Case Search
Broward County case search lets the public look up court cases through the Broward County Clerk of Courts. This article explains the available search methods, how to narrow results, why some cases or documents cannot be viewed online, and how to request court records when a search does not provide the document you need.
Where Broward Court Cases Are Searched
The Broward County Clerk of Courts provides the public Case Search for cases in Broward County’s 17th Judicial Circuit. Its search options are Party Name, Business Name, Case Number, and Citation Number. Choose the option that matches the information you already have. A person’s name belongs in Party Name; a citation number belongs in Citation Number.
The public search operates at an anonymous access level. It can help you locate case information and view some electronic documents, but access depends on the record, the court category, and the user’s access level. The Clerk also states that information displayed through the site does not constitute the Clerk’s official court records. Keep that distinction in mind if you need a court document rather than information from a search result.
Choosing the Right Search Method
A case number is the most specific starting point when you have one. Enter it under Case Number rather than trying to locate the same case through a party’s name. A citation number has its own search option. Keeping those identifiers separate helps avoid searching the wrong field.
When you do not have a case number, Party Name allows you to search for an individual. Business Name is a separate option for a business named in a case. Before searching, look at the document or notice in your possession and identify exactly which name or number it provides. A person’s name, business name, case number, and citation number are different search inputs; one should not be substituted for another.
The Party Name screen includes a Court Type selection and filing-date fields. These can help narrow a broad search. If you are uncertain which court type applies, the screen offers an “All” selection. A narrower court type or date range is most useful when you have enough information to choose it accurately.
Party Name Search Requirements
For a Party Name search, both Last Name and First Name are required. The screen also provides a Middle Name field. Enter the name as accurately as you can from the information available to you, then review the results rather than assuming that a similar name identifies the case you want.
The Clerk applies exact-match rules to short names. Last names containing fewer than three characters return exact matches only. First names containing fewer than two characters do the same. If you include a middle name containing fewer than two characters, it also returns exact matches only. These rules matter when a short name produces fewer results than expected: changing a letter may change which cases appear.
Filing Dates and Result Limits
If you add a filing-date range, enter both Date From and Date To in the required MM/DD/YYYY format. The search requires both values for a date-range search. A date range can be useful when a name produces many possible matches, but it can exclude the case you want if your estimate of its filing date is wrong.
Record searches are limited to the first 200 results. When a common name produces a large set of matches, the Clerk recommends refining the search by selecting a court type, entering the party’s middle name, or entering a filing-date range. Use details you can verify. If an overly narrow search returns no useful match, reconsider the added criteria before concluding that the case cannot be found.
Reading a Case Search Result
Finding a case and viewing its documents are separate steps. A case may have a court progress docket with entries describing activity, while an electronic copy is unavailable for a particular docket item. The Clerk notes that not all court progress dockets have electronic case records available for online viewing.
Review the identifying information in a result against the information you already have, especially when searching by name. A matching name alone may not establish that you have the correct case. If your original paperwork includes a case number or citation number, compare it with the result and, when useful, run a search using that identifier.
A docket entry without an associated document does not necessarily mean the entry is an error. The Clerk began electronically scanning documents in 2011, and documents from before that time may not be available electronically. Document access also varies by case category and filing year. The Clerk’s Records Request page explains the online document categories and the paths for obtaining records that cannot be viewed through Case Search.
Why Some Records Are Restricted
Florida’s standards for access to electronic court records restrict some cases, documents, and information according to the record and the user’s access level. The anonymous public search therefore does not provide the same access as every other type of Clerk account. An unavailable document may reflect an access restriction, the type or age of the record, or the absence of an electronic copy.
The Clerk’s case-search glossary distinguishes several restrictions. An expunged case has been removed from the public record, usually by court order, and is not viewable. A sealed case has been sealed by court order and is not viewable. A confidential case is viewable only by certain users because of a statute or court order; some cases remain confidential until a particular event occurs. These categories should not be treated as interchangeable explanations for every missing search result.
Access to Sensitive Case Types
The Clerk’s records information says Attorney of Record or Registered User access is required to view electronic court records for Family cases, including divorce records, as well as Domestic Violence, Guardianship, Mental Health, and Probate cases. It also identifies Attorney of Record or Registered User access requirements for Juvenile Delinquency and for Juvenile Dependency and Adoption electronic records. Do not assume that a public search result grants anonymous access to documents in these categories.
The Clerk’s Case Search questions and answers explain that access levels protect confidential information. The anonymous public access level follows the rules applicable to that category of user. Other access levels involve subscription agreements and services that permit access to additional records. Account access does not make every confidential case or document public.
Public Documents and Redactions
A document available to the general public online is a public document that has been redacted to remove confidential information. Redaction hides information such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit card numbers. As a result, an online document can be available for viewing while some of its contents remain concealed.
Unredacted documents cannot be viewed online through the public search. The Clerk states that a person seeking an unredacted copy must go to the courthouse and present a state-issued ID. The Clerk must verify the person’s identity and confirm that the person is a party to the case before providing an unredacted copy. Being able to find a case online does not, by itself, establish access to an unredacted document.
Documents Displayed in Error
If you believe a document or information within a document is publicly displayed in error, the Clerk says to use the removal-request button at the top of the document while viewing it on the website. This provides a way to flag a specific online display. The Clerk also explains that some sensitive information in a document may fall outside an automatic confidentiality rule. Its Case Search questions and answers describe seeking relief from the court when a document should be made confidential because of its contents.
When Online Documents Are Unavailable
The Clerk’s Records Request page describes which electronic court documents are available online by court type, case type, and filing year. It lists Circuit Civil and County Civil electronic records filed on or after April 1, 2013, and Circuit Criminal Felony, Traffic, and Misdemeanor electronic records filed on or after January 6, 2014. The page also lists other case categories with additional access requirements. These dates describe the Clerk’s online electronic-document categories; they do not mean every document in a qualifying case can be viewed by an anonymous user.
If the case information or copies you need cannot be accessed on the website, consult the Records Request page for the applicable request method. It describes a Court Records Request route for certain older civil and criminal records. For records in the timeframes it directs to in-person service, the Clerk says you may visit the appropriate Clerk of Court service location to order, purchase, or view copies. Older court documents can be purchased only from the Archives Division.
Traffic and Misdemeanor cases filed before 2011 require particular attention. According to the Clerk, those cases were routinely purged from the main system and can be obtained through a Court Records Request or in person. If an older case does not appear where you expect it, a broader name search may not solve the document-access problem. The record-request instructions are the relevant next step.
Copies and Certified Court Documents
Viewing a case entry, viewing a document, and obtaining a certified document serve different purposes. The Clerk says electronic certified court documents are available for purchase through its website. Only electronic court documents that are viewable can be purchased online. If the document is not viewable under your access level, do not assume that the online purchase option will make it available.
For a document you need to submit elsewhere, identify what the receiving office requests before choosing between information displayed in Case Search, a document copy, and a certified court document. The Clerk expressly cautions that information provided through Case Search does not constitute its official court records. The Records Request page provides the Clerk’s procedures for obtaining court-record copies when online access does not meet your needs.
Common Search Problems
A search that returns too many cases, too few cases, or no viewable document calls for different checks. Work from the information you can confirm rather than repeatedly changing unrelated fields.
Too many name matches: Add a verified middle name, court type, or filing-date range. The search displays only the first 200 results.
No Party Name result: Confirm that both first and last names were entered. Recheck spelling and any date range or court type you selected.
A short name finds no match: Remember that the Clerk requires exact matches for last names under three characters, first names under two characters, and included middle names under two characters.
A number search fails: Confirm whether the number in your paperwork is a case number or a citation number, then select the matching search option.
A docket entry has no document: The item may lack an electronic copy. Older documents may predate the Clerk’s electronic scanning.
A case or document is inaccessible: Review the Clerk’s access restrictions and Records Request instructions. Anonymous public access does not cover every record.
These checks help distinguish a search-input problem from a document-access limitation. For example, narrowing a broad party-name search can reveal a more useful result, but refining the search cannot remove a confidentiality restriction. Similarly, finding the correct case number can confirm that you reached the intended docket without guaranteeing that every document attached to it is viewable online.
Preparing to Search or Request Records
Before opening Case Search, gather the identifiers already available in your paperwork. A case number or citation number lets you select the corresponding search option. If you have only a name, confirm the first and last name and note a middle name if one is available. An approximate filing period or known court type can help narrow a long results list, provided you do not exclude the case by using an uncertain date or category.
If your goal is a document, make note of the case information and the specific docket item you are trying to obtain. Then determine whether an electronic copy is viewable at your access level. When it is not, follow the Clerk’s Records Request instructions for that type and age of record. This sequence keeps the initial search focused on identifying the case and the records process focused on obtaining the copy you need.
Relevant Office
Broward County Clerk of Courts — 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 — (954) 831-6565
Case Search FAQs
Why can’t I finish creating my Clerk account?
After submitting the registration form, check the email address you provided for a message containing a link to complete registration. You must open that link before you can log in. If the message has not arrived, check your spam and junk folders. Creating an account does not automatically grant access to restricted records; additional access levels have separate requirements. The Clerk explains the registration steps in its Case Search frequently asked questions.
What should I do when my search session expires?
If a session timeout warning appears while you are using the Clerk’s public Case Search, select “Continue session” before it expires. If the page says JavaScript is required, enable JavaScript in your browser and reload the page. After an expired session, return to the search page and enter your criteria again rather than relying on a result left open in an inactive tab.
Can I get Broward court data in bulk?
Yes. The Clerk offers a Commercial Data Access API for purchasers of bulk records. The service covers nonconfidential records, requires a subscription and a notarized registration agreement, and has a cost. The Clerk also offers prepared daily, weekly, and monthly report downloads for a cost. These services are intended for larger data requests; if you need information about a particular case, use the public search.