Background Check Florida: 2023 Guide to FL Backgrond Checks

Do you want to know how to do a background check in Florida? You're lucky today since you've just discovered the most complete online resource on Florida background checks.

Not only will we explain how to conduct a background check in Florida, but we'll also point you in the direction of the most reliable services out there. Please be aware that it’s not as simple as it may seem to obtain public records in the state of Florida.

Although they’re available to the public, it can be difficult to find information on a single person by searching through a large volume of documents and data. This is why using the Background check Florida services we suggest is your best bet for quickly discovering accurate information.

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7 Best Background Check Florida Services

BeenVerified – Best Overall for Background Check Florida
PeopleLooker – Best for Fast & Accurate Results
TruthFinder – Best for Value
Intelius – Best for Accuracy
Instant Checkmate – Best for Speed
Spokeo – Best for FA Reverse Email Lookup
US Search – Best for API Integration

What is a Background Check Florida?

A background check Florida is a complete assessment of any and all information related to a person in all state and federal public records. You may use any ID information such as an individual’s name, phone number, or email to search them up on public records to extract further information.

Free background check Florida for public records search might turn up a variety of data, including but not limited to personal details, employment and educational information, potential relatives and acquaintances, location history, criminal and court records, details on sex offenders, social profiles, and real estate.

Yet it's a long shot to try to obtain all this material by manually searching public records. Using Florida background check services increases the likelihood that you will obtain reliable information about an individual's past.

Background check sites in Florida utilize the personal details you submit to access a database containing billions of records from state and federal government agencies. The information is then compiled into a comprehensive background check Florida report that can be easily read and shared with others.

A standard background check Florida report may include:

Social media profiles
Financial assets
A full name
Criminal and arrest records
Weapons permits
Educational background
Aliases
Civil court records
Liens
Photographs
Employment history
Bankruptcies
Professional licenses
Age and date of birth

How to Run a Florida Background Check?

There are two ways to do a Florida background check: one is a free background check Florida and the other is by people search services

The free background check Florida option requires contacting relevant governmental agencies, making a public records request, and then manually examining those documents for the needed information.

Using people search services like BeenVerified , PeopleLooker , or TruthFinder to do a background check in Florida is the simplest option. This makes doing a Florida criminal history check as simple as inputting an individual's name, city, and phone number.

Finding someone by their email address is now possible using reverse email lookup services.

To use the Florida background check service, just provide the minimal information you have about a person, and it will search its database. The procedure could take a few minutes, but if it takes longer, you can be confident that you're getting a lot of real information.

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How Can I Access Public Records in Florida?

The Freedom of Information Act, passed in the 1960s, has made it easier for anybody to get a free background check Florida, even though it’s still not easy.

Some public employees take a long time to respond to requests for free background check Florida because some government organizations only save paper records while others store data online.

Florida, like many other states, has several different agencies that store different kinds of public documents. You might be able to find the information you need in Florida's public records, but that depends on what it is.

Departments in Florida maintain the following categories of public documents:

Court documents
Vital Records
Prisoner data
Crime histories

A free background check Florida request must be made in order to receive Florida public documents. The Florida Public Records Coordinator may be reached via phone, email, mail, fax, or other means of communication.

There are certain things that must be included in an application for access to public records.

Name
Contact details
The document's title
Information pertaining to the document
A date by which you'd want to have the materials
Method of document delivery: mail or email

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Florida Background Check Laws

In contrast to several other states, Florida law does not prohibit background checks for employment-related reasons. Florida does not have a state-level fair hiring or ban-the-box statute; however, several counties and towns have their own versions of these regulations.

Businesses that conduct background checks on prospective employees are protected from legal action based on claims of negligent hiring or retention practices in the state of Florida.

If an employer conducts a background check that contains a review of criminal records, they’re generally assumed not to have been negligent in the hiring process in Florida. They hire or promote the person after finding no evidence that disqualifies the applicant.

FL Criminal Record Restrictions

Several state and local laws in Florida place limits on the use of criminal history records in the hiring process. We have outlined several significant limitations and how those affect Florida businesses below.

FL Arrest Records

Employers are permitted to inquire about arrest records and take them into account when making hiring decisions in Florida. Arrest records are typically excluded from criminal background check reports, including Florida background checks .

FL Sealed or Expunged Records

All candidates are expected to maintain confidentiality about their criminal history, whether it be sealed or expunged. These offenses do not exist and will not show up in a search of Florida's public records.

FL Criminal Records

Businesses in Florida, both public and private, are permitted to use background checks to screen candidates (among other methods).

Public employers may exclude applicants with a criminal record only if they have been found guilty of a felony or misdemeanor of the first degree, and only if the crime committed is directly relevant to the job in question.

Lower-level misdemeanor convictions may be taken into consideration by private companies when making employment-related considerations. Employers must always take the candidate's criminal background into account in relation to the available job.

A company that expressly states that it will not recruit anybody with a criminal history might face discrimination charges under Section VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The repercussions of such a severe accusation might be far-reaching.

Ban the Box – Background Check Florida

Today, the state of Florida does not have a ban-the-box statute in place. It’s illegal for employers to inquire about an applicant's criminal history in various jurisdictions within the state.

Several Florida municipalities have outlawed the practice of checking the box on employment applications: Tampa, Daytona Beach, Clearwater, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami-Dade County, Orlando, Pompano Beach, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Petersburg, and Tallahassee.

In the six main jurisdictions: Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota, and Miami-Dade, employers are not permitted to conduct background investigations on applicants prior to making conditional job offers. No county in Florida has yet made the box illegal for private enterprises.

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How Far Back Does a Background Check Go in Florida?

While doing a background check in Florida, there is no statute of limitations on how far back the investigation may go. Most checks are indefinite, and that includes criminal background checks.

Companies in Florida conducting background checks should be aware that regional ban-the-box laws may limit the circumstances under which and how criminal history information may be utilized in hiring decisions.

Consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) in Florida are forbidden by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) from revealing the following details during a background check:

Any undesirable information that is older than seven years as of the date of the report (except criminal convictions)
Court-resolved disputes, convictions, and arrests that took place more than seven years ago are excluded from the report
Tax liens older than 7 years as of the report date have been paid in full
Bankruptcy filings under Section 11 that are older than 10 years at the time of the report
Archival materials that predate the report's date by more than seven years

Florida companies doing nationwide background checks should be aware that the statutes of limitations for doing so vary by state and territory in the United States.

For example, some countries only permit the publication of criminal records for a maximum of seven years, while others permit it indefinitely.

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What Can You Find With a Background Check Florida?

Florida background checks provide a surprising amount of information about a person. The following details are available in a single background check report from a reliable people search provider like BeenVerified , PeopleLooker , TruthFinder , or Intelius .

Personal Information

Every background check report starts with personal data that enables you to determine if you have the proper candidate. This might contain their name, age, birthdate, any aliases they may have used, and pictures.

Jobs and Education

You can also learn details on their education and professional background, such as their high school and college attended and previous places of employment.

Keep in mind that unless your background check service is FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) compliant, you cannot utilize this data for the purpose of screening potential employees or tenants.

Possible Relatives and Associates

In this segment, you may find names and contact information for people who could be related to the person you're researching. You may even uncover your own background check report if you’re searching for a relative.

FL Contact Information

If you're searching for leads, the background check Florida report may also provide you with phone numbers and email addresses. If you do Florida background checks for your place of business, this is a very useful piece.

FL Criminal Records

Criminal and arrest histories from Florida's police and courts should be included in all background checks. If they were tried in a court of law, you may obtain information such as the kind, date, and place of the crime as well as the case number and court name.

FL Property Information

If you're seeking to assess the individual's financial standing, this part is a gold mine of information.

The information included herein may include but is not limited to, names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth, occupations, tax identification numbers, mortgage amounts, vehicle identification numbers, and sales prices of presently owned properties.

How Long Does a Background Check Take In Florida?

How you do your Florida criminal record check might also affect the results. It just takes a few minutes to do a background check report using reputable people who are searching services like BeenVerified, PeopleLooker, or TruthFinder .

This means you may easily perform a large number of tests and receive thorough findings.

Expect the process to take at least one to three business days if you decide to conduct a background check in Florida the old-fashioned way. Particularly when it comes to thorough employee and tenant background checks.

7 Best Services for Background Check Florida

Let's take a closer look at the top five services now that you know how simple it is to run a Background Check Florida with the help of background check services. Differentiating features of these offerings will be discussed briefly.

While doing a Background Check Florida, you'll also learn which people-searching website is ideal under various circumstances.

BeenVerified – Best Overall for Background Check Florida

BeenVerified

BeenVerified is a leading Florida background check company that provides a variety of searches, including Florida court records, public records, and criminal records. That could provide a more complete picture of someone's past.

The business has access to billions of Florida public documents, and it relies on trustworthy sources of data to guarantee the reports' veracity.

BeenVerified's user-friendly interface is one of its many advantages since it facilitates fast and simple searches. The site is user-friendly and easy to use thanks to its plain design and uncomplicated search functionality.

Individuals or organizations on a tight budget may appreciate the variety of price plans offered by the firm, which range from monthly subscriptions to pay-per-search models.

BeenVerified also provides customer assistance to help with any queries or problems that may come up throughout the background check procedure. The business has a group of knowledgeable experts that can provide advice on how to utilize the platform and evaluate the data in the reports.

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PeopleLooker – Best Background Check Florida for Fast & Accurate Results

PeopleLooker

Users may look for details about people, such as their criminal histories, contact information, and other information, using the PeopleLooker Florida public records search tool. Florida background checks may benefit from using PeopleLooker , according to some users.

In Florida, PeopleLooker claims to have access to a plethora of public documents, including arrest records, court records, and more. Because of this, their background checks could be more thorough than those of competing services.

Even those who are unfamiliar with background checks may easily utilize its user-friendly site. This might be useful for people or firms who must do background checks but don't have much background check expertise.

The cost of using Florida's background check service varies with the number of checks you need to run. For those on a limited budget, both consumers and corporations, they provide reasonable rates.

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TruthFinder – Best Florida Background Check Service for Value

TruthFinder

Whenever it comes to Florida background checks, TruthFinder is at the very top. It has a user-friendly interface that allows you to quickly and easily do various searches by entering names, phone numbers, or email addresses.

It has access to one of Florida's largest collections of public records, allowing it to provide a substantial quantity of reliable information on a specific person.

With the use of TruthFinder's background check services and dark web monitoring tool , you may acquire data that isn't available online. The cost of TruthFinder is $28.05 each month, or $46 if you choose a two-month membership.

Find out why TruthFinder is the best option for Florida background checks by reading our in-depth review.

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Intelius – Best Florida Background Check Service for Accuracy

Intelius

In Florida, Intelius is just as effective as TruthFinder at conducting background checks. The nicest part of this countrywide people search tool is its very precise results.

It functions virtually identically to TruthFinder and contains a database with more than 20 billion public records, giving you access to a vast amount of information on every person in Florida.

At $24.86 per month , Intelius is less expensive than TruthFinder. If you sign up for the 2-month plan, you'll have to fork up $42.25. Overall, the service is quite similar to that of TruthFinder, except for the dark web surveillance tool, and hence at a somewhat reduced fee.

If you're in need of a Florida background check, be sure to read our evaluation of the Intelius service.

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Instant Checkmate – Best FL Background Check Service for Speed

Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate might be the way to go if you need to get results from a Florida background check quickly. This background check service is ideal if you place a premium on ease of use since it provides instantaneous results and even has a mobile app.

This is a unique feature that you won't find with other Florida background check providers.

To provide precise background information, Instant Checkmate employs a large collection of public documents. At a monthly plan price of $34.78 for this service, it’s on the more expensive end of the range. Instead of the 2-month plan, it provides a 3-month bundle for $83.47.

In addition to speed, Instant Checkmate takes pride in protecting the privacy of its users. For additional information, see our review of Instant Checkmate.

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Spokeo – Best Florida Background Check Service for Reverse Email Lookup

Spokeo

You can perform a background check on a person using only their email address thanks to reverse email lookup. As it turned out, Spokeo is the best email lookup background check service, making it a great option for you if you're looking to do business research and generate leads in Florida.

Spokeo is one of the most effective methods for conducting a background check in Florida, as it allows users to do a search by name, phone number, or physical address in addition to email. It has one of the lowest monthly subscription prices ($19.99), making it very attractive to many people.

It’s one of the most cost-effective Florida background check services, with a three-month package costing just $44.85. If you want to know more, read our Spokeo review.

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US Search – Best Florida Background Check Service for API Integration

US Search

The quick start wizard for US Search makes it simple to perform background checks. One of the few services available offers a refund policy if the product doesn't meet your expectations.

Even though they have a rather simple web interface in comparison to other services, their straightforward approach might be sufficient if you just need some straightforward Background Check Florida.

A single Florida background check from US Search costs only $3. The monthly plan is reasonably priced at $19.86, making it a good option if you need to perform multiple searches or need a plan for an extended period of time.

If you'd like to learn more about US Search, check out our review.

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What Does the Florida Public Records Law Say?

The Florida Constitution contains the rules governing open government, such as the FL Public Records Law. Any documents generated or received by a public agency while conducting official business must be made available for public review, unless exempted by the Florida Legislature.

Florida Statutes Chapter 286 contains information on the Sunshine Law.

Florida law extends this protection to electronic copies of paper documents, maps, books, cassettes, photographs, motion pictures, records, and sound recordings.

Florida Criminal Records – Background Check FL

Florida has a database of criminal records that may provide details on a person's past convictions. The files include information on any arrests, indictments, and convictions for any crime, no matter how serious or little.

What’s on a Florida Criminal Record?

A person's criminal history, sometimes referred to as their FL criminal record, provides a detailed account of their interactions with law enforcement.

Arrest records often include the following information in addition to details on the suspected crime:

Pseudonyms
Charges
Confessions
The date of the arrest
Accusation of a crime, whether a felony or a minor infraction
Reports of Arrests
Time of trial
Verdicts
Status as a Sexual Offender

Where Can I Find Florida Criminal Records?

Florida's criminal records are maintained by the Department of Law Enforcement.

You're about to see Florida's official website for criminal background checks. There is a $25 one-time fee to use the criminal history check.

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Florida Inmate Records – Background Check Florida

Information that would normally be found in a criminal background check is also contained in public prisoner records, in addition to the facts of an offender's imprisonment.

What’s on a Florida Inmate Record?

A prisoner's record may include a number of details, but in Florida, records often contain the following:

Name, date of birth, and gender of a person are examples of personal information
Jail transfer details
Prisoner location
Prisoner identification number
Status of custody
a photograph of a suspect

Where Can I Find Florida Inmate Records?

The Florida Department of Prisons maintains information about the state's prison system.

Visit the Prison Offender Network's website to get started with your search.

All records relating to the criminal justice system are kept in Florida. You may search for prisoner information and a list of jails on the state's website. In certain counties, you can also look up and review arrest records.

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Florida Court Records – Background Check Florida

Individuals are allowed to attend court hearings and see case files in Florida. They may be used in criminal and civil matters before the municipal, county, state, federal, and Florida Supreme Court.

While court documents are technically open to the public according to the Transparency Act, some may be inaccessible due to being sealed or purged. This is commonplace when the content endangers vulnerable groups like children or victims of crime.

These records are not all kept by one court or in one repository.

Alternatively, anybody may get documents by getting in touch with the court that oversaw the case.

What’s on a GA Court Record?

Details in a court record may vary, however in Florida, the following are often included:

Record of cases
Documentation from the jury
Court orders
Minutes of court proceedings
Dockets
Documentation of judgment
documents from witnesses

Where to Find Florida Court Records

Anyone still seeking access to free background check Florida court documents are advised by Florida to visit the court where the case was heard and request the records in person from the clerk's office, county clerk or clerk of court.

Certain county documents are available online. In certain cases, county documents may be accessible online.

The website of the Miami-Dade County Comptroller, for instance, facilitates the retrieval of public records through a searchable database. It's a terrific plan to look for a similar location in the target county.

Florida Vital Records – Background Check Florida

The Florida Department of Health is responsible for maintaining accurate and up-to-date vital records across the state. Florida's public vital records include

Certificates of Birth
Decrees of Divorce
Marriage Certificates
Certificates of Death

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Background Check Florida - Frequently Asked Questions

Some questions and answers about Florida Background Check. Whatever type of questions should be answered by these.

Can I Get a Free Background Check Florida?

Conducting a background check involves poring over a lot of information, and it can be challenging to offer a free background check Florida reports from service providers that provide high-quality background check reports

We would strongly advise you to use extra caution when choosing a free background check Florida service.

Free Background Check Florida isn't really worth it, the truth is. It's very difficult to find the information you obtain from premium background check websites like BeenVerified , PeopleLooker , or TruthFinder for free.

How Much Is a Background Check Florida?

Background check Florida costs between $24 and $28 per month with services like BeenVerified, PeopleLooker, TruthFinder, and Intelius . With this monthly membership, you can check people's backgrounds as often as you like. To conduct a background check in Florida, US Search charges $3 per report.

What Background Check Service Is Best for Florida?

BeenVerified's extensive public records database, phone/email search capabilities, and dark web monitoring making it the top Florida background check service. PeopleLooker's fantastic UI and somewhat cheaper price tag make it the number two best Florida background check service.

Can a Background Check Florida Request Be Submitted by Non-residents in Florida?

In accordance with Florida's Public Record Act, any citizen or resident of any state may inspect any public record maintained by the state. In the United States, public records are available to anybody who requests them.

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Is There a Records Custodian in Florida?

In the state of Florida, everyone who has access to a public document must make it available to others.

Even if the word "records custodian" isn't used, access must still be granted.

What Exemptions Exist for Background Check Florida?

The Florida Constitution makes no exceptions and assumes that all materials are accessible to the public.

How Long Does the State Have to Respond to a Background Check Florida Request?

Some states set a deadline for the state's response to a request for information. But, Florida isn’t one of these states.

The Florida State Constitution mandates that all inquiries be answered "promptly." Every effort should be made to identify whether a document is accessible, and if it is, it should be sent as quickly as possible to the person making the request.

What Kind of Enforcement Is in Place for Background Check Florida Requests?

Florida has weak enforcement of laws rejecting appeals and suppressing information.For instance, if you’re denied access to publicly available records, you have no recourse. Several states, unlike Florida, have a system for filing appeals.

Any disputes may be mediated via the Florida Attorney General's Office.

What Fees Are Associated With Requesting Background Check Florida?

Florida charges $0.15 for a single-sided page, $0.20 for a double-sided page, and $1 for a certified copy when making copies of documents.

Florida law also permits additional costs to be incurred if a request is made that uses a lot of resources.

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Bottom Line on Background Check Florida

The services we've listed above may make it simple for you to locate reliable information, whether you're doing a background check Florida for business purposes, trying to locate a long-lost relative or acquaintance, or learning the truth about a prospective spouse.

It's not simple to do a free Background Check Florida since you'll need to contact many agencies and file public record requests with each one. The task isn't done for you until you've paid the requested cost for each request. If you want to discover specific information in the papers you get, you will still have to scan them.

The top Background Check Florida makes all of that simple. Just do a search using the name, contact information, email address, or physical address of your chosen person, and the person's search service will quickly put together a thorough background check Florida to report for you.

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DISCLAIMER: You may not use the non-FCRA approved services mentioned in this article or the information they provide to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. These services don’t provide consumer reports and are not consumer reporting agencies. (These terms have special meanings under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq., (“FCRA”), which are incorporated herein by reference.)

The information available on our website may not be 100% accurate, complete, or up to date, so do not use it as a substitute for your own due diligence, especially if you have concerns about a person’s criminal history. The services we mention do not make any representation or warranty about the accuracy of the information available through our website or about the character or integrity of the person about whom you inquire. For more information, please review each service’s Terms of Use.

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