Fort Lauderdale Court Records are the official case files, dockets, and judicial documents filed in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. The Broward County Clerk of Courts maintains every civil lawsuit, criminal charge, family law matter, probate estate, and traffic citation heard in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding cities. When you need a Fort Lauderdale court case lookup, the clerk’s online portal gives you direct access to public docket entries, party names, and filing dates. A Broward County court records search starts with a name or a Fort Lauderdale circuit court case number, and the system returns case type, current status, and scheduled hearings. These records serve landlords screening tenants, employers verifying backgrounds, journalists tracking litigation, and anyone who needs to confirm what happened in a local courtroom. Because Florida’s public records law presumes openness, most Fort Lauderdale court records are available without a login, making it simple to pull up a docket in minutes.
Finding the right document starts with knowing where to look. The official Broward County Clerk of Courts records portal hosts the most current Fort Lauderdale court docket search, updated as filings occur. A Fort Lauderdale civil court case search reveals contract disputes, foreclosures, and personal injury suits, while criminal dockets show felony and misdemeanor charges. You can run an online Fort Lauderdale court records check by entering a party name, business name, or the unique Fort Lauderdale circuit court case number. Once you locate the case, Broward County court documents online display motions, orders, and final judgments. A Fort Lauderdale court case status search tells you whether a case is open, closed, or set for trial, and you can download standard copies or order certified versions for a fee. This direct access eliminates guesswork and puts the same information attorneys and judges rely on right at your fingertips.
How to Search Broward County Court Records Online
The Broward County Clerk of Courts keeps a public portal where anyone can look up Fort Lauderdale court records. You can search by party name, case number, citation number, or date range. No login or account setup stands between you and the docket. The portal updates as filings happen, so the case status you see reflects the current court record.
Start your Broward County court records search on the official Clerk of Courts website. The direct search tool sits under the Online Services menu. From there, pick a search type and enter what you know. The system returns matching cases within seconds. You can view docket entries, party names, filing dates, and scheduled hearings without paying anything.
https://www.browardclerk.org
- Go to the official Clerk website and select Online Services from the top menu, then click Court Records Search.
- Pick your search type. Options include Name, Case Number, Citation Number, or Date Range.
- Enter the required fields. For a name search, type the last name and at least the first initial. For a case number search, use the full Fort Lauderdale circuit court case number.
- Apply filters to narrow results. You can filter by case type, division, date filed, or party role such as plaintiff or defendant.
- Click any case in the results list to open the full docket. The docket shows every event, filing, and party detail on record.
- Download or order copies. Standard copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $7 per document. You can pay online with a credit card.
Fort Lauderdale Circuit Court Case Number Format
Broward County case numbers follow a 20-digit state standard. The format reads: [Court]-[Year]-[Sequence]-[Party Code]-[Division]. A civil case filed in 2024 assigned to Division 10 looks like 062024CA012345AXXX10. The first two digits (06) identify Broward County. The letters tell you the case type: CA for Circuit Civil, CF for Circuit Felony, MM for Misdemeanor, CC for County Civil, and DR for Domestic Relations.
Searching Without a Case Number
You do not need a case number to run a Fort Lauderdale court docket search. The name search accepts full names, business names, or attorney bar numbers. The system uses Soundex matching to catch spelling differences. This helps with surnames common in South Florida, including Spanish, Haitian-Creole, and Portuguese names. Enter the last name and first initial for the broadest results, then narrow down using the date range or division filters.
Who Can Search Fort Lauderdale Court Records
Florida law presumes court records are open to the public under the state constitution and Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420. Any person can search the online docket, view case events, and read filed documents. You do not need to be a party to the case or a Florida resident. The Broward County Clerk of Courts provides this access as the constitutional custodian of all court records in the county.
Records With Restricted Access
Some Fort Lauderdale court records stay closed to the public. A court order must seal these files. Restricted records include:
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases
- Adoption files, sealed except for limited genealogical requests under post-2025 rules
- Mental health commitments under the Baker Act
- Substance abuse treatment court records
- Documents with redacted personal data such as Social Security numbers, minor identities, and financial account numbers
Attorneys of record and named parties keep full access to their cases even when the public view is limited. Bulk data access needs a signed subscription agreement with the Clerk’s office.
Online Access Compared to In-Person Access
The Broward Clerk’s online portal shows docket entries and viewable PDFs for most cases filed after 2006. Older case files often exist only on paper or microfilm. To see pre-2006 records, visit the Main Courthouse at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, or the West Satellite Courthouse in Plantation. Staff can pull physical files during business hours. Some pre-1990 civil case indices are searchable online, but full document images remain incomplete before the mid-1990s.
Fort Lauderdale Civil Court Case Search
Civil cases in the 17th Judicial Circuit use the CA prefix for Circuit Civil matters and the CC prefix for County Civil matters. A Fort Lauderdale civil court case search returns dockets within seconds. You can view filed motions, court orders, and final judgments at no cost. Certified copies are available for a fee.
Civil Case Types You Can Search
- Real Property and Foreclosure: Foreclosure filings make up a large share of the civil docket. Search by property address or owner name.
- Contract and Financial Disputes: Breach of contract, civil theft, promissory notes, and debt collection cases.
- Tort and Negligence: Premises liability, auto negligence, medical malpractice, and personal injury claims.
- Family Civil: Dissolution of marriage, paternity actions, custody modifications, and enforcement proceedings.
- Small Claims and County Civil: Claims valued at $8,000 or below as of 2026, plus landlord-tenant disputes under $15,000.
Fort Lauderdale Criminal Court Case Search
Criminal records in Broward County cover felony, misdemeanor, and ordinance violation filings. Felony cases carry the CF prefix. Misdemeanor cases use the MM prefix. The public docket shows pre-trial hearings, plea entries, trial dates, sentencing, and post-conviction motions. Active warrant indicators do not appear openly. The docket notes when a judge signs a warrant, but the warrant itself stays hidden from public view to prevent flight.
Finding Active Warrant Details
Outstanding arrest warrants are not listed in the public court portal. The issuing case docket shows a notation that a warrant has been signed, but no further detail appears. The official source for active warrant checks is the Broward Sheriff’s Office warrant search. Contact BSO directly for warrant confirmation. The court docket alone does not confirm whether a warrant remains active.
Fees, Copies, and Certified Records
Standard Fort Lauderdale court record copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $7 per document. Exemplified copies cost $20. You can pay online with a credit card or in person with cash, check, money order, or card. In-person requests at the Fort Lauderdale or Plantation courthouses are usually fulfilled the same day. Mail requests take 3 to 5 business days plus return-mail transit time.
| Service | Fee | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Copy (per page) | $1.00 | Immediate (PDF) / Same-day (in person) |
| Certified Copy | $7.00 | Same-day in person / 3–5 days mail |
| Authenticated / Exemplified | $20.00 | 5–7 business days |
| Docket Search (no case found) | $2.00 | N/A |
| Subscription (Bulk Data / eCourtty) | Monthly tiered | API access |
Requesting a Certified Copy by Mail
Mail a written request to Broward County Clerk of Courts, 201 SE 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Include the case number, document title, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order payable to “Clerk of Courts.” Phone requests for certified documents are not accepted. The Clerk’s office processes mail requests within 3 to 5 business days.
Free vs. Paid Court Records Search Tools
The official Broward Clerk portal gives free docket views. Third-party platforms offer extra features like cross-jurisdictional search, automated alerts, and analytics. Those tools charge subscription fees. For a single case lookup, the official site works best. For ongoing monitoring across multiple counties, paid services add efficiency through OCR search, case tracking, and bulk data feeds.
| Platform | Cost | Coverage | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrowardClerk.org (Official) | Free / $1+ per page | Broward only, all case types | General public, one-off lookups |
| Florida Courts E-Filing Portal | Free to search; filing fees apply | All FL counties | Attorneys, e-filers |
| UniCourt | $40–$200/mo | All FL + federal | Legal tech, research firms |
| CourtListener / RECAP | Free / donation | Federal + select state | Journalists, academics |
| Trellis / Law360 | Enterprise pricing | Multi-state, analytics | Law firms, compliance teams |
| PeopleLooker / TruthFinder | $20–$40/mo | Crowd-sourced; accuracy varies | Casual background checks |
Why the Official Portal Stays the Source of Truth
Third-party sites can lag 24 to 72 hours behind the official docket. They may miss cases that were sealed and later unsealed. Disposition details sometimes appear incorrectly on aggregator sites. For legal filings, immigration matters, or employment screening, always check the official BrowardClerk.org docket before relying on any record. The Clerk’s portal reflects what the court actually holds.
Florida Public Records Law and Court Record Use
Fort Lauderdale court records operate under Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law and the Public Records Act. These laws create a presumption of openness. Misuse of public court records carries penalties under Florida Statute 119.10. Harassment, identity theft, and unlawful discrimination based on sealed or expunged records can lead to civil liability and criminal charges.
Permissible and Prohibited Uses
- Permissible: Lawful background checks, journalism, due diligence, legal research, and genealogy within statutory limits.
- Prohibited: Stalking, harassment, employment or credit decisions based solely on arrest records without FCRA compliance, and unauthorized bulk commercial repackaging of court data.
Sealing or Expunging a Fort Lauderdale Court Record
Sealing and expungement requests go through the Florida Office of the State Attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit under Florida Statute 943.0585. The process starts with a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE review takes 6 to 12 months. Most serious felony convictions do not qualify. Once a record is sealed or expunged, it disappears from the public docket and cannot be found through the online portal.
Contact Information
Broward County Clerk of Courts
Brenda D. Forman, Clerk of Courts
Main Courthouse: 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
West Satellite Courthouse
Plantation, Florida
17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
Chief Judge Jack Tuter
Broward Sheriff’s Office Warrant Search
Phone: 954-764-4357
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking up Fort Lauderdale court records gives you quick access to case details, hearing dates, and filed documents. The Broward County Clerk of Courts runs a free online portal for public searches. You can find civil, criminal, traffic, and family court records from the 17th Judicial Circuit. This FAQ answers common questions about searching, viewing, and getting copies of court records. Use these steps to find what you need without confusion.
How do I start a Broward County court records search online?
Go to the Broward County Clerk of Courts website and open the public records search page. You can look up cases by party name, case number, citation number, or a date range. No account or login is needed. Type in the first and last name of a person or business. If you have the case number, enter it exactly as it appears on court papers. The system shows current case status and docket entries. For a Fort Lauderdale court case lookup, pick the 17th Judicial Circuit from the court location list. Results load fast and you can click any case to see more details.
What Fort Lauderdale court records can I see for free?
You can view many Fort Lauderdale court records without paying. The public portal shows case summaries, party names, charges, hearing dates, and filed documents. Civil, criminal, traffic, and family court records from the 17th Judicial Circuit are open to the public. Some sealed cases or confidential records are not shown. You can read most documents right on the screen. If you need certified copies, the Clerk of Courts charges a fee. For a free Broward County court records search, use the official website. It updates often, so you see the latest case status and filings.
How do I find a 17th Judicial Circuit Court case by name or number?
Visit the Broward County Clerk of Courts online search page. To search by name, type the person’s last name and first name. You can add a middle name to narrow results. To search by case number, enter the full number including dashes. Fort Lauderdale circuit court case numbers start with a division code like CACE for civil cases. After you submit, a list of matching cases appears. Click the case you want to see the docket, parties, and upcoming court dates. If you only have a partial name, use the wildcard symbol if the system allows it. This method works for both civil and criminal records.
Can I look up Fort Lauderdale civil court cases without a lawyer?
Yes, you can search Fort Lauderdale civil court cases on your own. The public access portal does not require a lawyer or any legal training. You can look up contract disputes, evictions, personal injury cases, and more. Enter a party name or case number to see the docket. You can read filed documents and check hearing schedules. If you need help understanding legal terms, the Clerk’s website has a glossary. For a Fort Lauderdale court case lookup, you do not need to visit the courthouse. Everything is online and free to view. You can also call the Clerk’s office if you have questions about a specific case.
How do I check the status of my Fort Lauderdale court case?
Go to the Broward County Clerk of Courts case search page. Enter your case number or your full name. The system shows the current case status, next hearing date, and any recent filings. The portal updates as new documents are added, so you always see the latest information. If you do not have your case number, search by your name and pick the correct case from the list. You can also sign up for case alerts if the Clerk offers that service. For a quick Fort Lauderdale court case status search, bookmark the case page and check it often. This keeps you informed without calling the courthouse.
Where can I get copies of Broward County court documents?
You can download many Broward County court documents from the Clerk’s online portal for free. Open the case and look for a documents or docket tab. Click any filing to view or save it. If you need certified copies, visit the Clerk’s office in person or request them by mail. Certified copies have an official stamp and a small fee. For older records that are not online, contact the Clerk’s records department. They can tell you how to order copies. The 17th Judicial Circuit Court records go back many years. Start your search online first, then ask the Clerk for help if you cannot find what you need.