Broward County Clerk of Courts — Case Search, Criminal Records, Traffic Tickets & Court Services
Search criminal case records, pay traffic tickets, access court documents, and find courthouse locations across Broward County’s 17th Judicial Circuit — all through the official Clerk of Courts under Clerk Brenda D. Forman.
📋 Table of Contents
- Broward County Clerk of Courts — Overview
- How to Search Criminal Court Cases — Step by Step
- Live Case Search Portal
- BSO Arrest Search vs. Clerk of Courts — What’s the Difference?
- How to Pay Traffic Tickets Online
- How to Get Copies of Court Records
- Courthouse Locations & Hours
- How to Apply for a Public Defender
- Official Records Search (Deeds, Liens, Mortgages)
- Other Clerk Services (Marriage, Passports, Jury Duty)
- Contact Information & Official Links
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Broward County Clerk of Courts — Overview
The Broward County Clerk of the Circuit and County Court serves as the official recordkeeper for all court proceedings in the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Led by Clerk Brenda D. Forman (elected in 2016), the office employs over 1,600 staff members across four courthouse locations and provides essential services including maintaining court case records, processing filings, collecting fines and fees, issuing marriage licenses, administering jury duty, and processing passport applications.
For anyone following up on a Broward County arrest — whether you are checking the outcome of criminal charges, looking up court dates, paying traffic fines, or obtaining certified court documents — the Clerk of Courts is the official source. While the BSO Arrest Search shows booking and custody data (mugshots, charges at arrest, bond amounts), the Clerk of Courts shows what happened after the arrest — how the case moved through the court system, hearing dates, judge assignments, motions, plea deals, convictions, dismissals, and sentencing.
The Clerk’s primary online tool is the Case Search portal at https://www.browardclerk.org/web2, which allows free public access to criminal, civil, traffic, family, and probate case records filed in Broward County. Under Florida’s Sunshine Law (Chapter 119), court records are public records accessible to anyone, with limited exceptions for sealed, expunged, or confidential records.
2. How to Search Criminal Court Cases — Step by Step
Go to the Broward County Clerk of Courts Case Search at https://www.browardclerk.org/web2.
Select the Court Type from the dropdown: choose “Felony” for serious criminal cases, “Traffic and Misdemeanor” for traffic violations and minor criminal offenses, or “Appeal – Criminal” for appeals.
Enter the defendant’s Last Name and First Name in the search fields. You can also search by case number (format: 2-digit year + 6-digit sequence + 2-letter division + 2-digit location) or citation number for traffic cases.
Optionally add a Date Range (Date From and Date To) to narrow results to a specific time period.
Click “Search” to submit. Results display matching cases with case number, case style (names of parties), filing date, case status, assigned judge, and division.
Click on any case to view the full Register of Actions — a chronological list of every court event including filings, hearings, motions, orders, dispositions, and judgments. This tells you whether charges resulted in conviction, dismissal, plea agreement, or acquittal.
To purchase a certified copy of any court document, click the purchase option. Electronic certified documents cost $8 per document and are available instantly via credit card (American Express, MasterCard, Visa). Documents over 100 pages must be requested in person.
3. Live Case Search Portal
Below is the official Broward County Clerk of Courts Case Search embedded. Search criminal, civil, and traffic cases by name or case number:
📱 Viewing on mobile?
Tap below to open the official case search directly:
Opens browardclerk.org — free, no login required
4. BSO Arrest Search vs. Clerk of Courts — What’s the Difference?
This is one of the most common points of confusion. Here is exactly what each system covers:
BSO Arrest Search (apps.sheriff.org/arrestsearch): Shows what happened at the time of arrest — mugshot photograph, charges filed at booking, bond amounts, arresting agency, current facility location, and custody status. This is the system to use when you want to know if someone is currently in jail, what they were charged with, and how much bond is required.
Clerk of Courts Case Search (browardclerk.org/web2): Shows what happened after the arrest — how the criminal case progressed through the court system. This includes the assigned judge, all hearing dates, motions filed by both sides, plea negotiations, trial outcomes, final disposition (convicted, acquitted, dismissed, nolle prosequi), sentencing details, and any appeals. This is the system to use when you want to know if someone was actually found guilty or if charges were dropped.
💡 Pro Tip: Use both systems together for a complete picture. Start with the BSO Arrest Search to get the arrest details and booking number, then use the Clerk’s Case Search to track how the case was resolved in court. An arrest does not mean a conviction — only the court records show the final outcome.
5. How to Pay Traffic Tickets Online
Visit the Clerk’s Case Search at browardclerk.org/web2 and locate your case by name or citation number.
Click the “Pay Fine/Fee” button on your case record to proceed to the payment page.
Submit payment using American Express, MasterCard, or Visa.
You can also pay in person at any courthouse location (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM) using cash, check, money order, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa. Photo ID is required for in-person credit card payments.
📌 Operation Green Light Broward
The Clerk’s office periodically runs “Operation Green Light” — a limited-time program that waives the 33% collection surcharge on overdue fines. Individuals paying felony, traffic, misdemeanor, and overdue court costs in full during the program period may be eligible to restore suspended driving privileges. Check browardclerk.org for the next scheduled event — the most recent ran March 23 through April 4, 2026.
6. How to Get Copies of Court Records
Online: Electronic certified copies can be purchased at browardclerk.org/web2 for $8 per document via credit card. Documents are delivered instantly. Documents exceeding 100 pages are not available online.
In Person: Visit any courthouse location. Standard copies cost $1 per page ($2 per page for certified copies). Payment accepted via cash, check, money order, or credit card.
By Mail/Email: Submit a completed Court Records Request Form by email to Redactarchives@browardclerk.org or fax to (954) 831-5550. Processing takes up to 2 weeks. Payment by credit card, cashier’s check, personal check, or money order.
Archives Division: For older records, contact the Archives Division at the Central Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale. Phone: (954) 831-6565.
⚠️ Access Restrictions
Under Florida law, certain information within court records must be redacted before release, including Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card details, home addresses, phone numbers, and sensitive medical information. Attorney of Record or Registered User access is required to view Domestic Violence, Family, Guardianship, Mental Health, or Probate electronic court records.
7. Courthouse Locations & Hours
| Courthouse | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Central Courthouse (Main) | 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 | Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| North Regional Courthouse | 1600 W Hillsboro Blvd, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 | Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| South Regional Courthouse | 3550 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, FL 33021 | Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| West Regional Courthouse | 100 N Pine Island Rd, Plantation, FL 33324 | Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
8. How to Apply for a Public Defender
If you cannot afford a private attorney for a criminal case in Broward County, you may be eligible for a court-appointed public defender under Florida Statute 27.52. Here is how to apply:
Download and complete the Application for Criminal Indigent Status form from the Clerk’s website at browardclerk.org/GeneralInformation/CourtServices.
Email the completed and signed application to FelonyeClerk@browardclerk.org, or deliver it in person to the Clerk’s office at the courthouse where your case is filed.
Pay the $50 Public Defender fee — payable online through the Case Search page (click “Pay Fine/Fee”), or in person by cash, money order, or credit card.
You will receive written notification regarding the status of your application based on eligibility guidelines outlined in Florida Statute 27.52.
9. Official Records Search (Deeds, Liens, Mortgages)
Separate from court case records, the Broward County Official Records Search at https://officialrecords.broward.org/ provides access to recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, lis pendens, satisfactions, and other official records. This system is maintained by the Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury Division (separate from the Clerk of Courts).
You can search by case number, consideration range (price), record date, or general document type. This is useful for property-related research but is separate from the criminal and civil case search covered earlier.
10. Other Clerk Services
Marriage Licenses: The Clerk’s office issues marriage licenses in Broward County. Certified copies from 1998-present can be purchased at any courthouse location. Copies from 1915-1997 are only available at the Central Courthouse. Contact the Marriage Division at (954) 831-7283. The Clerk hosts an annual Valentine’s Day mass ceremony.
Passport Services: The Clerk operates a passport acceptance facility. New passport applications, renewals, and replacements are processed at the Central Courthouse. Passport Day events are held periodically — the next scheduled event is Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Jury Duty: The Clerk’s office administers jury selection using state voter databases. Over 175,000 Broward citizens report for jury duty annually. Report to the Jury Assembly Room on the 1st floor of the Central Courthouse. For jury duty questions, visit browardclerk.org.
Foreclosure Sales: The Clerk conducts foreclosure auctions through broward.realforeclose.com. Bidders must register online and deposit 5% of their estimated highest bid prior to the sale.
11. Contact Information & Official Links
🏛️ Central Courthouse (Main)
Address: 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 831-6565
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
🏛️ North Regional
Address: 1600 W Hillsboro Blvd, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
🏛️ South Regional
Address: 3550 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, FL 33021
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
🏛️ West Regional
Address: 100 N Pine Island Rd, Plantation, FL 33324
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
🔗 Official Links & Resources
Case Search Portal: browardclerk.org/web2
Clerk’s Homepage: browardclerk.org
Hours & Locations: browardclerk.org/aboutus/hoursandlocations
Court Services: browardclerk.org/GeneralInformation/CourtServices
Records Request: browardclerk.org/GeneralInformation/RecordsRequest
Official Records (Deeds/Liens): officialrecords.broward.org
Foreclosure Sales: broward.realforeclose.com
BSO Arrest Search: apps.sheriff.org/arrestsearch
Broward County Arrests (Homepage): arrests-org-broward.website
FDLE: fdle.state.fl.us
Phone: (954) 831-6565
Records Request Email: Redactarchives@browardclerk.org
Records Request Fax: (954) 831-5550
Marriage Division: (954) 831-7283
Public Defender Applications: FelonyeClerk@browardclerk.org
12. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search for court cases in Broward County?
Use the Broward County Clerk of Courts Case Search at browardclerk.org/web2. Search by person name, case number, or citation number. Filter by case type (Felony, Traffic/Misdemeanor, Civil, Family, Probate) and date range. The search is free and requires no registration.
How do I pay a traffic ticket in Broward County?
Pay online at browardclerk.org/web2 — search your case and click “Pay Fine/Fee” (AmEx, MasterCard, Visa). Or pay in person at any of the four courthouse locations (Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM) using cash, check, money order, or credit card. The main courthouse is at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale.
Who is the Broward County Clerk of Courts?
Brenda D. Forman is the current Clerk of the Circuit and County Court for Broward County, elected in 2016. Her office oversees the 17th Judicial Circuit, employs over 1,600 staff across four courthouse locations, and manages all court records, filings, fines, marriage licenses, jury duty, and passport services.
Where is the main Broward County Courthouse?
The Central Courthouse is at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM, excluding holidays. Satellite courthouses are at 1600 W Hillsboro Blvd (Deerfield Beach), 3550 Hollywood Blvd (Hollywood), and 100 N Pine Island Rd (Plantation).
How do I check the outcome of a criminal case?
Search the case at browardclerk.org/web2 using the defendant’s name or case number. The Register of Actions shows every court event — filings, hearings, motions, and final disposition. This tells you whether charges resulted in conviction, dismissal, plea deal, nolle prosequi, or acquittal.
How do I get a copy of court records?
Online: Electronic certified copies for $8 per document at browardclerk.org/web2. In person: $1/page ($2 certified) at any courthouse. By mail/email: Submit a Court Records Request Form to Redactarchives@browardclerk.org or fax (954) 831-5550 — processing takes up to 2 weeks.
What is the difference between BSO arrest search and the Clerk of Courts?
BSO Arrest Search (apps.sheriff.org) shows booking data — mugshots, arrest charges, bond, and custody status. The Clerk of Courts (browardclerk.org) shows court case records — how the case progressed through hearings, motions, dispositions, and final judgment. An arrest does not mean a conviction — only court records show the outcome.
How do I apply for a public defender in Broward County?
Complete the Application for Criminal Indigent Status per Florida Statute 27.52. Email it to FelonyeClerk@browardclerk.org or deliver in person. A $50 Public Defender fee applies, payable online or in person. Eligibility is based on income guidelines. Visit browardclerk.org/GeneralInformation/CourtServices for the form.
⚖️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Court records are public records under Florida law but certain information may be restricted or redacted. Always verify through the official Clerk of Courts at browardclerk.org. This website (arrests-org-broward.website) is independently operated and is not affiliated with the Broward County Clerk of Courts, the 17th Judicial Circuit, or any government agency.