Broward County Bench Warrants Search

Bench warrants in Broward County are issued by judges in the 17th Judicial Circuit, the largest circuit in Florida by case volume. Fort Lauderdale is the county seat, and the main courthouse complex is downtown. Broward County has over two million residents spread across more than 30 cities. The Clerk of Court runs a public case search database where you can look up bench warrants online. The Broward Sheriff's Office also handles warrant services across the county. You can search for active bench warrants in Broward County through the clerk's case search, the BSO, or the FDLE statewide database. This page covers all the ways to check.

Broward County Clerk of Court

Brenda D. Forman serves as the Clerk of Court for Broward County. The main office is at 201 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (954) 831-6565 for general questions about bench warrants and court records. The Broward County Clerk website offers online access to case information, court records requests, and electronic certified court documents.

The Broward County Clerk of Court homepage is shown below.

Under Florida Statute 901.02, judges in the 17th Judicial Circuit can issue bench warrants when probable cause exists. The clerk's office processes a massive number of cases each year given that Broward County is the second most populated county in Florida. Electronic signatures have been valid for warrants since 2013.

Broward County Bench Warrant Case Search

Broward County has one of the best public case search tools in Florida. The Broward County case search lets you look up court records online for free. You can search by party name, case number, citation number, or business name. Both a last name and first name are needed for name searches. Results are limited to the first 200 records, so use specific search terms to narrow things down.

The Broward County public case search database is shown here.

This tool shows case details including the charges, filing date, case status, and whether a bench warrant is active. It covers criminal cases, civil cases, traffic matters, and family law filings in Broward County. The search is free and does not require an account.

Court records requests can also be filed online through the clerk's portal. Electronic certified court documents are available for purchase. If you need official copies of bench warrant documents from Broward County, this is the way to get them without going to the courthouse.

Broward Sheriff's Office Bench Warrants

The Broward Sheriff's Office, known as BSO, handles law enforcement for the county. Their main address is 2601 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312. The non-emergency line is (954) 764-4357. Main office phone is (954) 831-8901. The BSO website has an arrest search feature and a public records unit with an online portal for records requests.

The Broward Sheriff's Office website is shown below.

BSO directs most warrant inquiries to the Clerk of Courts website. For public records requests from the sheriff, you can use their online portal. Under Florida Statute 901.04, any sheriff in Florida can serve a Broward County bench warrant. BSO deputies serve warrants any day at any time throughout Broward County and can cross into other counties through fresh pursuit.

How Broward County Bench Warrants Work

Most bench warrants in Broward County come from failure to appear in court. Under Florida Statute 88.3051, the court issues a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment when someone does not show after proper notice. With over two million people in Broward County, the 17th Judicial Circuit processes more bench warrants than most other circuits in the state.

Broward County bench warrants do not expire. They stay active until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the subject is deceased. This is different from search warrants, which expire after 10 days under Florida Statute 933.05. A bench warrant issued years ago in Broward County is just as valid today as when it was signed. The warrant stays in the clerk's system and in the FDLE database until it gets resolved.

Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or state attorney in Broward County can also prepare a direct capias. This brings the person back to court for adjudication or sentencing. The capias is another arrest authorization that works like a bench warrant.

Note: The FDLE database at fdle.state.fl.us is updated every 24 hours and includes bench warrants from Broward County along with all other Florida counties.

Penalties for Broward County Bench Warrants

Failure to appear in Broward County creates a new criminal charge. Under Florida Statute 843.15, skipping court on a felony charge is a third-degree felony. Up to five years. Skipping court on a misdemeanor is a first-degree misdemeanor. Up to one year. These are separate from the original charge that brought you to court in the first place.

In a county as large as Broward, bench warrants are taken seriously. The courts handle thousands of cases, and judges set examples for people who ignore court dates. A bench warrant sitting in the system makes your situation worse over time. Bond amounts may go up. The failure to appear charge goes on your record. And you can be arrested at any point, during a traffic stop, at a routine check, or even at the airport. Dealing with a Broward County bench warrant sooner rather than later is the smart move.

Resolving Broward County Bench Warrants

Start by checking the Broward County case search to confirm the bench warrant. You can also call the clerk at (954) 831-6565 or BSO at (954) 764-4357. Once confirmed, hire a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer who knows the 17th Judicial Circuit can make a big difference in how your bench warrant gets handled.

Your attorney may be able to file a motion to quash the bench warrant. This works best for old warrants, minor charges, or cases where you had a valid reason for missing court. Voluntary surrender through your lawyer in Broward County usually goes better than getting arrested by surprise. Courts look at it more favorably. Your lawyer can set up the surrender and get a new court date in place right away.

Bench warrant records in Broward County are public under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Florida's Sunshine Law gives anyone the right to ask about active warrants. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association connects all 67 county clerk offices and helps share warrant information statewide. Be aware of scam calls. No law enforcement agency in Broward County, including BSO, will ever call and demand payment to clear a bench warrant.

Cities in Broward County

Broward County has more than 30 cities. Many of them have populations large enough for their own pages. All bench warrants in Broward County go through the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Fort Lauderdale.

Other cities in Broward County include Weston, Margate, Coconut Creek, Lauderdale Lakes, Hallandale Beach, and Cooper City. All bench warrants for these areas are handled through the Broward County courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.

Nearby Counties

Broward County sits between two of the most populated counties in Florida. Check which county issued your bench warrant before taking action.