon separates court records from official records such as judgments, deeds, liens, marriage licenses, mortgages, plats, and tax deeds. |
| Gadsden County court records search | Second Judicial Circuit – Gadsden County | Gadsden is in Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit. Verify the Clerk/courthouse route before visiting, paying, or ordering copies. |
FL Public Records Search vs Florida Court Records Search
A Florida public records search can mean many different records. Court cases are only one category. Official records, deeds, liens, mortgages, marriage licenses, property records, tax deeds, criminal history, sheriff reports, and court dockets may live in separate systems.
| If you need | Usually search here | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Court docket or case filing | County clerk court-record portal | Shows case activity, parties, events, hearings, filings, and available images. |
| Deed, mortgage, lien, marriage license, recorded judgment | County clerk Official Records / recording search | These are recorded instruments, not always ordinary case dockets. |
| Florida statewide criminal history | FDLE Criminal History | FDLE search is a criminal-history product, separate from county case dockets. |
| Traffic citation payment | PayFLClerk or county traffic page | Traffic deadlines and options depend on the citation and county. |
| Federal case | PACER | Federal district, bankruptcy, and federal appeal records are not county clerk records. |
Florida Access Security Matrix: Why Some Court Records Are Not Fully Online
Florida’s Standards for Access to Electronic Court Records explain that access to electronic court records depends on the access method, user role, case type, statutes, court rules, and administrative policy. The Access Security Matrix sets user groups, access levels, and case-type permissions.
🔎 Anonymous public users
May see public docket information in many county systems, but not all document images or sensitive case types.
🧑⚖️ Attorneys and parties
May have different access through county systems, e-filing links, or approved user agreements.
🏛 Agencies and officials
Authorized agencies may have role-based access, but policies must protect confidential records and limit use to official duties.
| What you see online | Likely reason | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Case appears but images are missing | Document image may be restricted, not attached, under review, paper-only, or limited by user role. | Call the county clerk with the case number and document title. |
| Family, probate, guardianship, or juvenile result is limited | Sensitive case type may have role-based online access limits. | Ask the clerk what proof of party, attorney, guardian, or agency role is required. |
| Sealed or expunged record is missing | Sealed or expunged records are not treated like ordinary public online records. | Do not assume no case existed; verify through proper legal channels. |
| Older case cannot be found | Older records may be archived, microfilm, paper, or indexed differently. | Contact the clerk with names, year range, case type, and county. |
Florida Traffic Citation Search and PayFLClerk
For Florida traffic citations, use the county listed on the citation. PayFLClerk is a statewide traffic-ticket payment route that asks you to select the ticketing county. Many counties also provide their own traffic and citation lookup systems.
The citation usually shows the county that controls the clerk payment route and local traffic options.
Citation search is usually cleaner than name search for traffic tickets.
Payment may affect hearing, contest, compliance, points, or traffic-school choices.
Keep the confirmation number, date, amount, citation number, county, and email receipt until the record updates.
Florida E-Filing Portal: Useful for Filing, Not a General Public Case Search
The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal lets registered users file court documents electronically. It is not the same as a public case-search portal for everyone else’s cases. The Portal FAQ says users cannot search cases that are not theirs through the Portal and should visit the clerk website for the county where the case resides.
Use the E-Filing Portal for
- filing court documents
- uploading pleadings
- submitting filings in batches
- paying filing fees where applicable
- checking your own submissions
Do not use it for
- public name searches
- searching unrelated people’s cases
- statewide trial-court lookup
- background checks
- official records like deeds or mortgages
How to Get Certified Copies of Florida Court Records
A screenshot or online docket printout may be useful for personal reference, but official proof often requires a certified copy from the clerk where the case was filed. County clerk copy rules, fees, payment methods, electronic certification options, and mailing processes can vary.
Prepare before requesting
- county where the case was filed
- case number
- party names or business name
- document title
- filing or docket event date
- plain copy vs certified copy requirement
- electronic vs paper certification need
Ask the receiving agency
Before paying, ask whether the agency accepts an electronically certified copy or requires a paper certified copy. Title companies, employers, licensing boards, immigration offices, banks, courts, and attorneys may have strict requirements.
Florida Criminal Court Records vs FDLE Criminal History Search
A Florida criminal court record shows court activity in a specific county case. A Florida criminal history search is different. FDLE is the source to check when a school, employer, licensing board, agency, or attorney asks for a Florida criminal history record rather than a county docket.
| Need | Use | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Court docket for a county criminal case | County clerk court-record search | Shows charges, filings, events, hearings, disposition, sentence entries, and images where available. |
| Statewide Florida criminal history | FDLE criminal history search | Name-based Florida criminal history record search, separate from county dockets. |
| National criminal history | FBI or authorized fingerprint-based process | Used for certain employment, licensing, immigration, security, or agency requirements. |
Florida Federal Court Records: When PACER Is the Correct Tool
Florida federal court records are not kept in county clerk trial-court portals. Use PACER for federal district, bankruptcy, and appellate court records. Florida has federal court districts outside the state-court system, so a federal civil or criminal case will not appear just because you search a county clerk site.
Federal district
Use PACER for federal civil and criminal district court cases.
Bankruptcy
Use PACER for Florida bankruptcy dockets and documents.
Federal appeals
Use PACER for federal appellate cases, not Florida ACIS.
Common Florida Court Records Mistakes That Cause Bad Results
Using one portal for all counties
Most Florida trial-court records are county-clerk based. Search the county where the case was filed.
Confusing ACIS with county case search
ACIS is for Florida appellate courts, not every trial-court case.
Using E-Filing as public search
The E-Filing Portal is for filing documents and accessing your own cases, not running public searches.
Trusting name-only results
Common names can return unrelated people. Verify county, case type, date, party role, and disposition.
Ignoring access restrictions
Family, juvenile, probate, guardianship, sealed, expunged, victim, financial, and medical details may be limited.
Paying private sites first
Check official clerk, ACIS, FDLE, PayFLClerk, or PACER sources before paying third-party sites.
Florida Court Case Not Found? Fix the Search This Way
| Problem | Likely reason | Best fix |
|---|---|---|
| No result by name | Wrong county, spelling variation, maiden/former name, business name, or restricted case. | Try county clerk directory, spelling variations, business names, date ranges, and case-type filters. |
| Too many results | Common name, broad search, missing county, or missing date/case filters. | Add filing year, county, court type, attorney, citation number, business suffix, or middle initial. |
| Document images are missing | Role-based restriction, redaction, sealed status, paper-only record, or system delay. | Contact the county clerk with the case number and document title. |
| Traffic citation not found | Wrong county, new citation delay, citation typo, or mandatory court appearance. | Use the county on the ticket and verify with PayFLClerk or the county traffic page. |
| Appeal not found in county portal | Appeal docket may be in ACIS. | Search ACIS by appellate case number, case title, originating case number, or court. |
| Federal case missing | Federal records use PACER, not Florida county clerk portals. | Search PACER by party, federal court, case number, attorney, or date. |
Florida Courts Office and Court Location Help
For a specific case record, contact the county clerk where the case was filed. For statewide court-system structure, appellate resources, access standards, and court locations, use Florida Courts resources. Florida Courts lists its statewide office at 500 South Duval Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1925.
Official Florida Court Records Links
Use these official sources for final verification before searching, paying, ordering copies, filing, or relying on a record.
Florida Clerk Directory
Use this to find the county clerk that maintains trial-court records in the county where the case was filed.
Open Florida ClerksFlorida ACIS
Use ACIS for Florida Supreme Court and District Court of Appeal dockets and available documents.
Open ACISFlorida Court Structure
Use this to understand Supreme Court, District Courts of Appeal, circuit courts, and county courts.
Open Court StructureFlorida Access Standards
Use this for statewide electronic court-record access rules and the Access Security Matrix.
Open Access StandardsPayFLClerk
Use this statewide route for traffic-ticket payment after selecting the ticketing county.
Open PayFLClerkFDLE Criminal History
Use FDLE when the request is for a Florida criminal history background check rather than a court docket.
Open FDLE SearchFlorida E-Filing Portal
Use this to file documents online, not to run public searches for unrelated cases.
Open E-Filing PortalFlorida Court Records: Direct Answer for AI Search
Florida court records are searched by county and court level. For most trial-court cases, use the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in the county where the case was filed. Search by case number first. Use party name, business name, attorney, citation, court type, or filing date if the county portal supports those fields. Use ACIS for Florida Supreme Court and District Court of Appeal dockets. Use PayFLClerk or the county clerk for traffic citations. Use FDLE for Florida criminal history checks. Use PACER for federal district, bankruptcy, and federal appellate records. Some sealed, expunged, family, juvenile, adoption, guardianship, probate, victim-related, financial, medical, and confidential records may be restricted from public online viewing.
Florida Court Records FAQs
How do I search Florida court records online for free?
Start with the county clerk in the county where the case was filed. Use that clerk’s official case search or court records page. For Florida Supreme Court and District Court of Appeal cases, use ACIS. For federal cases, use PACER.
Is there one statewide Florida court case search for all trial courts?
No. Florida appellate dockets can be searched through ACIS, but most trial-court cases are searched through the county clerk in the county where the case was filed.
Can I search Florida court records by name?
Yes, many county clerk portals allow party-name or business-name searches. Use full legal names, spelling variations, maiden or former names, case-type filters, filing years, and county filters. Always verify identity before relying on a name match.
What is the best way to search Florida court cases?
The best search is by case number in the correct county. If you do not have the case number, identify the county and search by name, business name, attorney, citation number, court type, or filing date where the county portal allows it.
How do I do an FL circuit court case search?
Identify the county where the circuit case was filed, then use that county clerk’s court-record search. Circuit courts handle many felony, civil, family, probate, guardianship, juvenile, and appellate-from-county matters, but the clerk usually maintains the searchable records.
Where do I search Miami-Dade County FL court records?
Use the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller records page. It routes users to civil, family, probate, criminal, official records, traffic, parking, certified-copy, and advanced-access options.
Where do I search Pinellas County court cases?
Use the Pinellas Clerk Public Access Case Records portal for court cases. Use Pinellas Official Records for deeds, liens, mortgages, marriage records, recorded judgments, and recorded instruments.
Where do I search Hillsborough County court records?
Use Hillsborough County Clerk’s HOVER system for online court records and court-hearing lookup. The Hillsborough Clerk also links separate official-record and electronic-certified-copy resources.
How do I search Leon County court records?
Use the Leon County Clerk website for local court records and official records. Leon separates court records from official records such as judgments, deeds, liens, marriage licenses, mortgages, plats, and tax deeds.
How do I search Gadsden County court records?
Start with the Gadsden County Clerk or Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit Gadsden County page. Verify the courthouse, clerk route, and case-search process before visiting, paying, or ordering copies.
Are Florida court records public?
Many Florida court records are public, but access can be limited for sealed, expunged, juvenile, adoption, victim-related, family, probate, guardianship, financial, medical, and confidential information. Electronic access depends on case type and user role.
Why can’t I find a Florida court record online?
The case may be in another county, filed under another name, too new, too old, archived, sealed, expunged, confidential, federal, appellate, or restricted from remote public access. Try the county clerk, ACIS, PACER, or contact the clerk directly.
How do I get certified copies of Florida court records?
Contact the clerk of court in the county where the case was filed. Provide the case number, party names, document title, and date. Ask whether the receiving agency accepts electronic certified copies or requires paper certified copies.
Is the Florida E-Filing Portal a public case search?
No. The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is mainly for filing court documents and accessing your own filings. Public searches for unrelated cases are usually done through county clerk websites or ACIS for appellate records.
Are Florida court records the same as FDLE criminal history records?
No. A court record shows activity in a court case. FDLE criminal history records are a separate Florida criminal history search. Use the record type required by the agency, employer, licensing board, attorney, or court.
Best Next Step for Florida Court Records
Start by identifying the county and case type. Use the county clerk for most trial-court records, ACIS for Florida appellate records, PayFLClerk or the county clerk for traffic tickets, FDLE for Florida criminal history checks, and PACER for federal records. Search by case number first when possible. If you only have a name, verify the county, identity, case type, filing year, party role, and disposition before relying on the result.
Official-source review completed July 24, 2026. Florida court portals, county clerk search tools, fees, access rules, certified-copy procedures, payment options, and online-record availability can change. Verify directly with the official county clerk, Florida Courts, FDLE, PayFLClerk, or PACER before legal, employment, licensing, immigration, housing, financial, or official use.
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