Search Miami Background Check
Background check records in Miami go through the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court. Miami is the county seat and the second largest city in Florida with close to 490,000 residents. Miami-Dade County itself has nearly 2.7 million people, making it the most populous county in the state. The clerk's office at the downtown courthouse handles all criminal case files, civil filings, and public record requests for Miami. You can also run a statewide check through FDLE that includes Miami-Dade records alongside every other Florida county.
Miami Quick Facts
Which County Handles Miami Records
Miami is in Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court maintains all court records for the city of Miami and every other municipality in the county. This is a big operation. Miami-Dade has over 30 cities within its borders. But they all share the same clerk system. So if someone lived in Miami, Hialeah, or any other Miami-Dade city, their court records are in the same place.
The clerk, Juan Fernandez-Barquin, runs the office from the downtown Miami courthouse. You can search records online for free or go in person. For a deeper look at how the county handles background checks, see the Miami-Dade County background check page.
| Clerk | Juan Fernandez-Barquin |
|---|---|
| Address | 73 W Flagler St, Ste 242, Miami, FL 33130 |
| Phone | (305) 349-7333 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | miamidadeclerk.gov |
Miami City Government Records
The City of Miami maintains its own government records at city hall. These are not the same as court records, but they can be part of a background check in some situations. Code violations, city permits, and other municipal filings are available through the city.
Use the city website alongside the county clerk for a broader search of Miami records.
The Miami Police Department also maintains arrest records separately from the county court system. Miami PD handles law enforcement within the city limits, while the Miami-Dade Police Department covers unincorporated areas. For a thorough background check in Miami, consider checking both the clerk's court records and law enforcement sources. The county sheriff's office, also known as the Miami-Dade Police Department, has its own online tools for inmate and arrest searches.
How to Run a Background Check in Miami
Start at the Miami-Dade Clerk website. Go to miamidadeclerk.gov and use the online case search. You can search by name, case number, or date range. The system returns all matching cases filed in Miami-Dade County. Each result shows the case type, filing date, charges, and current status. Criminal cases include disposition info when the case is resolved. This is free.
For statewide results, use FDLE. The CCHInet portal lets you submit a name-based criminal history request for $24. Results come by email. This pulls from the state database, which has records from all 67 Florida counties including Miami-Dade. It is the best single source if you want to cover Miami and the rest of the state in one search.
The MyFloridaCounty portal is another option. It covers official records like liens, judgments, and recorded documents from Miami-Dade County. These records show financial and property-related filings that court case searches may not reveal.
- Miami-Dade Clerk online search: free
- FDLE name-based check: $24
- MyFloridaCounty official records: free to search
- Certified copies: $1.00 per page
Note: The clerk's online system covers both criminal and civil cases, so you can see lawsuits and other non-criminal filings in a Miami background check.
FDLE Checks for Miami Residents
FDLE runs the state criminal history database from Tallahassee. Every arrest and court disposition in Miami gets reported to FDLE and stored in their system. A name-based check costs $24. You submit it at CCHInet and get results by email. This is a Level 1 check.
Level 2 checks use fingerprints. They search both the FDLE state database and the FBI national database. You need to visit a LiveScan fingerprint provider in Miami to get printed. There are many providers in the Miami area. The Florida Health Source site has a full list. Level 2 checks are required for certain professional licenses under Chapter 435 of Florida Statutes.
Miami-Dade County is one of the busiest counties in the FDLE system. With millions of residents, the volume of records is large. But the search process is the same no matter the county size. Submit the name, pay the fee, and wait for results. Most come within one business day.
Miami Public Records Law
Florida's public records law is broad. Under Chapter 119, anyone can request public records from Miami-Dade County. You do not need to be a Miami resident. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The clerk is required to provide them unless the records are exempt by law.
Records that are sealed or expunged by court order are not available. Juvenile case records have restrictions. Active law enforcement investigations may be held back temporarily. Outside of those limits, everything is open. This includes court files, arrest records, recorded documents, and other government papers.
The Attorney General's Open Government office helps when agencies refuse to produce records or charge unreasonable fees. If you have trouble getting background check records from Miami-Dade County, that office can step in.
Fees for Miami Background Check Records
The cost depends on how you search. The clerk's online case search at miamidadeclerk.gov is free. You can look up as many names as you want and view case details at no charge. If you need paper copies, those have fees. Plain copies run about $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. You pay at the clerk's counter in Miami.
FDLE charges $24 for a name-based state criminal history check. Level 2 fingerprint checks cost more and the exact price varies by provider. LiveScan sites in Miami set their own fees on top of the FDLE processing fee. Call the provider before you go to confirm the total cost.
If you cannot afford the fees, ask the clerk about a fee waiver. You file an In Forma Pauperis request with the court. The judge reviews your financial situation and decides if you qualify. This covers court-related fees in Miami but does not apply to FDLE charges.
Miami-Dade County Background Check Records
Miami is in Miami-Dade County, and all court records for the city go through the county clerk. Miami-Dade is the largest county in Florida by population. The clerk's office handles a massive volume of cases each year. For the full county page with more details on search options, fees, and resources, visit the Miami-Dade County background check page.
Nearby Cities
Several other cities in and around Miami-Dade County also have background check pages. These cities share the same county clerk system or are in neighboring counties.