Question 1

What are public records in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Public records in Florida are documents or materials made or received by a government agency in connection with official business. Florida’s public records law (Chapter 119, the "Sunshine Law") is one of the broadest in the nation. Public records include: recorded deeds, mortgages, and liens (official records of the county clerk), court records (case filings, judgments, and orders), government correspondence (emails, letters, and memoranda), financial records (budgets, expenditures, and contracts), and meeting minutes and recordings.

Question 2

How does Florida’s public records law affect real estate?

Accepted Answer

RE impact: all real property documents are public records: deeds, mortgages, liens, lis pendens, plats, and easements are recorded in the official records and are accessible to anyone. This means: title searches can be conducted by reviewing the public records, potential buyers can research a property’s history, and lenders can verify the priority of their liens. The recording of a document provides constructive notice: once recorded, everyone is deemed to know about the document (Section 695.11).

Question 3

How can Florida public records be accessed?

Accepted Answer

Access: in person (at the county clerk’s office or the relevant government agency), online (many counties offer online access to official records, court records, and property appraiser databases), and by request (any person can request public records under Chapter 119; the agency must respond within a reasonable time; the agency can charge for copies but not for the time to search). Exemptions: certain records are exempt from public disclosure (Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and certain law enforcement records).

Public Record

Public Records in Florida

What’s Public

RE Impact

Access

Related Terms

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