Palm Beach County Public Records

Palm Beach County public records are maintained by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in West Palm Beach, and Florida law makes them open to any person for inspection and copying on request. This page explains how to search court filings, official records, and government documents across one of Florida's largest counties, including online access options, fees, and the right contacts for each record type.

Florida Public Records Law in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County operates under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, Florida's open records law. The law makes all records created or received by public agencies open to any person by default. You do not need to give your name. No reason is required. The agency must justify any refusal by citing a specific statutory exemption.

The Clerk and Comptroller in Palm Beach County describes its role as protecting and maintaining the county's Official Records, court records, and county government meeting records. That covers a broad range of documents, from property deeds to civil case files to commission minutes. The Clerk is the starting point for most records requests in Palm Beach County.

Exemptions to disclosure are found in Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes. They include active criminal investigation files, certain victim data, and portions of some personnel records. Any denial must identify the specific provision. If you believe a denial was improper, the Florida AG's mediation line at (850) 245-0140 handles disputes at no cost. More detail on your rights is at the AG's Open Government page.

Note: Palm Beach County requires a VPN for access to some online systems from international locations. Domestic access to the Clerk's portals is not restricted in this way.

Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller

Mike Caruso, CPA, serves as Clerk and Comptroller for Palm Beach County. His office is the primary custodian for 15th Judicial Circuit court records and for official records such as deeds, liens, marriage licenses, mortgages, plats, and tax deeds recorded in the county. The Clerk's office also maintains county government meeting records and offers electronic certified copies of many documents.

You can contact the Clerk's office by email at publicrecords@mypalmbeachclerk.com for records requests and general questions. The office handles court records, official records, genealogy research, county commission meeting minutes, electronic certified copies, and tax deed sales. Staff can direct you to the right division when you call the main number.

The screenshot below is from the Florida Department of State Library and Archives, one of the state-level resources for historical public records research across all Florida counties including Palm Beach.

The Library and Archives site provides guidance on historical document research and archival records that complement the county-level records held by the Palm Beach County Clerk.

Palm Beach County Court Records and Online Search

The Clerk's court records portal at mypalmbeachclerk.com/records/court-records provides online search access to Palm Beach County court records. You can search civil, criminal, family law, and probate cases by party name, case number, or filing date. The 15th Judicial Circuit serves only Palm Beach County, so all circuit court records for the county are in one system.

For official records, meaning recorded land instruments such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and marriage licenses, the search portal is at mypalmbeachclerk.com/records/official-records. These records go back many decades in the digital database. For very old documents, the Clerk's office can point you to the right archive or assist with the search.

Electronic certified copies are available through the Clerk's online system. That is useful if you need a certified document but cannot visit in person. The statewide portal at myfloridacounty.com also covers Palm Beach County official records and is good for cross-county searches. Property records are with the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser; tax records go to the Tax Collector in separate systems.

Fees for Palm Beach County Records

Florida law sets the standard fee structure. Administrative copies cost $0.15 per single-sided page, $0.20 per double-sided page. Certified copies of official records from the Clerk run $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. Court certified copies cost $1.00 per page as well.

Research fees apply when a request requires significant staff time. The first 15 minutes are not billed. After that, the county charges the applicable hourly rate. For large requests, ask for a cost estimate before work begins so you can narrow the scope if needed. Many records in the online systems are free to view and download. Electronic certified copies carry a fee but can be obtained without visiting the office.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Records

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office maintains its own records division apart from the court system. These include arrest records, incident reports, jail booking information, and offense reports. They are public records under Chapter 119 unless an exemption applies, such as an active investigation or sealed juvenile file.

Requests go to the Sheriff's Office directly by phone, mail, or in person. You do not need to state a reason and do not have to give your name. Fees follow the standard structure: $0.15 per single-sided page, $0.20 per double-sided page, with no charge for the first 15 minutes of staff research. Victims of certain crimes may receive copies at no cost.

Types of Palm Beach County Public Records

Palm Beach County holds an extensive range of public documents. Court records from the 15th Judicial Circuit cover civil, criminal, family law, and probate cases. Official records include deeds, liens, mortgages, marriage licenses, plats, and tax deeds. County commission meeting minutes and agendas are also maintained by the Clerk's office and available to the public.

Genealogy research is a specific service the Clerk offers, making Palm Beach County one of the more accessible counties for historical document research. Other records include building permits, planning and zoning documents, code enforcement files, and agency-specific records from various county departments. Each department is the custodian for its own records. Knowing which office holds what you need is key to a fast response.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory lists every county clerk in the state for records that cross into neighboring counties like Broward, Martin, Okeechobee, Hendry, or Glades. The Florida First Amendment Foundation provides help when agencies deny valid records requests.

For statewide criminal history, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement central repository covers all 67 counties and is the best option when you need a broad check beyond Palm Beach County alone.

Making a Public Records Request in Palm Beach County

Requests can be made in any format. Call, email, write, or visit in person. The Clerk's email at publicrecords@mypalmbeachclerk.com is a direct line for records requests. No specific form is required under Florida law. Be clear about what you need, including the type of document, the date range, and the names involved when you know them.

For records held by county departments outside the Clerk's system, contact each agency directly. Palm Beach County is large and each department has its own records process. If you are not sure which office holds what you need, the Clerk's office can often point you in the right direction. If a request is denied or stalled, the AG's mediation line at (850) 245-0140 is free and handles most disputes quickly.

Cities in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County includes numerous cities with populations above the threshold for dedicated public records pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Palm Beach and each maintains its own public records office and Clerk.