Palm Beach County FL Court Records Search

Independent website notice: Public-Court-Records.us is an independent educational website. It is not the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County, the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Florida Courts, PACER, a law firm, law-enforcement agency, background-check company, or government agency. This page explains lawful court-record search and copy procedures. It cannot certify, alter, seal, expunge, remove, or update an official court record. Verify time-sensitive information with the official court or Clerk.

Palm Beach County court records search: use eCaseView, but choose the correct record system first

The official starting point for most Palm Beach County court records is eCaseView, the free search system operated by the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. It can be used for civil, criminal and traffic case information, dockets, court events and many document images.

Palm Beach County has an important Florida-specific complication: Court Records and Official Records are different databases. A lawsuit, criminal case, divorce, probate proceeding or traffic case belongs in the court-record system. A deed, mortgage, recorded lien, plat, marriage-license recording or other recorded instrument generally belongs in Official Records.

eCaseView reviewed: August 30, 2026 User Guide revision checked: March 2026 Copy fees checked: August 30, 2026 Palm Beach County • 15th Judicial Circuit

Which Palm Beach County record system should you use?

Palm Beach County Court Search Route Finder

Select the record you are trying to find

This tool does not search people or collect names, dates of birth, case numbers, driver’s-license numbers or other identifiers. It only routes you to the appropriate official source.

Civil case Criminal case Family / divorce Probate / guardianship Traffic ticket Deed / lien / mortgage Appeal Federal case

Start in eCaseView.

Search the party or business name, case number, court type or case type. County Civil handles many cases up to $50,000; larger civil claims generally belong to Circuit Civil.

Open official eCaseView

Use eCaseView for the court case.

Review Charges / Sentences, Court Events, Dockets & Documents and case status. If your real question is whether someone is currently in jail, use the appropriate sheriff/jail system instead.

Use eCaseView, but expect additional privacy controls.

Family case information and document images do not have the same public-access rules as ordinary civil and criminal records. Registered-user access may be required for document images.

Use eCaseView and the Probate/Guardianship court division.

Registered users can receive additional document-image access, but confidential inventories, accountings and court-restricted information are not made public merely because a case exists.

Use eCaseView.

Search the citation or case. After opening the case, use Court Events for upcoming traffic court dates. If the citation is brand new, allow time for the issuing agency to file it with the Clerk.

Use Palm Beach County Official Records—not eCaseView.

Official Records includes recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, plats and other instruments.

Open Palm Beach County Official Records information

Check the Appellate Division and Fourth District Court of Appeal.

Circuit civil and criminal appeals generally proceed to the Fourth DCA. Some administrative and civil-traffic matters are handled by a 15th Circuit appellate panel.

Use PACER.

Palm Beach County federal cases are within the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The federal courthouse in West Palm Beach has its own Clerk’s Office.

How to search eCaseView as a guest

Registration is not required for ordinary guest searching. Palm Beach County’s current March 2026 eCaseView user guide states that guest users can search court records, open eligible case documents and purchase certified records after completing the reCAPTCHA check.

1. Open the official eCaseView site. The Clerk’s current production address is appsgp.mypalmbeachclerk.com/eCaseView/.
2. Select “Guests.” You do not have to create a registered-user account for basic public searching.
3. Complete the reCAPTCHA security check. Select the “I’m not a robot” option and complete any additional image challenge if prompted.
4. Open the Search Criteria screen. The official March 2026 guide shows fields including Case Number, Name Search Type, Last Name / Company Name, First Name, Middle Name, Court Type, Case Type, Citation Number, Offense dates and File dates.
5. Start with the least information necessary. For an individual, use the last name and then add first name or other filters if too many matches appear.
6. For a company, use the Last Name / Company Name field. The Clerk’s guide specifically states that an ampersand (&) is permitted in name/company searches.
7. Use Court Type or Case Type when you know the jurisdiction. This can separate civil, criminal, traffic and other case categories.
8. Click Search. eCaseView returns a maximum of 200 search results, so broad searches may need additional filters.
9. Open the case number. Verify the court, party, filing information and case type before assuming you found the correct person or organization.
10. Review the individual case tabs. The tabs can include Case Info, Party Names, Dockets & Documents, Case Fees, Charges / Sentences, Court Events, Warrants / Service Docs and Arrests / Bonds depending on the case.

Guest search versus registered-user search

Registered-user login changed in March 2026

Palm Beach County changed the eCaseView login process for registered users in March 2026. Guest access did not change.

Registered users now log in using the email address originally submitted on the registration form. Existing users logging in after March 18 were instructed to verify that email address and reset their password.

Registered accounts also use multi-factor authentication (MFA). The current Clerk instructions support:

• verification code by registered email; or
• Microsoft Authenticator.

The Clerk’s current user guide says Google or other authenticator apps are not supported for this eCaseView MFA process.

How Palm Beach County case numbers work in eCaseView

The March 2026 eCaseView guide gives unusually specific case-number instructions. A known case number is often the fastest way to avoid common-name matches.

The guide says the search case number should use:

For traffic and criminal matters, including a co-defendant letter designation can return that specific defendant; leaving it off can return all defendants associated with the same base case number.

A September 1, 2023 UCN change matters for some civil and juvenile cases

The Clerk’s current eCaseView guide identifies a local Uniform Case Number suffix distinction:

Why a new arrest or citation may not appear immediately

Palm Beach County’s March 2026 eCaseView guide specifically says that when a case is not available immediately after an arrest or citation, users should check again within approximately three business days, accounting for weekends, holidays and non-business hours.

A recently issued traffic ticket may therefore be absent because the issuing law-enforcement agency has not yet filed it with the Clerk.

What each eCaseView tab actually tells you

Yellow-highlighted cases and warrant information

The Clerk’s current eCaseView guide says a search result highlighted in yellow indicates an open warrant. After opening the case, the case number and case style can remain highlighted.

The same guide also notes a specific limitation: a direct-file warrant is not listed or viewable until one year after issuance.

Document images usually begin in late 2008—but older cases require a different workflow

The Clerk states that eCaseView document images are generally viewable from late 2008 forward, with some earlier images available case by case.

Most court records prior to 2008 are not imaged. For those cases, the Records Service Center may need to:

• retrieve a physical file from warehouse storage;
• image the requested documents;
• perform required redaction;
• research older records on microfilm.

The Clerk warns that older-record requests requiring this research can take up to 15 business days to fulfill.

Older-file retrieval workflow

1. Search eCaseView first.
2. Save the complete case number if the case index appears.
3. Identify the exact docket entry or pleading you need.
4. Determine whether the document itself has an image icon.
5. If it is an older pre-2008 file, open the Clerk’s “Court Records: How to Request Copies if Not Available Online” instructions.
6. Provide the complete case number and relevant docket-entry range or document number.
7. Expect additional processing when the record must be retrieved, imaged, redacted or researched on microfilm.
8. If you need certification, state that requirement at the beginning of the request.

View on Request: what the lock and clock icons mean

Palm Beach County uses a View on Request (VOR) process for certain documents that may contain confidential or sensitive information.

A document requiring review can appear with a lock icon. After a viewing request is submitted, the Clerk may review the document for information that must be redacted before releasing an online image.

While the review is underway, eCaseView may display a clock icon. Users can request notification when the document becomes available or return later to check its status.

Some Palm Beach County case types are not publicly available in eCaseView

eCaseView does not provide unrestricted public access to every court proceeding.

Redaction: why black boxes appear in Palm Beach County documents

eCaseView documents are redacted to protect confidential information under Florida law and applicable court-access rules.

Black boxes can cover information such as:

• Social Security numbers;
• bank-account numbers;
• certain victim information;
• medical information;
• other information made confidential by law or court rule.

Finding criminal and traffic court dates in eCaseView

Palm Beach County provides a particularly clear workflow for criminal and traffic court dates.

1. Open eCaseView.
2. Select Guests or log in as a registered user.
3. Search the case by name or case number.
4. Open the matching case.
5. Select Court Events.
6. Review upcoming court dates.
7. If the hearing is scheduled soon, recheck the current case because court events can change.

Civil court dates are different

The Clerk specifically states that civil court dates are not listed on the eCaseView Court Events screen in the same way criminal and traffic dates are.

For a civil matter, open Dockets & Documents and look for a Notice of Hearing or other scheduling document.

Zoom hearing information

For a traffic case scheduled for a Zoom hearing, the Clerk instructs users to check the Court Events information for the case.

Do not republish private meeting credentials from confidential hearings.

Criminal charge, sentence and disposition are different

eCaseView can display charges and sentencing information, but a responsible court-record search must distinguish every stage of a criminal matter.

A complaint, citation, information, charge or arrest does not prove guilt. Review the later docket and Charges / Sentences information before describing the outcome.

Which Palm Beach County court handled the case?

Family and divorce records need special handling

Palm Beach County family cases include divorce, paternity, child support, name change and other family proceedings. These records should not be treated like ordinary public civil lawsuit documents.

Registered eCaseView users can receive additional access to family document images, but confidentiality rules still apply.

Divorce case versus certified divorce judgment

If you only need to confirm that a divorce case exists, search the court case.

If you need a document for Social Security, driver’s-license records, immigration, remarriage, financial administration or another formal purpose, the receiving agency may require a certified Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage rather than a docket screenshot.

Probate and guardianship records: docket access does not mean full document access

Probate cases may involve wills, administrations, creditors, personal representatives and estate orders. Guardianship records can contain significantly more sensitive financial and medical information.

For guardianship matters, Palm Beach County specifically states that non-parties cannot obtain certain documents such as inventories and accountings when Florida law makes them confidential.

Court Records versus Official Records in Palm Beach County

This is one of the most useful distinctions for anyone researching Palm Beach County.

eCaseView’s own user guide notes that a court docket entry can show an Official Records book and page number when a court item was also recorded. The document displayed in the court case is not necessarily the recorded image with the official recording stamp.

If you need the recorded version, switch to Official Records and use the book/page or other recording identifier.

Free copies, certified copies and eCertified copies

Fees verified: August 30, 2026. Confirm the current Clerk fee before paying because statutory and processing charges can change.

How Palm Beach County E-Certify works

Electronic certified court documents can be ordered for eligible redacted documents directly through the Clerk’s E-Certify workflow.

1. Find the case in eCaseView.
2. Open Dockets & Documents.
3. Locate the exact document you need.
4. Add the eligible document to the E-Certify shopping cart.
5. Open the cart and proceed to checkout.
6. Pay the certification/service charges.
7. Download the secure electronic certified document.
8. Save the receipt and download link.

The current Clerk fee is $8 per electronic certified document: $2 is the statutory Clerk certification fee and $6 is the E-Certify vendor processing fee. A 3.5% payment-processing fee applies to specified electronic payment methods.

The certified PDF includes a unique code, electronic stamp/seal and authentication method. A recipient can verify it using the link or QR code included with the certified document.

How to order court records by mail

The Palm Beach County Records Service Center accepts mailed copy requests. The current Records Service Transmittal Form was revised August 26, 2025.

1. Identify whether you need a docket sheet, entire docket, specific pleading, certified copy or exemplified copy.
2. Write the complete case number.
3. For a docket request, specify the docket-entry range when possible.
4. For a particular pleading, provide the docket-entry number.
5. Complete the Records Service Transmittal Form or provide the equivalent required information.
6. Include payment sufficient for the expected copy/certification fees.
7. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope when applicable or sufficient postage payment.
8. Mail the request to the Records Service Center.

Records Service Center: the useful in-person location for copies and older research

Palm Beach County courthouse locations that can help with record access

Not every branch offers every service, so the location matters. The following Clerk courthouse locations were checked against current Clerk listings.

How to read a Palm Beach County civil case without over-interpreting it

Judgment does not automatically mean money is still owed

A civil docket can show that a judgment was entered but may not, by itself, answer whether the judgment was later:

• paid;
• satisfied;
• vacated;
• settled;
• amended;
• appealed.

Review later docket entries and, when a recorded satisfaction is relevant, check the appropriate Official Records system as well.

Court records versus jail records in Palm Beach County

How to get a Palm Beach County court transcript

A docket document and a transcript are different records. If you need a verbatim record of a hearing or trial, use the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court Reporting Services process rather than asking eCaseView for a transcript.

The current Court Reporting Services page states that the department records proceedings including:

• Circuit Criminal;
• County Criminal;
• domestic injunction hearings;
• certain Domestic Relations proceedings;
• juvenile delinquency and dependency;
• specified mental-health proceedings.

The current published fulfillment guidance says:

The Circuit states that in-person and fax transcript/recording requests are no longer accepted.

Palm Beach County appeals do not all follow the same route

Federal court records for Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County is part of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. A federal civil or criminal case will not appear in eCaseView simply because the events occurred in Palm Beach County.

1. Open PACER.
2. Create or use your PACER account.
3. If you know the case is in the Southern District of Florida, search that court.
4. If the federal court is uncertain, use the PACER Case Locator.
5. Verify the party, court and case number.
6. Open the federal docket and requested documents.

Federal bankruptcy records

Bankruptcy is federal, not Palm Beach County civil court. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida has a West Palm Beach location at:

Use PACER for federal bankruptcy docket/document access.

What to do if your Palm Beach County search returns nothing

1. Check whether you used Court Records or Official Records. The wrong database is a common failure point.
2. Reduce the name fields. Start broad and add first/middle name only as needed.
3. Check company formatting. Use the legal/company name and remember the Clerk permits an ampersand in the name/company field.
4. Check Court Type and Case Type filters. A restrictive filter can eliminate the correct result.
5. Search by complete case number. Include the required year, two-letter designation, six-digit sequence and relevant suffix.
6. For a new arrest or citation, wait for filing. The Clerk recommends checking again within approximately three business days when a case has not yet appeared.
7. For pre-2008 records, expect limited images. Contact the Records Service Center for warehouse/microfilm research.
8. For protected case types, respect access restrictions. Juvenile, adoption, Baker Act, Marchman Act and other protected matters are not ordinary public eCaseView records.
9. For an appeal, check the appellate system.
10. For a federal matter, move to PACER.

How to verify that a name match is actually the right person

• Compare full first and last name.
• Check middle name or initial.
• Confirm the case number.
• Confirm the filing date or year.
• Confirm whether the case is civil, criminal, traffic, family or probate.
• Confirm the party role.
• Review attorney information when useful.
• Use date-of-birth information only through authorized access and when legally appropriate.
• Check later docket entries for the actual disposition.
• If the identification remains uncertain, do not claim the case belongs to that person.

FCRA and responsible-use notice

Public-Court-Records.us is not a Consumer Reporting Agency. This page and the information obtained through it must not be represented as an FCRA-compliant consumer report for employment, tenant screening, credit, insurance underwriting or another FCRA-covered eligibility decision.

In particular, do not turn Palm Beach County eviction records into tenant-screening profiles or criminal dockets into employment background reports.

Official Palm Beach County sources reviewed

• Palm Beach County Clerk — Court Records Search
• Official eCaseView
• eCaseView / E-Certify User Guide — Rev. 3/26
• Official eCaseView FAQ
• Electronic Certified Court Documents
• Copies & Records Research
• Copies & Records Research Fees
• Older / Non-Online Court Record Requests
• Circuit Civil Court
• County Civil Court
• Palm Beach County Criminal Court
• Unified Family Court
• Probate of Estates
• Guardianship
• Palm Beach County Appellate Division
• Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal
• Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court Reporting Services
• U.S. District Court — Southern District of Florida
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court — West Palm Beach

Research review date: August 30, 2026. Portal interfaces, access rules, processing times, fees, addresses and court procedures can change; recheck important details before making a payment, requesting a certified record or appearing for court.

Frequently asked questions about Palm Beach County court records

1. What is the official Palm Beach County court records search?

The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller operates eCaseView, the official free search system for Palm Beach County civil, criminal and traffic court cases. Guest users can perform most basic searches without registering.

2. Do I need an eCaseView account to search a case?

No. Guest users can search by ordinary criteria such as name, case number, citation number, court type and case type. Registration provides additional search fields such as date of birth, incident number, arrest date, booking number, driver-license number and Florida Bar number, subject to access rules.

3. How far back are Palm Beach County court document images available online?

The Clerk states that document images are generally viewable from late 2008 forward, with earlier images available case by case. Most pre-2008 court records are not imaged and can require warehouse or microfilm research through the Records Service Center.

4. Why is my recent Palm Beach County arrest or traffic ticket not showing in eCaseView?

The Clerk’s current user guide states that a case may not be available immediately following an arrest or citation. It recommends checking again within approximately three business days while accounting for weekends, holidays and non-business hours.

5. Are Palm Beach County divorce and probate documents public in eCaseView?

Case information may be available, but document-image access for Family, Probate, Guardianship and Mental Health matters is more restricted than ordinary civil/criminal records. Registered-user or attorney-of-record access may be required, and confidential documents remain protected.

6. What is the difference between Palm Beach County Court Records and Official Records?

Court Records include lawsuits, criminal cases, traffic, family, probate and related court dockets. Official Records contain recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, liens, releases and plats. The two systems are maintained separately even though the Clerk is involved with both.

7. How much does an electronic certified Palm Beach County court document cost?

As of August 30, 2026, the Clerk lists electronic certified court documents at $8 per document: a $2 statutory certification fee plus a $6 vendor processing fee. Applicable online payment processing charges are additional.

8. How do I find my next Palm Beach County court date?

For criminal and traffic matters, search the case in eCaseView and open Court Events. Civil hearing dates are handled differently; a Notice of Hearing may instead appear in Dockets & Documents. Verify an imminent hearing because schedules can change.

9. Where do Palm Beach County appeals go?

Many Circuit Civil, County Civil, Unified Family and criminal appeals go to Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach. Administrative and civil-traffic appeals can be handled through the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit appellate panel. Confirm the route for the specific case type.

10. Are Palm Beach County federal cases available in eCaseView?

No. Palm Beach County is in the Southern District of Florida for federal court purposes. Federal district and bankruptcy cases are searched through PACER and the appropriate federal court rather than Palm Beach County eCaseView.