Florida Court Case Lookup

Per the Florida Public Records Act, anyone has the right to inspect or request copies of court records from the appropriate records custodian. A Florida court case lookup aids the process of obtaining these records from their respective custodial agencies.

A court case is a lawsuit brought to court by someone against another person. The court is expected to make decisions about disagreements between parties based on Florida laws and statutes. Court cases in Florida are broadly divided into criminal and civil cases. All documents relating to a court case are recorded at the state or county court having jurisdiction over the matter.

Are Court Cases Public Record in Florida?

Yes. Per Florida Pubilc Records Act, court cases are public records except if such record is closed by court order or:

The record contains bank account numbers, social security numbers, debit, charge, and credit card numbers
The court case information reveals surveillance procedures or personnel
The court case information reveals the substance of a confession of an arrested person
The record reveals the identity of a confidential source
Exposes the identity of undercover personnel of any criminal justice agency
The record contains confidential criminal intelligence or investigative information
The record contains a comprehensive inventory of local and state law enforcement resources

How to Conduct a Florida Court Case Lookup

Each Flordia Court has an Online Public Docket where an individual can conduct a court case lookup. The search can be done by case number, party or attorney, lower tribunal case number, dates filed, or cases filed. Individuals can also request court case records at any Florida Courts locations. Alternatively, a court case lookup can be done at the County Clerk of Courts Offices. For instance, a Broward County resident can check for court case information online or in person at any of the Clerk of Courts office locations. Online court case requests can be made by party name, business name, case number, or citation number. Online requesters should expect to retrieve the following information when they conduct court case lookups at the county level:

Case details (case number, status, and type, court type and location, incident date, state reporting number, filing date, judge ID/name)
Party details (party type, name and address, and attorney's name and address)
Dispositions (date, statistical closure, disposition, pages)
Events and documents (date, description, additional text, and pages)
Hearings
Related cases

Can I Get Florida Court Case Documents Online?

Yes. A requester can get Florida court case documents online at the State Courts Self-Help page. Additionally, Florida court case documents are available online at the County Clerk of Courts websites. For instance, the Sumter County Clerk of Courts allows individuals to download Court Forms that can be used to file court cases.

How to Conduct a Florida Court Search by Name

A requester can conduct a Florida court case search by name at State Courts. For instance, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal has an Online Docket where a court record search can be done by the party or attorney’s name. An inquirer who wants to conduct a court search by name via the online tool must select whether to search for a party or an attorney and enter either a last name or first name, a Florida bar number, or a prisoner number. In-person requesters can visit the court during business hours (8 AM to 5 PM, Monday - Friday) to retrieve court case information by providing the record holder’s name. The court is located at:

The Second District Court of Appeal
1700 N. Tampa Street, Suite 300
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (727) 610-3741

Alternatively, a court search by name can also be done at the County Clerk of Courts offices. For instance, the Brevard County Clerk of Courts has a Case Search tool where inquirers can retrieve court case information by name search. Here is how to conduct a court case search by name via the Case Search tool:

Click on either BECA - General Public Court Records Search or BECA - Registered User Login on the homepage
Select “Accept” and click on “Submit”.
Click on either General Public Court Records Search or Subscriber Court Records Search
Search can be conducted by person name, business name, or warrant name

Alternatively, a requester can visit any of the Brevard County Clerk of Courts office locations to search for court records by name.

What is a Court Case Number?

A case number is a unique number the court assigns to a case. Every document filed with the court in Florida is given a case number to properly route files within the court. Case numbers are used so the court system can have a uniform way of accessing case information.

How to Conduct a Case Number Search in Florida

Florida State Courts and County Clerk of Courts have online tools where an inquirer can conduct a case number search. For instance, a requester can use the Online Docket on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal’s website to conduct a case number search. Alternatively, the record seeker can visit the Courthouse to conduct a case number search:

Florida Third District Court of Appeal
2001 S.W. 117th Avenue
Miami, FL 33175
Phone: (305) 229-3200

A case number search can also be done at the county level. Here is how to conduct a case number search online in Orange County:

Go to the Orange County Clerk of Courts website
Click on the “Search Records” menu
Go to the “Case Number” search box and fill in the appropriate details

Individuals who cannot find Court records via the Search Records tool can send a case number search request to the Orange County Clerk of Courts’ office online, by mail, or in person. A mail applicant must submit a completed Records Request by Mail form to the Office. In-person requests can be made at:

Orange County Clerk of Courts
425 N. Orange Ave.
Suite 150
Orlando, FL 32801

How to Remove Court Cases From Public Record in Florida

There are various ways to remove court cases from public records in Florida. For instance, individuals must meet the criteria set forth in Sections 943.0585 and 943.059 of the Florida Statutes to be eligible to have their criminal records sealed or expunged by the State Court.

The first step in expunging or sealing a criminal case is to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) office. The application form can be downloaded from their website or by requesting the form at the FDLE Expunge Section by email (SEinfo@fdle.state.fl.us). The processing time to determine eligibility is typically 90 working days from the application date. After receiving a Certificate of Eligibility from the FDLE, file a petition for relief alongside the Certificate and affidavit in the court having jurisdiction over the arrest. If the criminal case record is eligible and the court grants relief, a court order will be sent to the FDLE. The FDLE will then seal or expunge the criminal history case and send a notification letter to the arresting and all criminal justice agencies involved with the criminal case.

Subsequently, the arresting agency will then send a certified copy of the court order to all agencies like the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice, to which they previously disseminated the criminal history information of the offender. Also, the Clerk of the Court will send a certified copy of the court order to the appropriate State Attorney’s Office or Statewide Prosecutor’s Office. Review the Seal and Expunge FAQ page o the FDLE website for more information on how to remove criminal court cases from public records.

Also, Florida residents can send requests to the Clerk of Courts to remove information in their court records from public view. Examples of records or information that can be redacted from public view are:

Death certificates
Military discharges
Confidential information within a document like social security number, credit card number, bank account number, or debit card number
Court documents associated with juvenile actions, family law, and probate matters.

For instance, a requester in Pasco County can submit a completed Notice of Confidential Information form to the Clerk & Comptroller's Office to have their personal information removed from court records. If the confidential information is also recorded in the official record, the requester must submit the necessary form to have such information removed from publicly available websites.

How to Check a Court Case Status in Florida

A record seeker can check a court case status at State Courts. For instance, a requester can check a court case status online on the Supreme Court website by clicking the Online Docket tool on the homepage. Then, search for case status by case number, party or attorney, lower tribunal case number, date filed, and case filed. Alternatively, a record seeker can find court case status at the County Clerk of Courts Offices or Circuit Court & Comptroller's offices. For instance, the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s office has an online tool where individuals can view the status of a court case. Here is how to use the online tool to search:

Click on “Online Searches” at the top of the
Click on “Search Court Records”
Click on any search options to view a court case status at Manatee County.

Requesters can visit the Office during business hours (Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm) to check a court case status. The Office is located at:

Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
1115 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205

How to Find Supreme Court Decisions in Florida

A record seeker can find Supreme Court decisions at the Florida Supreme Court. Typically, the Clerk's Office posts opinions every Thursday by 11 a.m. on their website. However, opinions can be released outside this schedule in case of emergencies. The Clerks also announce scheduled and unscheduled opinions via Twitter@flcourts. Alternatively, requesters can use the Search All Opinions tool on the Supreme Court website to view or obtain copies of court opinions.

What Percentage of Court Cases Go to Trial in Florida

As of 2022, nearly 72,000 people were defendants in federal criminal cases, but only 2.3% went to trial. About 89.5% of the defendants pleaded guilty instead, while the remaining 8.2% had their cases dismissed.

How Long Does a Court Case Last in Florida

The timeline of a court case varies depending on the case type. For instance, an uncontested divorce case in Florida can last four to six weeks, while criminal cases usually last between 90 days for misdemeanors and 180 days for felonies.