Palm Beach County court docket records show every case filed in the 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida. You can search these records online, by phone, or in person at one of five courthouses.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller keeps all docket entries, hearing dates, and party names for civil, criminal, family, traffic, and juvenile cases in Palm Beach County.
What a Palm Beach County Court Docket Shows
A court docket is a running list of every paper filed and every event scheduled in a court case. Each entry has a date, a description, and the name of the judge or clerk who made it. The Palm Beach County court docket covers new cases, old cases, and cases still active in 2026. You can see motions, orders, hearings, and final judgments on a single docket sheet.
The clerk office writes each docket entry in plain English. You do not need a lawyer to read them. Most entries name the type of filing, the side that filed it, and what happens next. Some entries also list a hearing time, a courtroom number, and a phone number for the judicial assistant.
The 15th Judicial Circuit Court System
Palm Beach County sits inside the 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida. This circuit covers one county and hears both circuit court and county court cases. Circuit court cases include felonies, family law, probate, and civil suits over $50,000. County court cases include misdemeanors, traffic tickets, small claims, and civil suits up to $50,000.
Every case type produces a separate docket feed. The clerk tags each case with a code that tells you which division it belongs to. Common division codes include CF for felony, MM for misdemeanor, TC for traffic, DR for family, and SC for small claims. Knowing the code helps you find the right case faster.
Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Office Locations
The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller runs five locations across Palm Beach County. The main courthouse sits in West Palm Beach. Four branch offices serve the north, south, west, and central parts of the county. Each office can pull docket records, accept filings, and answer questions about your case.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Main Courthouse (Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley) | 205 N. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 | (561) 355-2996 |
| North County Courthouse | 3188 PGA Blvd, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 | Criminal: (561) 355-2996 | Civil: (561) 624-6650 |
| Royal Palm Beach Courthouse | 200 Civic Center Way, Suite 400, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 | (561) 784-1271 |
| South County Courthouse | 200 W. Atlantic Ave, Room 1S-124, Delray Beach, FL 33444 | Criminal: (561) 355-2996 | Civil: (561) 274-1588 |
| West County Courthouse | 2950 State Road 15, Room S-100, Belle Glade, FL 33430 | (561) 996-4843 |
How to Search Palm Beach County Court Docket Records Online
The clerk website lets you search the Palm Beach County court docket from any computer or phone. Go to mypalmbeachclerk.com and click the records tab. The search tool covers civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases filed in the 15th Circuit since the late 1990s.
You can search by case number, party name, or date range. A name search asks for a last name and a first name. A case number search needs the full 20-character number, including the year, the court code, and the sequence digits. You can also search by citation number for traffic tickets.
Basic searches cost nothing. You do not need an account to view docket entries, party names, or hearing dates. Certified copies and full document images cost a small fee per page. The clerk accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash at the courthouse window.
Palm Beach County Civil Court Docket
The Palm Beach County civil docket lists lawsuits between two private parties. Civil cases include contract disputes, personal injury claims, property damage, and debt collection. The clerk tags these cases with a CL or CC prefix on the docket number.
You can search the civil docket by plaintiff name, defendant name, or business name. The search results show the filing date, the type of claim, and the judge assigned to the case. You can also see scheduled hearings, motion deadlines, and final judgments. Civil cases in Palm Beach County can take 6 months to 2 years to finish.
Small claims cases show up under a CC prefix with a value of $8,000 or less. These cases move faster and rarely go to trial. You can see the claim amount, the hearing officer assigned, and the result on the docket sheet.
Palm Beach County Criminal Court Docket
The Palm Beach County criminal docket covers felony and misdemeanor cases. Felonies carry a case prefix of CF and can lead to state prison time. Misdemeanors carry a case prefix of MM and usually end with probation or county jail. The clerk keeps a separate docket feed for each level of criminal charge.
You can look up a criminal case by defendant name, case number, or arrest date. The docket shows the charges, the defense attorney, the state attorney, and the judge. It also shows bond amounts, arraignment dates, plea dates, trial dates, and sentencing orders.
Criminal docket entries stay open to the public even after a case closes. A sealed case will not show up in the search tool. Expunged cases also drop out of the public search. All other criminal docket records stay online for the life of the clerk record system.
Palm Beach County Felony and Misdemeanor Dockets
Felony docket entries in Palm Beach County include first appearances, arraignments, pretrial conferences, and trial calendar calls. Each step shows up as a separate docket line with a date and a time. The clerk posts new felony dockets every business day by 6 a.m.
Misdemeanor dockets follow a similar pattern but move faster. Most misdemeanor cases resolve in 90 to 180 days. The misdemeanor docket shows the same types of entries as the felony docket, just on a shorter timeline. Traffic misdemeanors follow the same docket format.
Palm Beach County Traffic Court Docket
The traffic court docket in Palm Beach County lists moving violations, speeding tickets, and DUI charges. The case prefix is TR or TC. The docket shows the citation number, the issuing officer, and the court date. You can search by driver name, license number, or citation number.
Paying a traffic ticket creates a closed entry on the docket. Fighting the ticket in court adds hearing dates, motion filings, and a final ruling. The traffic court also handles criminal traffic cases like reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, and leaving the scene of a crash. These cases show up under a CT prefix.
Most traffic court hearings in Palm Beach County run on a morning docket that starts at 8:30 a.m. The clerk posts the daily traffic docket the day before each hearing date. You can pull the docket online to see your time slot and courtroom number.
Palm Beach County Family Court Docket
The family court docket covers divorce, paternity, custody, adoption, and domestic violence cases. The case prefix is DR for dissolution of marriage and FA for family action. The clerk keeps these records in a separate docket feed from civil and criminal cases.
Family docket entries include petition filings, service of process, mediation dates, and final hearings. Many family cases also include support orders, parenting plans, and asset lists. These documents show up on the docket as attachments with a filing date and a docket number.
Domestic violence cases get a DV prefix and move on a faster docket. The clerk processes these cases within 15 days of filing. Injunction hearings, return hearings, and final hearings all show up on the domestic violence docket. The clerk also keeps a confidential docket for sealed family records.
Palm Beach County Juvenile Court Docket
The juvenile court docket in Palm Beach County handles cases for minors under 18. The case prefix is JJ for delinquency and DP for dependency. The clerk keeps most juvenile records sealed under Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.010.
You cannot search the juvenile docket by name on the public search tool. Only the parties, attorneys, and the judge of record can pull juvenile docket entries. The clerk redacts the names of minors, victims, and witnesses from any public record in a juvenile case.
Some juvenile cases become public if the minor is charged as an adult. These cases transfer to the felony docket and lose the juvenile prefix. After transfer, the docket entries follow the same rules as adult criminal cases in Palm Beach County.
Palm Beach County Small Claims Docket
The small claims docket in Palm Beach County handles civil claims of $8,000 or less. The case prefix is SC or CC. You do not need a lawyer to file or defend a small claims case. The clerk sets a hearing date within 30 to 60 days of the filing date.
Small claims docket entries show the claim amount, the party names, and the hearing officer. Most small claims hearings last less than 30 minutes. The hearing officer enters a final judgment on the docket at the end of the hearing. Either side can appeal the ruling to circuit court within 30 days.
Palm Beach County Daily Court Docket and Hearing Schedule
The daily court docket posts online by 6 a.m. each business day. You can pull the docket for any judge, any courthouse, and any case type. The docket shows the case number, the time, the courtroom, and the type of hearing scheduled for that day.
The clerk also posts a morning docket for each courthouse. The morning docket lists every case set for a specific date. It includes pretrial conferences, motion hearings, status checks, and trials. You can print the docket and bring it to court to follow the schedule.
You can search the daily docket by case number, party name, or judge. The search results show all hearings set in the next 30 days. Past hearings stay on the docket for at least 90 days. Older hearing dates stay in the system as a permanent record.
Palm Beach County Arraignment, Pretrial, and Trial Dockets
The arraignment docket covers the first court date for every criminal defendant. At arraignment, the defendant hears the charges and enters a plea. The clerk posts the arraignment docket one business day before each court date. You can see the charges, the attorney, and the assigned judge on each entry.
The pretrial docket lists every case set for a pretrial conference. Pretrial conferences happen after arraignment and before trial. The judge uses the pretrial docket to set deadlines, hear motions, and push cases toward a plea or trial. The clerk updates the pretrial docket every Monday by 8 a.m.
The trial docket lists every case set for a jury trial or bench trial. Trial dockets run on a rolling 30-day calendar. The clerk adds and removes cases as they settle or get rescheduled. You can pull the trial docket for any courthouse in Palm Beach County through the clerk search tool.
Palm Beach County Motion Docket and Motion Hearings
The motion docket shows every motion filed in a pending case. Motions can include motions to suppress, motions to compel, motions in limine, and motions for summary judgment. The clerk assigns each motion a hearing date and a judge within 10 to 30 days of filing.
You can search the motion docket by case number, motion type, or filing date. The docket shows the moving party, the response deadline, and the hearing time. The clerk also keeps a record of the ruling on the docket after the judge decides the motion.
Palm Beach County Court Docket Search by Case Number
A case number search gives you the fastest lookup. Each case number has 20 characters, including the year, the court code, the case type, and the sequence number. For example, a 2024 felony case might read CF-2024-001234. Type the full number into the search box with dashes or without dashes.
If you do not know the full case number, you can use a partial search. The clerk tool accepts a year and a case type. You can also search by the last four digits of the case number. Partial searches work best when you already know the year and the case type.
Palm Beach County Docket by Name Search
You can pull a docket by entering a last name and a first name. The search tool shows every case where that name appears as a party. You may see results for people with the same name. Check the date of birth, the case type, and the address to find the right person.
Business names work the same way. Type the full business name, or part of the name, into the party search field. The tool will show every case where the business is a plaintiff or defendant. This search works for corporations, LLCs, and partnerships registered in Florida.
Palm Beach County E-Filing and Electronic Court Records
The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal lets you file court papers online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The portal covers every circuit court in Florida, including the 15th Circuit in Palm Beach County. You do not pay a fee to use the portal, but standard filing fees still apply.
Attorneys of record get full access to case documents through the portal. Self-represented filers can also use the system with a free account. The portal accepts new cases, motions, responses, exhibits, and proposed orders. Each filing creates a new docket entry in the Palm Beach County court docket within minutes.
Palm Beach County Weekly Court Docket
The clerk posts a weekly docket summary every Friday. The summary lists new case filings, closed cases, and major hearings for the next week. You can pull the weekly docket from the clerk website under the records tab. The summary covers all five courthouses in Palm Beach County.
The weekly docket helps attorneys and self-represented parties plan their court calendar. You can see when a judge is in trial, when a courtroom is dark, and when a hearing gets rescheduled. The clerk also posts a press release for high-profile cases set for trial in the coming week.
Public Records Laws and Confidentiality Rules
Florida law makes most court records public under Florida Statute Chapter 119. The Palm Beach County clerk must give access to anyone who asks. You do not need a reason to search the docket. You do not need to show ID. You do not need to pay for basic docket entries.
Some records stay sealed by law. Juvenile cases, mental health cases, and adoption cases stay confidential. The clerk also redacts Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and minor children names from any public docket entry. Sealed cases will not show up in the public search tool.
Common Problems When Searching the Palm Beach County Court Docket
Users outside the United States may need a VPN set to a U.S. IP address to reach the clerk website. The clerk blocks foreign traffic as a security measure. Set your VPN to a Florida server for the fastest connection.
Older case numbers may not show up in the online search tool. The clerk digitizes records back to the late 1990s for most case types. Records before that year may only exist on microfilm at the main courthouse. Visit the records window on the first floor of the main courthouse for help with older records.
Some docket entries may show a “sealed” or “confidential” stamp. These entries stay hidden from the public search. You can ask the judge of record to unseal a record, but the request must follow Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 2.420. The clerk staff can help you with the paperwork.
Nearby Counties and Courthouse Information
Palm Beach County borders three counties in Florida. Make sure you search the right county for your case. Filing in the wrong county can delay your case by weeks or months.
- Broward County: 17th Judicial Circuit, located in Fort Lauderdale
- Martin County: 19th Judicial Circuit, located in Stuart
- Hendry County: 20th Judicial Circuit, located in LaBelle
Each county has its own clerk office and its own docket search tool. Palm Beach County dockets will not show cases from these other counties. If you are not sure which county holds your case, ask the clerk staff at any Palm Beach County courthouse for help.
Contact Information and Visiting Hours
You can reach the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court at the main courthouse from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clerk office closes on weekends and court holidays. You can call the main line at (561) 355-2996 for general help with docket searches, filing questions, and record copies.
The public records request line accepts email at publicrecords@mypalmbeachclerk.com. You can also mail your request to 205 N. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. For certified copies, visit the records window on the first floor of the main courthouse with a valid photo ID.
The official website is mypalmbeachclerk.com. The website runs a 24-hour search tool for docket records, official records, and case status checks. You can also use the website to pay traffic tickets, file small claims, and download court forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a case in the Palm Beach County court docket?
Go to mypalmbeachclerk.com and click on records search. Type the case number, party name, or citation number into the search box. You can also call (561) 355-2996 for help finding a case. The clerk staff can look up the case by name, date of birth, or date of arrest if you do not know the case number. Basic searches cost nothing, and you can pull docket entries from any computer with internet access.
Is the Palm Beach County court docket free to search?
Yes. The clerk lets you search docket records online without paying a fee. You can view case numbers, party names, filing dates, and hearing dates for free. Certified copies and full document images cost $1 per page under Florida law. You can pay for copies online with a credit card or in person with cash, check, or money order.
How long does it take for a new filing to show up on the docket?
New filings posted through the E-Filing Portal show up within 5 to 15 minutes of acceptance. Paper filings dropped off at the courthouse show up the same business day. Mail filings can take 1 to 3 business days to process. The clerk processes thousands of filings each business day, so the docket updates often.
Can I see sealed court records in Palm Beach County?
No. Sealed records stay hidden from the public search tool. Only the parties, attorneys, and the judge of record can view sealed docket entries. You can file a motion to unseal a record under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 2.420. The judge will hold a hearing before ruling on the motion.
What is the difference between the civil docket and the criminal docket?
The civil docket covers lawsuits between private parties, including contract disputes, personal injury claims, and debt collection. The criminal docket covers cases filed by the state against a defendant, including felonies and misdemeanors. The clerk keeps the two dockets separate. The case prefix tells you which docket a case belongs to.
Can I search the juvenile court docket in Palm Beach County?
No. The clerk seals juvenile records under Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.010. Only the parties, attorneys, and the judge of record can view juvenile docket entries. If a juvenile is charged as an adult, the case transfers to the criminal docket and becomes public. Dependency cases also stay sealed from public view.
How do I get a certified copy of a court docket entry?
Visit the records window on the first floor of the main courthouse at 205 N. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number. The clerk charges $1 per page for certified copies. You can also order certified copies online through the clerk website for an extra $2 service fee. The clerk mails paper copies within 3 to 5 business days.