With the help of the internet and some online public record listings, finding public records for Florida has never been easier. You can choose to search for a record online, call over the telephone or email the official web portal for the state of Florida, www.myflorida.com. If your public record request is too broad or too complicated, it is recommended that you call the official hotline in order to give a more detailed explanation of what you need.
The Florida Public Records Act states that:
1. As a policy of the state, all county, state and municipal records can be personally inspected and copied by any individual. It is the duty of each agency to provide access to these public records.
2. Automated pubic records have the same access as the original public records where it was taken from. As automation and transfer of records to digital format is practiced, it is the obligation of each agency to provide access to this electronic data. Exempt and confidential records, however, will still stay confidential even if transferred into digital form.
However, there are times when requests for public records might be rejected. In that case, writing a written request addressed to the custodian of public records should be the best option. If you don't know what agency you need to contact, you can find the names of agencies that keep Florida's public records at this website.
For less complicated public record search, you can look at StateOfFlorida.com and search for the public record that you need. All public records are arranged alphabetically for easier and faster browsing. Public records information held in this website include:
The agency that holds the public record is also listed at the right side of each public record so you can contact them directly if you want to. For example, the Photo Archives of Florida is managed by a division named Florida Memory. Public records regarding vital statistics such as marriage, death, divorce and birth on the other hand are housed by the Florida Department of Health.
Although Florida public records are generally open to the public, there might be times when exceptions are made and requests are rejected. To know more about the accessibility law of Florida, you can visit Citi Media Law to get an idea. Information on how to request records are also included in that website so you'll have more options on how to get complicated public record requests.
Should you need additional assistance finding Florida state information, you can call the State Information Center at 1-866-693-6748 or locally at 850-488-1234. An alternative option would be to send an email to 411Assist@dms.myflorida.com.
To lookup Florida public records information, contact:
My Florida CountyIf you want to be able to do a fast and convenient Florida public records search, then you're in luck. They not only allow you to contact them over the phone and through the mail like in other states, but they also have an online service that can give you lots of useful data right there at the comfort of your own computer.
The Florida Public Records Law was first passed in 1909 in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statues. It allowed for the inspection of any public records in Florida, created or received by any public agency. The definition of what constitutes public records has changed over the years, and now includes all documentation like papers, maps, books, tapes, photographs, film, sound recordings and computerized data.
Florida courts have continually upheld the right of access by the public to Florida public records. The Statue, at 119.07 (1)(a) states, "Every person who has custody of a public record shall permit the record to be inspected and copied by any person desiring to do so, at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions, and under supervision by the custodian of the public records." Even still, there are quite a few documents which are exempt for inspection as public records in Florida, such as anything pertaining to a public agency's administration, including examination results and bid proposals, or documentation relating to ongoing criminal investigations, among other things.
Public Records
Court Records
Criminal Records
Birth Records
Death Records
Marriage Records
Divorce Records
Genealogy Records