Home › Florida › How-To Guide
Florida · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

Clerk of Court (county level - each of Florida's 67 counties) / Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (statewide)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need: Circuit Court (felonies, civil over $50,000, family, probate, juvenile), County Court (misdemeanors, civil up to $50,000, small claims, traffic), or District Court of Appeal / Florida Supreme Court
  2. Search online:
  3. MYFLCOURTACCESS.COM (statewide): Florida's centralized court records portal covering many counties - search by name or case number; some counties have separate portals
  4. COUNTY CLERK WEBSITE: Each county's Clerk of Court also maintains its own searchable Official Records system (useful for recorded documents, marriage records, etc.); search "[County Name] County Clerk Official Records Florida"
  5. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed; most county clerks have walk-in service
  6. In-person access: visit the Clerk of Court's office; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
Online access free for basic searches at myflcourtaccess.com; certified copies: typically $1 per page plus $2 certification fee; contact specific county clerk for current schedule
Processing Time
Immediate online searches; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Yes - myflcourtaccess.com (statewide); individual county clerk websites for local records
Where to Go
Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed (for certified copies and complete documents)
County-specific variations apply

Florida has 67 county clerks each maintaining their own records systems. myflcourtaccess.com covers most but not all counties - some rural counties may have limited online integration. Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, and Hillsborough have the most comprehensive online systems. Some counties charge a subscription or per-page fee for online document access beyond basic case searches. Verify specific county availability at myflcourtaccess.com.

Florida Notes

Important state-specific details

  • myflcourtaccess.com: Florida's statewide court records portal; covers Circuit and County Court case information for most counties.
  • Florida has a robust open records tradition under the Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes) - court records are generally public unless sealed.
  • District Court of Appeal opinions: search at districtcourts.flcourts.org.
  • Florida Supreme Court opinions: floridasupremecourt.org.
  • Criminal history background checks: Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) - fdle.state.fl.us; available to public; name-based search or fingerprint-based.
  • Florida Sexual Predator/Offender Registry: fdle.state.fl.us/SOPU.
  • Juvenile records are sealed and not accessible to the public.
  • Florida Sunshine Law (Chapter 119): strong public records law; agencies must respond promptly to records requests.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Florida Courts - flcourts.org | myflcourtaccess.com; FDLE (criminal history) - fdle.state.fl.us | (850) 410-8109; Clerk of Court (varies by county)