Miami Beach City Family Court Records are public files held by the Miami-Dade Clerk of Court and Comptroller, not the Miami Beach city clerk. Every divorce, custody, support, paternity, adoption, and domestic violence case filed by a Miami Beach resident moves through the 11th Judicial Circuit Family Division.
The county clerk stores the docket, the filings, the judgments, and the certified copies you can order. This page shows you exactly where those records live, how to look them up, what you can see online, and what requires a formal request. You will learn the role of the city clerk, the role of the county clerk, the correct phone numbers, the correct websites, and the real fees tied to certified documents.
Where Miami Beach Family Court Records Are Kept
Miami Beach sits inside Miami-Dade County. Family cases that involve a Miami Beach address, a Miami Beach spouse, or a Miami Beach child are filed in the county system, not at any city office. The Miami-Dade Clerk of Court and Comptroller is the legal custodian of those records under Florida law. The current clerk is Juan Fernandez-Barquin. The main office is at 73 W. Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130. The general court records line is (305) 275-1155. The clerk’s website is miamidadeclerk.gov.
The Miami Beach City Clerk is a separate office. It sits at 1700 Convention Center Drive. Its phone line is (305) 673-7411. Its website is miamibeachfl.gov. That office handles city commission minutes, city contracts, city permits, and local elections. It does not hold family court files. Anyone who needs a divorce decree, a custody order, a support order, or a paternity judgment must contact the county clerk.
How to Search Miami Beach Family Court Records
The clerk runs two main search tools. One tool lives on the county clerk site. The other tool lives on the statewide Florida court site. Each tool has a different job. You pick the one that fits the case you need.
Search by Name Through the Clerk Portal
The county clerk’s online case search lets you look up Miami Beach family cases by party name. You type the last name, pick a case type, and pick a date range. The system pulls every matching case filed in the Family Division. You will see the case number, the judge, the filing date, the next hearing date, and the current status. The clerk site is free to use. You do not need an account to run a basic search.
Advanced searches carry a fee. The advanced tier shows full docket entries, every motion, and most court orders. The basic tier shows only the case summary. You can move from the basic tier to the advanced tier inside the same session if you have a payment method on hand.
The statewide portal at myflcourtaccess.com is the second tool. It is run by the Florida Courts system, not by the county clerk. It covers every circuit in the state, so it works well when you need to look up a Miami Beach case along with a case in another county.
Search by Case Number on the Statewide Portal
If you already have a case number, the statewide portal returns results faster. The case number format in Miami-Dade family cases starts with the year, the court code, the case type, and a six-digit sequence. The Florida E-Filing Portal accepts the same case number and will pull the full docket, the list of filings, the hearing schedule, and the most recent orders. You can print a single page or save the full file as a PDF.
Case numbers come from the clerk when a case is first filed. They also appear on every order, every notice, and every summons. If you lost a case number, you can run a name search first to recover it.
Use the Florida E-Filing Portal for New Filings
The Florida E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com is the official system for filing new family court documents. Attorneys must use it. Self-represented parties can also use it. You create an account, pick Miami-Dade County, pick the Family Division, and upload your PDFs. The portal stamps each filing with a date and a confirmation number. You pay the filing fee with a card or an e-check.
The portal is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Filings submitted before midnight on a business day are treated as filed that day. The clerk reviews each filing the next business morning. Rejected filings come back through the portal with a reason code.
Types of Family Court Cases Filed in Miami Beach
The Family Division in the 11th Judicial Circuit hears a wide range of cases. Each case type has its own docket series, its own forms, and its own set of public records. Knowing the case type helps you pick the right search path.
Dissolution of Marriage and Divorce Records
A dissolution of marriage case begins with a petition. Both spouses may file jointly, or one spouse may file alone. The clerk opens a docket and assigns a case number. Every motion, every financial affidavit, every parenting plan, every settlement, and the final judgment of dissolution are public documents. Online dockets show the title of each filing. The full document is available through the advanced search tier or by ordering a copy.
Divorce records also include the marital settlement agreement, the property division, the alimony award, and any post-judgment modification. Sealed portions, when present, are limited to specific items such as a private financial account number.
Child Custody and Time-Sharing Records
Child custody and time-sharing orders are part of almost every family case that involves minor children. The public docket lists each hearing, each order, and each modification. The parenting plan itself, once filed, becomes a public record. It lists the residential schedule, the decision-making split, and the holiday plan.
You can pull a parenting plan from the clerk by case number. You can also read the latest order on the online docket. Motions to modify custody appear in the same docket, so anyone watching the case can see when a parent asked for a change.
Child Support and Paternity Records
Child support cases in Miami-Dade may sit in the Family Division or in the Child Support Enforcement Division. Both produce public records. The support order shows the amount, the frequency, the start date, and the payment history. Income deduction orders, which direct an employer to withhold support, also sit in the same file.
Paternity cases establish legal fatherhood. The petition, the genetic test results, the acknowledgment of paternity, and the final order are public. Once the court enters a paternity judgment, the case moves to a support docket in most situations.
Adoption, Name Change, and Guardianship
Adoption records are sealed by Florida law once a final judgment is entered. Before the judgment, filings are public. The petition, the home study, the consent forms, and the interlocutory order all appear in the docket. After the final judgment, only the new birth certificate is open to the public through the state vital records office.
Name change cases for adults are public. They show the current name, the requested name, and the reason. Guardianship cases for minor children are also public, with sealed medical records as the main exception.
Domestic Violence and Injunction Records
Domestic violence injunction cases move fast. The clerk opens a docket the day a petition is filed. Hearings often happen within two weeks. The petition, the temporary injunction, and the final injunction are public records. Police reports tied to an injunction are kept by the law enforcement agency, not the clerk.
Confidential details, such as a safe address, are protected by court order. A redacted version of the public docket is available for any case with a sealed section.
How to Get Certified Copies of Court Records
A printed page from a public terminal is useful for reference. A certified copy is what you need for a new marriage, a new job, a name change at a bank, or any legal filing in another state. Certified copies carry the clerk’s seal and a raised or stamped signature. They cost more than a regular printout.
Fees for Certified Family Court Records
The clerk charges a per-page fee plus a certification fee for each document. The exact figures change with state law, so always check the clerk’s fee schedule on miamidadeclerk.gov before you place an order. Payment can be made by cash, money order, or card in person. Online orders take a card or an e-check.
Some documents cost more because of the search time. Older cases that are no longer in the active digital system may require a manual pull from the archives. The clerk charges an extra search fee for that work.
In-Person Requests at the Clerk Office
You can walk into the clerk’s office at 73 W. Flagler Street and request a certified copy. Bring a valid photo ID. Tell the clerk the case number if you have it. If you do not have a case number, the clerk will run a name search at the public terminal. The staff will then print or pull the documents, certify them, and hand them to you at the counter.
Visit early in the day to avoid long lines. The lobby opens at the same time as the office. The clerk’s office also runs satellite counters at the courthouses where family hearings take place.
Mail and Online Copy Requests
You can mail a written request to the clerk’s office. The request must include the case number, the names of the parties, the document you need, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include a check or money order for the correct fee. The clerk will mail the certified copy back to you.
You can also order online through the clerk’s certified records portal. The portal walks you through the same fields. You upload a photo of your ID, pay the fee, and download or receive the certified copy in the mail based on your choice.
Sealed and Confidential Family Court Records
Florida law allows a judge to seal parts of a family file. Adoption files, juvenile dependency files, and certain medical records are sealed by rule. A judge can also seal a specific document on a motion from a party. The clerk will pull the sealed portion from the public docket and store it in a separate secure file. The public docket then shows only a redacted version of the entry.
To open a sealed file, a person must file a written motion and show a legal reason. The judge reviews the motion in a private hearing. A granted motion allows the clerk to release the sealed documents to the requester. A denied motion leaves the seal in place.
Confidential information is different from a sealed file. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and minor children’s identifiers are redacted from public filings as a matter of course. The full unredacted versions stay in the court’s internal file and in the judge’s chambers.
Miami Beach Family Court Self-Help Program
The 11th Judicial Circuit runs a Family Court Self Help Program at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center. The program helps people who file without an attorney. A self-help paralegal can review your forms, help you fill out packets, notarize your documents, and answer procedural questions. The service is paid. The fee covers the review, the copies, the postage, and the case follow-up visits.
The program does not give legal advice. The staff can tell you which form fits your case, but they cannot tell you what to write in the form. They can also help you set up an e-filing account and submit your first filing.
You can reach the Self Help Program through the court website at jud11.flcourts.org. The site lists the office hours, the required ID, and the forms you should bring to your first visit.
Courthouse Locations for Family Court Hearings
Most family hearings for Miami Beach residents take place at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center in Miami. The courthouse sits at 175 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128. The Family Division runs daily dockets at this site. The Children’s Courthouse, located nearby, handles some family matters tied to children.
You can check the daily calendar on the court’s website before you drive in. The courtMAP tool shows the judge, the room number, and the time of each hearing. You can also sign up for text alerts that send a reminder before each scheduled hearing.
Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center
The Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center is the main family courthouse in the circuit. It handles dissolution of marriage, custody, support, paternity, adoption, name change, and domestic violence injunction hearings. The Self Help Program, the clerk’s family counter, and the family mediation services all sit inside the same building. The building opens at 7:30 a.m. on hearing days and closes after the last docket is heard.
Miami Beach City Clerk vs County Clerk
The Miami Beach City Clerk and the Miami-Dade County Clerk have very different jobs. The city clerk records city commission votes, handles local elections, and files city ordinances. The county clerk records court cases, maintains court dockets, and stores court judgments. Family law is a court matter, so the county clerk is the right office for every question on this page.
When you call the city clerk about a family case, the staff will redirect you to the county clerk. When you call the county clerk about a city matter, the staff will redirect you to the city clerk. Knowing which office to call saves time.
Contact Details for Family Court Records in Miami Beach
Use the contact details below to reach the correct office for Miami Beach family court records. The main clerk phone line runs during business hours. The clerk’s website lists the latest fee schedule, the latest forms, and the latest office hours. The court website lists the daily dockets, the text alert system, and the family self-help contact line.
- Office: Miami-Dade Clerk of Court and Comptroller
- Address: 73 W. Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130
- Phone: (305) 275-1155
- Website: miamidadeclerk.gov
- Statewide Portal: myflcourtaccess.com
- Court Website: jud11.flcourts.org
- Family Courthouse: Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128
- City Clerk (city records only): 1700 Convention Center Drive, (305) 673-7411, miamibeachfl.gov
Common Questions About Miami Beach Records
This FAQ section covers the most common questions Miami Beach residents ask about family court records. Each answer pulls from the official sources listed above. If your question is not here, call the clerk’s office at (305) 275-1155 during business hours.
Are Miami Beach family court records public?
Yes. Florida law makes family court records public records. The clerk must allow any person to inspect a file, copy a file, or request a certified copy. The clerk can only withhold a record under a court order that seals the file. Adoption files and sealed medical records are the main exceptions. Most dockets stay open for the entire life of the case and for years after the final judgment.
Can I search Miami Beach family court records for free?
Yes. The clerk’s online case search is free. You can run a name search, view a case summary, and check the docket entries without paying a fee. The advanced search tier, which shows full documents, carries a per-page fee. The statewide portal at myflcourtaccess.com is also free for basic case lookups. Certified copies and full document pulls are the only paid services in the standard record request flow.
How do I find a divorce decree from a Miami Beach case?
Start with a name search on the clerk’s online portal. Look for a case with a case type of dissolution of marriage. Click into the case to see the docket. The final judgment of dissolution appears as the last entry. You can view a summary for free or order a certified copy through the clerk’s office for a fee. The certified copy is the version that banks, government agencies, and other courts will accept.
What if a Miami Beach family court record is sealed?
A sealed record is hidden from the public docket. You will see a generic entry on the public site but not the document. To open a sealed record, you must file a written motion in the same case. A judge will review the motion and decide whether to release the file. The clerk cannot release a sealed file without a signed court order, no matter who asks.
Can I file for divorce online if I live in Miami Beach?
Yes. The Florida E-Filing Portal accepts new dissolutions of marriage from Miami Beach residents. You create an account, pick Miami-Dade County, pick the Family Division, and upload your forms. The clerk will review the filing and either accept or reject it. You can also file a paper petition in person at the clerk’s office at 73 W. Flagler Street. The Self Help Program can help you prepare the forms if you file without an attorney.
How long does the clerk keep Miami Beach family court records?
The clerk keeps every family case permanently in digital form. Older paper files are scanned into the digital docket. If a paper file is too old to be in the active system, the clerk pulls it from the archives on request. The archives sit in a secure storage area at the clerk’s office. A small search fee may apply for older records that need a manual pull.
Do I need a case number to search Miami Beach family court records?
No. A case number speeds up the search, but a name search works just as well. Type the last name of either party into the clerk’s online portal. Pick the right case type from the drop-down menu. The portal will list every matching case. If two people share the same last name, you can narrow the result by first name, filing date, or judge. Once you spot the right case, you can note the case number for future searches.