Court records of Miami-Dade County, Florida, are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. MiamiDadeCourt.us is a convenient resource for finding publicly available information about court cases. Additionally, you can use the Miami-Dade Clerk Online Case Search portal, call, or visit the clerk's office in person.
Miami-Dade Court System Overview
Miami-Dade is part of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida — the largest judicial circuit in the state, serving exclusively this county. The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits over $50,000, family cases, probate, and juvenile matters. The County Court acts as a lower jurisdiction division and deals with misdemeanors, small claims, traffic violations, and civil cases up to $50,000. The Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit provides administrative oversight for both levels.
Courts Serving Miami-Dade
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court (Circuit Court) | 1351 NW 12th Street, Miami, FL 33125 | (305) 275-1155 |
| Miami-Dade County Court | 1351 NW 12th Street, Miami, FL 33125 | (305) 275-1155 |
| U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida (Miami Division) | 400 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33128 | (305) 523-5100 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida (Miami Division) | 301 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33128 | (305) 714-1800 |
In addition to these courts, some municipalities in the county — including the City of Miami, Hialeah, and Miami Beach — have their own divisions for handling municipal ordinance violations. However, most criminal and civil cases go through the Circuit or County Court.
What Types of Cases Miami-Dade Courts Hear
The county courts cover a wide range of cases:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations and DUI
- Civil lawsuits of various sizes, including small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support, protective orders
- Probate, guardianship, trust management
- Juvenile matters: juvenile justice and child protection
- Adoption
District Court Cases in Miami-Dade
The Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit is a court of general jurisdiction. It handles felony criminal cases after preliminary hearings in County Court, civil lawsuits over $50,000, and appeals from County Court decisions. Cases such as first-degree murder, armed robbery, and drug trafficking fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court.
Once a case is filed, the Chief Judge or an automated system assigns it to a specific judge. Criminal cases proceed through arrest, preliminary hearing, arraignment, and then to trial by jury or plea agreement. Civil cases begin with the filing of a complaint and go through discovery, mediation, and, if necessary, trial. The court also handles post-conviction motions and mental health cases under the Baker Act.
Magistrate Court Cases in Miami-Dade
The County Court in Miami-Dade operates as a court of limited jurisdiction. It handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, DUI cases, and civil lawsuits up to $50,000. Small claims are limited to $8,000 under Florida law.
Preliminary hearings in felony cases also start here — the County Court judge determines if there is enough evidence to transfer the case to the Circuit Court. Due to the high volume of cases in Miami-Dade, County Court judges usually specialize: some work exclusively with traffic violations, others with criminal misdemeanors or civil lawsuits. This helps expedite proceedings in the state's largest county.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Miami-Dade
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity establishment, and protective orders against domestic violence are all handled by the Family Division of the Circuit Court. To file for a protective order, you can contact the clerk's office. Self-represented parties can use free forms available on the Florida courts' website.
Probate and Guardianship
The Probate Division of the Circuit Court handles probate cases, appointing guardians for incapacitated individuals, and trust management. Filings are made through the clerk's office, and most probate cases are public.
Juvenile Matters
The Juvenile Division handles cases involving juvenile offenders and child protection (dependency cases). Juvenile court records are confidential under Florida law. The juvenile court operates in a separate facility:
How Cases Move Through the Miami-Dade Court System
- Case Initiation: a criminal case begins with an arrest or indictment; a civil case with a complaint; a family case with a petition.
- Judge Assignment: the system automatically assigns the case to a specific judge of the appropriate division.
- First Hearing: in criminal cases — arraignment (charges are presented and bail is set); in civil cases — planning conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: exchange of evidence (discovery), filing motions, plea negotiations, or mediation.
- Trial: jury trial or bench trial, settlement, plea, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: sentencing, appeal to the Third District Court of Appeal, or enforcement of the court's decision.
Felony criminal cases usually take several months to a year or more. Civil lawsuits can be resolved more quickly if the parties reach a settlement.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Miami-Dade
Court administration is carried out by the Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in conjunction with the Trial Court Administrator. Local rules of the judicial circuit are available on the official website of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.
According to the Florida Public Records Act (Chapter 119 Florida Statutes) and court access rules (Rule 2.420, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration), most court records are public. Exceptions include juvenile cases, certain family cases, sealed or expunged records, and information protected from disclosure by court order.
Hearings can be attended in person. After the pandemic, many judges continue to hold certain hearings via Zoom — check the format in the notice or on the court's website.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Miami-Dade
- Online Case Search: Miami-Dade Clerk Online Case Search allows you to find civil, criminal, and family cases by party name or case number.
- Hearing Calendar: the schedule of hearings is available on the Eleventh Judicial Circuit's website.
- Forms and Self-Help: free court forms can be downloaded from the Florida Courts Self-Help portal.
- Clerk's Office: for certified copies or public records requests, contact the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts. A certified copy usually costs a few dollars per page.
- Inmate Search: information about individuals in state correctional facilities can be found through the Florida Department of Corrections Offender Search. For local detention, use the Miami-Dade Corrections Inmate Search.
- Sex Offender Registry: Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators Registry by FDLE.
- Crime Statistics: crime data in Florida is available through the FDLE Uniform Crime Reports.
If you need help with procedures or forms, MiamiDadeCourt.us offers additional information for navigating the county's court system.