Clerk of the Courts COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
- Harvey Ruvin, Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts
Q: Where can I find more information about Miami-Dade County or Court operations due to COVID-19?
A: Please visit the Coronavirus COVID-19 page for information from Miami-Dade County. Please visit the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida for information from the 11th Judicial Circuit.
Q: Are the Courthouses Closed?
A: All Miami-Dade Courthouses are closed to the public, except for essential matters and matters per judicial discretion. Please visit the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida for criminal and civil essential matters and matters per judicial discretion.
Q: Can I come into a courthouse to file a Domestic Violence Injunction?
A: Yes. Our office can assist you at the downtown Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center location, or at any of the following District courthouse locations: Hialeah District Court, Joseph Caleb Center Court, North Dade Justice Center and South Dade Justice Center.
Q: Can I come into a courthouse to file a Baker or Marchman Act Petition?
A: Yes. Our office can assist you at the Miami-Dade County Courthouse.
Q: Where can I file a modification or terminate my child support case?
A: The Family Court Self-Help Program at 175 NW 1 Avenue, room 2441 Miami, Fl. 33128 or call 305-349-7800.
Q: Can I mail my payment to the Clerk’s Office to make a Central Depository Child Support and/or Alimony payment?
A: Yes. Checks can be mailed to the Overtown Transit Village South
Q: Can I come to the Clerk’s Office to make a Central Depository Child Support and/or Alimony payment?
A: Yes. Our office can assist you at the Overtown Transit Village South. Our Central Depository office is accepting cash and check payments for essential matters and those matters per judicial discretion. Also, our office is accepting credit card payments (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover).
Q: For Central Depository Child Support and/or Alimony, how do I sign up for direct deposit?
A: see below
For Private cases please fill out the Direct Deposit Enrollment fillable form, following the instructions provided.
For Department of Revenue cases please visit the Florida State Disbursement Unit and follow the instructions provided for "Parents who are due support".
Q: For Central Depository Child Support and/or Alimony, how can I change my direct deposit?
A: You will need to complete a new Direct Deposit Enrollment fillable form, following the instructions provided.
Q: For Central Depository Child Support and/or Alimony, how can I update my name/address?
A: Please complete the Change of Name or Address fillable form, following the instructions provided.
Q: Can I call the Clerk’s Office with questions related to my Criminal case?
A: You are encouraged to visit the Clerk’s website for all our on-line services and readily available information. In addition, you can call the Clerk’s Automated Phone Service. For the phone number to call:
Criminal Court Office
305-275-1155
Misdemeanor Office
305-275-1155
If you need further assistance, staff are available to take calls from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Q: How can I request documents from my Criminal case?
A: Criminal research requests from the various criminal sections of the Clerk’s website can be requested by email (Felony, Misdemeanor, or Misdemeanor DV) or mail. Make sure to include an accessible email address on your request. The Clerk’s Office will notify you of the costs through an email notification including a tracking number.
Once your credit card payment (Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover) has been received, the items requested will be sent to you by mail and/or scanned and sent by email. The Affidavit to Reinstate Driver License Privileges can only be sent by mail.
Q: Can I call the Clerk’s Office with questions related to my Civil or Family case?
A: You are encouraged to visit the Clerk’s website for all our on-line services and readily available information. In addition, you can call the Clerk’s Automated Phone Service. For the phone number to call:
Central Depository Child Support & Alimony Office
305-275-1122
Civil Court Office
305-275-1155
Domestic Violence Office
305-275-1155
Family Court Office
305-275-1155
Probate Court Office
305-275-1155
If you need further assistance, staff are available to take calls from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Q: Can I call the Clerk’s Office with questions related to my Parking, Code Enforcement or Traffic citations?
A: You are encouraged to visit the Clerk’s website for our all on-line services and readily available information. In addition, you can call the Clerk’s Automated Phone Service. For the phone number to call:
Parking Violations Bureau
305-275-1133
Code Enforcement Office
305-676-0977
Traffic Office
305-275-1111
If you need further assistance, staff are available to take calls from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Q: Can I email my question to the Clerk’s Office?
A: Yes, please use the Contact Us feature of the Clerk's website. Options are provided for you to direct your email inquiry to the corresponding Operational representative.
Q: Can I print a recorded document or a civil document from the Internet without requesting it be a certified copy?
A: Yes. If you do not need a certified copy of a document, you can perform an Online Official Records Search or an Online Case Search to print a copy while viewing the document.
Q: Can I file a public records request online?
A: Yes. Please fill out the Public Records Request fillable form, following the instructions provided. Email the completed form and all related correspondence to [email protected].
Q: How do I know if I should appear in court from a notice received?
A: see below:
For all on-site criminal, civil, juvenile (dependency and delinquency), and traffic matters please visit the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida for the latest administrative order details.
All Parking and Code Enforcement hearings have been canceled until further notice.
Q: How can I request a certified copy of a Probate document online?
A: We are pleased to announce the implementation of ordering certified copies of probate documents online. Please visit the Civil, Family and Probate Courts Online System to facilitate your Probate certified copies request.
Q: Can I still request a certified copy of a Probate document by mail?
A: Yes, you can request a certified copy of a document by mail from the following address:
Probate Courts
Dade County Clerk's Office
Attn: Correspondence Dept.
73 W. Flagler Street, Room 238
Miami, Florida 33130
Q: How can I request a certified copy of a Civil, Family or Probate/Mental Health recorded document online?
- Case Number & Document Number or Book & Page
- Year of Case or Year Document was Recorded
- Names of parties involved
- Type of document (for example: Deed, Mortgage, Order)
- Mail appropriate statutory fee:
- $1 per page, $2 per document for the certification
- If you do not know the year/case number, an additional search fee of $2 per year, per name will be added for every year searched.
- Visit Online Case Search or Online Official Records Search to obtain the number of page(s) in a document
- Self-addressed stamped envelope
- Defendant's Name
- Case Number
- Case Year
- Date of Birth
- Mail appropriate statutory fee:
- Certified copies are $7, or if you do not know the year/case number, an additional search fee of $2 per year, per name will be added for every year searched.
- Self-addressed stamped envelope
- The Courts and Clerk of Courts will not be issuing driver’s license suspensions during the period that the courthouses are closed to the public due to COVID-19.
- Please visit the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida for Administrative Order 20-04 and all subsequent administrative orders. All deadlines that fall within the time that the courthouses are closed to the public are extended until further order of the court.
- If a driver’s license suspension is related to outstanding traffic citations
Drivers have a 30-day window from the date the citation was issued to elect to pay the citation, register for traffic school, or set it for court.
If the driver elected to pay the citation, please see Payments for the Clerk's On-line and Automated Phone Service payment options.
If the driver chooses to set the case for court, those previously scheduled court dates that fall within the time the courthouses are closed to the public due to COVID-19 will be re-scheduled and you will be notified for a Remote Hearing via video/phone appearance. - For additional questions regarding outstanding traffic citations and driver’s license suspensions, please call the Clerk's Automated Phone Service at 305-275-1111.
Q: How can I file original death certificates and original wills?
A: Two drop-boxes have been installed respectively at the Dade County Courthouse (73 West Flagler Street) in the area between the stairs on the 1st floor upon entry of the building from the southside.
Q: Can I file pleadings for Family or Domestic Violence cases in person?
A: Two drop-boxes have been installed by the windows on the first floor of the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center (175 NW 1st Avenue) to deposit Family Court documents and Domestic Violence documents.
Q: Is Self-Help Program currently offering assistance?
A: The Self-Help Program, which is operated by the administrative office of the Courts is providing assistance to self-represented litigants (parties without an attorney). Please visit Family Court Self-Help Program to make an appointment or chat online.
A: Yes. The Central Marriage License Bureau will be issuing marriage licenses on a limited basis by appointments only, with appointments commencing June 1st until further notice.
You must schedule an appointment online with our centrally located Marriage License Bureau. Appointments will be limited to processing the marriage application with the applicant couple only.
(Applicants must complete the Marriage License Bureau Online Pre-Application prior to scheduling an appointment. After completing the pre-application, you have 90 days to complete the marriage license application process in person).
In an emergency situation, please use the Clerk's Automated Phone Service to contact the Marriage License Bureau at (305) 275-1155.
A: With an original marriage license, a Florida registered notary public or clergy of any denomination may perform a wedding ceremony and sign the original marriage license.
Q: Once the wedding ceremony has been performed, where do we send our original marriage license and how do we receive a certified copy?
A: The original marriage license must be mailed within 10 days of the ceremony to:
Q: How can I make a payment if I received an Impoundment Order or Notice of a Registration Stop for unpaid Parking Violations?
A: Please call 305-275-1133 and press '0' to speak to one of our Clerks. They will process the payment and provide you with a Certificate of Compliance.
Due to our continued commitment to serving the citizens of Miami-Dade County during COVID-19, you can use our online resources below to take care of your business with us, as the County Recorder’s office is closed to the public.
Q: How can I record my document into the official record?
- Visiting eRecording for guidelines and third party vendors available to process your request electronically
- Mailing your original document, following the requirements for recording, along with providing a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:
Miami-Dade County Recorder
P.O. Box 011711 Flagler Station
Miami, Florida 33101
- Expired registration
- No registration certificate
- Expired Driver License
- Driver License not carried
- No Proof of Insurance
