How to Search Palm Beach County Court Records
The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller runs the official case search tool for Palm Beach County. It is called eCaseView and it covers civil, criminal, traffic, family, probate, guardianship, mental health, and small claims cases. Guest users can search and view most case data without an account. Registered users get more search fields and more document images in certain restricted case types. There is no charge to use eCaseView.
Before you start, get the case number if you have it, or write down the full legal name of the party, plus a guess at the file date or offense date. Case numbers in Palm Beach County use a year, a court type code, and a sequence. An example is 2015TR900123. The TR code marks a traffic infraction. Other common codes are CA for circuit civil, CC for county civil, CF for felony, MM for misdemeanor, CT for criminal traffic, DR for family, CP for probate, GA for guardianship, MH for mental health, and SC for small claims.
The eCaseView portal lets a visitor view free public case data, including charges, sentences, parties, dispositions, court dates, and many docket documents from late 2008 forward.
The screenshot shows the guest and registered options on the eCaseView landing page that public users hit first. Once inside, the search tab covers case number, name, citation, court type, case type, and a date range.
- Open eCaseView and pick "Login as Guest User."
- Click the New Search tab and enter a case number or a party name.
- Pick a court type from the dropdown to narrow results, then a case type if needed.
- Add an offense or file date range if a common name returns too many hits.
- Open a case to view the docket, parties, charges, dispositions, and available document images.
- Use the Court Events tab to find a court date, time, and location for cases that publish events.
- Order an electronic certified copy through eCertify if a true and correct copy is needed.
Note: eCaseView document images go back to late 2008 for most public case types, and older images may need a Clerk records request.
The Palm Beach County Judicial System
Florida runs a unified state court system with four levels. From top to bottom the levels are the Florida Supreme Court, the District Courts of Appeal, the Circuit Courts, and the County Courts. The Circuit Court and the County Court are the trial courts. Palm Beach County is the entire Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court hears felonies, family law cases, dissolution and custody, probate, guardianship, mental health, juvenile dependency and delinquency, and civil claims above $50,000. The County Court hears misdemeanors, traffic infractions, criminal traffic, small claims, evictions, county and municipal ordinance matters, and civil cases of $50,000 or less.
Appeals from local trial courts move into Florida's District Courts of Appeal, with limited further review in the Florida Supreme Court. The Court Administration office for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit supports 54 judges and 9 magistrates and nearly 200 state and county employees. Florida's official court page confirms the same statewide structure at Florida's Court Structure.
Case flow: County Court › Circuit Court › District Court of Appeal › Florida Supreme Court
| Court | Level | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| County Court | Trial | Misdemeanors, traffic, small claims, evictions, county/municipal ordinance, civil up to $50,000 |
| Circuit Court | Trial | Felonies, family law, probate, guardianship, mental health, juvenile, circuit civil over $50,000 |
| District Court of Appeal | Intermediate appeals | Appeals from circuit court and most county court rulings |
| Florida Supreme Court | State high court | Limited discretionary review and required jurisdiction matters |
Palm Beach County Courthouses
The hub of the Palm Beach County Court system is the Main Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach. The Clerk lists it as a full-service location for court, recording, and official records services. Outside the Main Courthouse, the Clerk runs branch offices in north, south, and west county, plus a Royal Palm Beach branch. The Governmental Center on North Olive Avenue houses Clerk administration and the Finance Division. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office shares a campus with the Main Detention Center on Gun Club Road.
Main Courthouse
205 North Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 355-2996
Governmental Center
301 North Olive Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 355-2996
Types of Court Records Available in Palm Beach County
Public court records in Palm Beach County come out of one search system and split into many case types. eCaseView exposes every major court type used by the Clerk. Some files are open to the general public, some need a free registered account to view document images, and some are not viewable online at all. Florida law sets the access rules, and the Clerk applies them at the case-type level.
- Civil and circuit civil records: lawsuits, judgments, foreclosures, contract claims, and personal-injury filings.
- Criminal records: felony, misdemeanor, criminal traffic, and county/municipal ordinance matters.
- Family and divorce records: dissolution, custody, child support, name change, paternity, and domestic violence injunctions.
- Probate and guardianship: wills, estates, summary and formal administration, caveats, and guardian appointments.
- Traffic and citation records: moving and non-moving infractions, parking, and marine cases.
- Small claims and evictions: county civil disputes of $8,000 or less and landlord-tenant filings.
- Mental health cases: Baker Act, Marchman Act, risk protection, and firearms petitions held under restricted access.
Juvenile, adoption, Baker Act, Marchman Act, tuberculosis cases, and certain other categories are not in eCaseView except for attorneys of record. The Clerk's restricted case list spells out which types stay sealed online.
What Palm Beach County Court Records Show
A typical Palm Beach County case record in eCaseView shows a case header, a list of parties and attorneys, a docket of every filing and event in date order, the charges or causes of action, the dispositions, and any sentence or judgment. Document images attached to most public dockets begin in late 2008 and open as PDFs. For restricted case types, only registered users or the attorney of record can pull up the images.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | Year, court type code (CA, CC, CF, MM, CT, TR, DR, CP, GA, MH, SC), and sequence; example 2015TR900123. |
| Filing Date | Date the case was opened by the Clerk. |
| Court Type / Case Type | Identifies the bench and the case category, such as Felony, Misdemeanor, or Small Claims. |
| Parties | Plaintiff/defendant, petitioner/respondent, state/defendant, decedent and heirs in probate. |
| Charges or Cause | Statute, charge or claim description, offense date, classification, plea. |
| Disposition | Final or current outcome, such as guilty, not guilty, dismissed, or judgment for plaintiff. |
| Sentence / Judgment | Probation, jail, fines, restitution, civil money judgment, or order text. |
| Docket | Every filing, motion, order, and event in date order, with document images where allowed. |
Public Access Laws for Palm Beach County Court Records
Public access to Florida court files rests on three legal pillars. Article I, section 24 of the Florida Constitution sets a constitutional right of access to public records. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes carries the general public records framework for agencies. The Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420 governs access to judicial branch records and defines what counts as a court record. Together, these sources tell the Clerk that the default is open and the exceptions must come from a specific law or court rule.
Key Statutes:
Florida Statutes § 119.07: sets the duty to allow inspection and copying of public records at reasonable times and places, and authorizes copy fees.
Florida Statutes § 119.0714: covers court files, court records, and official records, and lists information that must be redacted from public view.
Florida Rule 2.420: judicial-branch access rule that defines court records, sets confidentiality procedures, and requires a written basis for any denial.
Florida Statutes § 943.0585: court-ordered expunction of qualifying criminal history records.
Florida Statutes § 943.059: court-ordered sealing of qualifying criminal history records.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Not all Palm Beach County court files are open online. Juvenile court records are confidential under Florida Statutes § 985.04, which keeps most juvenile justice information out of eCaseView. Adoption records are confidential under Florida Statutes § 63.162 and adoption hearings are closed. Baker Act, Marchman Act, tuberculosis, sexting infractions, guardianship settlements, pre-need guardian cases, and many family document images are restricted to registered users or attorneys of record.
Sealed and expunged criminal histories are governed by Florida sealing and expunction statutes. Before a Palm Beach County court will seal or expunge a record, the petitioner must apply to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a Certificate of Eligibility. The Clerk's general fee schedule lists "Seal or expunge any record" at $42. The full process is explained on the FDLE sealing and expunction FAQ.
Marsy's Law and Florida Rule 2.423 protect confidential crime victim information in criminal and juvenile filings. The Clerk's Court Records page notes that a Notice of Confidential Crime Victim Information must accompany filings that contain protected victim data.
Specialty Courts in Palm Beach County
The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit runs several problem-solving courts that show up in eCaseView as case-type labels. Drug Court appears under felony, misdemeanor, and criminal traffic case types. Veterans Court appears across criminal, ordinance, and traffic categories. The Mental Health Specialty Division handles risk protection orders, firearms petitions, incapacity cases, and Baker Act follow-on matters. Family Drug Court is referenced in circuit administrative orders.
Drug Court combines judicial supervision, treatment, drug testing, regular status hearings, and graduation incentives or sanctions for defendants whose charges and clinical needs match the program criteria. Veterans Court works in a similar structure but draws on Veterans Affairs benefits, peer mentors, and service-connected behavioral health resources for eligible veterans whose criminal involvement is tied to service-related issues.
Palm Beach County Sheriff and Jail
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is the county law enforcement and corrections agency. Sheriff Ric L. Bradshaw has led the office since January 2005 and is the sixteenth sheriff in the agency's history. PBSO lists 4,464 total staff, including 1,556 sworn law enforcement and 700 sworn corrections officers, with a fiscal-year 2024 adopted budget of about $877 million. PBSO operates the Main Detention Center on Gun Club Road and the West Detention Center in Belle Glade.
The Main Detention Center is a 2,166-bed jail used for high-risk inmates, federal inmates, and people with special medical or mental health needs. The West Detention Center is program-oriented with about 998 beds and uses direct supervision for much of its housing. Visit the Palm Beach County inmate records page for the full booking search workflow, or the warrant records page for warrant guidance.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
The Clerk issues marriage licenses by appointment at five offices: Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, and Belle Glade. Florida residents face a three-day waiting period after applying unless they qualify for a waiver through a state-approved premarital course. Non-residents with valid out-of-state ID skip the waiting period. Divorce cases live in eCaseView under Domestic Relations/Family, with document images restricted to registered users or the attorney of record. Probate is handled inside the Circuit Court and not by a separate probate court. See marriage and divorce records and probate records for the full process.
- Testator
- The person who made a will.
- Executor
- Personal representative who carries out a will under court supervision.
- Intestate
- Dying without a valid will; estate passes by Florida intestacy rules.
- Guardian
- Person appointed by the court to manage another's affairs or person.
- Conservator
- Court-appointed manager of an adult's property or finances.
Palm Beach County Court Records Fees
The Clerk's office uses the fee schedule set by the Florida Legislature for copy, certification, and search work. Credit and debit cards through the Clerk's payment processor carry a 3.5 percent service charge. The full schedule is on the Clerk's general fees page.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies up to 8.5 x 14, per page | $1.00 |
| Certifying copies, per instrument | $2.00 |
| Records search, per year per name | $2.00 |
| Authenticated/exemplified certificate | $7.00 |
| Electronic certified court document | $8.00 plus 3.5% processing |
| Seal or expunge any record | $42.00 |
| Certificate of No Marriage | $7.00 plus $2.00 per year searched |
How to Read a Palm Beach County Court Record
Reading a case file is easier once the codes are familiar. The court type letters tell the reader which bench heard the case. A docket reads in date order. Each row shows the date, a short text description, the filing party where applicable, and a document image link if the access rules allow it. A docket entry without a document image is not always an error. Many court events do not create a document, and some images are limited to registered users.
Charges are not the same as convictions. An arrest or filing shows the state's charging position. The disposition is the final outcome of that charge, which can be guilty, not guilty, dismissed, no information filed, nolle prosequi, withhold of adjudication, or a similar legal status. A withheld adjudication in Florida means the court found facts to support guilt but did not enter a formal judgment of conviction. Always read both the charge line and the disposition before drawing any conclusion about a person's record.
Accuracy and Record Limitations
Online case data is updated as the Clerk processes new filings, but there is some lag between a court event and the screen. PBSO's booking blotter warns that information should not be relied upon for any type of legal action. The same caution applies to many free public lookup tools. Confirm critical case details with the Clerk's office or the responsible court division before acting on them.
Note: Always verify a critical date or status by calling the Clerk's Records Service Center at (561) 355-2932 or the responsible court division before you rely on it.
History of Palm Beach County Courts
Palm Beach County was created on July 1, 1909, and PBSO says the sheriff's office traces its roots to the same year. The county now makes up the entire Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, one of 20 judicial circuits in Florida. The modern Main Courthouse sits in downtown West Palm Beach on North Dixie Highway and centralizes most public-facing court services in one vertical building. Branch courthouses serve north, south, west, and Royal Palm Beach service areas.
Online access to court records arrived with eCaseView. Case data goes back to roughly 1976 and document images begin in late 2008. The Clerk also runs eCertify for electronic certified court and official records. Clerk Mike Caruso took office on August 19, 2025, and has said one of his priorities is a unified searchable database for Florida's 20 circuits and 67 counties.
Self-Help and Legal Aid in Palm Beach County
The Clerk's Self Service Center sits on the first floor of the Main Courthouse in Room 1.2500. Staff offer court forms, packets, and Navigator appointments. The center publishes Free Forms A-Z, packet order pages, and topic pages for divorce, eviction, and small claims. Florida also runs a statewide forms library for family law at flcourts.gov family forms.
Eligible low-income county residents can get civil legal help from the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Florida Rural Legal Services, or the statewide Florida Law Help portal. Criminal defendants who meet indigency standards can apply for the Public Defender for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. Lawyer referrals run through the Palm Beach County Bar Association.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Palm Beach County court records search free?
Yes. The Clerk runs eCaseView at no cost. Guest users can search by case number, name, citation, court type, case type, and date. There is no fee to view or print uncertified public documents that show in the system. Electronic certified copies cost $8 per document plus a 3.5 percent processing charge.
How far back do Palm Beach County court records go online?
The Clerk's eCaseView FAQ says case data goes back to about 1976. Document images are generally available from late 2008 forward. Older images may exist on a case-by-case basis. Records past Florida's retention dates may have been purged, and a Clerk records request would be needed to confirm.
Where is the Palm Beach County Main Courthouse?
The Main Courthouse is at 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. The public phone number is (561) 355-2996 and Clerk public hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., minus designated holidays. Courtrooms are numbered by floor. Courtroom 11D, for example, sits on the eleventh floor.
Who is the current Clerk of Court?
Mike Caruso is the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. Governor Ron DeSantis appointed him effective August 19, 2025. Caruso leads about 650 employees and serves more than 1.5 million county residents. His office handles court records, official records, marriage licenses, traffic tickets, and county finance work.
More on the Palm Beach County Court Records FAQ page.