Palm Beach County Court Records Search
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Palm Beach County sits along Florida’s southeastern coast and encompasses a sprawling jurisdiction served by Florida’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. The circuit and county courts here produce a substantial volume of records each year — from felony criminal cases and complex civil litigation to family law disputes and probate estate matters. The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is the official custodian of these court records and operates service locations across the county, from its Main Courthouse in West Palm Beach to branch offices in Palm Beach Gardens, Delray Beach, Belle Glade, and Royal Palm Beach.
For individuals attempting to find court case data in the state of Florida, a number of resources are available, including clerk offices, courthouse public access terminals, and electronic databases. The FloridaStateCourts.us website can serve as a starting point for locating publicly accessible court case information statewide. Within Palm Beach County, the Clerk’s office maintains its own free online case search system — eCaseView — along with in-person and mail-based request options for records that are not available electronically.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Palm Beach County?
Palm Beach County provides three primary channels for looking up court case information: online searches, in-person visits, and written mail requests. The right approach depends on the type of record you need, whether you require a certified copy, and whether the case type is available online.
Online: eCaseView
The Clerk’s eCaseView database is the county’s principal tool for searching court records at no cost. The system covers civil, criminal, and traffic cases and allows users to view docket histories, document images (for cases filed from 2008 onward), case dispositions, current case status, and fees due. Searches can be run using an exact or partial party name, a case number, or a citation number. Results can be filtered by court type, case type, and filing or offense dates.
No registration is required to use eCaseView’s basic features. Attorneys and users who need expanded access can register for a free account. Plain or uncertified copies with a watermark can be printed directly from a home or office computer at no charge. Electronically certified copies cost $8 per document ($2 statutory fee plus $6 service fee), with an additional 3.5% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Certain case types cannot be viewed in eCaseView, including juvenile, adoption, guardianship, mental health, family, and probate case documents. For access to those records, contact the Clerk’s office directly.
In-Person Requests
Walk-in services are available at the following Clerk office locations:
| Location | Address |
|---|---|
| Main Courthouse | 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 |
| North County Courthouse | 3188 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 |
| South County Courthouse | 200 West Atlantic Avenue, Room 1S-124, Delray Beach, FL 33444 |
| West County Courthouse | 2950 State Road 15, Room S-100, Belle Glade, FL 33430 |
| Royal Palm Beach Branch | 200 Civic Center Way, Suite 400, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 |
For court case and traffic ticket information by phone, call (561) 355-2996.
Mail Requests
To order certified or official copies by mail, complete the Records Service Transmittal Form and include the full case number, the docket entry date range (if requesting an entire docket), and payment covering reproduction and certification fees. Mail the completed form to the address indicated on the form. Copies can be shipped to you or held for pickup at the Clerk’s office.
Standard Fees for Copies and Research
- Copies up to 8½" × 14": $1 per page
- Copies larger than 8½" × 14": $5 per page
- Certification per instrument: $2
- Electronically certified court document: $8 per document (plus 3.5% processing fee)
- Exemplified/authenticated certificates: $7
- Name or legal description search: $2 per year searched
- Seal or expunge a record: $42
Payment methods accepted in person include cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, cashier’s check, and money order. Mail payments must be by cashier’s check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Personal checks are not accepted.
Are Court Records Public in Palm Beach County?
Court records in Palm Beach County are generally open to the public. Florida’s Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes) requires publicly funded government institutions, including the courts, to make records of official proceedings available for inspection and copying.
At the judicial branch level, Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration governs access to court records specifically. Under Florida Statute 28.24, the term “court record” includes all contents of a court file — docket entries, pleadings, motions, transcripts, exhibits, and electronic materials maintained by the Clerk’s office.
Inspecting a court record in person is free of charge. Fees apply only when copies are produced.
Restricted and Confidential Records
Not all court records are available for public review. Florida Statutes 119.071 and 119.0714 identify categories of exempt or confidential information. Additional restrictions come from Rule 2.420© and other court orders. Records typically excluded from public access include:
- Unexecuted arrest and search warrants and related affidavits
- Sealed or expunged case records
- Juvenile court records
- Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and dates of birth of minors
- Certain records protected by federal law
- Confidential crime victim information under Florida Rule 2.423 (Marsy’s Law)
The Clerk also posts court orders and hearing notices regarding the sealing of case files on its website for the duration ordered by the court.
Additionally, per a June 2002 law, court documents in family, guardianship, juvenile, mental health, and probate cases recorded on or after the law’s effective date may not be placed on a publicly accessible internet site. These records can still be viewed in person at the Clerk’s office or requested through authorized channels.
Palm Beach County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Palm Beach County are heard in both the circuit and county courts of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. The circuit court handles felonies and related misdemeanor allegations, while the county court adjudicates standalone misdemeanors, criminal traffic offenses, and county ordinance violations. The Criminal Justice Complex at 3228 Gun Club Road in West Palm Beach houses significant criminal court operations.
Searching Criminal Court Records
The Clerk’s eCaseView system is the primary online resource for looking up criminal case information. To find a specific criminal case:
- Navigate to eCaseView and select the GuestUser option (no login needed).
- Enter the defendant’s name (full or partial) or the case/citation number.
- Filter results by selecting the appropriate court type (Circuit Criminal or County Criminal), case type, and date range.
- View the case docket, charges, court dates, sentencing information, and available document images.
Electronically certified copies of criminal case documents viewable in eCaseView can be purchased online for $8 per document.
For direct inquiries, contact the Clerk’s Criminal Court office at (561) 355-2994 or visit the Main Courthouse at 205 North Dixie Highway, 2nd Floor, Room 2.2300, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
Arrest Records and Law Enforcement Sources
Arrest records, police reports, and criminal history information are maintained by law enforcement agencies rather than the court clerk. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) is the primary source for these records. The PBSO Central Records unit can be contacted at (561) 688-3140 or by email at emailcentralrecords@pbso.org. Records requests can also be submitted through the PBSO Public Records portal.
The 15th Judicial Circuit’s State Attorney also accepts public records requests for criminal case materials in its possession. Some arrest records connected to ongoing investigations may not be available.
Florida Statute 907.043, the Citizens Right-to-Know Act, requires the Clerk to maintain a publicly accessible Pretrial Release Register, which lists individuals released on pretrial conditions.
Palm Beach County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Palm Beach County are split between the circuit and county courts based on the amount in controversy. Under Florida Statute 26.012, the circuit court has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil disputes exceeding $50,000, as well as real property title and boundary disputes, tax matters, and malpractice cases. The county court, per Florida Statute 34.01, hears civil cases involving $50,000 or less, eviction actions, and small claims.
Searching Civil Records Online
Civil case records are searchable through eCaseView. Users can select “Circuit Civil” or “County Civil” under the court type filter. Document images from 2008 and later are generally available for viewing and printing. Uncertified copies with a watermark can be printed for free; electronically certified copies cost $8 per document.
Small Claims
Small claims cases — disputes involving $8,000 or less (excluding costs, interest, and attorney fees) — are filed with the Clerk’s office. For questions about filing, contact the Small Claims division at (561) 355-2500. Filing fees 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
Contact Information for Civil Court Offices
| Division | Phone | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Civil Court | (561) 355-2986 | Main Courthouse, 3rd Floor, Room 3.2300 |
| County Civil Court | (561) 355-2500 | Main Courthouse, 3rd Floor, Room 3.2300 |
| Evictions | (561) 355-2500 | Main Courthouse, 3rd Floor, Room 3.2300 |
| Foreclosures | (561) 355-2986 | Main Courthouse, 3rd Floor, Room 3.2400 |
The Clerk also offers downloadable civil and criminal reports — including eviction, divorce, and traffic crime reports — for purchase through the Clerk Cart system in PDF or Excel format.
Palm Beach County Family Court Records
The Family Division of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit has jurisdiction over all domestic relations matters, including dissolution of marriage (divorce), child custody and time-sharing, child support, alimony, paternity, adoption, name changes, and domestic violence injunctions. The circuit also operates a Unified Family Court structure that consolidates related family matters involving the same family.
Searching Family Case Records
Family court case docket information is searchable through eCaseView by selecting “Domestic Relations/Family” under the court type filter. However, due to Florida’s electronic access restrictions, family case document images filed on or after June 5, 2002 are not available for online viewing. To access those documents, you must contact the Clerk’s office directly or visit in person.
For family court inquiries, the relevant Clerk divisions and their direct phone numbers are:
- Family: (561) 355-6511
- Divorce: (561) 355-6511
- Child Support: (561) 355-6511
- Domestic Violence: (561) 355-4506
- Juvenile: (561) 355-6603
All of these divisions are located at the Main Courthouse, 205 North Dixie Highway, 3rd Floor, Room 3.2200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 3597, West Palm Beach, FL 33402.
The Fifteenth Circuit provides family case checklists to help parties prepare for final hearings, along with a Family Case Inquiry tool for case-specific scheduling information. Documents can be filed electronically through the e-filing portal for pro se litigants.
Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) Records
Copies of final judgments and other dissolution of marriage records filed in Palm Beach County can be obtained from the Clerk’s Records Service Center at (561) 355-2932, located at the Main Courthouse, 4th Floor, Room 4.2500. The same copy fees and request procedures described earlier apply.
Alternatively, divorce certificates can be ordered from the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics. Requesters must complete the Application for Dissolution of Marriage (Form DH260) and submit it by mail to Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32232-0042, or in person at 1217 North Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Fees through the Bureau are $5 per certified copy per calendar year searched, $4 for each additional copy on the same order, $2 per calendar year when the specific year is unknown, and a $10 rush fee for pre-1970 records.
Marriage Records
Palm Beach County marriage licenses can be searched through the Clerk’s official records database, where uncertified copies are viewable and printable at no charge. Certified copies can be purchased in person at the Clerk’s office or online. For marriage license inquiries, contact (561) 355-2986 at the Main Courthouse, 3rd Floor, Room 3.2100.
Marriage certificates may also be ordered from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics by submitting the Application for Marriage Certificate (Form DH261).
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates — while not court records — are often needed in connection with family law proceedings. The Palm Beach County Office of Vital Statistics issues these records at 800 Clematis Street, 1st Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Each certified copy costs $15. The Palm Beach County Tax Collector also issues birth certificates at its service centers for $21.25 per copy ($10 for each additional copy). Under Florida Statute 382.025, birth records less than 125 years old and death records less than 50 years old (containing cause of death and Social Security number) are restricted to eligible applicants.
Palm Beach County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit handles estate administration, guardianship matters, trust disputes, mental health proceedings (including Baker Act and Marchman Act cases), and involuntary commitments. The probate process involves collecting a decedent’s assets, settling debts and taxes, and distributing property to heirs, overseen by a court-appointed personal representative.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case docket information can be located through the Clerk’s eCaseView system by selecting “Probate” under the court type menu and specifying the case type. As with family cases, probate document images are restricted from online display under Florida law. To view actual documents, you will need to visit the Clerk’s office or submit a written request.
For probate inquiries, contact the Clerk’s Probate division at (561) 355-2986, located at the Main Courthouse, 205 North Dixie Highway, 3rd Floor, Room 3.2300, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Mail correspondence should be directed to P.O. Box 4667, West Palm Beach, FL 33402.
Requesting Certified Copies of Probate Records
Certified copies of probate filings are available in person, by mail, or through eCaseView (where document images exist). Mail requests should include the case number, case year, and party names, along with proper payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Original documents such as wills, codicils, and death certificates that need to be filed in a probate case must be mailed or overnighted to the Clerk at the courthouse where the matter is pending:
- Main Courthouse: Attn: Probate Department, 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
- South County: Attn: Probate Department, 200 West Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33444
- North County: Attn: Probate Department, 3188 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Guardianship
Guardianship proceedings for incapacitated persons are handled within the Probate Division. The court appoints an attorney for each person alleged to be incapacitated. Family members appointed as guardians must complete an approved education course pursuant to Florida Statute 744.3145. For guardianship questions, contact the Guardianship case manager at (561) 624-6523 or the Clerk’s Guardianship office at (561) 355-4854.
The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit maintains approved probate and guardianship checklists to guide filers through the requirements for formal administration, summary administration, ancillary administration, determination of homestead, guardian appointments, and estate discharge. All proposed probate orders must be submitted through the circuit’s Online Scheduling system (OLS) — they cannot be submitted in person, by mail, or by email. Legal forms for probate matters are available for download from the Fifteenth Circuit’s website.