Hollywood City dissolution of marriage records are court files kept by the Broward County Clerk of Court, not by Hollywood city offices. People who live in Hollywood, Florida file for marriage dissolution through the Broward County circuit court.
Anyone who needs a copy of these records must contact the county clerk for filings, searches, and certified copies. The county office stores the full case file, the final judgment, and any later updates related to the dissolution.
Florida law uses the term “dissolution of marriage” in place of “divorce.” Both words refer to the same legal action. The court ends a marriage after one spouse files a petition. After the court issues a final judgment, the clerk sends a report to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. The Bureau then adds the event to the state divorce index. Knowing this two-step path helps people pick the right office for their needs.
What These Records Include
A dissolution of marriage file holds many paper and electronic documents. Each document holds a piece of the case. The clerk stores them in a case folder under a unique case number. Members of the public can read most of these records, but a judge can seal parts of the file for privacy reasons.
Common Documents in the File
Every dissolution file holds the same core set of documents. The clerk keeps each item in the order it was filed. Knowing what each document does helps a person decide what they need to request.
- Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
- Summons issued to the other spouse
- Response or Answer from the other spouse
- Financial Affidavit forms
- Marital Settlement Agreement
- Parenting Plan, if minor children are involved
- Child Support Worksheet
- Final Judgment of Dissolution
- Clerk’s certificate of mailing
- Proof of service documents
Public vs Sealed Records
Most parts of a dissolution file are public. Anyone can view the case caption, the docket, and the final judgment. A judge can order parts of the file sealed, such as financial details, child custody evaluations, or sensitive personal data. Sealed records need a court order to open. The clerk cannot release sealed records without that order.
Dissolution vs Divorce in Florida
Florida law uses “dissolution of marriage” as the legal name for the action. The old term “divorce” still appears in casual speech. Both terms lead to the same type of court file. Court staff and clerks will accept either term when describing the records.
Where Hollywood Records Are Filed
Hollywood sits inside Broward County. The county court system handles every family law case from the city. No Hollywood city department holds these records. This rule comes from the Florida Constitution, which places circuit courts at the county level for family matters.
Broward County Clerk of Court Office
The Broward County Clerk of Court is the official record keeper for Hollywood dissolution cases. The main office sits at 201 S.E. 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The clerk phone number is 954-831-6565. People can visit the office Monday through Friday during regular business hours to request records in person. The clerk runs an online portal for remote searches too.
Why Hollywood City Offices Do Not Hold These Files
City halls in Hollywood handle local matters like building permits, business licenses, and local police reports. They do not have the legal authority to store family court files. Only the county circuit court and the state vital statistics office can hold these records. People who go to a city office for dissolution records will be sent to the county clerk.
Other Florida County Clerks With Similar Roles
Every Florida county has its own clerk of court with the same duties. People who move or need records from a past case in another county can contact that county’s clerk directly. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website lists every county clerk with contact details and web portals.
How to Search for Hollywood Records
There are four main ways to search for Hollywood dissolution of marriage records. Each way works for a different need. A person should pick the path that matches their goal, whether it is a quick lookup or a certified copy.
Online Search Through County Portals
The Broward County Clerk runs an online search system at browardclerk.org. Users can search by party name, case number, or filing date range. The portal shows the case style, the judge assigned, the hearing dates, and the case status. This free portal gives basic case data. Certified copies must still be ordered through the clerk.
In-Person Requests at the Clerk Office
People who want a certified copy or who need help from staff can visit the Records Department at the Broward County Clerk’s office. The staff can pull the file, show the documents, and certify copies on the spot. Payment can be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card depending on the office policy. Visitors should bring a photo ID and the full names of both spouses.
By Mail or Phone Requests
Mail requests work for people who cannot visit in person. The requester sends a signed letter with the case details, a copy of their photo ID, and payment by check or money order. The clerk mails the certified copies back by regular mail or certified mail. Phone requests can answer general questions but cannot be used for ordering certified copies.
Third-Party Record Search Sites
Some private companies pull public records from court portals and offer them in one search. These sites charge a fee and may show faster results. Users should check if the site shows official county data or third-party copies. For legal use, certified copies from the county clerk are the only accepted form.
How to Get Certified Copies
A certified copy of a dissolution record carries the clerk’s seal and signature. Banks, courts, and government agencies ask for certified copies for name changes, loan applications, and remarriage. A regular printout from an online portal does not meet these standards.
What Counts as a Certified Copy
A certified copy has a raised or stamped clerk seal, a signature from an authorized clerk, and a certificate page that ties the copy to the original court record. The document must be on official paper or carry a digital seal that matches state rules. Any copy without these marks is a regular copy and not valid for legal use.
Details Needed for the Request
The clerk needs enough detail to find the right case. Missing data can lead to delays or wrong matches. A complete request has the items listed below.
- Full legal name of both spouses at the time of filing
- Date of marriage or date range for the search
- Case number, if known
- County of filing
- Mailing address for return delivery
- Photo ID copy for the requester
- Signature on the request form or letter
Fees and Payment Methods
Fees vary by county and by the type of copy. Broward County charges a standard fee for each certified page. Extra fees apply for additional certifications, expedited service, or shipping. Payment can be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Third-party sites charge their own fees on top of any clerk costs.
Processing Times and Delivery Options
Standard requests take a few business days. Mail requests can take one to two weeks depending on postal delivery. Expedited service is offered for an extra fee. Digital certified copies are now accepted by many agencies and can speed up the wait. People with tight deadlines should pay for expedited handling and tracked shipping.
Florida Laws That Cover Dissolution
Florida statutes set the rules for filing, residency, grounds, and final judgment. The same laws apply to every county, so Hollywood cases follow the same path as cases in Miami-Dade or Orange County. The statutes are updated by the state legislature, and the latest version should always be checked before filing.
Residency Requirements
Florida Statute 61.021 requires that one spouse live in Florida for at least six months before filing. The filing spouse must also be a resident of the county where the petition is filed at the time of filing. These rules prevent people from choosing a court that would not otherwise have authority over the case.
Grounds for Dissolution
Florida is a no-fault state. Florida Statute 61.052 lists “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage” as the only ground needed. The filing spouse must state that the marriage cannot be saved. Fault-based grounds like adultery or cruelty are not required and rarely change the outcome of the case.
Filing and Final Judgment Rules
Florida Statute 61.043 covers how a case begins. The petition and summons must be served on the other spouse. Florida Statute 61.019 sets the waiting period for a final judgment. Simple cases can be finalized in a few months. Cases with children, property, or disputes take longer. Once the court issues the final judgment, the clerk reports it to vital statistics under Florida Statute 382.023.
Hollywood vs Other Florida Counties
Florida has 67 counties, each with its own clerk of court. The clerk role is the same across the state, but each office runs its own portal, fee schedule, and office hours. People who search across counties should expect small differences in how each portal shows results.
Miami-Dade County Divorce Records
Miami-Dade County holds the largest number of dissolution cases in Florida. The clerk’s office is in downtown Miami and runs a full online search portal. The same steps apply: search by name, order certified copies, and pay the listed fee. Miami-Dade records cover every zip code in the county, from Miami Beach to Homestead.
Orange County Florida Divorce Records
Orange County covers Orlando and the surrounding area. The clerk keeps the family division and an online case search. Orange County records include filings from Orlando, Winter Park, Apopka, and other cities. The county uses a portal similar to Broward’s but with different branding and search fields.
Hillsborough County Divorce Records
Hillsborough County serves the Tampa area. The clerk office sits in Tampa and handles a high volume of family cases each year. Users can search online or visit the office. Hillsborough offers a self-help center for people who file without an attorney. The county also runs a child support program that ties into the family division.
Broward County Divorce Records
Broward County covers Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, and many other cities. The clerk is the main record holder for Hollywood cases. The Broward portal is one of the most active in the state and includes records dating back several decades. Records cover all family law matters, from simple filings to complex property disputes.
Smaller Florida Counties
Counties like Pinellas, Palm Beach, Lee, and Duval have their own clerks with similar duties. Pinellas covers St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Palm Beach covers West Palm Beach and Boca Raton. Lee covers Fort Myers and Cape Coral. Duval covers Jacksonville. Each clerk uses its own search portal and fee schedule.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many people lose time or money by skipping simple steps. The list below shows the most common errors and how to prevent them.
- Searching only one county when the case was filed in another
- Using a married name from a later marriage in the search
- Ordering from a third-party site that returns regular copies only
- Forgetting to include a photo ID copy with a mail request
- Paying by check without confirming the clerk accepts checks
- Asking for a regular copy when a certified copy is needed
- Waiting until the last minute before a deadline for a certified copy
- Skipping the date range and getting too many matches
- Using nicknames or shortened forms of legal names
Hollywood Clerk Contact and Office Details
The Broward County Clerk of Court is the right office for all Hollywood dissolution of marriage records. The contact details below were verified for accuracy.
Office: Broward County Clerk of Court
Address: 201 S.E. 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: 954-831-6565
Website: www.browardclerk.org
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Records Department: Family Division, ground floor
Accepted Payments: Cash, check, money order, credit card
Online Portal: Open 24 hours a day at browardclerk.org
Frequently Asked Questions
People ask many of the same questions about Hollywood dissolution of marriage records. The answers below cover the most common topics. Each answer gives clear, direct steps and points to the right office. Read all answers before submitting a request to avoid delays or extra fees.
Are Hollywood dissolution records public?
Yes. Most parts of a Hollywood dissolution of marriage file are public. The Broward County Clerk keeps them open for viewing by anyone. The case caption, the docket, and the final judgment can be seen by any visitor to the clerk office or any user of the online portal. A judge can seal parts of the file in special cases, such as when the records hold sensitive financial data or private child custody data. Sealed records need a court order before the clerk can release them. People who want sealed records must file a motion with the court and get approval from a judge.
How long does it take to get a certified copy?
Standard requests at the Broward County Clerk office take about five business days. In-person requests can be filled the same day if the file is already on the shelf. Mail requests take longer because of postal delivery on top of processing time. Expedited service is offered for an extra fee and cuts the wait to one or two business days. People who need a copy for a court deadline or travel date should pay for expedited service and choose tracked shipping for safe delivery.
Can I search by case number instead of name?
Yes. The Broward County online portal accepts case number searches. A case number is faster than a name search and removes the risk of name mix-ups. People who do not know the case number can pull it from a name search, then re-enter it for a precise lookup. Attorneys and repeat users save their case numbers in client files for quick future access. Case numbers also help with appeals and post-judgment motions that must reference the same file.
What if my case was filed in another county?
People who lived in another Florida county at the time of filing must contact that county’s clerk. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers site lists every county clerk with addresses and phone numbers. Each county has its own online portal and fee schedule. The search path is the same, but the portal branding and search fields look different. Cross-county searches take more time when the names are common.
Is there a free way to view the records?
Yes. The Broward County online portal lets anyone view basic case data for free. In-person viewing at the clerk office is also free, though copies cost money. Free viewing shows the case style, the judge, and the docket entries. Certified copies are not free and need a fee. People who only need to confirm a fact can use the free portal and skip the certified copy fee.
What if I cannot find the record?
Missing records happen when names are spelled wrong, dates are off, or the case was filed in another county. People who cannot find the record should try different spellings, widen the date range, or search neighboring counties. Older cases from before the 1980s may not be indexed online. For those, a visit to the clerk’s archives or a phone call to the records desk is the right path. A professional genealogist can also help with old records.
Are online third-party sites official?
No. Third-party sites pull public data from court portals and add their own fees and reports. They are not court offices and cannot issue certified copies. Their reports can be useful for casual checks, but they do not carry the clerk’s seal. For legal use, only the county clerk can issue a valid certified copy. People who need a copy for a bank, court, or government agency must order from the clerk, not a third-party site.