Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court Records Search
Trying to find a Miami-Dade court case? Whether you’re checking a lawsuit, verifying a criminal disposition, searching a divorce or probate file, looking up a traffic citation, or requesting a certified judgment, the quickest route is to choose the right search system first.
The Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller operates separate systems for civil, family and probate cases; criminal cases; traffic and citations; and recorded property documents. This guide walks through those services, explains what the results mean, and shows what to do when a document is missing or restricted.
Independent court-record information guide reviewed October 2026. The Clerk maintains the official records and controls access, fees, authentication, court documents and transaction services.
Which Miami-Dade Clerk Search Should You Use?
Before searching, decide what type of record you need. Many unsuccessful searches occur simply because someone enters a person’s name into the criminal portal when the case was civil, or looks for a recorded deed in the judicial case database.
Civil lawsuits, small claims, eviction proceedings, divorce, family and probate records, subject to court access rules.
Open official OCS searchFelony and misdemeanor cases, defendant search, criminal docket information, images and calendars.
Open criminal records portalTraffic case lookup, citation-related information and available payment routes.
Find Traffic Online SystemRecorded deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens, judgments and other instruments.
Official Records searchUse the Clerk’s case/citation-number entry form when you already have the number and want to try a direct lookup.
Quick case/citation searchOrder eligible certified court documents or recorded instruments through the Clerk’s supported request methods.
Certified copies informationHow to Search Miami-Dade Civil Court Cases with OCS
Miami-Dade’s Civil, Family and Probate Courts Online System (OCS) is the primary official route for those case types. It provides standard and advanced searches, public access, result cards and permitted document details. Registering for free access can reduce CAPTCHA interruptions and provide additional access permitted under Florida’s electronic-court-record rules.
- Open the official OCS portal. Go to Miami-Dade Civil, Family and Probate Online System.
- Choose the search method. Use the portal navigation for the appropriate standard or advanced search option.
- Enter the required details. Required fields are marked with an asterisk. Use the complete case number when you have it, or enter the party information requested by the selected search.
- Submit the search. Follow the portal’s CAPTCHA or registered-user requirements.
- Review matching record cards. Open the likely result and compare the case number, case type, party names and dates.
- Read case and docket details. Identify relevant hearings, filed motions, court orders, judgments and later activity.
- Check document availability. Select the relevant record card or docket entry to inspect the details and available images.
- Order a certified copy when required. The Clerk allows supported civil, family and probate certified-copy orders online, by mail or in person.
What cases are in the civil-side system?
| Division | Common cases | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| County Civil | Qualifying civil disputes, landlord/tenant and eviction matters. | Case number, claims, parties, judgment and any later enforcement action. |
| Small Claims | Qualifying smaller civil money disputes within Florida’s small-claims jurisdiction. | Case amount, scheduled events and final disposition. |
| Circuit Civil | Cases within circuit-court civil jurisdiction, including qualifying larger civil disputes and other assigned matters. | Civil division, orders and final judgment details. |
| Family | Divorce, domestic relations and related family proceedings. | Case parties, disposition and whether documents are remotely accessible. |
| Probate | Estate and guardianship-related court proceedings, where accessible. | Estate name, case number, appointments, orders and record restrictions. |
Miami-Dade Criminal Case Search: COIN / CJIS
The Criminal Justice Online Case Search system covers available felony and misdemeanor case details, criminal docket entries, document images and calendar searches. Unlike a simple name lookup, the system provides multiple search methods, making it useful when you have an arrest-related number, citation or case reference instead of a complete case number.
Available COIN search methods
Criminal search — step by step
- Open the official criminal portal. Visit Criminal Justice Online Case Search.
- Choose a search tab. Use Case Number, State Case Number, Citation/Police Number, Defendant, Jail Number or the supported calendar option.
- Enter the required fields. The case-number route may ask for branch, year, number and suffix. The defendant search requests identifying details appropriate to that screen.
- Complete the verification step. Registered users can avoid some CAPTCHA or search restrictions.
- Open the matching case card. Verify the defendant and case identifiers against the document or reliable information you have.
- Read the docket. Look for arraignment, filings, hearings, orders, sentencing, dismissals or other recorded dispositions.
- Open a document image when available. The portal’s instructions say to go to Dockets, expand the relevant entry and use the image icon to access a document and certified-copy ordering where available.
- Confirm important legal status directly. If a hearing, warrant, payment deadline or disposition matters, obtain current confirmation from the Clerk or responsible court.
Using the official criminal search walkthrough
The Clerk also publishes a visual guide to its criminal case-search interface. If you are unsure what branch, year, case number or suffix means, check the help materials linked from the official criminal system. The guide illustrates the search tabs and case-number entry fields.
How to Search Miami-Dade Court Records by Person or Business Name
Name searches help locate a case when no case number is available. However, same-name matches are particularly easy to confuse in a large county. Use the correct case portal and confirm several pieces of information before relying on a result.
Person name search
- Start with the person’s legal first and last name.
- Choose the appropriate civil-side or criminal search system.
- Use the exact required fields for the selected portal.
- Narrow results by supported case categories or date clues.
- Compare the parties, case number, year and disposition.
- When identity matters, obtain the official record rather than relying on a name-only match.
Business or company search
- Use OCS for qualifying civil actions.
- Enter the business’s legal name in the supported search field.
- If needed, retry a verified name variation or trade name.
- Compare the actual parties and filing details.
- Do not confuse the business appearing in a lawsuit with proof of liability.
- Review the judgment or later docket entries to understand the case outcome.
Miami-Dade Traffic, Parking and Civil Citation Searches
The Clerk lists different applications for traffic citations, parking violations and other civil infractions. Do not assume that a parking ticket issued by a municipality will appear in a felony or misdemeanor case search.
- Open the Clerk’s official Records services directory.
- Choose Traffic Online System for a traffic-related matter, or Parking Violations for the relevant municipal parking citation.
- Search using the citation or case information requested by that service.
- Open the correct result and confirm the violation, issue date, case status and payment information.
- If paying, verify the citation number and current total on the official payment screen.
- If the portal does not show a recent update or an urgent deadline is involved, confirm directly with the Clerk.
You can also use the Clerk’s Quick Online Search with a known case or citation number.
Miami-Dade Official Records Search: Deeds, Mortgages, Liens and Judgments
The County Recorder’s Official Records system is different from the judicial case-search portals. It maintains recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, liens, satisfactions, releases, declarations of domicile and certain judgments.
Recorded-document search steps
- Open Miami-Dade Official Records.
- Select the official Search Records option.
- Choose the supported name, document or recording-reference search method.
- For party searches, use the legal name or a verified business name.
- Use the Clerk’s File Number (CFN), Official Records Book/Page or legal description when available.
- Compare the recording date, parties, instrument type and property description.
- Open an available recorded image or request the desired document from the Records Library.
- Use the certified-copy service if the receiving agency requires formal certification.
The Clerk says most recorded instruments from 1974 forward can be searched on the internet. Some additional complex searches require purchased advanced-search units.
Older recorded documents may not be available for direct online retrieval. The Clerk directs users to mail or in-person research and copy-request options.
How to request an older deed or mortgage
- Identify the parties, approximate recording year and instrument type.
- For deeds or mortgages, gather the property address or legal description if possible.
- Use the Records Library instructions.
- Request a staff-assisted search or use the public records computers in person.
- Ask for the specific document and confirm page count, copying and certification fees.
How to Get Miami-Dade Court Records and Certified Copies
A public case search displays reference information. A certified copy is produced through the Clerk’s authorized process. If you need to prove the wording of a judgment, divorce decree, probate order or recorded instrument, confirm whether an ordinary copy or certified copy is required.
| Record type | Certified-copy route | Special consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Civil cases | Online, by mail or in person. | Images may require free registered access when permitted by court rules. |
| Family cases | Online, by mail or in person. | Confidential or protected document access remains limited. |
| Probate cases | Online, by mail or in person. | Some guardianship or sensitive case material is restricted. |
| Criminal cases | Supported online or Clerk request routes. | The Clerk’s criminal certified-copy page has case-specific instructions. |
| Juvenile cases | Mail or in person. | Confidentiality and authorization rules apply. |
| Official Records | Online, by mail or in person. | Recorded documents before 1974 are handled through mail or in-person routes. |
| Marriage licenses | Online, by mail or in person. | Use marriage-record search and certified-copy instructions. |
Online certified-copy workflow
- Open the Clerk’s Certified Copies service.
- Choose the correct case or records category.
- Follow the official search link and find the case or recorded document.
- Locate the exact document image where the portal supports online ordering.
- Select the certified-copy order option.
- Review all copy and certification charges before paying.
- Complete the transaction and retain the Clerk’s order or receipt reference.
Mail and in-person requests
For civil court certified copies, the Clerk lists its Civil Department at the Miami-Dade County Civil & Probate Courthouse, 20 NW 1st Avenue, Suite 6.240, Miami, FL 33128. A mailed request should include the case number or other identifying reference, year, parties, requested documents, a self-addressed stamped envelope and the required payment.
For Official Records copies, the Clerk’s current instructions identify the Recorder service at 20 NW 1st Street, Suite 5.246, Miami, FL 33128. Confirm your selected division and address on the live official certified-copy page before visiting or mailing documents.
Miami-Dade Clerk Case Search, Copy and Records Fees
Some of the Clerk’s standard online record-search services are free, while advanced searches and certified copies can carry fees. The amounts below are from published Clerk service pages; they are different from court filing fees, traffic fines and case balances.
| Service | Published charge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard public online case search | Free standard access | Subject to search limits, CAPTCHA and case-access restrictions. |
| Registered advanced civil/family/probate access | Free registration | Additional access is limited by court electronic-access rules. |
| Official Records advanced-search unit | $1 per search unit | Advanced searches deduct units from the account. |
| Standard court or recorded document copy | $1 per page | Published standard copying fee for applicable records. |
| Certification | $2 per document | Added to applicable copy charges. |
| Clerk record search when case year/number unknown | $2 per year per name | May apply to assisted certified-copy requests. |
| Oversized recorded-document copy | $5 per page | Applies to qualifying large-format documents. |
| Standard instrument recording | $10 first page; $8.50 additional page | Documentary stamp taxes and other charges may also apply. |
Why Miami-Dade Court Records May Not Be Viewable Online
Finding a case summary does not guarantee that every filing is available remotely. Some document images require a free registered account, some have not been made available online, and others are legally restricted.
An account may be needed to view certain permitted images under the Florida court electronic-access standards.
Some family and protected-party filings cannot be exposed through unrestricted internet access.
Confidential juvenile cases have special access and certified-copy procedures.
A court seal or other legal restriction limits public access.
Some historical materials require records management or courthouse assistance.
New filings and docket updates may not appear immediately in every online interface.
Request a record not found online
- Check that you are using the appropriate official records service.
- Record the case number, names, case type and approximate filing date.
- Open the Clerk’s Public Records Requests page.
- Review the record category and whether the Clerk directs your request to a specific division or Records Management.
- Submit enough identifying information to locate the requested record.
- Ask whether a plain copy, certified copy or authorized access process applies.
Miami-Dade Clerk of Court Locations, Contact & Help
Miami-Dade County has multiple Clerk and courthouse service locations. The right place depends on whether you need a civil file, criminal record, recorded deed, certified copy or another service.
Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center
20 NW 1st AvenueMiami, FL 33128
Civil and probate-related Clerk services. Verify the correct suite for the transaction.
Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building
1351 NW 12th StreetMiami, FL 33125
Criminal division, with separate service suites for felonies, misdemeanors and traffic records.
Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center
175 NW 1st AvenueMiami, FL 33128
One of the Clerk’s central listed courthouse service locations.
Miami-Dade Children’s Courthouse
155 NW 3rd Street, Suite 3318Miami, FL 33128
Juvenile-related services with confidentiality and access restrictions.
General Clerk phone: 305-275-1155.
Find the correct branch before travelling
- Open the official Court Location Finder.
- Enter the relevant Miami-Dade ZIP code.
- Review the Clerk locations returned by the tool.
- Open the directions for the location that handles your record category.
- Confirm its current hours, suite and service availability before visiting.
No Miami-Dade Court Case Found? Try This Recovery Path
| Problem | Likely reason | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| No civil case found | Wrong division, spelling, year or case-number format. | Use OCS and verify the case identifier or party names from the original court notice. |
| No criminal case found | Wrong search field or incomplete defendant information. | Try the correct COIN search tab and a verified case, state case or police reference. |
| Traffic citation missing | Using the criminal portal for an infraction or checking before processing is complete. | Use the traffic service and verify the citation directly if a deadline is near. |
| Docket exists but no PDF | Restricted access, login requirement or unavailable image. | Check eligible registration or the official certified-copy/request procedure. |
| Older deed not found | Recorded before the modern online image coverage. | Use the Records Library or request a mail/in-person search. |
| Case appears closed but balance remains | Court status and financial obligations are different fields. | Check payment history and confirm amounts with the Clerk. |
| Person with same name appears | Multiple possible identities. | Compare case number, reliable identifiers, party role and disposition before drawing conclusions. |
Miami-Dade Clerk Records and Search Sources
This is an independent informational guide. It is not affiliated with, operated by, or authorized to act for the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller.
Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court Case Search — 10 FAQs
1. How do I search Miami-Dade County court cases online?
Use the Clerk’s official OCS system for civil, family and probate cases, and the Criminal Justice Online Case Search system for felony and misdemeanor cases. Choose the supported search method, enter the case number or party information and review the matching case details and docket.
2. Can I search Miami-Dade court cases by name?
Yes. The official civil-side and criminal search systems support searches using available party or defendant information. Confirm the case number, parties, dates and disposition to avoid confusing different people with similar names.
3. Is Miami-Dade Clerk of Court case search free?
Standard online court-record searches are generally available without a search fee, subject to public-access rules and search limits. Free registration may provide additional permitted access and reduce CAPTCHA interruptions. Certain advanced Official Records searches, copies and certifications carry charges.
4. How do I find Miami-Dade criminal court records?
Open the Clerk’s Criminal Justice Online Case Search portal. It supports case number, state case number, citation/police number, defendant and jail number searches, along with selected calendar searches. Open the matching case to review available docket entries and images.
5. Can I find Miami-Dade divorce and probate cases online?
Yes. The Clerk’s Civil, Family and Probate Courts Online System provides public search options for available family and probate case information. Some images require free registered access, and confidential records remain restricted.
6. How much do certified Miami-Dade court records cost?
The Clerk publishes standard copy charges of $1 per page plus $2 to certify a document for applicable records. If the case year or number is unknown, a $2-per-year-per-name search fee may apply. Confirm the final amount for the selected document and delivery method.
7. Where can I search Miami-Dade deeds, mortgages and liens?
Use the Clerk’s Official Records search or Records Library. Most recorded documents from 1974 onward can be searched online. Documents from before 1974 may require mail or in-person access through the Recorder’s records service.
8. Why can’t I see a Miami-Dade court document image?
The image may require a free registered account, may not be available remotely, or may be restricted by court confidentiality rules. Check the Clerk’s certified-copy instructions and the authorized records-request procedure. Registration does not override legal restrictions.
9. What is the phone number for the Miami-Dade Clerk of Court?
The Clerk lists the general telephone number as 305-275-1155. Miami-Dade operates multiple service locations, so use the official locations directory or Court Location Finder to identify the appropriate office for your court or records request.
10. Is the online Miami-Dade case search the official certified court record?
No. The Clerk states that information displayed through electronic access is not itself the official Clerk record. For official authentication, order a certified copy through the Clerk’s authorized service or contact the responsible division.