Miami-Dade County Court Records
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Miami-Dade County runs one of the largest court systems in Florida, operating under the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. The county's circuit and county courts generate millions of documents every year across criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Whether you're verifying a case disposition, picking up a certified judgment, or reviewing filings in an active lawsuit, knowing how the county's courts and recordkeeping systems work will save you considerable time. The Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller is the official custodian of these records and serves the county's approximately 2.7 million residents from multiple courthouse locations countywide.
If you're just getting oriented, the FloridaStateCourts.us website can help you understand how Florida's judicial system is structured and point you toward statewide case lookup tools. For Miami-Dade specifically, the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller maintains dedicated online systems for criminal, civil, family, and probate case searches, plus in-person service counters at courthouses throughout the county.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Miami-Dade County?
You can search Miami-Dade court cases online, in person, or by mail through the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller's office. Which method works best depends on the case type, how urgently you need the information, and whether you require certified copies.
Online Case Searches
The Clerk maintains two web-based systems for searching court records:
- Criminal Justice Online System (CJIS) — Use this portal to search felony and misdemeanor criminal cases and court calendars. You can search by case number, citation or police number, defendant's name, or jail number.
- Civil, Family, and Probate Courts Online System — This system covers all non-criminal case types, including civil disputes, family law matters, and probate cases. Basic searches run by party name, local or state case number, or hearing date. Registering for a free account unlocks the advanced search, which provides broader access to court records consistent with the Florida Supreme Court Standards for Access to Electronic Court Records.
In-Person Searches
You can walk into any Clerk of the Court office location and ask staff to search a case by party name, case number, or other identifying details. For general questions before you visit, call the Clerk's Interactive Voice Response System at (305) 275-1155.
Mail Requests
Written requests for case records or certified copies can be mailed to the appropriate Clerk division. Each request should include the case number (or party names and approximate filing year), your return address, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the required fee by cashier's check or money order payable to Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. Personal checks are not accepted.
Key Courthouse Locations
| Facility | Address |
|---|---|
| Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center | 20 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128 |
| Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center | 175 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128 |
| Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building | 1351 NW 12th Street, Miami, FL 33125 |
| North Dade Justice Center | 15555 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami, FL 33160 |
| South Dade Justice Center | 10710 SW 211th Street, Miami, FL 33189 |
| Hialeah District Court | 11 East 6th Street, Hialeah, FL 33010 |
| Coral Gables District Court | 3100 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33134 |
| Joseph Caleb Center Court | 5400 NW 22nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33142 |
| Overtown Transit Village South Building | 601 NW 1 Court, Miami, FL 33136 |
| Miami-Dade Children's Courthouse | 155 NW 3rd Street, Miami, FL 33128 |
The North Dade Justice Center, South Dade Justice Center, and Joseph Caleb Center Court offer extended hours of operation. Note that the Miami Beach Branch Courthouse (1130 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139) is temporarily closed; matters formerly heard there have been redirected to the Osvaldo N. Soto Justice Center and the Gerstein Justice Building.
Are Court Records Public in Miami-Dade County?
Court records in Miami-Dade County are presumptively open to the public. Two overlapping legal frameworks establish this right of access.
Florida's Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes) creates broad public access to records created or maintained by government agencies. Separately, rulemaking authority granted to the Florida Supreme Court under Article V, Section 2 of the Florida Constitution allows the court to set its own rules for access to judicial branch records. Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration specifically addresses public access to court records, defining a "court record" to include the contents of a court file, docket entries, transcripts, documentary exhibits, and electronic or stenographic materials maintained by or filed with the Clerk of the Court, consistent with Florida Statute 28.24(1).
Under these provisions, anyone may inspect court records at no charge. Fees only apply when the Clerk's office produces copies.
Records That Are Not Public
Certain categories of court records are confidential or exempt from public disclosure. These include:
- Unexecuted arrest and search warrants
- Juvenile dependency case files
- Trial and appellate court memoranda and working papers
- Records sealed or expunged by court order
- Information designated confidential under Rule 2.420 or specific Florida statutes—such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and dates of birth of minors
Accessing sealed or confidential records typically requires a court order or proof of eligibility.
Miami-Dade County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Miami-Dade County are prosecuted in the circuit and county courts of Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit. The circuit court handles felonies and appeals from county court, while the county court hears misdemeanor charges, criminal traffic offenses, and county ordinance violations. Most criminal court operations are centered at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building.
Searching Criminal Case Records
The Clerk's Criminal Justice Online System is the main tool for looking up criminal cases. Users can search by:
- Case number
- Citation or police report number
- Defendant's name
- Jail booking number
Free registration may be required to view certain case images, per the Florida Supreme Court's electronic access standards.
Ordering Certified Copies of Criminal Records
Certified copies of criminal case documents can be ordered by mail, email, or phone. Applicable fees are:
- $1 per page
- $2 per document for certification
- $2 per year, per name, for each year searched (when no case number is provided)
- $42 for scanned felony case files on CD
Each request should include the defendant's name, case number, date of birth, type of charges, the specific document needed, and your contact information. Send mail requests to the appropriate division at the Gerstein Justice Building:
- Felonies: 1351 NW 12th Street, Suite 9000, Miami, FL 33125 — Email: coccriminal@miamidade.gov
- Misdemeanors: 1351 NW 12th Street, Suite 8100, Miami, FL 33125 — Email: cocmisdemeanor@miamidade.gov
- Domestic Violence Misdemeanors: Email: cocdomesticviolence@miamidade.gov
You can also call (305) 275-1155 (option 4) to request copies by phone.
The Clerk's office also provides certified criminal history checks (disposition letters) covering felony, misdemeanor, or civil infraction cases.
Criminal History and Police Records
For background check information, arrest affidavits, incident reports, or police clearance letters, contact the Miami-Dade Police Department's Central Records Bureau (CRB). The CRB does not accept walk-in requests—appointments must be scheduled through the county's online scheduling portal.
Requests can also be submitted through the Miami-Dade Police Public Records Center or by mail to:
Central Records Bureau
9105 NW 25th Street
Miami, FL 33172
Phone: (305) 471-2085
Each police clearance letter costs $5. Fingerprinting services are available for $15—bring your own fingerprint card and two valid IDs. Requesters must supply the subject's full name (including maiden names and aliases), sex, race, date of birth, and the requester's own contact information.
Miami-Dade County Civil Court Records
The Civil Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit handles a wide range of non-criminal disputes. The circuit court hears civil actions where the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000, along with tax disputes, malpractice suits, tort claims, and intellectual property matters. The county court manages civil disputes involving $50,000 or less, landlord-tenant eviction actions, and county ordinance violations.
Small Claims
Claims of $8,000 or less (excluding costs, interest, and attorney fees) can be filed as small claims actions with the Clerk's Office. Filing fees for small claims are:
- Claims under $100: $55
- Claims $100–$500: $80
- Claims $501–$2,500: $175
- Claims $2,501–$8,000: $295
- Each additional defendant beyond five: $2.50
Searching Civil Case Records
Use the Clerk's Civil, Family, and Probate Courts Online System to search by party name, case number, or hearing date. Creating a free registered account gives you access to the advanced search with expanded record visibility.
Obtaining Certified Copies
Certified copies of civil case documents cost $1 per page plus $2 per document for certification. There are three ways to get them:
- By mail: Send your request (including case number or book and page, case year, and party names) with a self-addressed stamped envelope and appropriate payment to:
Miami-Dade County Clerk's Office
Attn: Correspondence Department
73 West Flagler Street, Suite 137
Miami, FL 33130 - In person: Visit the Miami-Dade County Courthouse at 73 W. Flagler Street, Suite 133, Miami, FL 33130, or any district court location.
- Online: Certified copies of documents with available digital images can be ordered through the Civil, Family, and Probate Courts Online System after registering for an account.
Payment by mail must be by cashier's check or money order made payable to Clerk of the Courts.
Miami-Dade County Family Court Records
The Family Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit handles matters involving families and children—dissolution of marriage (divorce), child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, adoption, name changes, and domestic violence injunctions connected to open family cases. The division is based at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128. You can reach the Family Division at (305) 349-5561, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays.
Searching Family Court Records
Family case records are searchable through the Clerk's Civil, Family, and Probate Courts Online System. Standard searches accept a party name, case number, or hearing date. Advanced search features become available once you register for a free account.
Motions in family cases should be filed with the Family Division Clerk at the L.E.T. Courthouse Center, 12th Floor, or electronically through myflcourtaccess.com. Hearing scheduling is handled through courtMap at least seven days before the motion calendar date.
Requesting Certified Copies of Family Records
- By mail: Draft a letter with the case year, case number (or book and page), and party names. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and fee ($1 per page; $2 per certification) by money order or cashier's check payable to Clerk of the Courts. Mail to:
Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center
Family Court/Correspondence
175 NW 1st Avenue, 12th Floor
Miami, FL 33128 - In person: Visit the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, Family Court, 175 NW 1st Avenue, 14th Floor, Miami, FL 33128, or any district court location.
- Online: Use the Civil, Family, and Probate Courts Online System to view and order certified copies of family and dissolution of marriage documents.
Confidentiality Restrictions
Not all family court records are open for public inspection. Adoption records, certain juvenile proceedings, and records involving minors may be sealed or restricted to case parties and their attorneys. Accessing confidential family records generally requires a court order.
Marriage Records
The Clerk maintains a free Marriage License Search portal where anyone can look up marriage licenses by a spouse's name or license number. Certified copies of marriage certificates issued after 1995 can be purchased online after registration. Licenses from 1971 to 1995 are viewable online, but certified copies must be obtained by mail.
To order a certified marriage certificate by mail, complete the Marriage License Certified Copy Request form (Form 635) and send it with a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment ($9 for the first copy; $7 for each additional copy) to:
Marriage License Bureau
Overtown Transit Village South
601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900
Miami, FL 33136
Marriage and divorce certificates recorded with the Clerk's office may also be obtained from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are often needed alongside family court filings, though they are maintained separately from court records. The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County issues these vital records at three locations (Downtown, North Dade, and West Perrine)—no appointment necessary. A certified copy of either a birth or death certificate costs $20, with additional copies at $16 each when ordered at the same time. Under Florida Statute 382.025, birth records less than 125 years old and death records less than 50 years old (with cause of death and full Social Security number) are restricted to eligible requesters.
Miami-Dade County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit handles estates and trusts, guardianship proceedings, and mental health matters. The Clerk's Probate Court office assists the public with small estates petitions, wills on deposit, and caveats.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case records can be searched using the Clerk's Civil, Family, and Probate Courts Online System. Enter a party name, case number, or hearing date to find the relevant filing. Registered users have access to additional case images.
Certified Copies of Probate Records
Certified copies are available by mail, in person, or online through the Clerk's system. Fees are $1 per page and $2 per document for certification.
- Mail: Include the case number (or book and page), case year, and party names along with a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment to:
Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts
Attn: Probate Correspondence Department
73 West Flagler Street, Room 238
Miami, FL 33130 - In person: Visit the Probate Court at 73 West Flagler Street, Room 238, Miami, FL 33130.
Small Estates Petitions
When formal probate administration isn't necessary and no real property is involved, a small estates petition (Disposition of Personal Property without Administration) may be filed if the decedent's assets total $6,000 or less and do not exceed the funeral bill. The decedent must have been a Miami-Dade County resident at the time of death. Filing requires a certified death certificate, an itemized funeral contract, a receipt showing the bill was paid in full, documentation of the decedent's assets, and applicable filing fees. Small estates petitions can be filed in person at the Probate Court Office or by mail. If assets exceed $6,000, consulting an attorney is recommended.
Wills on Deposit and Caveats
Florida law requires the custodian of a will to deposit it with the Clerk of the Court in the county where the decedent resided within 10 days of learning of the person's death. A caveat—a legal notice asking the court to alert an interested party when an estate is opened—can be filed by an heir, creditor, or other interested party before a case is formally initiated. There is no filing fee for caveats or claim forms.
Guardianship and Conservatorship
Guardianship proceedings for incapacitated adults and minors are also heard in the Probate Division. Case records relating to guardianship are searchable through the same online system and can be requested from the Probate Correspondence Department at the addresses listed above.