Where to Look in Florida
The six most productive places to start a people search in Florida. Each links directly to the official record source.
Official Florida Sources
State-level databases and agency record portals.
Florida Courts
Dockets, civil & criminal case filings, judgments.
Property & Tax Records
Deeds, assessor data, owner history, liens.
Inmates & Offenders
State prison rosters, sex offender registries, jails.
Vital Records
Birth, death, marriage, divorce — certified records.
Florida FAQ
Laws, fees, turnaround, and common questions.
1About Public Records in Florida
Florida Chapter 119, commonly known as the Sunshine Law, dictates that state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person. Established in 1909 and enshrined in the state constitution in 1992, this legal framework presumes that all government records are public unless specifically exempted by the legislature.
Because of Chapter 119, researchers have unparalleled access to court filings, property deeds, business registrations, and arrest records. However, exemptions do exist. Active criminal intelligence, juvenile records, sealed/expunged cases, and certain personal identifying information (like Social Security Numbers and bank details) are strictly redacted. Furthermore, specific professionals like law enforcement officers and judges can request their home addresses be shielded from public property databases.
2Best Starting Points for Florida People Search
When beginning a Florida people search, it is best to cast a wide net using statewide aggregators before drilling down into the 67 individual counties. These portals offer the highest return on investment for your research time.
https://search.sunbiz.org/
The premier database for business and corporate research in Florida. Searchable by officer/registered agent name.
What it's useful for: Finding what businesses a person owns or is affiliated with, which often reveals their current mailing address.http://www.dc.state.fl.us/offendersearch/
Statewide database of current inmates, released inmates, and individuals on supervised probation.
What it's useful for: Verifying state-level felony convictions and current incarceration status.https://www.myfloridacounty.com/
A centralized portal providing links to individual county clerks, child support payments, and official records (deeds, mortgages).
What it's useful for: Quickly jumping to county-level official records across the state's 67 counties.3Official State Government Sources
The state maintains several umbrella agencies that manage professional conduct, elections, and general state business. These are excellent resources for identifying a subject's professional footprint or voting history.
https://dos.fl.gov/
The central hub for state records, elections, corporations, and historical archives.
What it's useful for: General navigation to state-level administrative divisions.https://www.flcourts.gov/
The official home of the Florida State Courts System, providing administrative information and links to local circuits.
What it's useful for: Understanding court structures and locating specific judicial circuit portals.4Court Records
Florida does not have a single, unified database for searching all trial court cases statewide. Instead, court records are managed locally by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in each of the 67 counties. To find civil lawsuits, criminal charges, divorces, or evictions, you must know which county the event occurred in.
The state is divided into 20 Judicial Circuits. County courts handle misdemeanors and small claims under $50,000, while Circuit courts handle felonies, family law, probate, and larger civil suits. Both levels are generally searchable through the same county Clerk's online portal.
Confusing Florida's 67 separate Clerk of Court sites with a statewide case search. Researchers often assume they can search one database to find all of a person's criminal or civil history in Florida. You must search county by county.
5Property & Tax Records
Real estate records are a goldmine for people searching. In Florida, property assessment is handled by the County Property Appraiser, while taxes are collected by the County Tax Collector. Deeds and mortgages are recorded by the Clerk of Court.
Each of the 67 counties operates its own Property Appraiser website (e.g., Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser). These sites offer free, highly detailed GIS mapping and property search tools. By searching a person's name, you can discover all real property they own in that county, the assessed value, sale history, and mailing address.
6Business, Corporate & Licensing Records
Florida's Division of Corporations operates Sunbiz, arguably the best state corporate database in the country. It allows you to search not just by company name, but by the name of an officer or registered agent. This is incredibly useful for finding an individual's address history and business associates.
Additionally, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) oversees licenses for millions of Floridians, from real estate agents to cosmetologists.
https://myfloridalicense.com/
The official portal for verifying professional licenses in Florida.
What it's useful for: Confirming a person's employment, disciplinary history, and professional standing.7Corrections & Inmate Locators
For individuals incarcerated in state prisons or on state probation, the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) provides a comprehensive public database. For county jail inmates (those awaiting trial or serving misdemeanor sentences), you must check the specific County Sheriff's Office website.
https://fdle.state.fl.us/SORCR.aspx
Maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, this registry tracks convicted sex offenders.
What it's useful for: Neighborhood safety checks and verifying specific criminal convictions.8Vital Records
The Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. Unlike court dockets, Florida birth records are highly restricted and are only available to the registrant, parents, or legal guardians until 100 years have passed. Death records are public, but the cause of death is redacted for 50 years.
https://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates/
The official state office for ordering vital records certificates.
What it's useful for: Officially verifying dates of birth, death, or marriage for legal or genealogical purposes.9Voter Registration Information
Voter registration records in Florida are public, though certain information (like Social Security Number, driver's license number, and signature) is exempt from public disclosure. Searching the voter file can confirm an individual's address, political party affiliation, and voting history.
https://registration.elections.myflorida.com/CheckVoterStatus
The state's official portal to check active voter registration status.
What it's useful for: Confirming a person's current residential county and legal address.10Archives, Genealogy & Obituary Resources
For historical people searches, the Florida State Archives and the State Library of Florida provide extensive digitized collections, including old census data, military records, and photographic archives. Researchers should also utilize the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) and Chronicling America for historical newspaper archives.
https://dos.myflorida.com/library-archives/
The central repository for state historical documents and genealogical materials.
What it's useful for: Deep historical research, family trees, and locating deceased individuals.11County & City Research Resources
Because most actionable records in Florida are kept at the county level, knowing the major county portals is essential. Below are the top 10 most populous of Florida's 67 counties:
Clerk: https://www.miamidadeclerk.gov/ | Property: https://www.miamidade.gov/pa/
Official portals for Florida's most populous county.
What it's useful for: Searching civil/criminal cases and real estate in the greater Miami area.Clerk: https://www.browardclerk.org/ | Property: https://www.bcpa.net/
Official records for Fort Lauderdale and surrounding municipalities.
What it's useful for: Finding court dockets and property ownership in Broward.Clerk: https://www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/
The portal for civil, criminal, and official records in Palm Beach.
What it's useful for: Background checks and asset searches in West Palm Beach.Clerk: https://myorangeclerk.com/
The official portal for the Orlando metropolitan area.
What it's useful for: Searching dockets, evictions, and traffic citations in Orange County.Other major counties include: Hillsborough (Tampa), Duval (Jacksonville), Pinellas (St. Petersburg), Lee (Fort Myers), Polk (Lakeland), and Brevard (Melbourne). Each has identically structured Clerk and Property Appraiser websites.
12Florida People Search Tips & Research Methodology
To conduct an effective people search in Florida, follow these methodologies:
- Start with Sunbiz: If they ever owned an LLC, their address and associates are public.
- Check Surrounding Counties: People commute. A person living in Broward may have traffic tickets in Miami-Dade or Palm Beach. Always check adjacent counties.
- Use Traffic Citations: Florida's county clerks list traffic tickets online. These records often include the driver's address at the time of the citation, providing an excellent timeline of residency.
- Search "Official Records" vs. Court Records: Clerks maintain two databases. "Court Records" hold lawsuits and criminal charges. "Official Records" hold deeds, mortgages, liens, and marriage licenses. Check both.
When searching Florida property appraisers, try searching by just the last name and the street name (if known). Due to data entry errors, first names are sometimes abbreviated or misspelled. Less is more when querying county databases.
13Privacy, FOIA & Legal Framework in Florida
Florida Chapter 119 guarantees access, but it also provides protections. Law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, and firefighters can request their names and addresses be redacted from the Property Appraiser and Clerk websites. If you search a property and the owner is listed as "CONFIDENTIAL," this is why.
Florida also operates the "Safe at Home" address confidentiality program for victims of domestic violence, ensuring their physical address remains shielded from public records.
Florida has some of the broadest public records laws, but juvenile criminal records, adoption records, and active criminal intelligence are strictly exempt from public disclosure under Chapter 119.
More Florida Record Tools
Combine a people search with Florida-specific record searches for a complete profile. These companion directories are already live on PublicRecordCenter.com:
Search People in Other States
Every state's public records system works differently. Click any state for its dedicated people-search directory.
Frequently Asked Questions — Florida
Are Florida criminal records public?
Yes. Due to Florida's Sunshine Law, most adult criminal records are public. They can be researched via individual county Clerk of Court websites or the FDLE.
How do I find someone in Florida by name only?
Start with statewide databases like Sunbiz (if they own a business) or voter registration lookups. You will likely need to narrow down their residence to a specific county to search property and court records effectively.
Can I look up property owners in Florida for free?
Yes, through the specific County Property Appraiser's website. All 67 counties maintain free online property databases searchable by owner name or address.
How do I find out if someone is in Florida DOC custody?
Use the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) Offender Search tool online, which provides free lookups for current and released inmates.
Are Florida court records online?
Yes. Each of Florida's 67 counties provides online docket access through their respective Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller websites.
What's the difference between circuit court and county court in Florida?
County courts handle misdemeanors, small claims, and civil disputes under $50,000. Circuit courts handle felonies, family law, probate, and civil cases over $50,000.
How far back do Florida public records go?
It varies by county. Many digitized property and court records go back to the 1980s or 1990s online, while older records require visiting the local archives or clerk's office.
Is it legal to run a background check on someone in Florida?
Yes, for informational purposes. However, if used for employment, tenancy, or credit, you must use an FCRA-compliant Consumer Reporting Agency.