Miami-Dade County Court Records
According to Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.420, court records refer to any information documented in relation to a court case and preserved by the court clerk's office. This information may be stored in electronic, paper, audio, or videotape format.
In Miami-Dade County, Florida, court records have significant purposes for various parties, including lawyers, members of the public, and the courts themselves. Legal professionals use court records to understand a case's background, facts, and previous rulings, enabling them to build strong legal arguments, advise clients, and make informed decisions. Access to Maimi-Dade County court records also allows members of the public to stay knowledgeable about legal matters that may directly or indirectly affect their lives, communities, or interests.
Court records are also critical to the judicial process. Court filings, progress dockets, and other records help the courts stay current with cases, optimize how they schedule hearings, and track cases more efficiently. They also support a judge's decision-making process, allowing them to check legal precedents when rendering judgments. Unless otherwise specified by law or judicial records, most Maimi-dade court records can be classified as Miami-dade County Public Records which are subject to public disclosure.
Are Court Records Public in Miami-Dade County?
Yes, court records in Miami-Dade County are designated public records. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes (Florida Public Records Law) governs the access to and disclosure of public records, including court records. However, Article V, Section 2 of the Florida Constitution authorizes the state's Supreme Court to rule for court practice and procedures. Florida's Supreme Court establishes guidelines that regulate public access to court records in Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration.
According to the law, court records are generally available to the public unless exempted. Records made confidential by a court rule or law include:
- Judicial records, including materials related to the court's decision-making process, records of complaints alleging misconduct against judges or regulated entities until probable cause is established, and periodic evaluations of judges for performance improvement
- Arrest warrants, search warrants, and supporting affidavits until the warrants are executed, or law enforcement authorities determine that execution cannot be made
Additionally, court records can be determined confidential for specific reasons, such as to protect the administration of justice, trade secrets, or government interests.
What Do Miami-Dade County Court Records Contain?
Court records in Miami-Dade County contain various information related to legal proceedings that have taken place within the county. Typical contents of court records generated in the county include:
- Case information: Docket or case numbers, parties' names, and filing dates.
- Deposition transcripts: Includes written records of sworn statements made by witnesses or parties outside the court, usually as part of the pre-trial discovery process.
- Witness lists: Lists of individuals whose testimonies are expected during a hearing or trial.
- Legal documents: Petitions, complaints, briefs, motions, and other legal filings submitted by parties during a case.
- Protective orders or injunctions: Court orders that restrict or prohibit specific actions, such as contact between parties in cases involving stalking, harassment, or domestic violence.
- Judgments and court orders: Rulings or decisions issued by a judicial officer presiding over a case.
- Transcripts and minutes: Written records of the proceedings, including arguments, testimonies, and statements made in court.
- Evidence: Exhibits, photographs, documents, and other data presented during a trial or hearing to refute or support a claim.
- Court schedules and calendars: Information about upcoming hearings, trials, and other court events.
Where to Conduct a Miami-Dade County Case Lookup
Members of the public can request court records through the following means:
- In-person requests at the courthouse
- Online requests on the website of the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts
- Mail requests to the Office of the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts
How to Conduct a Miami-Dade County Court Case Search
Individuals looking to find court records in Miami-Dade County can follow these methods recommended by the county's Clerk of the Courts Office.
Online Case Records Search
The Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts provides different online search tools for looking up case information:
According to the clerk's office, information found on these databases is not considered an official record unless explicitly stated.
To search any of the above databases, one typically requires a name or unique identifying number. This is often a case participant's name or case/citation number. Additional search options (like a filing date range or case status) are provided in some cases.
Researchers should note that these search engines only provide case information, not case documents (only docket sheets are provided). Persons requiring case or court documents are advised to use the Advanced Search option or submit a request letter to the court.
The Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts offers an advanced search option online to grant researchers access to additional case information and official records. Users must register to use the platform, however.
Registered users can access Civil, Family, and Probate case records free of charge in line with the latest version of the Access Security Matrix and the Standards for Access to Electronic Court Records of the Florida Supreme Court.
Individuals who want to perform advanced searches must purchase units at $0.50 per unit, and they can buy as many units as they wish. Each search costs one search unit, which will be deducted from the user's account after every search.
In-Person/Mail Case Records Search
Individuals who want to search criminal, family, probate, or civil case records in Miami-Dade County can also email the clerk's office, stop by during regular business hours, or send a request letter to the following address:
Records Management
Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts
P.O. Box 14695
Miami, FL 33101
For these requests, individuals should complete the Public Records Request form and send it to the clerk's office via their preferred means.
Upon submission by mail or email, each requester will receive an acknowledgment of receipt. For any subsequent related correspondence, individuals should use the same email address: cocpubreq@miamidade.gov.
Note that certified copies preserved by the Clerk of the Courts Office are considered the official court records, as they bear the seal of the court. Requesters may incur fees and other service charges when ordering such copies or copies of court records in general. Official court documents cost $1 per page and $2 per certified document. Any requester who does not know the filing year or case number of cases can pay an extra search fee of $2 per year and per name, which will be applied for every year searched across all document types.
Miami-Dade County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records in Miami-Dade County consist of papers, electronic files, and materials created or presented during non-criminal legal proceedings. Examples of these proceedings include contractual disputes, personal injury claims, and family-related matters.
The Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts is responsible for keeping and distributing civil court case records. Interested persons can obtain these records by submitting a written request to:
Dade County Clerk's Office
Attention: Correspondence Department.
73 West Flagler Street, Suite 137
Miami, FL 33130
They can also visit:
Miami-Dade County Courthouse
73 West Flagler Street, Suite 133
Miami, FL 33130
Requesters are also expected to provide the following details to facilitate the search:
- Filing year of case
- Case number or book and page number
- Party name
- Stamped envelope (self-addressed)
- Request fee ($1 per page and $2 per certified document)
Miami-Dade County Criminal Court Case Records
Miami-Dade County criminal court case records are documents, paperwork, electronic recordings, and evidence made by or submitted to a criminal circuit or county court because of a criminal court case. The Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts maintains and disseminates these records.
Individuals can request certified copies via mail:
Traffic Cases
Miami-Dade County - Criminal Division
Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building
1351 NorthWest 12th Street
Suite 124
Miami, FL 33125
Misdemeanor Cases
Miami-Dade County - Criminal Division
Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building
1351 NorthWest 12th Street
Suite 8100
Miami, FL 33125
Felony Cases
Miami-Dade County - Criminal Division
Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building
1351 NorthWest 12th Street
Suite 9000
Miami, FL 33125
Requesters must provide the following information to the clerk's office:
- The defendant's name
- Date of birth
- Charge(s)
- Type of document(s) being requested
- Case number
- Stamped envelope (self-addressed)
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Users can access court records for free on the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts website. However, these free searches are limited to basic case information. A person must pay a fee to obtain official court records online or through other means provided by the county clerk's office.
Considered open to citizens of the United States, court records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:
- The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
- The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.
While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.
Courts in Miami-Dade County
Below are the addresses of the courts in Miami-Dade County:
Joseph Caleb Center Court
5400 NorthWest 22nd Avenue
Suite 103
Miami, FL 33142
Coral Gables District Court
3100 Ponce de Leon Boulevard
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Hialeah District Court
11 East 6th Street
Hialeah, FL 33010
Miami Beach District Court
1130 Washington Avenue
Suite 200
Miami Beach, FL 33139
North Dade Justice Center
15555 Biscayne Boulevard
Suite 100
North Miami Beach, FL 33160
South Dade Justice Center
10710 SouthWest 211th Street
Suite 1200
Miami, FL 33189
Miami-Dade Children's Courthouse
155 NorthWest 3 Street
Suite 3318
Miami, FL 33128
Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center
175 NorthWest First Avenue
Miami, FL 33128
Miami-Dade County Courthouse
73 West Flagler Street
Miami, FL 33130
Miami-Dade County Courthouse East
22 NorthWest First Street
Miami, FL 33128
Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building
1351 NorthWest 12th Street
Miami, FL 33125
