Coral Springs City dissolution of marriage records are kept by Broward County court offices. The city of Coral Springs has no city agency that stores divorce files.
All court actions for divorce in this area go through the Broward County Clerk of Court. This page shows how to search for these records, where to make requests, and what forms you need for certified copies. If you live in Coral Springs and need a divorce record, the county clerk is your main source.
Where to File Dissolution Records in Coral Springs
Coral Springs is part of Broward County. The county seat is Fort Lauderdale. All family court cases from Coral Springs go to the Broward County courthouse. The clerk office keeps every case file, judgment, and certified copy. No city hall, police station, or local library holds these court papers. You must work with the county clerk for any official copy or status check.
Broward County Clerk of Court Role
The Broward County Clerk of Court handles the family division. This includes dissolution of marriage cases. The clerk office receives all filings, stores the case jacket, and issues certified copies of the final judgment. The clerk also reports each finalized case to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. The clerk office is the only agency that can give you a copy with a raised seal or stamp for use in other courts.
Contact Details for Broward Clerk
The main clerk office sits at 201 S.E. 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The phone number is 954-831-6565. Office hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office closes on state holidays. Before you drive to the building, call the clerk to confirm the records desk is open. Some services need an appointment. Payment methods include cash, check, money order, and most major credit cards.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| City | Coral Springs |
| County Clerk | Broward County Clerk of Court |
| County Office Address | 201 S.E. 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 |
| Phone Number | 954-831-6565 |
| Office Hours | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Mon-Fri) |
| Main Website | browardclerk.org |
| Family Division Page | browardclerk.org/Divisions/Family |
Why City Offices Don’t Handle Divorce Files
Florida law gives circuit courts full power over family cases. Cities do not run family courts. The City of Coral Springs handles zoning, parks, water, and local police matters. Divorce files are court records under state law. State law places these files with the county clerk. That is why your search must start at the county level and not the city level.
Records Search Process
The records search process uses three main tools. First, the county clerk online case search. Second, the state e-filing portal. Third, the Florida Department of Health certificate page. Most people find what they need through these three tools. The county clerk search shows the case docket, hearing dates, and final judgment details. The state portal shows statewide filing data. The health department page issues short-form certificates after the case closes.
Gathering Needed Details
Start your search with the full legal names of both spouses. You also need the year the case was filed. The case style may include a suffix like “In Re: The Marriage of Smith.” Knowing the case number helps but is not required. If you do not know the year, try a range of three to five years. Many search portals let you search by name and year range together.
- Full name of husband (first, middle, last)
- Full name of wife (first, middle, last)
- Year the case was filed
- Case number (if known)
- County where the case was filed (Broward)
Online Case Search Tools
The Broward Clerk Case Search portal lets you look up cases by name. You can search by party name and year range. Results show case number, filing date, judge, and current status. You can also see a list of filed documents. The portal is open to the public with no login needed. The Florida e-filing portal at myflcourtaccess.com shows statewide docket entries and party details. Both tools are free to use.
In-Person Records Request
You can visit the clerk office in Fort Lauderdale for in-person service. Bring a photo ID. Tell the records desk clerk the case details. The clerk will pull the file and help you make copies. Certified copies cost a small fee per page. You pay at the cashier window before the copies are made. You will leave with the certified copy in hand on the same visit in most cases.
Certified Copy Request Method
You can order a certified copy by mail, online, or in person. Mail requests need a signed request letter, a copy of your ID, and payment. Online requests go through the clerk website or VitalChek. In-person requests work the same day. Certified copies have the clerk’s seal and signature. Banks, insurance companies, and other courts accept these copies as legal proof.
Florida Statewide Divorce Resources
Florida runs several statewide tools that work for all counties. These tools help you check case status, order certificates, and find court forms. They also help when the case was filed in a different county. Statewide tools save time because you do not need to visit each county clerk one by one. They also confirm the case was reported to vital statistics after the judge signed the final judgment.
Florida Department of Health Certificates
The Florida Department of Health runs the Bureau of Vital Statistics. This office holds short-form divorce certificates. The certificate shows the names of both spouses, the date of divorce, and the county where it was granted. You can order a certificate online, by mail, or in person through the Orange County office in Jacksonville. The state uses this data for statewide record keeping.
Florida Court Clerks Portal
The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website at flclerks.com lists every county clerk. You can click on Broward County and reach the county portal. This site also has statewide forms, fee schedules, and contact lists. It works as a directory when you need to search a case in another county. The portal links to all 67 county clerks across Florida.
Self-Help Family Law Forms
The Florida Courts Self-Help page at flcourts.gov has free family law forms. These forms include the petition for dissolution, summons, financial affidavits, and parenting plans. The forms are free PDF files. You fill them out and file them with your county clerk. Self-help staff can answer general questions but cannot give legal advice. They can explain which form fits your case type.
DIY Florida Document Interviews
DIY Florida at flcourts.gov helps people fill out forms online. The interview tool asks simple questions and fills in the right form for you. The tool covers dissolution of marriage, simple dissolution, and name changes. The output is a PDF you can print and file with the clerk. DIY Florida works well for people who file without a lawyer.
Legal Requirements and Statutes
Florida family law rules apply to every case filed in the state. The rules cover who can file, where to file, and how the court makes decisions. Each rule sits in a Florida statute. The clerk office follows these rules for every case it stores. The statutes below cover the main parts of a dissolution case in Florida.
Florida Residency Requirements
Florida Statute 61.021 says at least one spouse must live in Florida for six months before filing. The filing spouse must also live in the county where the case is filed for 30 days. Coral Springs residents meet both rules because they live in Broward County. Out-of-state filers can still use Broward County if they move to Florida before filing.
Grounds for Dissolution
Florida is a no-fault divorce state. Florida Statute 61.052 lists the grounds for dissolution. The main ground is that the marriage is broken beyond repair. The spouse filing does not need to prove wrongdoing. The court grants the dissolution if both spouses agree or if one spouse states the marriage cannot be saved.
Final Judgment Timeline
Florida Statute 61.019 sets the timing rules for final judgment. A simple case with no children and no disputes can close in 30 days. Most cases take 3 to 12 months. Cases with children, property disputes, or appeals take longer. The court signs the final judgment after both sides sign off or after a final hearing. The clerk files the judgment and sends a copy to vital statistics.
Asset Division Rules
Florida Statute 61.075 covers the division of marital assets and debts. Florida uses equitable distribution. This means the court splits property in a fair way, not always 50/50. The judge looks at each spouse’s income, health, earning power, and contributions to the marriage. The judge may award the family home to one spouse and offset that with other assets.
Vital Statistics Reporting
Florida Statute 382.023 requires the clerk to report each finalized case to vital statistics. The clerk sends the report within a set number of days after the final judgment. The Bureau of Vital Statistics updates its database after the report arrives. This is why a state certificate may take a few weeks to appear after the court signs off.
Florida County-by-County Records Lookup
Florida has 67 counties. Each county runs its own clerk office. Each clerk office runs its own online case search. The same search rules apply across the state, but each portal looks different. The list below shows the largest counties and where to start a search. Knowing the right county saves time and reduces search errors.
Major Florida Counties and Clerk Sites
Each county clerk has its own website. Miami-Dade County uses miami-dadeclerk.com. Orange County uses myorangeclerk.com. Hillsborough County uses hillsclerk.com. Duval County uses duvalclerk.com. Pinellas County uses pinellasclerk.org. Lee County uses leeclerk.org. Polk County uses polkcountyclerk.net. Broward County uses browardclerk.org. Palm Beach County uses mypalmbeachclerk.com.
| County | Clerk Website |
|---|---|
| Broward | browardclerk.org |
| Miami-Dade | miami-dadeclerk.com |
| Orange | myorangeclerk.com |
| Hillsborough | hillsclerk.com |
| Palm Beach | mypalmbeachclerk.com |
| Duval | duvalclerk.com |
| Pinellas | pinellasclerk.org |
| Lee | leeclerk.org |
| Polk | polkcountyclerk.net |
Differences Across County Systems
Each county system has its own search layout. Some counties require a name and date of birth. Other counties accept just a name and year range. Some counties post docket images online. Others only show text entries. Older cases from the 1980s and 1990s may not appear online in some counties. You may need to visit the clerk office in person for older cases.
Cost and Processing Times
Record request costs are set by Florida statute and county fee schedules. Standard searches are free. Certified copies have a per-page fee. Processing times depend on the request method. In-person requests are fastest. Mail requests take 5 to 10 business days. Online requests through VitalChek take 3 to 5 business days for shipping.
Standard Fees
Standard fees for a certified copy of a divorce judgment are around $1 per page. Most divorce judgments run 2 to 5 pages. The clerk charges a small search fee if the case is hard to find. Payment is due before the copies are made. Fees may change each year based on county budget rules.
Certified Copy Pricing
Certified copies of a final judgment cost more than regular copies because of the seal and stamp. Prices range from $7 to $10 per certified copy. Extra certified copies of the same judgment cost less. The clerk office has a fee schedule posted online. You can check the fee schedule before you order.
Expedited Processing
Expedited service is available through VitalChek and some county portals. The extra fee ranges from $10 to $25. Expedited shipping adds another cost. Some county offices offer same-day service for walk-in requests. You pay the standard certified copy fee plus the rush fee. Processing time for in-person rush requests is usually 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Common Search Mistakes to Avoid
Most search problems come from small errors in the request. A wrong spelling, wrong year, or wrong county can send you down the wrong path. Knowing the common mistakes helps you avoid wasted time. The list below covers the most frequent problems people run into when they search for divorce records in Florida.
Name Spelling Errors
Some names have multiple spellings. Maria and Mariah look the same but are different in the court index. Maiden names and married names add to the confusion. The clerk office indexes cases by the legal name on the petition. If you search by a nickname, you may miss the case. Always use the full legal name as it appears on the marriage certificate or petition.
Wrong Court Selection
Florida has circuit courts, county courts, and federal courts. Dissolution of marriage cases only go to circuit court. Some people try to search the county court system and find nothing. Make sure you use the circuit court portal. The county clerk runs the circuit court records as well, but the search tab says “Civil” or “Family” rather than “County.”
Missing Date Ranges
Many people search only one year and miss the case. Cases may be filed late in one year and finalized in the next year. Search at least a 3-year range around the time the couple separated. If you do not know the year, search a 10-year range. The case docket will show the exact filing date and final judgment date once you find the right case.
Source Pages and Contact Details
Below are the main source pages and contact points for Coral Springs dissolution of marriage records. These links lead directly to the Broward County Clerk, the Florida Department of Health, and the Florida Courts Self-Help system. Each source has a different role. The clerk gives you the court file. The state health department gives you the certificate. The courts page gives you forms and guidance.
- Broward Clerk Homepage: browardclerk.org
- Broward Family Division: browardclerk.org/Divisions/Family
- Broward Public Records Search: broward.org/RecordsTaxesTreasury/Records/pages/publicrecordssearch.aspx
- Florida Department of Health Divorce Certificates: floridahealth.gov/certificates-records/divorce-certificates/
- VitalChek Ordering Portal: vitalchek.com
- Florida Family Law Forms: flcourts.gov/Services/Family-Courts/domestic-relations-court-resources/family-law-forms
Broward County Clerk of Court address: 201 S.E. 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Phone: 954-831-6565. Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Closed on state holidays.
Common Questions
This section answers common questions about Coral Springs dissolution of marriage records. Each answer covers a specific point that comes up during a search or request. Use these answers to plan your next steps before you contact the clerk office or fill out forms.
How Long Does a Divorce Take in Coral Springs?
A simple dissolution with no children and no property disputes can close in 30 to 90 days. The court signs the final judgment after both parties sign off. Most contested cases take 6 to 12 months. Cases with appeals or complex property issues can take more than a year. The clerk files the judgment once the judge signs off. The case status update appears in the online docket within a few business days. The state vital statistics report arrives 30 to 60 days after that.
Can I Get a Divorce Record Without a Case Number?
Yes. You can search by the full legal names of both spouses and the year the case was filed. The county clerk search portal accepts name searches without a case number. You will see the case number in the search results. You can then order certified copies using the case number. Most people find their case using only a name search and a year range.
Are Divorce Records Public in Florida?
Yes. Dissolution of marriage cases are public court records in Florida. The case docket, hearing dates, and final judgment are open to the public. Some personal details may be redacted for safety, such as Social Security numbers. Bank account numbers and children’s names may be hidden in online dockets. The full case file is open at the clerk office with photo ID.
What Is the Difference Between a Divorce Certificate and a Divorce Decree?
A divorce certificate is a short-form document from vital statistics. It shows the names of both spouses, the date of divorce, and the county. A divorce decree is the full court order signed by the judge. The decree covers property division, custody, child support, and alimony. Banks and insurance companies usually accept a certificate. Other courts usually need the full decree.
Can I Search Old Divorce Records From the 1980s?
Many counties have online records going back to the 1980s. Some counties only post records starting in the 1990s or 2000s. Older cases may need an in-person visit to the clerk office. The clerk staff can pull paper files from storage. Some very old files may have been archived to a state records center. The clerk can tell you where the file is held.
How Do I Correct an Error on a Divorce Record?
You file a motion to correct the final judgment with the court. The judge reviews the request and signs an amended order. The clerk updates the docket and reports the change to vital statistics. Vital statistics updates the certificate. The whole process can take 30 to 90 days. Common corrections include name spellings, dates, and county details.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Get a Copy of My Divorce Record?
No. You do not need a lawyer to order a certified copy of your own divorce record. You fill out the request form, show your ID, and pay the fee. The clerk office handles the request. You only need a lawyer if you want to challenge the contents of the record or change the final judgment. For simple certified copies, you can do it yourself.