Hollywood City Court Records cover all case files from the Broward County court system. Hollywood sits in the southern part of Broward County, Florida.
The city does not run its own court clerk office. Every court case for Hollywood goes through the Broward County Clerk of Courts. The clerk office sits in nearby Fort Lauderdale. The clerk holds case files for civil, criminal, family, traffic, probate, and small claims matters.
How Hollywood Fits Inside the Broward County Court System
Hollywood sits inside Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit. The Broward County Clerk of Courts runs the records system for the whole circuit. The clerk handles every court case filed in Hollywood. The main office sits at 540 SE 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The clerk phone line is (954) 831-7283. The clerk website is browardclerk.org.
Florida state law makes court records public. Florida Statute Chapter 119 gives the public the right to view court files. A judge can seal a record for safety or privacy. A judge can mark a file as confidential too. Sealed files do not show up in public searches. Most Hollywood case files stay open to the public.
How to Search Hollywood City Court Records Online
The Broward County Clerk of Courts runs an online search portal called Web2. The portal sits at browardclerk.org/web2. Anyone can search case files for Hollywood and other Broward cities. Users can search by name, case number, or filing date. The portal covers every court division in the 17th Circuit.
The Web2 portal shows party names, case status, hearing dates, and docket entries. It pulls data from civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic divisions. The basic search costs nothing. Users do not need an account to start a search. The portal runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A name search sometimes returns too many results. Users can add a middle name to narrow the search. Users can filter by date range or case type too. The system strips out social security numbers on its own. This step happens under Florida Statute 119.0714. Sealed or expunged cases never appear in the search results.
For document images, users may need to register first. Registered users can pull scanned court papers. Image access may carry a small per-page fee. Users can visit the clerk office in person too. Staff can pull paper files the same day in most cases.
- Go to browardclerk.org/web2
- Choose the search type (name or case number)
- Enter the full legal name with a middle name when possible
- Pick a date range or leave it blank for all years
- Click search and read the docket entries on the results page
Types of Hollywood City Court Records
Hollywood court cases fall into several main types. Each type lives in a different court division. The clerk stores every type in the same records system. Users can search each type through the Web2 portal with one set of search tools.
Criminal Court Records in Hollywood
Hollywood Police Department officers make arrests in the city. The Broward Sheriff’s Office runs the county jail. After charges get filed, the case moves to the court system. Felonies go to circuit court. Misdemeanors go to county court. The clerk stores every criminal case file.
The Web2 portal shows charges, plea deals, and final outcomes. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 keeps criminal files open to the public. Sealed criminal files do not show up in the search. Juvenile criminal cases have separate rules. A statewide criminal background check goes through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Civil Court Records in Hollywood
Civil cases cover lawsuits, contract disputes, foreclosures, evictions, and small claims. Circuit court handles cases over $50,000. County court handles cases up to $50,000. Small claims cover disputes up to $8,000. Every civil case type appears in the Web2 portal.
Users can search civil cases by plaintiff or defendant name. The clerk’s office stores every motion, order, and judgment filed in the case. Anyone can view the docket entries for free. Viewing the actual case file images may cost a small fee per page.
Traffic Court Records in Hollywood
Hollywood Police Department officers write traffic tickets inside city limits. Florida Highway Patrol officers write tickets on state roads in Hollywood too. The tickets become traffic cases in county court. Drivers can search traffic case status through the Web2 portal.
Drivers can pay traffic fines through the MyFloridaCounty portal. The portal sits at myfloridacounty.com. Users get a receipt by email right after paying. Drivers can contest traffic tickets at the clerk office. The clerk sets a court date for the hearing.
Code Violation Cases in Hollywood
Hollywood handles code violation cases in the court system. Code violation cases cover property upkeep, building code issues, and business license problems. The Hollywood Code Compliance Division files these cases. The cases go through the Broward County court system. Users can search code violation cases the same way they search other case types.
The fines for code violations depend on the type of violation. Repeat violators may face higher fines. The court can place a lien on the property for unpaid fines. Property liens show up in the Broward County Official Records search at broward.org/RecordsTaxesTreasury.
Family Court Records in Hollywood
Family cases include divorce, child custody, paternity, adoption, and domestic violence filings. The clerk’s Family Division page lists which files are open. Some family files carry extra privacy rules. Domestic violence injunction files may be sealed for safety reasons. Adoption files stay sealed by default in Florida.
Divorce decrees stay on file with the clerk. Users can order certified copies through the online records request page. Child support orders also stay on file. Paternity cases follow the same public access rules as other family cases.
Probate Court Records in Hollywood
Probate cases cover wills, estates, and guardianship filings. Hollywood probate cases go through the Broward County Clerk. The clerk stores every will, petition, and final order. Users can search probate cases by name or case number. Some probate files get sealed if the court orders it.
Small Claims Court Records in Hollywood
Small claims court in Hollywood handles disputes up to $8,000. Common cases include unpaid bills, security deposit fights, and minor contract issues. Small claims cases go through county court. The same Web2 search tool covers these cases. No lawyer is required for small claims hearings.
How to Request Certified Copies of Hollywood Court Records
Certified copies of Hollywood case files cost $1 per page. Users can request certified copies at the main clerk office. Users can use the online records request page on the clerk’s site too. A case number speeds up the request. A name search works too, but takes longer when the county has this many records.
The clerk accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards. Credit card charges add about 3.95% on top. Online payments go through a secure portal. Mailed requests need a self-addressed stamped envelope for returns. Phone requests may be possible for some record types.
How to View Hollywood Court Records in Person
The main clerk office sits at 540 SE 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The office opens Monday through Friday. Standard hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office stays closed on weekends and most Florida state holidays.
Public access terminals sit inside the clerk office. Users can run searches and pull case files on these terminals. Staff at the help desk can answer questions. Users need a valid photo ID to view some sealed or restricted files.
Hollywood residents can also visit a regional courthouse closer to home. Users can call (954) 831-7283 to find the nearest office location. The phone line runs during regular business hours. Parking is free at most clerk office locations.
E-Filing Court Documents in Broward County
Most court filings in Florida now happen through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The portal sits at myflcourtaccess.com. The portal runs all day and night, seven days a week. Lawyers file most court papers through this system.
Self-represented parties can e-file through the portal too. Court fees apply for each filing. Credit card charges add about 3.95% on top of the filing fee. E-filing is the required way to file most civil, family, and probate cases. A few case types still allow paper filing at the clerk office.
Sealing and Expunging Hollywood Court Records
A person can ask a judge to seal or expunge a Hollywood criminal case. The request goes through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement first. FDLE runs a background check. FDLE then issues a certificate of eligibility. The person files a petition with the Broward County Clerk after that.
Sealing removes the case from public view. Expungement destroys the case file. Not every case qualifies for sealing or expungement. Certain crimes like murder, sex offenses, and child abuse cannot be sealed. A lawyer can help walk through the process and file the right paperwork.
Florida Public Records Laws and Hollywood Cases
Florida has strong public records laws. Florida Statute Chapter 119 gives the public broad access to government files. Court records fall under this law. The clerk must let members of the public view case files unless a judge orders the file sealed.
Sealed files include juvenile cases, adoption files, and some domestic violence injunctions. Mental health court records and drug court records may be sealed too. Users cannot view sealed files through the public search portal. Users can ask the clerk about how to view a sealed file with a court order.
Common Issues When Searching Hollywood Court Records
A name search can return too many results. Adding a middle name helps narrow the search. Date of birth is not a public search field. Users can narrow by date range, case type, or court division. The Web2 portal has filters for each option.
Sealed files do not appear in the public search tool. Old case files from before 1990 may not be online yet. Users can ask the clerk to pull older files. Court staff can search paper records by hand for older cases.
Users who cannot locate a case should call the clerk office. The phone line is (954) 831-7283. The clerk can run a manual search by name. The clerk can check for typos in the original search. A case number speeds up the manual search too.
Other Helpful Florida Court Resources
The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers site lists all 67 county clerks in one place. The site sits at flclerks.com. Users can pay traffic fines or check jury duty from one place. Florida Courts Help at help.flcourts.gov offers free forms and legal guides. The Broward County court calendar tool (courtMAP) shows hearing dates and courtroom numbers.
- Broward Clerk Web2 search: browardclerk.org/web2
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal: myflcourtaccess.com
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement: fdle.state.fl.us
- Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics: floridahealth.gov
- MyFloridaCounty: myfloridacounty.com
- Broward County Official Records: broward.org/RecordsTaxesTreasury
Hollywood Court Records Contact Details
The Broward County Clerk of Courts handles every court record for Hollywood, Florida. The main office sits at 540 SE 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The phone number is (954) 831-7283. The website is browardclerk.org. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Office Address | 540 SE 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 |
| Phone Number | (954) 831-7283 |
| Website | browardclerk.org |
| Web2 Search Portal | browardclerk.org/web2 |
| Office Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Certified Copy Fee | $1 per page |
| Credit Card Fee | About 3.95% on top |
| Records Request Page | browardclerk.org/GeneralInformation/RecordsRequest |
The Web2 search portal sits at browardclerk.org/web2. Users can search case files at any time. The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal sits at myflcourtaccess.com. Users can pay traffic fines at myfloridacounty.com. Free court forms are at help.flcourts.gov. For directions to the main clerk office, visit Google Maps at https://maps.google.com/?q=540+SE+3rd+Ave+Fort+Lauderdale+FL+33301
Frequently Asked Questions About Hollywood City Court Records
The questions below cover the most common questions about Hollywood City Court Records. Each answer gives clear steps and current contact details. Users can call the clerk office at (954) 831-7283 for personal help on any case. The clerk can look up case status, pull files, and explain the court process.
How do I check if I have a warrant in Hollywood, Florida?
To check for a warrant in Hollywood, start with the Broward County Clerk of Courts Web2 portal at browardclerk.org/web2. Run a name search for your full legal name. Add a middle name or date of birth if you can. The search shows pending criminal cases and warrant status. A warrant shows up as an open case with a “bench warrant” or “capias” entry on the docket. A second way to check is to call the clerk office at (954) 831-7283. Staff can run a name search for you. Staff can tell you if an active warrant exists. The clerk cannot cancel a warrant. Only a judge can recall a warrant. A third way is to call the Hollywood Police Department at (954) 967-4600. The records desk can check for local warrants. The Broward Sheriff’s Office runs the county jail too. The jail records line can help at (954) 831-5914. If a warrant shows up in your search, contact a criminal defense lawyer before going to court. A lawyer can help you turn yourself in safely. Do not ignore a warrant. Warrants stay active until a judge recalls them. An active warrant can lead to a new arrest at any traffic stop or ID check.
Can I view Hollywood court records for free?
Yes, the basic search for Hollywood court records is free. The Broward County Clerk Web2 portal at browardclerk.org/web2 lets anyone run a name or case number search. No fee applies to the basic search. No account is needed to start. The portal shows party names, charges, hearing dates, and docket entries at no cost. Free docket access covers every case type. This includes criminal, civil, traffic, family, probate, and small claims cases. Users can check case status, look up hearing dates, and read court orders for free. The portal runs all day and night. Some services still carry fees. Certified copies cost $1 per page. Document images may cost a small per-page fee. Credit card payments add about 3.95% on top. Mailed certified copies need postage too. Free in-person viewing is available at the main clerk office too. Public terminals let you run searches at no cost. Staff can help you pull case files. Bring a valid photo ID. Some restricted files may need extra approval from a judge before viewing.
How long does the Broward County Clerk keep court records?
The Broward County Clerk keeps most court records forever. Florida law requires clerks to keep final judgments and orders on file permanently. This includes criminal judgments, civil orders, divorce decrees, probate orders, and adoption records. Older paper files get scanned into the digital system over time. Criminal case files stay on file for the life of the defendant plus a set number of years. Traffic case files stay for at least 5 years. Civil case files stay for at least 10 years after the final order. Family case files stay for at least 20 years. Probate case files stay until the estate is closed plus 10 years. Older files from before 1990 may not be online. The clerk keeps these files in paper storage. Users can ask the clerk to pull older files by phone or in person. The clerk charges a search fee for pulling archived files. The fee covers staff time for the manual search. Cases that get sealed or expunged get a different timeline. Sealed files stay in the clerk’s system but get hidden from public view. Expunged files get destroyed after a set period. Only court orders can unseal a sealed file. Only a new court order can restore an expunged file from the destruction process.
What is the difference between a sealed and an expunged record in Hollywood?
Sealed and expunged records are not the same in Florida law. A sealed record still exists in the clerk’s system. The public cannot view a sealed record. Only the person named in the case, their lawyer, and certain government agencies can view it. A sealed record still shows up in some government background checks. An expunged record gets destroyed. The clerk removes all paper and digital files. An expunged record does not show up in most background checks. The person can legally say they were never arrested or charged in that case. Expungement is a stronger form of record clearing. Not every case qualifies for either option. Florida law lists crimes that cannot be sealed. These include murder, sex offenses, child abuse, and certain violent crimes. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs the eligibility check. FDLE charges a fee for the certificate of eligibility. The process takes several months from start to finish. A lawyer can help with the petition and the court hearing. A judge has the final say. The judge can deny the petition if the case does not meet the legal rules. People who got a withhold of adjudication may also qualify for sealing or expungement.
Can I get a certified copy of a Hollywood marriage certificate or divorce decree online?
Yes, certified copies of Hollywood marriage certificates and divorce decrees can be ordered online. The Broward County Clerk of Courts runs the records request page at browardclerk.org. Users fill out the online form with the names of both parties. Users add the date of the marriage or divorce. A case number or book and page number speeds up the order. The clerk charges $1 per page for certified copies. A typical marriage certificate runs one page. A divorce decree may run several pages. Credit card payments add 3.95% on top. The clerk mails the certified copy to the user. Mailing time runs 5 to 10 business days. Users can walk in to the main clerk office at 540 SE 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 too. Walk-in orders get filled the same day in most cases. Bring a valid photo ID. Bring cash, check, or credit card for payment. For older marriage records, the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics may need to help. The Bureau keeps records going back to the 1920s in some cases. The Bureau charges its own fees. Divorce decrees older than 1970 may sit at the Florida State Archives. The Archives sits in Tallahassee. Records older than 75 years may be open without restriction for genealogy research.
How do I pay a Hollywood traffic ticket online?
Hollywood drivers can pay traffic tickets online through the MyFloridaCounty portal. The portal sits at myfloridacounty.com. Users search by ticket number, driver license number, or case number. The portal shows the fine amount and any extra fees. The portal shows the deadline to pay too. Payment methods include credit cards, debit cards, and e-checks. Credit card payments add about 3.95% to the total. A processing fee may apply on top. The portal issues a receipt by email right after the payment clears. Drivers can pay by phone too. The number is listed on the traffic ticket. Call the number on the citation. The clerk can take payment over the phone during business hours. Drivers can pay by mail too. Send a check or money order to the address on the citation. Include the ticket number on the check. Do not send cash through the mail. Drivers who want to fight the ticket must enter a written plea of not guilty. The plea can be filed online, by mail, or in person. The clerk sets a court date for the hearing. A lawyer can help drivers fight the ticket in court. Missing the court date can lead to a license suspension or an extra failure to appear charge.
Can I look up Hollywood jury duty status online?
Yes, Hollywood jury duty status can be checked online. The Broward County Clerk runs the jury portal at browardclerk.org. Users enter their juror ID number to see their service date. Users can postpone or excuse jury duty through the portal too. Jurors get a summons by mail several weeks before service. The summons lists the reporting date, time, and courthouse address. Hollywood jurors report to the main Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. Jurors can call the jury line at (954) 831-7283 too. The line runs 24 hours a day. Users can check status, postpone, or ask questions. The line updates every day. Failure to show up for jury duty can lead to a contempt charge. A judge can fine jurors for missing service. Jurors with a real conflict can ask for a postponement. The court allows one postponement in most cases. Excused jurors do not need to report. Jurors who need special help can call the ADA coordinator. The coordinator sits at the courthouse. Reasonable accommodations are made for medical needs. Parking is free at the courthouse for jurors. Jurors get a small daily check for each day of service. Most jury service lasts one day or one trial.