Public Records Search Florida: Your Complete Guide to Accessing Florida's Open Records

Why Florida Public Records Are Uniquely Accessible

Florida has earned a reputation for having some of the most expansive open government laws in the United States. This isn't an accident—it's by design. The state's Sunshine Law, codified in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, has been providing citizens access to public records since 1909, making it one of the oldest public records laws in the country.

Under Florida's Constitution, every person has the right to inspect or copy any public record made or received in connection with official government business. This includes records from all three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial, along with counties, municipalities, and districts. Unlike many states that require you to state a reason for your request, Florida allows completely anonymous requests—you don't need to provide your name or explain why you want the records.

For sales professionals, recruiters, and business owners, this means Florida is an excellent state for due diligence, background verification, and business research. Let's break down exactly how to access different types of public records.

Types of Florida Public Records Available

Florida public records fall into two main categories, each serving different research purposes:

Personal Public Records

• Vital records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records
• Criminal records: Arrest records, court case files, conviction history
• Sex offender registry: Searchable database maintained by FDLE
• Inmate records: Current and historical incarceration data

Government and Property Records

• Property records: Deeds, plats, tax assessments, ownership history
• Business records: Corporations, LLCs, fictitious names (DBA), UCC lien filings
• Court records: Civil cases, criminal cases, traffic violations, family law
• Professional licenses: State-regulated occupations including private investigators, security agencies, and healthcare professionals
• Vehicle records: Crash reports, driving history, vehicle ownership

How to Search Florida Criminal Records

Criminal record searches are among the most common public records requests in Florida. Whether you're conducting pre-employment screening, vetting a business partner, or performing due diligence on a vendor, here's how to access this information:

Through FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement)

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains the state's criminal history database. You can request records through their online portal, with results typically available within minutes. The fee is $24.00 per search plus a $1.00 credit card processing fee. This search includes felonies, misdemeanors, and other criminal offenses across the state.

Important caveat: FDLE searches only return Florida state records. If someone has criminal history in another state, it won't appear in this search.

County-Level Court Records

Florida's court system operates at four levels, and many records are searchable online for free:

• County Courts: Handle misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims under $5,000, and civil cases under $15,000
• Circuit Courts: Handle felonies, family law, civil cases over $15,000, probate, and juvenile cases
• District Courts of Appeal: Review decisions from lower courts
• Supreme Court: Final appellate jurisdiction

Most Florida counties now offer free online access to court dockets. For example, Palm Beach County's eCaseView system provides public access to civil, criminal, and traffic court records without registration, with case data going back to approximately 1976.

Using a Comprehensive Background Check Tool

For professionals who need to verify multiple individuals regularly, manually searching each county and state database becomes impractical. This is where aggregated background check tools become valuable. Our free Background Checker tool compiles information from multiple public record sources into a single report, saving hours of manual research while providing trust scores to help you assess reliability.

Searching Florida Property Records

Property records in Florida are maintained at the county level through the County Clerk of Court or Property Appraiser's office. Here's what you can find:

• Deeds and ownership history: Chain of title showing all previous owners
• Mortgages and liens: Outstanding financial obligations on the property
• Tax assessments: Current and historical property tax valuations
• Plat maps: Legal descriptions and boundaries

Most counties maintain online portals for searching these records. Broward County, for instance, offers comprehensive online access to documents recorded since January 1, 1978. For records prior to that date, you'll need to visit the County Clerk's office in person or request copies by mail.

Vital Records: Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce

Vital records in Florida are managed by the Florida Office of Vital Statistics within the Department of Health. Here's what you need to know:

Birth certificates: Considered confidential if less than 100 years old. Only the registrant (if 18+), parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives can request copies. The base fee is $9.00 for a search plus $14.00 per certified copy through the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Walk-in same-day service incurs an additional $10.00 rush fee.

Death records: Generally more accessible than birth records. Can be searched through both state and county offices.

Marriage and divorce records: Searchable through county clerk offices where the event was recorded. Many counties offer online access to recent records.

Business and Corporate Records

For B2B professionals, Florida's business records are invaluable for prospect research and due diligence. The Florida Department of State Division of Corporations maintains searchable databases including:

• Active and inactive corporations
• Limited liability companies (LLCs)
• Fictitious name registrations (DBAs)
• UCC lien filings
• Registered agent information
• Annual report filings

All of this is available free through the Florida Division of Corporations website (sunbiz.org). You can search by entity name, officer/registered agent name, or document number.

How to Make a Public Records Request in Florida

Florida law doesn't require public records requests to be in writing, but putting your request in writing creates documentation and helps ensure you receive exactly what you need. Here's a step-by-step process:

1. Identify the custodian: Determine which agency maintains the records you need. State agencies, county clerks, city governments, and school boards all maintain different types of records.
2. Be specific: Clearly describe the records you want, including relevant dates, names, case numbers, or other identifying information. Broad requests take longer and may cost more.
3. Cite the law: Reference Florida Statute 119 in your request. While not required, it signals that you know your rights.
4. Specify format: Indicate whether you want digital copies (PDF), physical copies, or in-person inspection. Digital copies are often faster and cheaper.
5. Ask about fees: Florida agencies can charge up to $0.15 per one-sided page or $0.20 per two-sided page. For extensive searches requiring more than 15 minutes, agencies may charge additional service fees.

Pro tip: Many Florida agencies waive fees for the first 30 minutes of search time, and in-person inspection of records is typically free. If cost is a concern, visit the custodian's office to review records yourself.

What Records Are Exempt from Public Access?

While Florida's public records law is broad, there are over 600 exemptions. Common exemptions include:

• Social security numbers
• Bank account and financial information
• Active criminal intelligence and investigative information
• Juvenile records
• Sealed and expunged criminal records
• Medical records protected by HIPAA
• Trade secrets
• Personal information of certain public employees (law enforcement, judges)

If an agency denies your request, they must cite the specific exemption. You have the right to appeal denials.

Practical Applications for Business Professionals

Understanding how to leverage Florida public records can significantly improve your business operations:

Sales and Business Development

Before reaching out to a prospect, research their business through the Florida Division of Corporations. Identify the registered agent, check for any liens, and verify the company is in good standing. This information helps you personalize outreach and avoid wasting time on defunct businesses.

Pair this with our Email Finder tool to locate decision-maker contact information, and you have a powerful prospecting workflow.

Recruiting and HR

Pre-employment background checks are standard practice, but understanding what's actually in Florida public records helps you interpret results correctly. Remember that sealed and expunged records won't appear, and arrests without convictions may or may not be reportable depending on your industry's regulations.

Due Diligence and Vendor Vetting

When evaluating potential partners or vendors, Florida public records reveal:

• Litigation history through court records
• Business formation and officer history
• Property holdings and liens
• Professional license status and disciplinary actions

For individuals, our Mobile Number Finder can help you reach people directly when email isn't getting responses—useful for urgent due diligence situations.

Tools That Streamline Florida Public Records Research

While Florida's individual agency databases are free, they require you to search each source separately. For regular research needs, consider these approaches:

Government portals: Free but time-consuming. You'll need to search each county and state agency separately.

Aggregated search tools: Services like our Background Checker pull from multiple sources simultaneously, providing comprehensive reports in seconds rather than hours.

County clerk websites: Essential for property records, court cases, and official documents. Most Florida counties have modernized their online search systems.

The right approach depends on your volume. Occasional searches might be fine through government portals, but regular research benefits enormously from aggregated tools that compile and cross-reference multiple data sources.

Common Mistakes When Searching Florida Public Records

After years of helping professionals with background research, we've seen these errors repeatedly:

Assuming one search covers everything: Florida has 67 counties, each maintaining its own records. A search in Miami-Dade won't return records from Hillsborough County. For comprehensive research, you need either multi-county searches or an aggregated tool.

Relying solely on name searches: Common names generate false positives. When possible, verify with additional identifiers like date of birth, middle name, or known addresses.

Ignoring fee estimates: Broad requests can become expensive quickly. Ask for a cost estimate before the agency processes extensive searches.

Missing active case updates: Public records reflect a point in time. An ongoing case may have new developments not captured in your initial search. For critical decisions, verify currency directly with the court clerk.

The Bottom Line on Florida Public Records

Florida's Sunshine Law creates exceptional transparency, but navigating 67 counties plus state agencies requires either significant time investment or the right tools. For occasional personal research, government portals work fine. For business use—whether you're vetting job candidates, qualifying sales prospects, or performing due diligence—aggregated background check tools pay for themselves in time savings alone.

Start with our free Background Checker to see what comprehensive public records research looks like, then determine whether DIY searches or professional tools better fit your workflow.