Palm Beach County Background Checks
Background check records in Palm Beach County are managed by the Clerk of Court in West Palm Beach and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at the state level. Palm Beach County is one of the largest counties in Florida by both land area and population, with roughly 1.5 million people across cities like West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Boynton Beach. The 15th Judicial Circuit handles all court cases here. Whether you need to pull criminal case data, search civil filings, or look up official documents, this county has a deep set of records open to the public. Online tools and in-person access make it possible to run a background check from almost anywhere.
Palm Beach County Quick Facts
Palm Beach County Clerk of Court
Mike Caruso serves as the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court. The main office is at 301 N Olive Ave, Ninth Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. This is a large operation. Palm Beach County handles a high volume of court filings each year across criminal, civil, family, and probate divisions. You can reach the office at (561) 355-2996 to ask about records, check hours, or find out how to submit a request. Staff can help you search cases, pull files, and get copies of court documents for your background check.
The clerk's website at mypalmbeachclerk.com has an online case search portal. You can look up records by name, case number, or filing date. The system covers criminal cases, civil suits, traffic matters, and family law cases. Results show filing dates, charges, and case status. This free tool is the best place to start a Palm Beach County background check from home. For full document copies, you may need to go in person or make a written request.
The Palm Beach County Clerk of Court website gives you access to court case records and filing tools for the 15th Judicial Circuit.
Use this portal to search case data and start your Palm Beach County background check online.
| Clerk | Mike Caruso |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 N Olive Ave, Ninth Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 |
| Phone | (561) 355-2996 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | mypalmbeachclerk.com |
Note: Palm Beach County has branch courthouse locations throughout the county for different court divisions.
How to Search Palm Beach County Records
You have several ways to run a background check in Palm Beach County. The clerk's online case search is the fastest free option. Go to the Palm Beach County Clerk website and use the public records tool. Type in a name and the system shows matching cases. You get case type, filing date, current status, and party names. This works for criminal cases, civil filings, family matters, and traffic cases across the 15th Judicial Circuit.
The MyFloridaCounty portal covers official recorded documents for Palm Beach County. This includes liens, deeds, judgments, and other recorded items. These records add to a background check by covering financial and property matters that court case searches may not show. The database is free to search and covers documents going back many years.
FDLE runs the statewide criminal history check. Submit a name-based Level 1 request through CCHInet for $24. This pulls arrest and conviction data from all 67 Florida counties. If the person has records in Palm Beach County or any other part of the state, they show up. Most results come back within 24 hours by email.
For in-person searches, visit the clerk's office at 301 N Olive Ave in West Palm Beach. Bring ID. Staff can help you search cases and pull files.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Records
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is another source for background check data. Their website at pbso.org has tools for looking up current inmates, recent arrests, and booking records. This is useful when you need recent arrest data that may not have hit the clerk's case system yet. The sheriff also handles police reports and incident data for unincorporated areas of Palm Beach County.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office website provides arrest and booking search tools for the county.
This site adds current booking and arrest information to your Palm Beach County background check results.
Many cities in Palm Beach County have their own police departments, but all arrest records eventually flow to the state system. The sheriff covers the county-wide jail and booking process. If you are looking for someone who was arrested recently, start with the PBSO site.
Background Check Fees in Palm Beach County
FDLE charges $24 for a statewide name-based criminal history check. You pay at the FDLE criminal history records page. This covers the Level 1 search. The Palm Beach County Clerk charges for copies of court documents. Plain copies cost $0.15 per page. Certified copies run $1.00 per page. The online case search on the clerk website is free.
Level 2 fingerprint checks have higher fees. The exact cost depends on the requesting agency and the LiveScan vendor you use. Several approved vendors are in the West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Boynton Beach areas. You can find them on the FDLE website by zip code.
- FDLE Level 1 check: $24.00
- Plain copy from clerk: $0.15 per page
- Certified copy: $1.00 per page
- Online case search: Free
- Level 2 fingerprint check: Varies by vendor
Public Records Access in Palm Beach County
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes government records public. This is one of the broadest open records laws in the country. In Palm Beach County, anyone can ask the clerk for court records, police reports, or other government files. You do not need to be a resident. You do not need to state a reason. The default is open access.
Most background check records here are public. Criminal filings, civil suits, traffic cases, and official recorded documents are all open. The exceptions are sealed records, expunged files, and items covered by a specific statutory exemption. Juvenile records have extra limits. But for most cases, you can walk in and look at the file or search it online.
The Attorney General's Open Government page explains your rights. If any Palm Beach County office turns down your records request, the AG's office can step in.
Note: Sealed and expunged records are not available through a standard public records request in Palm Beach County.
Background Check Types in Palm Beach County
Level 1 and Level 2 are the two main types. A Level 1 check is name-based. FDLE runs the name through the statewide criminal history database. It pulls arrests, charges, and outcomes. You submit it through CCHInet for $24. Results come by email in about a day. This is the most common type for a quick Palm Beach County background check.
Level 2 checks use fingerprints. They run through FDLE and the FBI for national data. Chapter 943 of the Florida Statutes governs the criminal history programs that FDLE manages. The VECHS program lets approved groups access state and national records. Only registered organizations can use it. In Palm Beach County, this covers nonprofits and agencies that serve children, the elderly, or people with disabilities.
You can also check your own record. The FDLE personal review page lets anyone see what is on file under their name in Florida. If something is wrong, you can start the process to fix it.
How to Get Record Copies
Visit the Palm Beach County Clerk at 301 N Olive Ave in West Palm Beach to get copies of court records. Give staff the name or case number. They look it up and print copies for you. Pay at the counter. The Find a Clerk page has full contact details for the Palm Beach County clerk and branch locations.
Mail requests work too. Send a letter to the clerk with the person's full name, any case details you have, and a check for the expected fees. The clerk processes the request and sends copies back. For FDLE records, submit online through CCHInet. Pay $24 by card. Results come by email. For Level 2 fingerprint results, the requesting agency handles the process after you get printed at an approved LiveScan site in Palm Beach County.
Cities in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County has many cities and towns. All court records go through the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court in West Palm Beach. Three cities in the county have a population over 75,000.
Other communities in Palm Beach County include Delray Beach, Jupiter, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, and Royal Palm Beach. Court records for all Palm Beach County cities go through the same clerk's office in West Palm Beach.
Nearby Counties
Palm Beach County borders several other Florida counties. If the person you are checking lived in a nearby area, their records may be in one of these.