Florida Courts

Florida Court Date Lookup: The Complete Guide

Missing a Florida court date triggers a bench warrant (capias), bond forfeiture, and possible re-arrest. Finding the right hearing date is not optional. Florida has 20 judicial circuits and 67 county Clerk of Courts offices, each with their own online case search. This page walks through every source for Florida court dates, plus what to do if you cannot find a hearing and what happens if you miss one.

Where to Find a Florida Court Date

1. County Clerk of Courts Online Case Search (Primary Source)

Every Florida county's Clerk of Circuit Court maintains an online case portal showing filed cases, upcoming hearings, dispositions, and often PDFs of court documents. This is the authoritative source for a specific case. Examples: Miami-Dade at jud11.flcourts.org, Broward at browardclerk.org, Orange at myorangeclerk.com, Hillsborough at hillsclerk.com, Palm Beach at mypalmbeachclerk.com. Search by name, case number, or booking number. Some clerks require a free account to view case details.

View All 67 County Links →

2. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal

For attorneys and registered parties, the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com shows filings and scheduled events across all 67 counties for cases where you are a party or representative. Registration required.

3. VINELink Court Date Alerts

The Florida VINE system at vinelink.vineapps.com sends free, automatic notifications about upcoming court dates, hearings, and case events for registered cases. Phone, email, and text alerts available. Works for most Florida counties, though coverage varies.

Register for Free →

4. Calling the Clerk's Office Directly

If online search isn't working (newly filed cases sometimes take 24-48 hours to appear online), call the Clerk of the Circuit Court directly. Ask for the Criminal Division or Case Info. Have the defendant's name, date of birth, and case or booking number ready.

5. Contacting the Defense Attorney

If a defendant is represented, the attorney's office is often the fastest source for upcoming court dates. Attorneys receive electronic notices of all scheduled events in their active cases. A quick call to the attorney's paralegal usually produces the next date immediately.

Types of Florida Criminal Court Hearings

Knowing what hearing is scheduled helps you prepare. Florida criminal cases typically move through these stages:

First Appearance: Within 24 hours of arrest (Florida Rule 3.130). Judge reviews probable cause, reads charges, sets bond, appoints counsel if requested. Usually by video from the jail.
Arraignment: Formal reading of charges and entry of plea (usually not guilty at this stage). Within 21 days of information being filed, typically.
Pretrial Conference / Status Hearing: Between arraignment and trial. Discuss plea offers, motions, discovery, continuances.
Motion Hearings: Specific motions (suppression of evidence, dismiss, etc.) are argued separately.
Docket Sounding / Calendar Call: Pre-trial scheduling event to confirm case is ready for trial.
Trial: Jury or bench trial. Speedy Trial rule in Florida requires misdemeanor trial within 90 days of arrest and felony trial within 175 days of arrest unless waived.
Sentencing: After conviction, separate hearing to impose sentence. Includes victim impact statements and allocution.
Violation of Probation (VOP): Separate proceeding if probation is allegedly violated. Judge hears evidence, makes findings, imposes consequences.

What Happens If You Miss a Florida Court Date

⚠ Immediate Consequences of Missing a Court Date

The judge issues a bench warrant (capias) for your arrest. This is separate from the original arrest warrant. You can be arrested at any time, at home, at work, during a traffic stop, or at a border crossing. The warrant stays active indefinitely until resolved.

Additional consequences depend on the type of case:

Bond forfeiture: Any bond posted is forfeited to the state. If a bail agent posted a surety bond, the indemnitor (co-signer) is liable for the full face amount.
Driver's license suspension: For traffic cases or cases where driving is relevant, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) can suspend your license.
Additional charges: Failure to appear can itself be charged as a crime (Failure to Appear, F.S. 843.15), a third-degree felony for felony cases or a first-degree misdemeanor for misdemeanors.
Harsher sentencing later: Judges and prosecutors take FTA history into account when offering plea deals and imposing sentences. Running away makes things worse.

If You Already Missed a Date

Act quickly. The options, in order of best to worst:

Hire a defense attorney immediately. An attorney can file a motion to quash the capias and reset the hearing, often without an arrest. This is the best outcome.
Self-surrender through an attorney. If a motion to quash is not granted, the attorney can arrange a controlled surrender with pre-set bond, minimizing custody time.
Call the clerk's office. Some minor cases (especially misdemeanors) can be rescheduled by phone. Ask about options.
Do NOT wait. Every day increases the risk of public arrest and hardens the judge's view.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions, Florida Court Dates

How far in advance will I know my court date?+

Varies. First appearance happens within 24 hours of arrest, so almost no advance notice. Arraignment is typically set 14-21 days after information is filed. Subsequent hearings are usually scheduled 30-90 days out. Confirm the date through the Clerk's portal or VINE, and call the clerk's office if the portal is outdated.

Can I get a continuance (reschedule) a Florida court date?+

Continuances must be granted by the judge based on "good cause." Common grounds: conflicting prior scheduled events, medical emergencies, newly retained counsel needing time to prepare, discovery not yet complete. File a written motion in advance; do not just fail to appear. An attorney makes this process much easier than going pro se.

Can I check court dates for someone else?+

Yes. Florida court records are public under the Sunshine Law (Chapter 119). Use any county Clerk of Courts portal to search by name or case number. Private cases (some juvenile, some family law) are restricted, but adult criminal cases are generally public including hearing schedules.

What if my case is not in the system yet?+

Newly filed cases sometimes take 24-72 hours to appear online. If you cannot find a case that should exist, call the Clerk of Courts directly. Sometimes cases are filed in a different county than expected (based on jurisdiction of the arrest) or under a different name spelling. The Clerk can search by date of birth or other identifiers.

Are virtual (Zoom) court dates valid in Florida?+

Since 2020, many Florida courts have offered virtual hearings for certain proceedings (status conferences, some motions, some plea hearings). Trials and evidentiary hearings usually require in-person attendance. The court notice will specify whether appearance is in person or virtual. If unsure, call the Clerk or your attorney to confirm.

How do I prove I had a valid reason to miss court?+

Document the reason immediately. For medical emergencies, obtain a dated doctor's note or emergency room records. For transportation problems, keep tow receipts, accident reports, or ride service receipts. For family emergencies, collect documentation. An attorney files a motion to vacate the capias with the documentation attached. Not every excuse works; the judge weighs whether the absence was unavoidable.

Need Help Finding a Court Date?

If you can't find a Florida court date or need help with a missed hearing, call our free 24/7 line.

Call (786) 600-3533 →

Calls may be answered by a licensed bail bond agent.