Deerfield Beach Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in Deerfield Beach are processed through the Broward County court system in the 17th Judicial Circuit. A judge issues a bench warrant when someone from Deerfield Beach misses a court date or violates a court order. The Broward County Clerk of Court holds these records, and both the Deerfield Beach Police Department and the Broward Sheriff's Office can serve them. Active bench warrants from Deerfield Beach cases are searchable through the clerk's online case search and the FDLE statewide database. This page explains how to look up bench warrants in Deerfield Beach and what steps to take if you have one.
Deerfield Beach Quick Facts
Broward Clerk and Deerfield Beach Warrants
Bench warrants for Deerfield Beach cases are filed with the Broward County Clerk of Court. Brenda D. Forman is the clerk. The main office is at 201 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone is (954) 831-6565. The Broward County Clerk website has online tools for court records searches, certified document orders, and public records requests. If you are in Deerfield Beach and need to check on a bench warrant, the clerk's office is the official record keeper for your case.
Under Florida Statute 901.02, a bench warrant requires probable cause and a judge's signature. Once it is filed, the warrant becomes part of the public court record. The clerk handles requests for certified copies of bench warrant documents from Deerfield Beach cases. You can get them in person at the Fort Lauderdale office, by mail, or through the electronic documents portal online. Deerfield Beach is about 15 miles north of the main courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.
Note: Deerfield Beach sits at the northern edge of Broward County, near the Palm Beach County line, but all cases go through the Broward County court system.
Search Deerfield Beach Bench Warrants Online
The Broward County case search portal is the most direct way to look up bench warrants from Deerfield Beach. Enter a last name and first name, case number, citation number, or business name. The tool pulls up to 200 results per search. It is free. Case records show charges, court dates, and warrant status. Every Deerfield Beach case in the 17th Judicial Circuit shows up in this system. You can check from home without driving to the courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.
The Deerfield Beach Police Department website is shown below. The department works with the Broward court system on warrant matters.
The Deerfield Beach Police website provides local police contact information for warrant-related questions.
The FDLE statewide database is another search option. Go to fdle.state.fl.us and use the wanted persons search. It covers all 67 Florida counties and includes bench warrants, arrest warrants, capias warrants, and probation violation warrants. The database updates every 24 hours. Search by name or date of birth. FDLE notes that the data should not be taken as real-time confirmation. New bench warrants from Deerfield Beach may take a day to appear, and recently recalled warrants may still show briefly.
Deerfield Beach Police Warrant Enforcement
The Deerfield Beach Police Department is at 300 SW 1st Ave., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. Call (954) 480-4300. Deerfield Beach officers serve bench warrants within city limits. They can arrest you during a traffic stop, a domestic call, or any other encounter where they run your name. If a bench warrant comes up from a Deerfield Beach case, you are getting arrested on the spot. There is no warning period or grace time.
The Broward Sheriff's Office also serves warrants in Deerfield Beach and across the county. BSO is at 2601 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312. Non-emergency line is (954) 764-4357. BSO handles public records requests through their online portal and typically directs warrant questions to the Clerk of Courts website for Deerfield Beach cases. Under Florida Statute 901.04, any sheriff in the state can execute a Deerfield Beach bench warrant. It is not limited to Broward County. The warrant is valid everywhere in Florida.
Bench Warrant Penalties in Deerfield Beach
Failure to appear in Deerfield Beach court triggers new criminal charges. Under Florida Statute 843.15, missing a felony court date is a third-degree felony. Up to five years in prison. Missing a misdemeanor court date is a first-degree misdemeanor with up to one year in jail. These charges are added to your original case. A bench warrant from Deerfield Beach effectively doubles your legal trouble because now you face the original charge plus the failure to appear charge.
Bench warrants from Deerfield Beach never expire. There is no time limit and no statute of limitations on them. A bench warrant issued last month is just as valid as one from ten years ago. This is different from search warrants, which expire after 10 days per Florida Statute 933.05. Many Deerfield Beach residents with old bench warrants only find out when they get stopped for something routine. The officer runs your ID, the warrant pops up, and you get arrested. It happens that fast.
Note: Under Florida Statute 88.3051, a court can issue a bench warrant or writ of bodily attachment when someone does not appear after proper notice in Broward County.
Resolving Deerfield Beach Bench Warrants
Hire a criminal defense lawyer. That is the first thing you should do if you learn about a bench warrant from a Deerfield Beach case. A lawyer can access your case through the Broward County system, look at what the warrant is for, and come up with a plan. They can file a motion to quash or recall the warrant in many situations. This works especially well for old warrants and minor cases. Choosing to turn yourself in at the Broward County jail on your own terms almost always goes better than being picked up by Deerfield Beach police at a random traffic stop.
Your options for handling a Deerfield Beach bench warrant:
- Hire a lawyer to file a motion to quash the warrant
- Surrender at the Broward County main jail
- Check your case online at browardclerk.org first
- Call the Broward Clerk at (954) 831-6565 for your case status
Be aware of phone scams. No police officer from Deerfield Beach and no Broward County court official will call you asking for money to clear a bench warrant. No gift cards. No wire transfers. No cash apps. If you get a call like that, it is a scam. Hang up and report it to the Deerfield Beach Police Department at (954) 480-4300. All bench warrant records in Deerfield Beach are public under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, the Sunshine Law. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association connects clerk offices statewide, and the eWarrants system shares data between police, clerks, judges, and sheriffs across Florida.
Deerfield Beach Warrant Records Access
Bench warrants in Deerfield Beach are public records. Florida's Sunshine Law guarantees access to court records for everyone, with limited exceptions for juvenile cases and sealed files. You do not need to be the person named on the warrant to look it up. Walk into the Broward County Clerk's office, call (954) 831-6565, or use the online search tools. Certified copies carry more legal weight and cost more than plain copies. The clerk can confirm whether a bench warrant from a Deerfield Beach case is still active, has been served, or was recalled by the judge.
Under Rule 3.730 of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, the clerk or state attorney can prepare a direct capias to bring someone before the Broward County court for sentencing or adjudication. This is a tool used alongside bench warrants in the 17th Judicial Circuit. The eWarrants platform shares Deerfield Beach warrant data with law enforcement across Florida, making sure the warrant is visible no matter where the person goes in the state.
Broward County Bench Warrants
Deerfield Beach is in Broward County. All bench warrants flow through the 17th Judicial Circuit with the main courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. For complete details on the Broward County clerk, sheriff, and all bench warrant resources, visit the county page below.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Deerfield Beach in South Florida. Each has its own bench warrant page with local resources.