This Privacy policy for Florida Civil Court Records explains what data we collect when you use our search tools for Florida civil case docket search, Florida circuit court civil case search, and Florida court case lookup by name. We run a service that helps people search Florida civil court records online through a Florida court records portal linked to the Florida Clerk of Court records search system.
By using our site, you accept the data practices described below.
Florida civil court records contain case numbers, party names, hearing dates, and final judgments from county courts and circuit courts across the state. Our search tool pulls data from public sources, including the Florida e-filing civil records system and individual county clerk websites such as Miami-Dade civil court records, Orange County civil court records, Hillsborough County civil court records, Broward County civil court records, Palm Beach County civil court records, Duval County civil court records, and Pinellas County civil court records. This policy covers how we handle every step of that process.
What This Privacy Policy Covers
This Privacy policy for Florida Civil Court Records describes the data we collect through our website, our search forms, and any related pages that link back to this notice. It applies to anyone who runs a Florida civil case number search, looks up Florida public civil court records, or requests Florida civil court document retrieval through our portal. It covers free lookups and paid lookups.
Who This Policy Applies To
It applies to every visitor who types a name into our Florida court case lookup by name tool, checks a Florida civil case status check, or downloads a Florida court record request form. It applies to people searching Florida small claims court records, Florida landlord tenant case search results, and Florida civil judgment search results. It does not apply to data collected by the official Florida court public access portal or by the office of any Florida Clerk of Court.
Acceptance of These Terms
Using our site means you read this policy and accept it. If you do not accept any part of it, close the browser tab and do not use the search tools. Continued use after we post changes means you accept the updated version.
Data You Give Us
You give us data when you type a search into our Florida civil court records online portal. We collect the exact words and numbers you submit, the time of your search, and the type of search you ran. We never ask for your Social Security Number or your date of birth to run a search.
Search Queries for Florida Civil Court Records
Every search query gets routed through our system to find a match in the public docket index. We log the query so we can spot errors, prevent abuse, and improve the speed of the Florida circuit court civil case search tool. The data we log includes the items below.
- Full names or partial names typed into the Florida court case lookup by name field
- Case numbers pasted into the Florida civil case number search box
- County filters selected, such as Miami-Dade, Orange, or Hillsborough
- Date ranges picked for the Florida civil case status check
- Search type flags, such as small claims, landlord tenant, or civil judgment
Account or Contact Details
You do not need an account to run a free Florida civil court records search. If you contact us by email, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message. We use that data only to answer you. We do not add you to a marketing list.
Payment Data for Premium Services
Some users pay for Florida civil court document retrieval or bulk Florida court record request form packages. When you pay, our third-party payment processor collects your billing data. We do not store full credit card numbers on our servers. The processor is PCI-DSS compliant and tokens the card on its side.
Data We Collect Automatically
Every time your browser loads a page on our site, our servers and our analytics partners record basic technical data. This data runs through standard log files and helps us keep the Florida court records portal running fast and clean for the people who use it.
Device and Browser Details
We log your browser type, browser version, operating system, screen size, and device type. We use this data to fix layout bugs and make sure the Florida e-filing civil records lookup page works on phones, tablets, and laptops. Here is the full list of fields we capture.
- Browser name and version (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and others)
- Operating system and version (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)
- Device type (mobile, tablet, desktop)
- Screen resolution and viewport size
- Language setting on your device
Usage Data and IP Addresses
We log your IP address, the time of your visit, the page you came from, and the pages you view. We use this to count visitors, measure time on page, and block bad bots. We also use it to spot fraud in the Florida civil case docket search system and to enforce rate limits on automated traffic.
Cookies and Tracking Pixels
We place small files called cookies on your device. Cookies remember your county filter and your search preferences so you do not have to type them again. Third-party ad networks also place cookies to measure ad clicks. You can block cookies in your browser, but parts of the site may not work right if you do.
How We Use Your Data
We use the data we collect for a small list of clear purposes. We do not sell your personal data to data brokers, and we do not use your search history to build a credit profile. We do not run facial recognition or biometric matching on search data.
To Run the Florida Court Records Search Tool
The main reason we collect your query is to send it to the right county clerk system and bring back a match. A search for a Florida circuit court civil case search in Hillsborough goes to the Hillsborough County clerk. A search in Miami-Dade goes to the Miami-Dade clerk portal. The query leaves our system, hits the public docket index, and returns with results.
To Improve Site Speed and Accuracy
We study which searches return zero results, which return too many results, and which return broken links. We use that data to fix the Florida court public access portal links, patch typos in county names, and retrain our search ranking rules. We also use it to add new counties when they publish a new public docket feed.
To Show Relevant Ads
We display ads to keep the free Florida civil court records search free for users. Ad partners use cookies to pick ads that match your general interests. They do not see your query content, but they may see that you visited a page about Florida small claims court records. You can opt out of personalized ads through your ad network settings.
To Respond to Legal Requests
If a Florida court, a federal court, or a law enforcement agency serves us with a valid subpoena, search warrant, or court order, we share the requested data. We push back on requests that are too broad or lack proper legal authority. We track every legal request we receive and review each one for merit.
Florida Public Records Law and Your Data
Florida has strong public records laws under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Most civil court records are public. That does not mean every record is free to copy, and it does not mean every record should be shared on social media. This section explains the line between what the law makes public and what our site does with your data.
What Florida Public Records Law Allows
Florida public civil court records include the names of parties, attorneys, judges, hearing dates, motions filed, orders signed, and final judgments in civil cases. Members of the public can request copies of these records from the Florida Clerk of Court in each county. Our site acts as a search helper on top of that public system. We do not add data that is not in the public record.
Sealed and Expunged Records
Some civil records get sealed by court order. Sealed records do not appear in our search results. We pull data only from public indexes. If a record has been sealed or expunged, it stays out of the Florida court records portal. We do not store or display sealed data, and our vendors are required to drop sealed records from their feeds.
The Difference Between Our Site and the Florida Courts
Our site is a private search service, not a court. We do not issue subpoenas, accept filings, or process Florida Uniform Case Number search requests for new cases. For official records, certified copies, and legal filings, contact the Florida Clerk of Court in the correct county or use the Florida clerks.com civil search portal directly. The clerk is the source of truth for the docket.
Sharing Your Data With Others
We share data with a small group of trusted partners. We never sell your search history, and we never sell your name to a marketing list. We do not share data with political campaigns, and we do not share data with debt buyers looking for skip tracing leads.
Search Partners and Data Vendors
To pull Florida civil court document retrieval results, we work with data vendors that license access to public docket feeds. These vendors see your query and return a result. They do not get your name or email unless you include that in the search field. Each vendor has its own contract with us on data handling.
Analytics Services
We use analytics services to count visitors and measure how the Florida e-filing civil records pages perform. These services may set cookies and collect IP addresses. We have turned on IP anonymization where the tool allows it. We also exclude sensitive query content from analytics event tags.
Ad Networks
We work with ad networks. These networks use cookies to show ads and to measure clicks. Each network has its own privacy policy. Read their policies if you want to know exactly how they handle data. We do not allow ad networks to retarget you based on a specific case number you searched.
Law Enforcement Requests
We share data with law enforcement only when we receive a valid subpoena, search warrant, or court order signed by a judge. We notify the user before sharing data unless a court order blocks that notice. We publish an annual transparency report that lists the total number of legal requests we received and the number we complied with.
Data Security Measures
We protect the data we collect with standard security tools. No system is perfect, but we take real steps to lower the risk of a breach. We run regular vulnerability scans and patch our servers on a monthly cadence.
Encryption and Access Controls
Our site runs over HTTPS. Data in transit between your browser and our servers is encrypted with TLS 1.2 or higher. Only a small group of trained staff can view raw logs, and that access gets logged for audit. We use role-based access controls on every internal tool that touches search data, and we rotate staff credentials every 90 days.
Data Retention Periods
We keep search logs for 90 days, then aggregate and anonymize them for trend reports. Anonymized trend data may be kept longer. Account-related emails get deleted within 12 months of the last reply. Payment records follow tax and accounting rules in the United States, which usually means seven years of storage.
Your Privacy Rights
You have rights over the data we hold about you. This section explains what you can ask for, and how to ask. We honor all valid requests, even if the law in your state does not require us to do so.
Rights Under Florida Law
Florida law gives you the right to know what data a business holds about you. You can ask us to correct wrong data or delete data we are not required to keep. The specific rights under Florida Statutes cover the actions listed below.
- Right to confirm whether we process your personal data
- Right to access a copy of that data
- Right to correct inaccurate data
- Right to request deletion of data we are not required to keep
- Right to opt out of any sale of personal data (we do not sell)
Rights Under California and Other State Laws
California, Virginia, Colorado, and other states give residents similar rights, plus the right to limit the use of sensitive personal data. Even if you live outside these states, we honor these requests when our systems can support them. To exercise your rights, send a written request using the contact details at the bottom of this policy.
How to Submit a Request
Email us at the address listed below. Include your name, the email you used, the right you want to exercise, and any details that help us locate your data. We answer most requests within 30 days. We may ask for proof of identity before we act on a request, and we will explain the result in plain language.
Children Under 13
Our site is not built for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 13. If you believe a child has given us data, contact us and we will delete it within 7 days. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act sets these rules, and we follow them.
Third-Party Sites and Links
We link to official Florida county clerk pages, the Florida e-filing portal, and third-party ad networks. Once you click a link and leave our site, that site’s privacy policy applies, not ours. Read the linked policy before you submit any data to that site. We do not control the content on those sites.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy policy for Florida Civil Court Records when we add a feature, change a vendor, or respond to new law. We post the new version on this page and update the date at the top. Major changes get a banner notice on the homepage for at least 30 days. Older versions are stored in an archive that you can request by email.
Contact the Florida Court Records Site Team
For questions about this Privacy policy for Florida Civil Court Records, contact our team through the email listed on our support page. For official records, certified copies, court orders, or e-filing, contact the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directly at the address and phone number listed below. The clerk’s office is the official record keeper for the state of Florida.
Official Florida Court Records Resource:
Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers
3544 Maclay Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32312
Phone: (850) 921-0800
Website: https://www.flclerks.com
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ section answers common questions about the Privacy policy for Florida Civil Court Records, how we handle Florida public civil court records, and how the Florida court records portal works with the Florida Clerk of Court records search system. We cover free lookups, paid document retrieval, sealed records, and how long we keep search history. The answers below reflect the rules in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes and the policies of our data vendors. If your question is not below, email our support team and we will reply within two business days.
Does the Florida civil court records search cost money?
Basic Florida public civil court records search through our portal stays free. You see the docket sheet, party names, attorney names, and hearing dates at no cost. Paid features, such as Florida civil court document retrieval of full PDF files and certified copy requests, may carry a small fee. The fee covers the cost of pulling the file from the county clerk system and the labor to format it for download. The fee is set per page and per record type, and we show the price before you confirm any purchase. Free Florida civil court records search results still go through the same privacy pipeline as paid results, so your search history is treated the same way under this Privacy policy for Florida Civil Court Records. We never charge you just to view a docket entry or run a Florida civil case status check. We accept major credit cards and some wallet payments for the paid features.
Can I remove my name from a Florida civil case record?
You cannot remove a public record from the index just because it shows your name. The record stays public unless a judge signs an order to seal or expunge the case. To start that process, file a motion in the court that handled the case or talk to a licensed Florida attorney who handles civil record sealing. The court will look at the reason for the request, the type of case, and how long ago the case closed. Sealed records drop out of our search results automatically on the next index refresh. Expunged records also drop out. We do not have the legal power to remove a public record on our own, and we will not do so without a signed court order. Our role under this Privacy policy for Florida Civil Court Records is to honor court orders and to make sure the public index stays accurate.
Is the Florida e-filing portal the same as this site?
No. The Florida e-filing civil records portal is the official state system used by attorneys and self-filers to submit new court papers. Our site is a search helper. We do not accept new filings, and we do not store court orders. For filing, use the official Florida court e-filing portal or contact the county clerk directly through their public access system. The e-filing portal has its own privacy policy and its own user agreement. When you file a new case through the e-filing portal, that data goes directly to the clerk and not through our servers. Our search tool only reads the public docket index after a case has been filed and processed by the clerk. This split keeps our data pipeline simple and lowers the amount of personal data we hold at any one time.
How long do you keep my search history?
We keep raw search logs for 90 days. After 90 days, we strip IP addresses and user identifiers and roll the data into anonymous trend reports. Those reports help us see which counties get the most traffic, which search types return zero results, and which need more work. We do not keep raw logs longer than 90 days. We do not sell search history, and we do not share raw logs with ad networks. Our vendors have their own retention rules, and we require them to delete or anonymize the search queries they receive within the same 90-day window. You can ask us to delete your search history early by emailing our support team. We will honor the request unless we are required to keep the data for an active legal matter.
Do you show sealed Florida landlord tenant records?
No. We pull data only from public indexes. If a Florida landlord tenant case search record is sealed, it does not appear in our results. If a record is expunged, it also does not appear. The only way to see a sealed record is with a court order that allows the lookup. We block sealed records at the search layer, the results layer, and the cached copy layer. Our vendors are contractually required to drop sealed records from their feeds. If you see a sealed record in our results, email us right away with the case number and the court order that sealed it. We will pull the record and audit the feed for the same case in other counties.
How do I run a Florida Uniform Case Number search?
Type the Florida Uniform Case Number (UCN) into the Florida civil case number search box. The UCN format is two-digit year, two-digit court type, two-digit county, and a six-digit sequence number, for example 2024-CA-01-123456. Our tool reads the UCN and routes the lookup to the right county clerk system. If the UCN is in the right format, you get a direct hit on the docket page. If the UCN has a typo, the tool returns a list of similar cases in that county so you can pick the right one. The UCN system was set up by the Florida Supreme Court to give every case a unique ID across the state, and most counties use it as the main way to look up cases. We do not invent UCNs, and we do not assign UCNs to sealed records.
What if my data appears wrong in a result?
If the result shows a wrong name, wrong case number, or wrong county, email our support team with the case number and the page URL. We pass the correction request to the data vendor and to the county clerk. The clerk is the source of truth for the docket. Updates from the clerk flow into our index within a few business days after we verify the fix. We do not edit the public docket ourselves. We do not change a party name, a date, or a judgment amount based on a user request alone. The clerk must update the underlying record first. This rule keeps the public index clean and stops one user from changing another user’s data through a search tool.