Monroe County Court Docket records are public files that list every hearing, filing, and order in court cases from the Florida Keys. Monroe County sits at the southern tip of Florida.
The county seat is Key West. Court docket records cover civil, criminal, family, traffic, and probate cases filed in the 16th Judicial Circuit. Anyone can look up these records online or visit the courthouse in person.
What a Monroe County Court Docket Is
A court docket is a written list of every step in a court case. The Monroe County Court Docket shows the case number, names of the people involved, the judge, the charges or claims, and the dates of hearings. Each time a new paper is filed, a new entry gets added to the docket. The clerk keeps these entries in order by date.
The docket helps lawyers, parties, and the public know the status of a case. It shows past events and what is set to happen next. A docket entry might say “motion filed,” “hearing held,” or “order entered.” These entries build a full timeline of the case from start to finish.
Monroe County Court System Structure
Monroe County is the only county in the 16th Judicial Circuit of Florida. This makes it one of the few single-county circuits in the state. The circuit court handles felonies, family law, divorce, probate, and civil cases over $50,000. The county court handles traffic cases, misdemeanors, small claims up to $8,000, and civil cases up to $50,000.
Both courts create docket entries. The Monroe County Clerk of Court keeps all of these records. The clerk is an elected official who serves the whole county. The clerk’s office files new cases, logs docket entries, and stores court papers for every case type.
How the Monroe County Clerk Manages Court Dockets
The Monroe County Clerk of the Circuit Court runs docket operations from the main office in Key West. This office files new cases, logs docket entries, and stores documents for all case types. The clerk is an elected constitutional officer who also manages official records and county financial duties. Monroe County has courthouse locations in Key West, Marathon, and Plantation Key to serve residents spread across the island chain.
Each filing, hearing, motion, and order gets a dated entry in the docket. Attorneys and parties file papers through the Florida E-Filing Portal. The clerk assigns a case number when a new case starts. This case number stays with the case for its whole life in the court system.
The clerk uses an electronic system to track docket entries. This makes it easy to look up records online. The public can view most docket entries without creating an account. The system updates each business day to show new filings and orders.
How to Look Up the Monroe County Court Docket
There are two main ways to look up the Monroe County Court Docket. The first way is to search online from home. The second way is to visit the courthouse in person. Both ways let you see the same basic docket entries and case details.
Online search is fast and free. The Monroe County website has a public records search feature. You can search by party name or case number. Results show docket entries, filing dates, and case status. The search feature works on phones, tablets, and computers.
In-person search lets you ask the clerk for help. You can use a public computer at the courthouse. Staff can answer simple questions about how to look up records. They can also point you to the right forms and offices for your case type.
Monroe County Civil Court Docket
The Monroe County civil court docket covers disputes between people or businesses. These cases seek money or other relief. Civil cases include contract disputes, property fights, personal injury claims, and debt collection actions.
Circuit court handles civil cases over $50,000. County court handles civil cases up to $50,000. Each civil case gets a docket number. The docket lists every paper filed in the case, from the first complaint to the final judgment.
To look up the civil docket, you can use the name of a party or the case number. The search will show all filed papers, hearing dates, and orders. Civil cases can take months or years to finish. The docket gives a clear timeline of progress for every step.
Monroe County Criminal Court Docket
The Monroe County criminal court docket covers cases where the state charges a person with a crime. Felony cases go to circuit court. Misdemeanor cases go to county court. Each criminal case has a docket that tracks every step in the case.
The criminal docket shows the charges, the defendant’s name, the attorney of record, and the judge. It lists arraignments, pre-trial hearings, plea dates, and trials. Sentencing entries get added to the docket after a conviction or plea deal.
You can look up criminal dockets by defendant name or case number. Some criminal records stay sealed. Juvenile criminal records are not open to the public. Expunged records are removed from public view and will not appear in a search.
Monroe County Traffic Court Docket
The Monroe County traffic court docket covers traffic tickets and driving offenses. Most traffic cases get heard in county court. Common traffic cases include speeding, running a red light, careless driving, and driving without a license.
The traffic docket shows the citation number, the driver’s name, the charge, and the court date. It lists any plea entered and the final judgment. Traffic school orders also appear on the docket after the court enters the order.
You can look up your traffic case by name or case number. Paying a traffic fine before the court date can close the case. The docket will show the payment and the case result once the clerk records the payment.
Monroe County Family Court Docket
The Monroe County family court docket covers cases about family matters. These include divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and domestic violence orders. Family cases get heard in circuit court.
The family docket is private in some ways. Adoption records stay sealed. Some details in divorce cases are kept from the public. The basic docket entries, like hearing dates and party names, are still public records.
You can look up family court dockets by name or case number. The clerk’s office can help you locate the right case. For sensitive family law issues, you can hire a lawyer to help read the docket entries.
Monroe County Probate Court Docket
The Monroe County probate court docket covers cases about wills, estates, and guardianships. Probate cases deal with what happens to a person’s property after death. Guardianship cases deal with the care of a person who cannot care for themselves.
The probate docket lists the name of the deceased or ward, the personal representative or guardian, and the attorney of record. It shows filings like the will, the petition, and the final order. Probate cases can take many months to close.
You can look up probate dockets by name or case number. Some probate records are sealed by court order. Wills become public records after they get filed with the court and the court admits them to probate.
Monroe County Circuit Court and General Sessions Docket
The Monroe County circuit court docket covers major cases in the 16th Judicial Circuit. These include felonies, large civil cases, family law, and probate. The general sessions docket covers cases that need a judge but are not jury trials.
Magistrate court in Monroe County handles some pretrial matters. Magistrates may handle small claims, landlord-tenant cases, and traffic infractions. Their orders show up in the county court docket as magistrate orders.
All of these dockets can get looked up online. The clerk keeps them in one electronic system. You can move from one case type to another with the same search feature. The search results group entries by case number.
Monroe County Daily, Weekly, and Upcoming Docket Schedules
The Monroe County court docket schedule shows what cases will get heard each day. The clerk posts daily docket lists outside the courtroom. These lists tell you the case name, the hearing time, and the courtroom number.
Weekly docket schedules show all hearings set for the week. These get posted on the clerk’s website. The schedule can change as cases settle or get moved by the judge. Always check the day before a hearing.
The upcoming docket shows future hearing dates. You can check this before going to the courthouse. Always call the clerk to confirm a hearing date. Schedules can change the day before a hearing and even the morning of a hearing.
Monroe County Docket Search by Case Number
Searching by case number is the fastest way to look up a docket. Every case has a unique number. The format for Monroe County cases starts with “16” or “MM” for circuit court. County court cases start with “MM” followed by other letters and numbers.
Type the full case number into the search box on the clerk’s website. The system will pull up the docket page. You can see all entries from the first filing to the most recent order. Print the page for your records.
If you do not know the case number, you can search by party name. The search will show all cases with a matching name. Pick the right case from the list of results. The case number is on the right side of each result.
Monroe County Court Docket Status and Entries
The docket status tells you where a case stands right now. It can say “active,” “closed,” “pending,” or “on appeal.” The status changes as the case moves through the court system. The most recent status is at the top of the docket page.
Docket entries are the individual events in a case. Each entry has a date, a description, and the name of the judge or clerk. Entries include filings, hearings, motions, and orders. Reading the entries in order gives you the full story of the case.
You can print or save the docket entries. The clerk charges a fee for certified copies. Regular printouts are free from the public computer at the courthouse. Certified copies are accepted by other courts and government agencies.
Public Access Rules for Monroe County Court Dockets
Florida law makes court docket records public. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes says all state, county, and municipal records are open for inspection and copying. The Monroe County Clerk must provide access. No reason is needed for the request.
Some records stay confidential. Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420 cover sealed and expunged cases. Social Security numbers, bank details, and medical details are removed from public copies. Juvenile and adoption records stay sealed.
The Florida Supreme Court’s Administrative Order AOSC24-65 governs electronic access. There are 15 user roles. The general public can see case numbers, party names, and basic docket entries without registering. Lawyers, law enforcement, and court staff have higher access levels.
Monroe County Courthouse Locations and Hours
The main Monroe County Courthouse is in Key West. The address is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The phone number is (305) 292-3550. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
There are two other courthouse locations in Monroe County. The Marathon Courthouse is at 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The Plantation Key Courthouse is at 88800 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036. Call the main office to learn which location handles your case type.
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key West Main Office | 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040 | (305) 292-3550 | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Marathon Office | 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 | (305) 289-6025 | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Plantation Key Office | 88800 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036 | (305) 853-7323 | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
How to View the Monroe County Courthouse on a Map
The Monroe County Courthouse is in the heart of old town Key West. The building sits near the intersection of Whitehead Street and Fleming Street. Free public parking is available on surrounding streets. The Monroe County website has driving directions for each office.
You can view the courthouse location on Google Maps by visiting this link: 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040 on Google Maps
Help for Monroe County Court Docket Searches
The Monroe County Clerk provides forms and filing guides. The Florida Courts website offers family law forms and self-help tools that apply to Monroe County filings. E-filing support is available at (850) 577-4609 on weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time.
For questions about specific court docket records, contact the Monroe County clerk at (305) 292-3550. Legal aid services in the Keys can give help to qualifying residents. The Florida Keys Bar Association can refer you to local attorneys for representation.
Official Contact Details
Website: monroecounty-fl.gov
Main Phone: (305) 292-3550
Address: 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are common questions people ask about the Monroe County Court Docket. These answers cover case number searches, criminal dockets, civil court records, public access rules, and family court privacy. Each answer gives clear steps you can take right now to look up the records you need.
How do I look up a Monroe County court docket by case number?
You can look up a Monroe County court docket by case number through the clerk’s online public records search feature. Go to the Monroe County website and click on the public records link. Type the full case number into the search box. The system will pull up the docket page with all entries listed by date.
Monroe County case numbers start with “16” for circuit court and “MM” for county court. The rest of the number is unique to each case filed in the county. If you do not know the full number, you can call the clerk’s office at (305) 292-3550. Staff can locate the number with a party name. You can also search by party name if you do not have the case number. The search results will show all matching cases with their docket numbers.
Once you pull up the docket, you can see every filing, hearing, motion, and order in the case. You can print the docket page for your records. The clerk charges a small fee for certified copies. Regular printouts are free at the public computer in the courthouse lobby.
Can I search the Monroe County criminal court docket for free?
Yes, you can search the Monroe County criminal court docket for free through the public records portal on the county website. The site lets you search by defendant name or case number. You can see the charges, the attorney of record, and the hearing dates without paying any fee.
Certified copies of docket entries cost a small fee. The clerk’s office charges per page for copies. In-person searches at the public computer are free for basic docket lookups. Some criminal records stay sealed. Juvenile criminal records are not open to the public. Expunged records are removed from public view and will not show up in any search result.
If a record is sealed or expunged, the search will not return it. You would need a court order to view sealed records. The clerk’s office can tell you how to ask the court to unseal a record. Most people do not need to do this, and the public docket has all the basic case details for regular criminal cases.
What is the difference between circuit court and county court dockets in Monroe County?
Circuit court dockets in Monroe County cover felonies, family law, probate, and civil cases over $50,000. County court dockets cover misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims up to $8,000, and civil cases up to $50,000. Both dockets are kept by the same clerk’s office in the Monroe County Courthouse.
Monroe County is the only county in the 16th Judicial Circuit. So all circuit court cases in this area are Monroe County cases. The clerk assigns case numbers that start with “16” or “MM” to tell the two courts apart. Circuit court cases use the “16” prefix for older cases and other prefixes for newer ones.
You can look up both types of cases on the same online portal. The search results group entries by case number. You can see the case type in the docket header. The judge assigned to the case is listed in the docket entries.
How do I get a copy of a Monroe County court docket entry?
You can get a copy of a Monroe County court docket entry at the clerk’s office or through the online portal. Print the docket page from the public computer at the courthouse. For certified copies, ask the clerk’s office and pay the required fee per page.
Certified copies have an official court stamp and are accepted by other courts, government agencies, and employers. Regular printouts are useful for personal reference. The clerk’s office charges a fee per page for all copies, certified or not. The fee is set by Florida law and changes from time to time.
You can pay for copies online through the clerk’s public records system. Online certified copies get mailed to you or sent by email as a PDF. The fee is the same as in-person copies. Allow a few business days for online certified copies to arrive.
Are Monroe County family court dockets open to the public?
Basic Monroe County family court dockets are open to the public. You can see the case number, party names, hearing dates, and orders. Some details in family cases stay private. Adoption records stay sealed by Florida law. Financial details in divorce cases may be redacted from public copies.
Florida law protects the privacy of children and sensitive family data. If you need full access to a sealed family case, you may need a court order. A lawyer can help you file a motion to unseal records. The judge will decide based on the reasons you give for needing the records.
For most family law cases, the public docket has all the basic case details. You can see when hearings are set, what orders the judge entered, and who the parties are. Sensitive details like children’s names, financial account numbers, and medical data are removed from the public version of the docket.
How often is the Monroe County court docket updated?
The Monroe County court docket is updated every business day. New filings, hearing results, and orders get added to the docket as they happen. The online portal refreshes each night to show the latest entries from that day.
Some entries take longer to appear in the online system. Paper filings may take a few days to get scanned and uploaded. E-filed papers usually show up in the docket within 24 hours. Urgent filings get added the same day they are received.
The clerk’s office processes new filings throughout the business day. You can check the docket first thing in the morning to see entries from the day before. For real-time updates during hearings, you need to be in the courtroom or check with the court reporter.
Can I see Monroe County magistrate court docket entries online?
Yes, Monroe County magistrate court docket entries are part of the county court docket. You can look up them through the same online portal as other cases. Look for the case by name or case number. Magistrate orders will show up in the docket entries under the magistrate’s name.
Magistrate court in Monroe County handles small claims, landlord-tenant cases, and some traffic matters. The magistrate’s findings and orders get entered into the docket just like a judge’s orders. Either party can ask the circuit judge to review a magistrate’s decision.
Magistrate hearings are usually shorter than full court hearings. They often focus on procedural matters and small disputes. The docket entry for a magistrate hearing will show the date, the magistrate’s name, and the order entered. You can request a transcript of the hearing from the court reporter for a fee.