Sunrise City civil court records are the public files that list every civil case filed in or affecting the city of Sunrise, Florida. These records cover lawsuits, contract disputes, debt collection, small claims, evictions, and other non-criminal court matters.
The city sits inside Broward County, so all civil court records for Sunrise are kept by the Broward County Clerk of Court. Anyone can search these records online through the clerk’s website or visit a local courthouse in person. This page explains how to search Sunrise civil court records, what the records contain, who can view them, and what fees apply. The goal is to give you a clear path to the case files you need, whether you are a party, a researcher, an employer running a background check, or a curious member of the public.
Sunrise Civil Court System Basics
Sunrise does not run its own court system. The city falls under the Broward County court system, which serves every city and town in the county. Civil cases from Sunrise go to either Circuit Court or County Court, based on the dollar amount and the type of case. All filings, hearings, judgments, and final orders are stored with the Broward County Clerk of Court. The clerk acts as the official record keeper for every civil case that involves a Sunrise resident, business, or piece of property.
Jurisdiction in the 17th Circuit
Sunrise belongs to Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit. The 17th Circuit covers all of Broward County. Circuit Court hears civil cases where the amount in dispute is more than $30,000. It handles family law, probate, guardianship, and other specialized civil matters. For civil cases filed by or against a Sunrise party, the Circuit Court sits in Fort Lauderdale at the Central Courthouse, with satellite services at the West Regional Courthouse in Plantation.
Broward County Clerk Role
The Broward County Clerk of Court acts as the official record keeper for all civil cases in the 17th Circuit. This includes every case that touches Sunrise. The clerk accepts new filings, stores case files, indexes every document, and provides copies to the public. The clerk’s office runs the online case search tool used to look up Sunrise civil court records. The clerk’s main office sits at 201 SE 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale, with a busy satellite location at 100 North Pine Island Road in Plantation, which is the closest courthouse for most Sunrise residents.
How to Search Records Online
The fastest way to look up Sunrise civil court records is through the Broward County Clerk’s online case search. The tool is free, open to the public, and works on any device with a web browser. You do not need an account to perform a basic search. The system covers civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and other case types filed in Broward County, including every Sunrise-related case. Searches return case numbers, party names, filing dates, hearing dates, and a list of filed documents.
Public Case Search Tool
The Public Case Search on the Broward County Clerk website gives anonymous users access to non-confidential case data. From the search page, you can look up Sunrise civil cases by name, case number, or other filters. Results show the case style, the case type, the division, the judge assigned, and the next hearing date. Clicking a specific case opens the docket sheet, which lists every filing in the case in chronological order. Each entry on the docket sheet links to the filed document, when one is available online.
Search by Case Number
Case number lookup is the fastest method when you already know the number. Sunrise civil cases use standard Florida Uniform Case Number formats. Circuit civil cases begin with “CA” or “CE,” followed by the year and a six-digit sequence. County civil cases use a similar format. Enter the full case number into the search box, including the division code if known. The system pulls up the full docket for that case in a single step.
Search by Party Name
To search Sunrise civil court records by party name, enter the last name first, followed by the first name. The system matches any party listed on the case, including plaintiffs, defendants, and third parties. A common name like “John Smith” may return many results, so add a date of birth or middle initial when possible. Refine results by selecting “Civil” as the case type and entering a date range. This narrows the list to civil cases only and removes older or irrelevant filings.
Florida E-Filing Portal
For statewide access, the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal covers every county, including Broward and Sunrise. The portal lets you file new civil cases, pay filing fees, serve parties, and look up existing cases. A free user account is required for filing, but you can search public cases without one. The portal includes a tool called DIY Florida, which creates court forms based on simple questions. This tool helps Sunrise residents who want to file a small claims or county civil case without hiring a lawyer.
Court Levels and Case Types
Sunrise civil cases sit in one of two court levels, based on the dollar amount and the legal issue. Each level has its own filing fees, its own judges, and its own record format. Knowing the difference helps you pick the right courthouse and the right search filters when you look up a case.
Circuit Court Civil Cases
Circuit Court handles civil disputes in Sunrise where the amount in controversy is more than $30,000. Common case types include breach of contract, real property disputes, professional malpractice, personal injury claims, and civil appeals from County Court. Circuit Court handles family law, which is a separate civil division. The Clerk indexes these cases under case types such as CA for civil action, DR for domestic relations, and MM for misdemeanor appeals. Searches for these cases in the online tool should select the Circuit Civil or Family division.
County Court Civil Cases
County Court handles civil cases in Sunrise where the amount in dispute is $30,000 or less. This level covers most everyday disputes, such as small business debt, security deposit claims, automobile accidents with low damages, and consumer complaints. County civil case numbers in Broward use the “CC” prefix for civil cases and “SC” for small claims. The filing fees for these cases are lower than Circuit Court fees, and the rules of procedure are simpler. The Clerk’s online search lets you filter by County Civil to limit results to this case type.
Small Claims and Evictions
Small claims is a branch of County Court for civil disputes up to $8,000. Sunrise residents often use small claims for unpaid debts, minor property damage, and security deposit returns. Eviction cases are filed in County Court under a separate case type. These records show the landlord as the plaintiff and the tenant as the defendant. Small claims and eviction records are public, and they appear in the same online search tool used for other County Court civil cases.
Fees for Records and Copies
The Broward County Clerk charges set fees for filing new cases and for providing copies of Sunrise civil court records. Fees are set by Florida statute and by the clerk’s published fee schedule. Standard forms of payment include cash, cashier’s check, money order, and major credit cards. Personal checks are not accepted for filing fees. The Clerk does not charge a fee to look up records online, but certified copies and large print jobs carry set charges.
Standard Filing Fees
Filing fees for Sunrise County Court civil cases range from $55 for claims up to $100, up to $400 for claims between $15,000 and $30,000. Circuit Court civil filings have higher fees, starting around $300 and rising with the case type. Each summons issued adds a $10 fee. A counter-claim or cross-claim has its own fee, calculated based on the amount in dispute. The clerk’s website has a full fee schedule for civil filings in Sunrise and the rest of Broward County.
Certified Copy Costs
Regular copies of Sunrise civil court records cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies of court documents cost $2.00 per document. Electronic certified copies, available online through the clerk’s portal, cost $8.00 each. Electronic certified copies are valid for all purposes and never expire. Documents over 100 pages must be requested in person at a clerk location, since the online system caps electronic copy orders at 100 pages per request.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Online public case search | Free |
| Regular copy, per page | $1.00 |
| Certified paper copy, per document | $2.00 |
| Electronic certified copy | $8.00 each |
| County civil filing (under $100) | $55 |
| County civil filing ($15,000 to $30,000) | $400 |
| Summons issuance | $10 each |
In-Person Record Requests
Anyone can visit a clerk location to look up Sunrise civil court records in person. The clerk provides public terminal computers at each courthouse for free use. Staff can help locate case files, pull physical documents, and process copy requests. Bring a valid photo ID. You will need the case number or party name to begin a search. If the file is stored off-site, the clerk can usually retrieve it within one business day for a small retrieval fee.
Courthouse Locations
The Broward County Clerk operates four courthouse locations. The West Regional Courthouse at 100 North Pine Island Road in Plantation is the closest to Sunrise and handles most civil filings for the western part of the county. The Central Courthouse at 201 SE 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale is the main office and the seat of the 17th Circuit. Both locations are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and both offer public terminals for case searches.
Public Records Law in Florida
Florida’s public records law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, says that all state, county, and municipal records are open for public review. This includes Sunrise civil court records. You do not need to be a party to a case to view the file. Any member of the public can ask to see or copy a record. Some details stay sealed, such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, and records that a judge has ordered sealed. Filers must use the official confidential data form to keep sensitive details out of public view.
Helpful Court Resources
Several free resources help Sunrise residents work with the civil court system. These include the Florida Courts self-help website, the in-person Self Help Equal Access Center, and the eTrack case monitoring service. Each resource covers a different need, from form preparation to ongoing case tracking.
Self-Help Center
The Self Help Equal Access Center sits on the first floor of the Central Courthouse at 201 SE 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. Hours run Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The center has law librarians, public computers, Westlaw, and Lexis for legal research. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can help you find the right forms and explain how to fill them out. Florida residents with low income may qualify for a filing fee waiver under Florida Statute 57.082.
eTrack Case Updates
The Clerk’s eTrack service sends automatic updates when new documents are filed in a Sunrise civil court case. Users can sign up for email or text alerts tied to a specific case number. The service is free for civil cases. eTrack removes the need to check the docket sheet every day, which is useful for parties waiting on a court order, a hearing date, or a new motion from the other side.
Quick Contact Details
The Broward County Clerk of Court is the central point of contact for every Sunrise civil court record. The main office sits at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The closest branch for most Sunrise residents is the West Regional Courthouse at 100 North Pine Island Road, Plantation, FL 33324. The phone line for general clerk questions is (954) 831-6565. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The official website, browardclerk.org, hosts the public case search, the e-filing portal, the eTrack service, and the full fee schedule.
FAQ About Sunrise Court Records
The questions below cover the most common issues that come up when people look up civil court records in Sunrise. Each answer is based on current rules from the Broward County Clerk of Court and Florida public records law. If your question is not listed, the clerk’s office can help you by phone or in person during business hours. These answers cover the search process, record formats, fees, retention rules, and access limits that apply to most Sunrise civil court records.
Are Sunrise civil court records free to view?
Yes, looking up Sunrise civil court records through the Broward County Clerk’s online search tool is free. The tool does not need an account, and it returns case data, party names, filing dates, and docket entries at no charge. You only pay when you ask for a printed copy, a certified copy, or a copy of a full court document. Regular copies cost $1.00 per page, certified paper copies cost $2.00 per document, and electronic certified copies cost $8.00 each. Records that have been ordered sealed by a judge are not available, even with payment. The free online search covers civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and small claims cases filed in Broward County. To start, visit browardclerk.org and click the public case search link. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. The tool also lets you filter by court division, judge, and case type. Results show the case number, the case style, the assigned judge, the next hearing date, and a list of every document filed in the case. If you need a full case file, you can request paper copies at a clerk location. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number. For records stored off-site, the clerk may charge a small retrieval fee. Certified copies are valid for use in other courts and government agencies. The Clerk accepts cash, cashier’s check, money order, and credit cards for copy fees.
How do I look up a case by name in Sunrise?
Use the public case search on browardclerk.org to look up Sunrise civil cases by name. Enter the last name, then the first name. Refine results by selecting the Civil case type and entering a date range. If the search returns too many results, add a middle initial or a date of birth if you have one. The system searches all parties on a case, including plaintiffs, defendants, and third parties. Results will show the case number, the case style, the division, and the judge assigned. Click the case number to open the docket sheet, which lists every filing in the case in chronological order. Each docket entry links to the filed document, when one is available online. For better results, search by full legal name. Avoid nicknames, since the clerk indexes cases under the legal name on the filings. Common business suffixes like LLC, Inc, and Corp are part of the indexed name. The Clerk does not index cases by Social Security number or driver license number, so those search fields do not exist in the public tool. If a document is not available online, you can request a paper copy at a clerk location. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number. The Clerk also offers an attorney-of-record search, which is limited to Florida Bar attorneys. Registered users can see additional case data for family and probate matters. The public search covers all other civil case types, including every Sunrise civil case filed in Broward County.
Can I view sealed civil records in Sunrise?
No, sealed civil records are not open to the public. A judge must order the record unsealed before anyone outside the case can view it. The Clerk will not release a sealed file to a member of the public, even on request. If you are a party to a sealed case, you can still see your own file, but you cannot share it with others. To ask the court to unseal a record, you must file a written motion and show good cause under Florida law. Common reasons for unsealing include new evidence, wrongful sealing, or a legitimate research need. The motion must be served on all parties in the case. The judge will hold a hearing before ruling on the request. If granted, the record moves from sealed to public status, and the Clerk updates the docket sheet to reflect the change. Some records are partially sealed, with specific documents or pages marked as confidential. Common sealed items include medical records, financial statements, and trade secrets. The Clerk keeps these documents in a separate file. Parties can ask the court to seal specific documents by motion, supported by legal authority. Sealed documents stay sealed indefinitely unless a judge orders them unsealed. Data that is automatically redacted, such as social security numbers and bank account numbers, is not part of the public record at all. The Clerk redacts this data before scanning and indexing. Only parties to the case, their attorneys, and the judge can see the unredacted version.
What is the difference between Circuit and County Court?
Circuit Court handles Sunrise civil cases where the amount in dispute is more than $30,000. It hears family law, probate, and guardianship matters. Circuit Court also handles felony criminal cases, juvenile cases, and civil appeals from County Court. Judges in the 17th Circuit serve six-year terms and rotate through different divisions. Circuit Court has its own filing fees, docket format, and procedural rules. County Court handles civil cases in Sunrise where the amount in dispute is $30,000 or less. This level covers most everyday disputes, including small claims up to $8,000 and eviction cases. County Court also handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, and county ordinance violations. County Court judges serve six-year terms in Broward County. Filing fees and procedural rules for County Court are simpler than for Circuit Court. Each level has its own judges, filing fees, and case number prefix. Circuit Court cases use the CA prefix for civil actions, DR for domestic relations, and CP for probate. County Court cases use CC for civil, SC for small claims, and EV for evictions. The Clerk’s online search tool lets you filter by court level to focus on the case type you need. If you are not sure which court is right for your case, the Self Help Equal Access Center at the Central Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale can help. The center has law librarians and public computers with Westlaw and Lexis. Staff can explain the difference between Circuit and County Court and help you pick the right venue for your filing.
How long does the Clerk keep civil case records?
The Broward County Clerk keeps civil case records for many years, with the exact retention period set by state law. Most civil case files are kept at least 10 years after the final judgment. Some case types, such as real property and foreclosure cases, are kept for 20 years or more. Older case files may be moved to off-site storage. The Clerk can retrieve files from off-site storage within one business day in most cases, sometimes for a small retrieval fee. The retention schedule covers every document type in a case, including the initial complaint, motions, orders, judgments, and exhibits. The Clerk indexes each document, so even files in off-site storage are findable through the public case search. Physical files are scanned into the digital docket, which stays online even after the paper file is archived. For records beyond the retention period, the Clerk may not have a copy. Older Broward County civil case records are held by the State Archives of Florida. The State Archives has its own search tool and provides copies for a fee. For recent cases, the Clerk’s office is the best source. Records from the past 20 years are usually in active digital storage, with copies available through the online portal. For older files, contact the Clerk’s records management division to check availability and fees.
Can I get a certified copy of a Sunrise record online?
Yes, the Broward County Clerk offers electronic certified copies of Sunrise civil court records through its online portal. Each electronic certified copy costs $8.00 and is available right after payment. The document is digitally signed and is valid for all legal purposes. Electronic certified copies do not expire, unlike paper certified copies, which can fade or be lost. Documents over 100 pages must be ordered in person at a clerk location, since the online system has a 100-page cap per order. To order a certified copy online, log in to your free clerk account and search for the case. Click the document you need and select Certified Copy. Pay the fee by credit card. The system generates the certified document and emails you a download link. The link stays active in your account, so you can re-download the document any time. Certified copies are different from regular copies. A regular copy shows the document contents but does not carry the Clerk’s seal. A certified copy has the Clerk’s seal and signature, which makes it valid for use in other courts, government agencies, and private business. Many banks, title companies, and government offices require certified copies of court orders and judgments. If you need a paper certified copy, visit the Central Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale or the West Regional Courthouse in Plantation. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number. Paper certified copies cost $2.00 per document, but the fee is higher for documents that need to be retrieved from off-site storage. Same-day service is available for most in-person requests.
Do eviction records show up in a civil court search?
Yes, eviction cases are civil cases and appear in the same search results as other County Court civil matters. Eviction cases in Sunrise are filed in County Court under the CC or EV case type. A search by tenant name will pull up any eviction filings, judgments, and writs of possession tied to that person. Landlords, property managers, and tenant screening services use these records to check rental history. Sealed eviction records are not visible in the public search. Eviction records stay on the public docket for years after the case closes. A judgment for the landlord, a dismissed case, or a settled case will all show up in the search. Some eviction records are later expunged or sealed by court order. Once a record is sealed, the Clerk removes it from the public search. The party can still see their own sealed case through the attorney-of-record portal. To find eviction records by tenant, use the public case search and filter by the EV case type. You can also filter by the filing date, the landlord’s name, or the property address. The Clerk indexes eviction cases by tenant name, landlord name, and case number. A common tenant name may return many results, so add a date of birth or middle initial when possible. For background check purposes, eviction records are a strong signal of past rental issues. A landlord considering a new tenant can search the public docket to see prior evictions. A tenant disputing an old eviction can request a court order to seal the record under specific Florida rules. The Clerk’s office can help with both searches and seal requests.