Miami-Dade County Courts

Miami-Dade County, with a population of about 2.7 million people, is the most populous county in Florida. The county accounts for approximately 11.7% of the state's total population of 23 million. Its county seat, Miami, is the largest city in the county. Every year, over 900,000 cases are filed in the county's courts, including 812,769 civil matters, 71,297 criminal cases, 25,011 family matters, and 13,912 probate matters.

The Miami-Dade County trial court system comprises the circuit and county courts with several divisions. These divisions include civil, criminal, family, probate, domestic violence, unified children's court, and traffic divisions.

• The Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, which serves Miami-Dade County, is the largest trial court in the state. It encompasses both circuit and county courts, which handle different types of cases. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over felonies, civil matters, family law, juvenile matters, and probate matters. The County Court handles misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and violations of municipal ordinance.

How To Access Miami-Dade County Court Records

Under Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, interested individuals may view and obtain copies of Miami-Dade County court records. While the public may view court case files, certain court records, including those related to adoptions, juveniles, and sealed records, are restricted due to privacy concerns. Additionally, court records comprising health case files, social security numbers, and addresses of domestic victims are classified as confidential.

To access Miami-Dade County court records, requesters must provide the case number and a valid, government-issued photo ID. There are several ways for individuals to access these court records, including:

Online

Individuals may perform a quick online search or use the Civil, Family, and Probate Court Online System to search for court records in the county. They may search the case files by using the party name, case type, party type, hearing date, or case number as a search criterion.

Alternatively, individuals may find Miami-Dade County court records through CourtCaseFinder, a platform that aggregates publicly available court records from various sources and makes them available to interested persons. For federal court records in the county, individuals may use the PACER Case Locator. However, they must create a free account and pay specific fees to access the court documents.

In-Person

The Clerk of Court and Comptroller of Miami-Dade County is responsible for maintaining court records. Individuals may visit the clerk's office in Miami to obtain court records. Alternatively, they may complete a Public Records Request Form and submit the form by mail, email, or in person to the clerk's office. They must present a valid government-issued ID to verify their identity to access court records. If requesters forget the case number, they will have to pay an additional $2 search fee per name before accessing the records.

Record seekers may request certified copies of court records in person or by mail from the clerk's office. The presence of public access terminals is evident inside the clerk's office at the courthouse. These terminals allow individuals to search or view court records.

Old and Archived Court Records

Old court records, including probate files, court minute books, and other court case files, are preserved at the Florida State Archives. Individuals interested in these court records may contact the State Archives at:

Alternatively, individuals may visit the clerk's office in any division to access old court records.

How To File a Case in Miami-Dade County

To file a case, individuals must identify the type of case and the appropriate court division that handles such a case. They must obtain all necessary legal documents and file them online, by mail, or in person with the clerk's office of the court. An individual may file a case online through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and pay the required court fees. Registration is required for an account on the portal, and it requires a valid email address for verification purposes.

If filing in person, individuals may visit the clerk's office in the main courthouse or a district court location. They must submit the completed forms along with their required fees to the clerk's office. The filing fee varies depending on the court division and the type of case being filed; therefore, individuals must contact the clerk's office to verify the applicable fees.

However, if an individual cannot afford to pay the filing fees, they may apply for a fee waiver. By submitting an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status Form to the clerk's office for review. The clerk of the court will decide the outcome of the fee waivers based on the applicant's information.

In summary, any individual who wishes to file a case in Miami-Dade County should take the following steps:

• Determine the appropriate division - Identify the proper court division that handles cases of this type.
• Prepare all necessary documents - Gather all documents required for filing a case in the court.
• Use Court-Approved Forms - Contact the clerk's office or check the website for approved forms needed to file a case in the courthouse.
• Pay the Filing Fee - Pay the filing fees or request a fee waiver.
• File and Serve - After filing your case online, in person, or by mail, serve all opposing parties with a copy of the filed documents.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Generally, legal help and self-help resources enable people, especially self-represented litigants, to navigate their civil, family, probate, or small claims matters. These resources are essential to the delivery of justice in the U.S. and vary by jurisdiction. They include legal aid organizations, self-help centers, online portals, and court-affiliated assistance programs.

Residents of Miami-Dade County who are unable to afford legal representation may seek assistance at local courthouses and local legal aid organizations. They may also access free services offered by local bar associations and online platforms.

Organizations providing free or subsidized legal representation within the county are categorized as follows:

• Free Legal Representation for Low-income Persons
• Legal Services of Greater Miami provides free civil legal services to residents
• Dade Legal Aid - (Put Something Back) offers free legal services to qualifying low-income residents.
• Private Lawyer Referral Service
• Miami Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

The following statewide self-help resources are available to residents of Miami-Dade County:

• The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service
• Florida Free Legal Answers
• FloridaLawHelp.org

Miami-Dade County's residents may also access other legal aid services and self-help resources, such as:

• The Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida Resource Center provides extensive legal information.
• The Family Court Self-Help Program provides self-represented litigants access to legal materials, forms, and information about court procedures.
• The Miami-Dade County Law Library provides access to legal research to residents of the county.
• United Way Miami provides free legal advice for veterans in the county.

Types of Courts in Miami-Dade County, Florida

In Miami-Dade County, the trial court system comprises the Circuit Courts and County Courts, combined into one court with several divisions. Most trial courts in the county are located in the City of Miami, with branches in Coral Gables and Hialeah. The county is also served by federal courts.

Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Miami-Dade County

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over felonies, civil matters, family law, juvenile matters, and probate matters. The County Court, a court of limited jurisdiction, handles misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and violations of municipal ordinance.

The various divisions of the courts are listed below:

Civil Division

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Handles evictions, small claims, and civil cases where the amount in contention exceeds $50,001.
• Address and Contact Information

Criminal Division

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Has jurisdiction over felonies, misdemeanors, and related criminal cases.
• Address and Contact Information

Family Division

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Deals with cases related to domestic relations, domestic violence, and probate matters.
• Address and Contact Information

Probate Division

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Presides over cases involving guardianships, mental health, and decedents' estates.
• Address and Contact Information

Unified Children's Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Addresses juvenile delinquency, juvenile dependency, and cases involving minors.
• Address and Contact Information

Domestic Violence Division

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - a specialized division that exclusively oversees family violence issues, protection orders, and injunction violations.
• Address and Contact Information

Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse

North Dade Justice Center

South Dade Justice Center

Hialeah Courthouse

Joseph Caleb Center

Traffic Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - has jurisdiction over civil and criminal traffic infractions.
• Address and Contact Information

Federal Courts in Miami-Dade County

The following courts hear federal court cases in Miami-Dade County, FL:

United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - This court, with multiple locations, handles civil rights violations, immigration matters, federal crimes, intellectual property disputes, and lawsuits involving federal agencies and other entities.
• Address and Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - This court deals with bankruptcy cases.
• Address and Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Miami-Dade County Courts

Some frequently asked questions about Miami-Dade County courts are answered below: