Find Hernando County Public Records

Hernando County public records are maintained by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Brooksville and are open to any person under Florida's Chapter 119 open records law. Whether you need court case files, property documents, or other official records from Hernando County, this page covers your access options including online search, mail requests, and in-person visits to the courthouse on North Main Street.

Florida Public Records Law in Hernando County

Florida's open records law is set out in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. It applies to every government agency in the state, including Hernando County and all of its departments. The law establishes that public records are open to any person. You do not need to state a reason for your request. You do not have to give your name. Agencies are required to permit inspection of records at any reasonable time and to respond promptly to requests.

Hernando County has several offices that hold public records. The Clerk and Comptroller is the main custodian for court filings and officially recorded documents. Other offices, including the Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Sheriff's Office, and county administration, each hold records relevant to their functions and accept requests independently. All of them operate under Chapter 119, which means the same rules apply regardless of which office you contact.

If your request is denied or you believe it was not handled properly, the Florida Attorney General's Office offers a free mediation service. You can reach it at (850) 245-0140 or review your options through the AG's Open Government page. The First Amendment Foundation also provides free assistance to Floridians dealing with public records disputes.

Hernando County Clerk and Comptroller

Doug Chorvat Jr., CGCIO, CPM, serves as Clerk and Comptroller for Hernando County. His office at 20 N Main Street in Brooksville is the primary custodian for court records and official recorded documents in the county. The Clerk handles civil and criminal case filings, family law and probate matters, officially recorded property documents, marriage licenses, and county financial records.

The office is open weekdays during normal business hours. A range of online search tools is available through the clerk's website, covering court case records and officially recorded documents. Staff can help you locate older records that may not be digitized or direct you to the right division for your specific request.

The screenshot below comes from the Hernando County Clerk and Comptroller's official website, which is the main starting point for public records access in the county.

From this site you can access the online records search, find contact information for each division, and get instructions for submitting a written request by mail or in person.

Court Records in Hernando County

Hernando County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit along with Citrus, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties. Circuit court cases filed in Hernando County cover civil disputes, felony criminal matters, family law proceedings including dissolution of marriage and adoption, juvenile cases, and probate. County court handles misdemeanors, traffic matters, and civil claims under the statutory threshold.

Court records are generally public under Chapter 119 and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration. Some categories of court records carry statutory exemptions. Juvenile records are confidential. Records that have been sealed or expunged by court order cannot be accessed by the public. Certain domestic relations and mental health records also carry protections. The clerk's office can tell you the status of a specific record before you submit a formal request.

The online court records search on the clerk's website covers a broad range of case types and is a good first step. If the record you need is not available online, contact the Clerk's office for help finding it. For a complete listing of Florida county clerks, visit the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory.

Official and Property Records

The Hernando County Clerk records and indexes all documents related to real property in the county. Deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, lis pendens filings, liens, and other recorded instruments are filed and indexed through the Clerk's office. These documents are public records. Most can be searched through the online records search on the clerk's website by name or document type.

Whether you are buying property, doing a title search, or checking for liens on a specific parcel in Brooksville or Spring Hill, the Clerk's official records index is the authoritative source for recorded instruments in Hernando County. Inspecting records in person is free. Copies cost up to $1.00 per page, with a $5.00 certification fee for certified copies when required for legal use.

Marriage licenses issued in Hernando County are maintained by the Clerk's office and are public records. Divorce case files are part of the circuit court record and are accessible through the clerk for cases filed in the county.

Requesting Hernando County Public Records

You can request Hernando County public records by visiting the clerk's office in person at 20 N Main Street in Brooksville, by calling (352) 754-4201, or by mailing a written request to the same address. Florida law does not require you to use a specific form. A clear description of the records you want is enough to start the process.

Being specific helps staff respond faster. Include names, dates, case numbers if you have them, and the type of document you are looking for. Agencies are required to respond promptly to public records requests. The first 30 minutes of staff research time is free. After that, a reasonable fee may apply. Standard copy fees for administrative records are up to $0.15 per page. Court record fees are set by statute.

For records held by county agencies other than the Clerk, contact those offices directly. The Hernando County Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Sheriff's Office, and county administration each handle their own records and their own requests. The clerk's office can point you in the right direction if you are not sure where to start.

Additional Record Sources in Hernando County

The Hernando County Property Appraiser maintains parcel data, ownership records, and property assessment information for all parcels in the county. This data is public and typically available through the Property Appraiser's website. The Tax Collector holds records for property taxes and vehicle registrations. Both operate under Chapter 119 and accept records requests from the public.

The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners keeps meeting minutes, adopted ordinances, budgets, and other administrative records. These are public records available through county administration. If you need government documents related to county decisions or spending rather than court filings, county administration is the right place to start.

Vital records such as birth and death certificates are managed at the state level by the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The Hernando County Sheriff's Office holds law enforcement records, including arrest records and incident reports, subject to Chapter 119 exemptions for active investigations and certain other categories.

Cities in Hernando County

Spring Hill is the largest community in Hernando County. It is an unincorporated area, so records for Spring Hill residents are handled through the Hernando County Clerk and Comptroller's office.

Nearby Counties

Hernando County borders four other counties in west-central Florida, each with its own clerk and records system.