Located in the Miami metropolitan area, with its county seat at Fort Lauderdale, Broward County is the 2nd most populous county in Florida, with a population of over 1.9 million residents and a land area of over 1,300 square miles. Named after Florida’s 19th governor, Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, the county is known for its tropical climate and booming tourism industry, making Broward County a choice destination for nearly 10 million visitors annually.

Courts in Broward County

The Broward County trial court system comprises a Circuit Court and four County Courts. The Circuit Court Division is the primary trial court and has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases filed in the county. The Circuit Courts hear appeals from the County Courts and preside over family law cases, probate matters, juvenile cases, and mental health cases.

The County Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of criminal and civil cases, such as violations of municipal ordinances and civil disputes of $50,000 or less. They share jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over some homeowner’s associations and landlord/tenant disputes. The Court also handles uncontested or simplified divorce and civil dissolution cases.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Broward County

Public court records refer to documents created or maintained by the courts that are open to the public for viewing and copying in Broward County. The Clerk of the Circuit and County Court is the record custodian for public court records in Broward County. The Clerk provides an Online Case lookup tool to search public court records. In addition, record seekers may visit the Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts offices to order the record in person. The office also accepts mail and email requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Broward County

Broward County public court records are documents of legal proceedings maintained by the courts and accessible to the public. They include:

• Civil Court Records: Include civil disputes such as contracts, property rights, and real estate titles
• Criminal Court Records: Including felonies, misdemeanors, ordinance violations, and traffic infractions
• Probate Court Records: Such as wills, guardianship, name change, and conservatorship
• Family Law Court Records: Comprising of divorce records, child custody agreements, spousal support, and adoption proceedings
• Traffic Court Records:  They include speeding, reckless driving, and running red lights

Confidential Court Records in Broward County

Confidential court records are court documents that are not open to the public. They are usually sealed by a court order or federal or state statutes. Some Broward County Court records are inaccessible to the public. They include juvenile court records, medical records, mental health records, and court records containing cases involving protection orders.

In addition, court records containing personal identifying information where disclosure would constitute an invasion of privacy are exempted from public view. Therefore, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, passport numbers, tax records, minors' identities, financial information, and email addresses contained in court records are redacted before the document is issued to the requesters.

Juvenile Delinquency in Broward, FL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Broward County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Florida often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 3 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Broward County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 3 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Broward County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Broward County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Broward County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Fort Lauderdale
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1915
Total Square Miles:	1,323
2019 Population:	1,935,878
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	115 S Andrews Ave County Government Center Fort Lauderdale , FL 33301-1818 http://www.broward.org/

Broward County, FL Courts