West Palm Beach Background Checks
Background check records in West Palm Beach are managed by the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. West Palm Beach is the county seat of Palm Beach County and sits along the southeastern coast with a population of about 127,744 residents. The 15th Judicial Circuit Court handles all criminal and civil cases here, and the clerk keeps those case files open to the public. Whether you need court records, arrest data, or a full criminal history report, there are several ways to run a background check in West Palm Beach using both local and state systems.
West Palm Beach Quick Facts
Which County Handles West Palm Beach Records
West Palm Beach sits in Palm Beach County. It is the county seat, so the main courthouse is right here in the city. All criminal cases, civil filings, traffic records, and family court matters for West Palm Beach go through the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court. The clerk office is at the main courthouse on North Dixie Highway. You can search their records online or walk in during business hours to pull files. The 15th Judicial Circuit covers all of Palm Beach County, so records from West Palm Beach and every other city in the county are in the same system.
For the full county page with more details on Palm Beach County records and search tools, see the Palm Beach County background check page.
| Clerk Office | Palm Beach County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 205 N. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 |
| Phone | (561) 355-2996 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | mypalmbeachclerk.com |
The courthouse is in downtown West Palm Beach near Clematis Street. Parking is available in nearby garages and metered street spots. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. You cannot bring weapons, large bags, or electronics into some areas of the building. The clerk's public access terminals are on the first floor and let you search case records at no charge while you are there.
How to Search West Palm Beach Background Check Records
The Palm Beach County Clerk has a free online case search at mypalmbeachclerk.com. Type in a name and the system pulls up all matching cases filed in the county. Each result shows the case type, filing date, charges for criminal cases, and the current status. Click into any case for more detail. This is the fastest way to start a background check on someone in West Palm Beach without leaving your home. The system covers criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases.
For a statewide search, use FDLE. Go to CCHInet and submit a name-based request. The fee is $24. Results come by email, often within one business day. This checks the state database, which holds records from all 67 Florida counties. It covers West Palm Beach and every other city in the state in one search. This is a good option when you are not sure where someone has lived.
You can also search official records like liens, judgments, and deeds through the MyFloridaCounty portal. This system lets you look up recorded documents from Palm Beach County and many other Florida counties. These records add context to a background check by showing financial and property filings tied to West Palm Beach residents.
- Palm Beach Clerk online case search: free
- FDLE name-based check: $24
- MyFloridaCounty official records: free to search
- Certified copies from clerk: $1.00 per page
- Plain copies: $0.15 per page
Note: The clerk's online system shows cases from the 15th Circuit only. For records from other parts of Florida, use the FDLE statewide search or check each county clerk individually.
FDLE Criminal History Checks
FDLE is the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. They run the statewide criminal history database, which includes records from West Palm Beach and all other Florida cities. FDLE offers two check levels. A Level 1 check is name-based. It costs $24 and you can submit it online through CCHInet. A Level 2 check uses fingerprints. It searches both the state and FBI databases and costs more.
The FDLE website at fdle.state.fl.us has details on both types. For fingerprint-based checks in West Palm Beach, you need to visit a LiveScan provider. Several locations in the area offer this service. Find one near you at the Florida Health Source directory. The scan gets sent to FDLE and the FBI for processing. Results take longer than a name-based check but are more thorough.
FDLE records include arrests, charges, and dispositions reported by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and the 15th Circuit Court. The state attorney and public defender records also feed into the system. A check from FDLE gives you a broader picture than the clerk's case search alone. It can show records that do not appear in the local court system, including out-of-county arrests.
West Palm Beach Public Records Access
Florida has some of the strongest public records laws in the country. Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, most government records are open to any person. You do not need to live in West Palm Beach. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The clerk must hand over the records unless a specific legal exemption applies.
Sealed and expunged records are not available. Juvenile cases have limits on who can see them. Active investigations may be held back for a time. But outside those narrow exceptions, court files, arrest reports, booking data, and recorded documents are all public in West Palm Beach. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office also provides arrest data and booking information through their website.
The City of West Palm Beach has its own website at wpb.org where you can request city government records. For criminal and court records, the clerk and FDLE are the best sources. If you have trouble getting records, the Attorney General's Open Government office can help. They handle complaints about denied public records requests across the state.
Under Chapter 943, FDLE governs how criminal history data is stored, shared, and corrected statewide. If you find errors in your own record, the FDLE personal review process lets you challenge and fix mistakes.
West Palm Beach City Resources
The City of West Palm Beach provides various public services and information through its official website at wpb.org.
The city site has links to local police reports, code enforcement records, and other public data that may be useful when gathering background information on a West Palm Beach resident.
The West Palm Beach Police Department handles law enforcement within the city limits. They take reports for crimes that happen inside the city. The Palm Beach County Sheriff covers the unincorporated areas of the county. Both agencies feed arrest data into the state system that FDLE maintains. So a statewide check catches records from both the city police and the county sheriff. For local incident reports, you can contact the West Palm Beach Police Department directly or visit their records division.
Background Check Fees in West Palm Beach
Running a background check in West Palm Beach costs different amounts depending on which method you use and what records you need. The clerk's online case search is free. That gets you basic case information. Getting copies of documents from the clerk costs more. Here is what you can expect to pay for different types of records in West Palm Beach.
The FDLE name-based criminal history check is $24. You pay online when you submit the request through CCHInet. Fingerprint-based checks cost more and include fees for the LiveScan provider and the FBI check on top of the FDLE fee. At the Palm Beach County Clerk, plain copies of court documents are $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. These fees apply whether you request them in person, by mail, or online.
If you need to search recorded documents through the clerk's official records division, that search is free. But ordering copies of those documents has the same per-page fee. For records from the city police or sheriff, you may need to file a public records request. There might be copy fees attached, but the search itself is free under Florida law.
Note: Fees can change, so call the clerk at (561) 355-2996 to confirm current rates before visiting.
Palm Beach County Background Check Records
West Palm Beach is in Palm Beach County, and all court filings and criminal records go through the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court. The county handles records for West Palm Beach and dozens of other cities and towns. Palm Beach County is one of the largest counties in Florida by area and population, so the clerk processes a high volume of cases each year. For the full county overview with more search tools, office details, and related resources, visit the Palm Beach County page.
Nearby Cities
Several other Florida cities are near West Palm Beach. Each has its own set of resources for running background checks, though many share the same county court system. Here are some nearby cities with background check information.