Miami-Dade County Court Records
Search Court Records in Miami-Dade County, Florida
Start a name-based search through MiamiDadeRecords.org to identify possible Miami-Dade County cases, compare matching records, and choose the appropriate official source for confirmation or documents.
- Start with a party’s name and relevant identifying details.
- Compare possible cases using dates, court names, and case numbers.
- Use the responsible court or custodian for current information and documents.
What May Be Available in Miami-Dade County Court Records
Miami-Dade County court records can involve circuit and county court matters handled within the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Available information varies by case type and access restrictions.
| Record or case category | Information to review |
|---|---|
| Civil cases | Case number, parties, case activity, filed materials, orders, or judgments where available |
| Criminal cases | Defendant and case identifiers, docket activity, charges or case events, and court dispositions where available |
| Family and divorce cases | Parties, case identifiers, docket entries, filings, and family-court orders where accessible |
| Probate cases | Estate or party information, case number, docket activity, and probate filings or orders where available |
| County court matters | Misdemeanor, small-claims, and qualifying civil matters, depending on the responsible court and record system |
- Online case information and document access can have different limits.
- A filing, allegation, or docket entry does not by itself establish a final outcome.
How to Search Court Records in Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County uses separate official systems for civil, family, probate, and criminal case information. Begin by identifying the likely type of case before selecting a search route.
- Identify the likely case type and responsible court.
- Start with the party’s name or case number, as supported by the relevant system.
- Compare case identifiers, parties, dates, and court divisions.
- Review available docket entries or documents and use the official custodian for confirmation.
Useful details to collect before searching include:
- Party name and relevant alternate spellings
- Case number
- Court or division
- Approximate filing or event date
The civil, family, and probate system is separate from the criminal justice system. A criminal case generally will not appear in the civil, family, and probate portal, and civil or family cases will not appear in the criminal portal.
Official Miami-Dade County Court Record Sources
The Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller is the statutory custodian of county court records under Florida law. The Eleventh Judicial Circuit serves Miami-Dade County and operates through multiple courthouse locations, including the North Dade Justice Center, South Dade Justice Center, and Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building.
| Official source | What it provides | Scope or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade Civil, Family & Probate Case Search | Searchable civil, family, and probate case information | Does not include criminal cases |
| Miami-Dade Criminal Justice Case Search | Searchable criminal case information | Does not include civil, family, or probate cases |
| Miami-Dade Clerk Records Portal | Clerk records information and routes to available record services | Includes different systems for different record types |
| Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller | Custodian information, contacts, and county court-record services | Not itself a single case-search database |
| Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida | Court administration and courthouse information | Use for court information rather than as a case-search portal |
Searching Official Miami-Dade County Court Sources Online
Official online searching begins with the system that matches the case type. The Clerk’s civil, family, and probate portal and criminal justice portal support searches by party name or case number.
- For a civil, family, or probate matter, use the Miami-Dade Civil, Family & Probate Case Search.
- Select the applicable case type, then enter a party name or case number.
- Review the resulting case index and docket entries to compare parties and case activity.
- For a criminal matter, use the separate Miami-Dade Criminal Justice Case Search and search by party name or case number.
These portals can provide case information and docket activity. Access to a case index or docket does not necessarily mean that every filed document, order, or judgment image is available online.
Finding a Court Docket or Hearing Date in Miami-Dade County
A docket records activity in a case, while a hearing calendar lists scheduled court events. They are not necessarily maintained or updated in the same system.
- Locate the correct Miami-Dade County case or court division using the relevant civil, family, probate, or criminal portal.
- Review available docket entries for filings, orders, notices, and other recorded activity.
- For hearing information, use the responsible court’s information route through the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.
- Confirm important scheduling details with the responsible court when needed.
A docket entry can show that a hearing was scheduled or that an event occurred, but it should not be treated as confirmation of a current hearing date. Scheduling information can change.
Obtaining Miami-Dade County Court Documents and Certified Copies
Viewing a case summary or docket is different from obtaining a court document. An ordinary printout is not necessarily a certified copy, and a certified criminal history check is distinct from a certified copy of a filed court document.
| What you need | Appropriate official route |
|---|---|
| Online civil, family, or probate case information | Civil, Family & Probate Case Search |
| Online criminal case information | Criminal Justice Case Search |
| Clerk guidance on records services | Miami-Dade Clerk Records Portal |
| Certified criminal history check | Miami-Dade Criminal Records Requests |
For a records request:
- Identify the court or custodian maintaining the record.
- Gather the case number, party names, and the specific document requested.
- Specify whether an ordinary copy or certified copy is needed.
- Follow the documented request procedure for that service.
Miami-Dade County documents certified criminal history checks through the Clerk’s office. That service is available online, by mail, or in person and requires identifying information for the subject. It is not the same service as certification of a particular court-file document. No transcript request procedure is documented in the listed official sources.
Miami-Dade County Court Record Access and Search Limitations
Florida law generally provides public access to court records unless a statute or court order closes the record. See Florida Statutes § 119.0714 — Court Files and Court Records.
- Identity: Similar party names can refer to different people; compare case numbers, dates, and court details.
- Jurisdiction: Miami-Dade County systems do not establish coverage of every municipal, appellate, federal, or out-of-county matter.
- Coverage: Civil, family, probate, and criminal matters use separate documented online routes.
- Documents: A case index or docket does not establish access to every filed document or image.
- Restrictions: Some case details or documents may be restricted by law or court order.
- Outcomes: A filing, allegation, docket event, or scheduled hearing is not a final judgment.
- Missing results: No search result does not prove that no case exists.
- Verification: Use the Clerk or responsible court when official confirmation or an official document is needed.
Related Miami-Dade County Record Guides
- Miami-Dade County Criminal Records — Review criminal case information and recorded outcomes while distinguishing court cases from broader criminal-history services.
- Miami-Dade County Divorce Records — Locate divorce case information, judgments, and the appropriate route for document-copy requests.
- Miami-Dade County Property Records — Find recorded deeds, assessment, and tax records, which are distinct from court case records.
Frequently Asked Questions About Miami-Dade County Court Records
Which portal should I use for Miami-Dade County civil, family, or probate cases?
- Use the Miami-Dade Civil, Family & Probate Case Search for those three case categories.
- The system supports searches by party name or case number.
- Criminal cases are not included in this portal and require the separate criminal justice search system.
Are Miami-Dade County criminal cases searched through the same system as family cases?
- No. Miami-Dade County maintains a separate Criminal Justice Case Search for criminal matters.
- Family, divorce, civil, and probate matters use the civil, family, and probate system instead.
- Both systems allow users to review case index information and available docket entries after locating a case.
Who maintains Miami-Dade County court records?
- The Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller maintains court records for the county and supports the Eleventh Judicial Circuit and county courts.
- Florida Statutes Chapter 28 establishes the Clerk’s role as custodian of court records.
- The Clerk can provide the appropriate official route when confirmation or a record request is needed.
How can I obtain a certified criminal history check in Miami-Dade County?
- The Clerk offers certified criminal history checks through its Criminal Records Requests service.
- Requests may be made online, by mail, or in person.
- This service requires identifying information for the subject and is different from obtaining a certified copy of a specific court-file document.