Sarasota County Public Records

Sarasota County public records are maintained by the Clerk and Comptroller's office, and Florida law entitles any person to inspect or copy them without giving a name or reason. This page explains how to search court filings, official recorded documents, and other government records in Sarasota County, including how the Clerk's online tools work, what fees to expect, and where to turn for additional help.

Florida Public Records Law and Sarasota County

Florida's open records framework is rooted in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, which establishes that records created or received by a public body are open to any person for inspection and copying. Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution makes this a constitutional guarantee. Every county office, court, and agency in Sarasota County is bound by these rules, from the Clerk's court records to the Sheriff's incident reports to commission meeting minutes.

You do not need to give your name to request a record. You do not need to say why you want it. Agencies must respond promptly and cannot stall without cause. The law places the burden on the agency to show that a specific exemption under Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes justifies keeping a record from public view. Common exemptions cover active criminal investigations, victim identity data, some personnel files, and sealed court orders. If a denial seems wrong, the Florida Attorney General runs a free mediation line at (850) 245-0140.

The Florida Attorney General also publishes the Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual, which is the main reference guide for public records and open meetings law in Florida. Sarasota County's policies align with the guidance in that manual. The image below links to the AG's open government resources page, which includes the Sunshine Manual and other tools for understanding your rights.

The page shown above from the Florida Attorney General provides the Sunshine Manual and related guidance on public records rights that apply to all Florida counties, including Sarasota County.

Sarasota County Clerk and Comptroller

Karen E. Rushing serves as the Clerk and Comptroller for Sarasota County. Her office is located in the Sarasota County Historic Courthouse at 2000 Main Street in Sarasota. The Clerk's office is the primary custodian for court records filed in the 12th Judicial Circuit's Sarasota County division and for official recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments that affect Sarasota County property. It is the most comprehensive public records source in the county.

The Clerk's office is open on weekdays during regular business hours. The historic courthouse location in downtown Sarasota is the main hub. The office handles civil, criminal, family law, probate, and traffic court records, as well as recording functions for real estate and other official instruments in Sarasota County. Staff can guide you to the correct division or online tool when you contact the office.

Searching Sarasota County Records Online

The Sarasota County Clerk's website at sarasotaclerk.com provides online access to court records and official recorded documents. Court searches can be done by party name or case number and give you access to case status, scheduled hearings, and scanned court documents for a wide range of case types filed in Sarasota County. Official records searches let you look up deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments recorded with the Clerk.

Sarasota County's court system handles cases under the 12th Judicial Circuit, shared with DeSoto and Manatee counties. Court records for Sarasota County cases are held by the Sarasota Clerk and are separate from those of the other counties in the circuit. Most recent filings are available in digital form through the Clerk's online system. Older or archived records may require a written request or an in-person visit to the courthouse.

Property researchers and title professionals frequently use the Clerk's official records portal to trace deed chains, check for liens, and verify mortgage satisfaction records. The digital archive for Sarasota County goes back a number of years and covers a substantial volume of recorded instruments. Call (941) 861-7400 before visiting if you need very old records, to confirm whether they are in the digital system or physical storage.

Sarasota County Records Fees and Copies

Copy fees in Sarasota County follow the statewide standard set by Chapter 119. Standard copies of public records cost $0.15 per one-sided page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification statement. Research time beyond the first 30 free minutes may be billed at a reasonable hourly rate. For large requests, the Clerk may ask for a deposit before beginning work.

Documents available in the online system can usually be downloaded as PDFs at no cost. This is the most efficient way to get a copy of a public filing when you do not need a certified version. For certified copies needed for legal proceedings or real estate transactions, submit a written request in person or by mail with payment enclosed.

Court filing fees and recording fees are separate from public records copy fees. If you are filing a document rather than requesting one, the Clerk's office can tell you what the filing fee is based on the document type and number of pages.

Other Records Sources in Sarasota County

Several other agencies in Sarasota County produce public records accessible under Chapter 119. The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and incident reports for unincorporated areas. The Sarasota Police Department and Venice Police Department maintain their own incident report files for areas within city limits. The Property Appraiser's office keeps assessment and ownership records for all parcels in the county and makes much of this data available online.

For statewide criminal history searches, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement central repository covers all 67 counties. The myfloridacounty.com portal provides multi-county official records searches when you need to check records in more than one county. The Florida Clerks directory lists all county clerks statewide. Legal aid for low-income Sarasota County residents is available through Community Legal Services and similar organizations serving the region. The Florida First Amendment Foundation provides legal aid referrals and assistance when agencies improperly deny access to public records.

Cities in Sarasota County

Sarasota County includes two qualifying cities with dedicated public records pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Sarasota County shares borders with three other Florida counties, each with its own records system and clerk's office.