FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

-- Why does my screen wrap? – When I do a search and see the list of names from my search, some of the columns are wrapping around like they do not fit.

-- Why can’t I see the bottom of my screen? -- Sometimes it seems that the bottom of my screen is chopped off.

-- What is the ‘Registered Login’ for? -- On the first page is says ‘Registered Login’.

-- When I ‘Zoom’ I cannot see the area of the image that I am interested in.

-- What type of information is available on this site?

-- What types of information is not available on this site?

-- What do I have to know to search for information at this website?

-- Can I print the index information and a copy of the document I’m viewing?

-- How can I purchase certified or better quality copies?

-- How fast are new documents posted to this website?

-- How can I get a good look at certain sections of the document image?

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Q - Why does my screen wrap? - When I do a search and see the list of names from my search, some of the columns are wrapping around like they do not fit.

Since there are many types of monitors that you can use on a personal computer, the browsers provide a way to adjust the size of the text (font) on the screen. In order to change the size of the text, do the following:

• With Microsoft Internet Explorer – Click ‘View’ on the main menu then ‘Increase Font’ or ‘Decrease Font’ to adjust your display.
• With Netscape Communicator – Click ‘View’ on the main menu then ‘Text Size’ and select smaller or larger.

Q - Why can’t I see the bottom of my screen? – Sometimes it seems that the bottom of my screen is chopped off.

On the Internet, the displays, which are called pages, are different lengths. If the screen does not fit, a scroll bar will appear on the right side of the screen to allow you to move to the top or bottom.

Q - What is the ‘Registered Login’ for – On the first page it says ‘Registered Login’?

This is for individuals or companies that do a lot of business with the county and have escrow accounts.

Q – When I ‘Zoom’ I cannot see the area of the image that I am interested in?

After you Zoom, use your mouse to move the image around by holding down the left mouse button and moving the mouse.

Q – What type of information is available on this site?

This site contains the index to documents recorded into the Official Records of Broward County, Florida between January 1, 1978 and the present, and actual images of documents recorded since August 1998. Images of documents recorded prior to August 1998 and the Index to documents recorded before 1978 are currently available only on microfilm in our office. As time goes by, we hope to make additional images available to you at this site.

Many of the documents, such as deeds, mortgages, assignments of mortgage, leases, etc. pertain directly to the transfer of real property, while others have more indirect ties to real property. You will find judgments, liens, Declarations of Domicile, final judgments of court actions, both civil and criminal, and many other types of documents. For a full list of documents, see the Document Type List.

Q – What types of things are not available at this site?

Pleadings filed in court cases, both civil and criminal, are not recorded, except for final judgments entered in the cases. That is the reason why you will find the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, but not the Petition which instigated the action, nor the related Property Settlement Agreement. Likewise, you will not find pleadings from traffic court or small claims (County) court, except for the order commemorating the final action, marriage licenses or marriage certificates. Those types of documents must be accessed through the Clerk of the Circuit Court and are not generally available online: Clerk of Courts.You also will not find birth or death certificates at this site but can access them at the Office of Vital Statistics website.

Q – What do I have to know to search for information at this website?

You can search by name, by document type within a date range, by book and page, by consideration amount, by recording date, or by instrument number.

Q – Can I print the index information and a copy of the document I am viewing?

Yes, you can print (AT NO CHARGE) a copy of the document detail screen or image. You will notice that the print quality of the document may not be wonderful. If you need a better quality copy or a certified copy, you will need to purchase it from our office. It is our intention to give you the ability to look at documents on this site, rather than generate high quality copies.

Q – How can I purchase certified or better quality copies?

For the present time, you will need to send your written print request to County Records Division, Attention: Search and Copy Section, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 119, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. We cannot sell you individual pages of a certified document. You must order the entire document. Tell us the book and page number of the document(s) you are ordering and enclose $1.00 per page. If you want the document certified, you will need to include an additional $1.50 per document. Example: If you are ordering a six page document and you want a certified copy, you would need to enclose $7.50 ($6.00 for the copy of the document and $1.50 for the certification). In the future, we hope to allow you to order documents via the Internet, using a credit card.

Q – How fast are new documents posted to this website?

New documents are imaged and recorded each business day. Most indexing information, such as document type and party names involved in the transaction, is available as soon as the document is recorded. Recording is a process so additional information may be added or changed as the document moves through the process. If the information on the recorded document has not yet been verified, a ‘U’ will appear in the status column. If the text is red, the document you are reading about has been replaced with another record. If the text is blue, you are reading about a corrected document which has replaced a red-text document.

Q – How can I get a good look at certain sections of the document image?

The best way to get a good look at a specific section is to use the Zoom function. Zoom in until the text is the size that suits your needs, then use the cursor (which turns into a hand) to move around the document. If you want to get back to a normal size, Zoom out, or use the pull-down menu to ‘Size to Fit’.

Broward Official Records Public Search Main Menu