Search Records in Doral

Doral public records are held by several agencies at the city and county level, with the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts serving as the primary custodian for court records, official instruments, and recorded documents. Florida's Chapter 119 gives anyone the right to request and inspect public records held by any government agency in the state, including those for the City of Doral, without providing a reason.

City of Doral Public Records Office

Doral was incorporated in 2003, making it a relatively young city. The City of Doral manages its own records for municipal business, including meeting agendas and minutes, contracts, permits, city commission actions, and internal agency documents. The city's main office is at 8401 NW 53rd Terrace, Doral, FL 33166. The phone number is (305) 593-6725. The city's website at cityofdoral.com is a good place to start if you need city-generated records rather than court records.

The image below shows the City of Doral's official homepage, which links to city departments, city commission records, and public records request information.

From that site you can reach individual city departments. Many city records, like commission meeting minutes, are posted there and available at no cost.

Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts

Court records for Doral are maintained by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts. This office handles civil and criminal case filings, family court documents, probate records, and official recorded instruments like deeds and mortgages. Because Doral sits within Miami-Dade County, the Clerk's main office serves the city's court record needs. You can search and submit requests online at miamidadeclerk.gov.

The Clerk's public records request page at miamidadeclerk.gov/clerk/public-records-requests walks you through how to make a formal request. You can submit by email, mail, or in person. The Clerk's online case search tool is free to use and lets you look up open and closed cases by name, case number, or filing date. Most court records in Miami-Dade are indexed going back many years and can be found in the online portal without a trip to the courthouse.

How to Request Public Records in Doral

Requests to the City of Doral go directly to the city. Requests for court records go to the Miami-Dade Clerk. The process is straightforward under Florida law. You describe the record you want. You do not need to fill out a specific form, though many agencies have forms available to make it easier. You do not have to explain your reason for asking.

Fees under Chapter 119 are set at $0.15 per page for single-sided copies. If your request takes more than 30 minutes to process, the agency may charge for staff time at the rate of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the work. That first 30 minutes is free. For complex or large requests, it helps to be as specific as possible about dates, names, and case numbers so the agency can locate the records quickly and keep costs low.

If a record is withheld, the agency must tell you in writing what exemption applies. Florida law lists exemptions under Section 119.071. Common ones include active law enforcement investigations, certain medical records, and portions of records that contain Social Security numbers. Those specific pieces may be redacted while the rest of the record is released.

Types of Records Available for Doral

Doral is a growing city with a large commercial and residential base, and a range of record types are available through the city and county. Understanding which office holds what can save you time when you start your search.

Civil court filings, including lawsuits, judgments, and liens, are kept by the Miami-Dade Clerk. Criminal court cases are also managed at the county level. Building permits and code enforcement records are city records held at Doral city hall. Property records, including deeds and recorded documents, are available through the Miami-Dade Clerk's official records index. Property tax and assessment data is held by the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser's office. Marriage records filed in the circuit court are part of the Clerk's family court files. Each office has its own search tools and request process.

Official Records and Property Documents

When someone records a deed, mortgage, lien, or other legal instrument in Miami-Dade County, the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts maintains that record in the official records series. Doral property owners and anyone researching real estate in the city can search those records online for free. The official records index on the Clerk's website lets you search by name, instrument type, or date range.

The Florida Association of Court Clerks provides a statewide directory at flclerks.com that can help you locate the right Clerk's office for any county in Florida. If you are dealing with records from multiple jurisdictions, that directory is a useful reference.

Florida Open Records Law and Your Rights

Florida has one of the strongest open records laws in the country. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, known as the Public Records Law, applies to all state and local government agencies. It covers virtually every record made or received in connection with official business, regardless of format. That means emails, text messages, reports, contracts, audio recordings, and databases are all public records subject to disclosure, unless a specific exemption applies.

If a Doral agency or the Miami-Dade Clerk denies your request and you believe the denial is not justified, you can contact the Florida Attorney General's Office at (850) 245-0140. The AG runs a free mediation program for open records disputes at myfloridalegal.com. Most issues get resolved through mediation without going to court.

Criminal and Court Case Records

The 11th Judicial Circuit covers Miami-Dade County, which includes Doral. Circuit court cases, including felony criminal cases, civil matters, family law cases, and probate, are all part of the circuit court system. County court handles misdemeanors and smaller civil cases. Both levels are administered by the Miami-Dade Clerk.

You can search cases online through the Clerk's portal. Many records from closed cases are available for immediate viewing. Active cases may have some restrictions depending on the type. Juvenile records have strong privacy protections and are largely not accessible to the public. If you need certified copies of court records, you can order them online or request them in person at the Clerk's office.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also have public records pages with information on their county clerk offices and request procedures.

Miami-Dade County Records

Court records and official records for Doral are maintained by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court.