Marion County Public Records

Marion County public records are kept by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Ocala, and under Florida law every person has the right to inspect or copy them. This page walks you through how to search court filings, official records, and other government documents held by county offices, from online portals to in-person requests at the courthouse.

Florida Public Records Law and Marion County

Florida's open records framework comes from Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, which says that all records made or received by a public agency are open to inspection and copying. Marion County, like every county in the state, operates under this law. The burden is on the agency to prove an exemption applies, not on you to justify your request.

You do not need to give your name. You don't need to explain why you want a record. Requests can be made in person, by phone, by mail, or online depending on the office. The law covers court records, official records, county commission files, Sheriff's records, property records, and more. Nearly every document produced or received by a public body in Marion County falls within Chapter 119's reach unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Common exemptions are listed under Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes and include active criminal investigation files, certain victim information, and some personnel records. If a request is denied, the agency must tell you which exemption applies. If you believe a denial was improper, you can contact the Florida Attorney General's mediation line at (850) 245-0140. More guidance is available through the AG's Open Government page.

Agencies must let you inspect records promptly. They can't require you to wait days without reason. For large or complex requests, a good-faith response with a timeline is expected within a reasonable period.

Marion County Clerk and Comptroller

Gregory C. Harrell serves as Clerk and Comptroller for Marion County. His office is the main custodian for court records filed in the 5th Judicial Circuit and for official records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens recorded with the county. It is the largest single source of public documents in Marion County.

The Clerk's office is open on weekdays during regular business hours. The office handles civil cases, criminal matters, family law filings, probate cases, and traffic court records. It also records official instruments for property transactions throughout Marion County. Staff can help you find the right division when you call the main number.

Below is a screenshot from the Marion County Clerk and Comptroller's official site, which is the primary online access point for court and official records.

The page above shows the main portal where you can navigate to court records search, official records, and the online request system used by the Clerk's office.

Searching Marion County Records Online

The Marion County Clerk's website at marionclerk.org provides online access to court records and official records. You can search by party name, case number, or document type without creating an account for basic lookups. Court cases in the 5th Judicial Circuit that cover Marion County are included, along with recorded instruments going back many years.

For civil cases, you can search by plaintiff or defendant name and pull up case status, hearing dates, and scanned documents in many instances. Criminal records, family law matters, and probate files are also searchable through the portal. Older paper records that have not been digitized may require an in-person visit or a written request to the Clerk's archives.

The statewide portal at myfloridacounty.com also provides access to Marion County's official records and is useful when you want to search across multiple Florida counties at once. Property records tie into the Marion County Property Appraiser's office, which maintains its own online search at a separate site.

If you need records from county departments outside the Clerk's office, those requests go to each department's public records coordinator. The county does not use a single centralized portal for all agency requests, so it helps to know which office holds what you need before submitting.

Fees for Marion County Public Records

Florida law sets the base fee structure. Copies of administrative records cost $0.15 per single-sided page or $0.20 per double-sided page. Certified copies of documents recorded with the Clerk cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification statement fee. For court records, certified copies run $1.00 per page.

Research fees can apply when a request requires significant staff time. The first 15 minutes of research are typically not charged. After that, the county can bill at the employee's hourly rate. For large requests, you can ask for a cost estimate before the work starts. That is a good idea if you are searching for records across many years or multiple case types.

Some records are available as free digital downloads through the online portals, so it is worth checking online first before paying for copies. If a document is already scanned and publicly accessible, there is no fee to view or download it from the Clerk's web portal.

Marion County Sheriff's Office Records

The Marion County Sheriff's Office keeps its own records separate from the Clerk's court files. These include arrest records, incident reports, offense reports, and jail booking logs. They are public records under Chapter 119 unless an exemption such as an active investigation or victim protection applies.

To get Sheriff records, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. You can submit a written request by mail or go to the Records Division in person. The office is located in Ocala. Anonymous requests are accepted. You do not have to give your name or explain the reason for your request.

Fees for Sheriff records follow the standard state structure: $0.15 per single-sided page, $0.20 per double-sided page, with no charge for the first 15 minutes of staff research time. Victims of certain offenses may qualify for copies at no cost, so note that in your request if it applies to you.

Types of Records Available in Marion County

Marion County holds a broad range of public documents. Court records from the 5th Judicial Circuit include civil, criminal, family law, and probate filings. Official records encompass deeds, mortgages, satisfactions of mortgage, liens, and other instruments recorded in the county's land records system. Each office is the custodian for its own set of documents.

Other commonly requested records in Marion County include:

• Circuit and County Court civil case filings and judgments
• Criminal case records and disposition information
• Family law and domestic relations filings
• Probate and guardianship case records
• Recorded deeds, mortgages, and liens
• County commission meeting minutes and agendas
• Building permits and code enforcement records

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory lists every clerk in the state if you need records that cross county lines or involve another jurisdiction. The Florida First Amendment Foundation provides guidance when requests are improperly denied or delayed.

Property and Tax Records

Property records in Marion County are split across two offices. The Property Appraiser maintains appraisal data, ownership records, and parcel maps. The Tax Collector handles tax payment records and certificates. Both offices keep their own databases, and both are subject to Chapter 119.

You can search property records online through the Marion County Property Appraiser's website. Ownership history, assessed values, and property characteristics are available without a fee. Tax records are accessible through the Tax Collector's portal. These are separate from the court records and official records held by the Clerk's office.

If you need a deed or mortgage document, that comes from the Clerk's Official Records system, not the Property Appraiser. The two often get confused. The Appraiser tracks who owns what. The Clerk records the legal instruments that transfer ownership or create liens.

Cities in Marion County

Marion County's largest city is Ocala, the county seat, which has a dedicated public records page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Marion and each has its own Clerk and public records access system.