My office and I have been diligently working on upgrades, and I want to express my deepest gratitude to my team for their unwavering dedication to the residents and customers of the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller.

I'm excited to share that over the summer, we welcomed interns from the Miami-Dade County Public School system and Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. These talented young adults contributed significantly to various divisions within our office.

We are also nearing the completion of our new online Lobbyist Registration system. Paper forms will soon be a thing of the past. We expect to launch this system by the end of September. Earlier this year, we introduced the "My Desk" function for registered users on criminal cases, and I'm pleased to announce that this feature is now available for civil and family cases. Registered users can now 'bookmark' criminal, civil and family cases in their user profile and elect to be notified via email and text messages on upcoming hearings.

We have reached a significant milestone with our Extended Hours program - celebrating our one-year anniversary. Our office has collected over $199,000 in court obligations during our extended hours. This has helped our customers resolve their obligations without having to miss a day at work. Additionally, my team has worked tirelessly to implement online payment plans, further helping customers resolve court obligations despite financial challenges. To date, we have established over 11,174 payment plans, allowing customers to manage their court obligations in affordable monthly installments.

Lastly, the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser has begun sending property owners their Truth in Millage (TRIM) statements. My office oversees the Value Adjustment Board (VAB), and if you believe your TRIM statement is inaccurate, you can file an appeal with us. More information on the VAB and how to file an appeal can be found in this newsletter.

Yours in Service,

As summer winds down and our children return to their routines, I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) students from Hialeah Gardens Senior High School, True North Classical Academy, Miami Lakes Educational Center, Young Women's Preparatory Academy, and Barbara Goleman Senior High School who participated in the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller's Summer Internship Program.

After several years without participating in this essential program, reinstating it became a top priority upon my appointment. We welcomed 10th through 12th grade students for a 5-week, work-based learning experience across various divisions in our office. These students not only gained valuable insights into the roles and responsibilities of the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, but also developed critical life skills that will serve them as they prepare to become future leaders in our community. They contributed significantly to our County Recorder, Civil and Criminal Divisions, South, and North District Courts.

In addition to the departmental internships, my executive office had the privilege of hosting four interns from, Belen Jesuit Preparatory throughout the summer. While three were in high school, one will soon be starting law school at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. These interns worked closely with my Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary, assisting with daily tasks, and providing support to our constituents in need. They have left a lasting impact, and we are more than happy to welcome them back next year as they continue to build on the skills they’ve gained.

My sincere thanks to MDCPS for providing such an impactful program that offers our youth the opportunity to gain real-world work experience across various industries, preparing them for their future careers. Thank you to my dedicated team members who took the time to mentor these students: Michael Amador, Debbie Gillet, Sabrina Perez, Paul Collado, Jenny Seijas, Decelia Nisbett-Edwards, Barby Rodriguez, Sonja Denson, Armando Munero, and Corissa Nguyen. Your mentorship and commitment have left a lasting impression on these young individuals.

My Desk for Criminal and Civil Cases

When I took on my role in this office just over a year ago, I made a commitment—as both an attorney and a frequent user of the Clerk’s website—to identify technological advancements that could benefit our constituents and the legal community. Having firsthand knowledge of the improvements that could enhance the user experience, I’m pleased to share earlier this year we launched the “My Desk” feature for criminal cases. This tool allows registered users to bookmark and track conveniently the progress of cases in the court system.

The success of this feature inspired us to expand “My Desk” to civil and family cases.

The "My Desk" technology is a feature designed to streamline the process of tracking court cases for registered users. By allowing users to bookmark cases within their profiles, "My Desk" ensures that they stay informed about the progress of their cases in the court system. Users receive notifications, such as when a hearing is scheduled, directly via email or on their mobile devices if they choose to opt-in for on-the-go alerts.

Individuals who benefit from “My Desk” feature are Attorneys and Legal professionals, allowing them to use this feature to track the progress of their clients’ cases. Litigants and Self-Represented individuals can now monitor their case status, receive updates, and stay informed about important dates and developments. Paralegals and Legal Assistance benefit from “My Desk” to track case updates, manage schedules and it ensures them that documentation is filed in a timely manner, and lastly Journalists and Researchers can utilize this tool to follow specific cases.

This innovation makes it easier for legal professionals and constituents to manage and follow court cases efficiently, enhancing the overall user experience with the Clerk's office. These enhancements make navigating the Clerk’s office a more efficient and user-friendly experience. These minor yet impactful adjustments are continuous reminders of my commitment to this this office and the public we serve. As a public servant I am always listening to our users and take their recommendations at heart and that has proven that your voice does not fall on deaf ears.

Once you are in the case information page, click on BOOKMARK.

Once you have cases under My Desk, you are able to choose if you would like to be notified by text message when a hearing is scheduled

(by default, you will receive an email).

Extended Hours and Payment Plans

I'm excited to share that we've reached our one-year anniversary since launching extended hours. Initially available only at the South Dade Justice Center and Joseph Caleb Center, we've now expanded to include the North Dade Justice Center. These extended hours give our community the flexibility to handle their court obligations outside of regular work hours.

During these extended hours, customers can pay their court obligations and set up payment plans. We've successfully collected $199,962.60 so far.

In addition, our office has assisted thousands of customers through our recently launched online payment plan program. To date, we've established 11,174 payment plans, allowing customers to manage their outstanding court obligations with affordable monthly installments.

Miami-Dade County property owners, both residential and commercial should carefully examine their recently mailed Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices. These notices, distributed by the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser, contain critical information about each property’s assessed value, exemptions, and the proposed taxes for the upcoming year. For property owners who identify discrepancies or believe their property has been inaccurately assessed, I encourage you to appeal your assessment through the Value Adjustment Board (VAB).

The TRIM notice is not a bill, but it plays a vital role in showing property owners how their taxes are calculated. It is essential for property owners to understand this document, as it outlines the basis for their property tax obligations for the year. Any errors or overvaluations can result in higher taxes, which is why timely action is crucial. If a property owner disputes the assessed value or believes they qualify for additional exemptions that have not been applied, they have the right to appeal to the VAB. To initiate this process, property owners must pay all non-ad valorem assessments and make a partial payment of at least 75% of the ad valorem taxes levied against their property before the taxes become delinquent. Failure to meet this payment requirement will result in the denial or rejection of the taxpayer’s petition.

It is crucial that property owners understand their rights and the process for challenging any inaccuracies. Property owners who believe their property’s assessed value is incorrect, or who are eligible for exemptions not reflected in their notice, should consider filing an appeal with the VAB. The VAB process is an essential tool for ensuring that property taxes are fair and equitable, and we are to help.

VAB petitions to dispute/appeal property TRIM notices must be received on or before September 17, 2024. For more information on how to review your TRIM notice or to seek assistance with filing a VAB appeal, please contact us at 305-375-5641 or visit our website CLICK HERE

We are thrilled to announce that my office has been recognized with the 2024 Achievement Award for our innovative Online Traffic Payment Plan. This award highlights our commitment to enhancing public service through technology, and it reflects the dedication and expertise of our incredible team.

This accomplishment would not have been possible without the hard work and collaboration of our Technical Services Department. We extend our deepest gratitude to:

Yader Baquedano, who played a crucial role as the programmer, under the leadership of Youvonda Battle.
Miguel Ruiz, whose contributions were invaluable, guided by our diligent Project Manager, Catherine Benway.
Raquel Rivero and Margie Connor from the Traffic Division also provided unvaluable assistance with the requirements and the testing.

We are proud of this achievement and look forward to continuing our efforts to serve our community with excellence.

Thank you to everyone involved in making this project a success!

Are you interested in

Sealing or Expunging your Miami-Dade Arrest?

The next SEAL or EXPUNGE event will be held on:

Thursday

September 19, 2024

4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Miami Beach Community Church

1620 Drexel Avenue

Miami Beach, FL 33139

ONLY State Level Cases in Miami-Dade County will be reviewed.
Your Miami-Dade County arrest must NOT have resulted in a conviction.
You MUST bring a government issued identification.
Event is free, however, FDLE requires a $75.00 handling fee that must be mailed with the application.
For more information please contact (305) 547-0724.