Miami-Dade County Background Checks

Miami-Dade County background check records are held by the Clerk of Court in Miami and by FDLE at the state level. As the most populated county in Florida with close to 2.7 million residents, Miami-Dade processes a huge volume of court filings each year. The county clerk maintains criminal, civil, and family case data, while FDLE runs the statewide criminal history database. Whether you need to search court records in person at the downtown Miami courthouse or pull data from an online portal, Miami-Dade County has multiple paths for getting the background check information you need.

Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court

Juan Fernandez-Barquin, Esq. serves as the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court. The main office is at 73 W Flagler Street, Suite 242 in Miami. This is one of the largest clerk operations in the state. The Miami-Dade County clerk handles criminal cases, civil suits, family law, probate, and traffic matters. You can reach them at (305) 349-7333 with questions about case records or office hours.

The clerk website at miamidadeclerk.gov has an online case search tool. You can look up records by name or case number. The results show case type, charges, filing dates, and case status. It is free to search. Many people start their Miami-Dade County background check right here because the tool is fast and covers all case types filed through the local court system.

Here is a look at the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court website and their records search tools.

From this site you can search court case data and pull up public filings for any Miami-Dade County background check.

Note: Miami-Dade County has several branch courthouse locations across the county for different court divisions.

How to Run a Background Check in Miami-Dade

There are a few ways to search background check records in Miami-Dade County. The quickest is the clerk's online case search at miamidadeclerk.gov. Type in a name and the system pulls up matching case records. You get case numbers, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. The tool is free and open to anyone. No account is needed.

For a statewide criminal history search, use CCHInet from FDLE. This runs the name against the state database. It costs $24. Results come back in about a day. If the person has any arrest or conviction in Miami-Dade County or elsewhere in Florida, it shows up in the report. This is a Level 1 check and it is the standard way to get a state-level background check.

You can also search official recorded documents through MyFloridaCounty. This covers liens, judgments, and recorded documents for Miami-Dade County. These records add financial and property data to a background check that court case searches alone might miss. Under Florida Chapter 119, all of these records are open for public inspection.

Miami-Dade Background Check Costs

The costs for a background check in Miami-Dade County depend on what type you need. FDLE charges $24 for a name-based state criminal history search. You pay online at the FDLE criminal history records page. This is the same fee across all 67 counties in Florida. The Miami-Dade County Clerk charges copy fees when you pull documents from court files.

Searching cases online is free. That costs nothing. But if you want copies of documents from a court file, you pay per page. Plain copies run $0.15 per page and certified copies are $1.00 per page. Level 2 fingerprint-based checks have their own fee structure that varies based on the requesting agency. Those costs tend to be higher because the check goes through both FDLE and the FBI.

• FDLE state check (Level 1): $24.00
• Plain copy from clerk: $0.15 per page
• Certified copy: $1.00 per page
• Online case search: Free

Note: Fees for Level 2 fingerprint checks vary by vendor and can change without notice.

Public Records in Miami-Dade County

Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes makes nearly all government records open to the public. This law is broad. In Miami-Dade County, it means anyone can request to see court records, police reports, and other government documents. You do not need to be a resident. You do not need to give a reason for your request.

Most background check records in Miami-Dade County are public. Criminal case filings, civil suits, and traffic records can all be viewed. Some records are sealed or exempt by law. Juvenile cases have extra protections. But the default in Florida is open access. The Attorney General's Open Government page explains these rights in detail and can help if a Miami-Dade County office denies your request for a public record.

Background Check Types Available

Florida uses two standard levels. Level 1 is a name-based search. FDLE runs it against the statewide criminal history database. It covers arrests, charges, and case outcomes. You order a Level 1 through CCHInet for $24. Most results come back within 24 hours. This is the fastest option for a Miami-Dade County background check.

Level 2 goes further. It uses fingerprints and runs through both FDLE and the FBI for national results. Chapter 435 of Florida Statutes spells out when a Level 2 check is required. You need to visit an approved LiveScan site to get printed. Miami-Dade County has dozens of approved vendors across the metro area. The LiveScan provider list shows locations by zip code so you can find one close to you in Miami or any other part of the county.

The Miami-Dade Police Department also has tools for checking arrest and booking data. Their site gives you another source for local background check information.

The MDPD site adds current arrest and booking records to your Miami-Dade County background check data.

FDLE Programs for Miami-Dade County

FDLE runs the VECHS program under Chapter 943 of Florida Statutes. VECHS stands for Volunteer and Employee Criminal History System. It lets approved groups access state and national criminal history data. In Miami-Dade County, many organizations use VECHS. Only groups registered with FDLE can participate. If your group works with children, the elderly, or people with disabilities, you may be eligible. Contact FDLE at (850) 410-8324 for details.

You can also review your own record. FDLE allows personal criminal history review through their website. This lets you see what is on file under your name. If you find errors, there is a process to get them fixed. This is open to anyone in Miami-Dade County or anywhere in the state.

Note: VECHS is not available to individuals, only to approved organizations registered with FDLE.

Getting Copies of Miami-Dade Records

Visit the Miami-Dade County Clerk at 73 W Flagler Street in Miami to get copies of court records. Bring a valid ID and tell staff the name or case number you need. They will search and print copies for you. Pay at the window. You can also submit written requests by mail. Include the person's full name, any case details you have, and a check for the expected fees. The Find a Clerk directory has contact info for all Miami-Dade County court locations.

For FDLE records, order through CCHInet and pay $24 with a credit card. Results come by email. Level 2 fingerprint check results go to the requesting agency, not directly to you. You just need to get printed at an approved site in Miami-Dade County and the agency handles the rest.

Cities in Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County has more than 30 cities and towns. All court records for these areas go through the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court in Miami. Background checks that use court data pull from the same clerk office regardless of which city the person lives in.

Other communities in Miami-Dade County include Coral Gables, North Miami, Aventura, Kendall, Cutler Bay, and Opa-locka. Court records for all of these go through the Miami-Dade County clerk in Miami.

Nearby Counties

Miami-Dade County sits at the southern tip of mainland Florida. If the person you are checking had ties to a nearby area, records may be held in one of these counties instead.